Buzzword in Chinese 3
今天的两个buzzwords
第一个:
吃土 chī tǔ
Literally "eat dirt," it is a humorous and self-deprecating way to say one is broke or living on a very tight budget, typically after spending money extravagantly.
E.g.
中文:这个假期我几乎花光了工资,下面两个星期要开始吃土了。(Zhège jiàqī wǒ jīhū huā guāng le gōngzī, xiàmiàn liǎng gè xīngqī yào kāishǐ chī tǔ le.)
英文:I almost spent all my salary during the holiday, so I'll have to eat dirt for the next two weeks.
第二个:
天选打工人 tiān xuǎn dǎ gōng rén
Literally "heaven-chosen laborer," it ironically refers to an employee who, despite widespread circumstances like illness or other disruptions, remains the only one able to (or required to) continue working.
E.g.
中文:部门的其他员工都生病请假了,只有玛丽是天选打工人,还得每天去办公室。( Bùmén de qítā yuángōng dōu shēngbìng qǐngjià le, zhǐyǒu Mǎlì shì "tiān xuǎn dǎ gōng rén", hái děi měitiān qù bàngōngshì.)
英文All other employees in the department are sick and on leave, only Mary is the "heaven-chosen laborer" who still has to go to the office every day.