HSK 5 • Lesson 11给我一片蓝天
HSK 5 • 中级篇Lesson 11 / 14

给我一片蓝天

Gěi wǒ yí piàn lántiān
Give Me a Patch of Blue Sky
Pattern 1

...A也A不...，B也B不...

A repeated verb pattern with negative potential complements denoting an impasse or extreme distress ('can't even A, can't even B').

Examples
有好几天，她吃也吃不下，睡也睡不着。
Yǒu hǎo jǐ tiān, tā chī yě chī bu xià, shuì yě shuì bu zháo.
For several days, she couldn't eat or sleep at all.
这事真难办呀，我走也走不了，留也留不下。
Zhè shì zhēn nánbàn ya, wǒ zǒu yě zǒu bu liǎo, liú yě liú bu xià.
This matter is so difficult to handle; I can neither leave nor stay.
Pattern 2

睁一只眼，闭一只眼

Idiomatic phrase meaning to turn a blind eye / wink at wrongdoings.

Examples
考虑到经济利益，一些地方政府对此只是睁一只眼闭一只眼。
Kǎolǜ dào jīngjì lìyì, yìxiē dìfāng zhèngfǔ duì cǐ zhǐ shì zhēng yì zhī yǎn bì yì zhī yǎn.
Considering economic interests, some local governments simply turn a blind eye to this.
Pattern 3

A和B比起来，恐怕还是...

Comparative pattern used to gently and politely state an assessment or preference between two things ('compared to B, A is probably still...').

Examples
个人从小事做起当然应该，但效果和政府行为比起来，恐怕还是微乎其微。
Gèrén cóng xiǎoshì zuòqǐ dāngrán yīnggāi, dàn xiàoguǒ hé zhèngfǔ xíngwéi bǐ qǐlai, kǒngpà háishi wēihūqíwēi.
Individuals starting from small deeds is certainly right, but compared to government action, the effect is probably still negligible.
Pattern 4

创...之最

Sets or breaks a record in a specified category ('sets a record of...').

Examples
北京最高气温达到37度，创56年来同期之最。
Běijīng zuì gāo qìwēn dádào sānshíqī dù, chuàng wǔshíliù nián lái tóngqī zhī zuì.
The highest temperature in Beijing reached 37 degrees, setting a record high for the same period in 56 years.
Pattern 5

在...看来

Used as a sentence-initial adverbial to introduce someone's personal point of view ('in someone's eyes / from someone's perspective').

Examples
在我看来，个人追求生活的舒适和方便，这没什么不合理。
Zài wǒ kànlái, gèrén zhuīqiú shēnghuó de shūshì hé fāngbiàn, zhè méi shénme bù hélǐ.
In my view, individuals pursuing comfort and convenience in life is not at all unreasonable.
Pattern 6

不在于...，而在于...

Correlative conjunction meaning 'does not lie in..., but rather in...'.

Examples
生活的富足不在于吃多少穿多少，而在于精神的富足。
Shēnghuó de fùzú bú zàiyú chī duōshao chuān duōshao, ér zàiyú jīngshén de fùzú.
The richness of life lies not in how much one eats or wears, but in spiritual abundance.
Pattern 7

致力于...

To devote or dedicate oneself entirely to an undertaking or cause.

Examples
近年来，古道尔走出了丛林，致力于一个叫“根与芽”的青少年环境教育项目。
Jìnnián lái, Gǔdào'ěr zǒuchū le cónglín, zhìlì yú yí ge jiào “Gēn yǔ Yá” de qīngshàonián huánjìng jiàoyù xiàngmù.
In recent years, Goodall emerged from the jungle, dedicating herself to a youth environmental education project called 'Roots & Shoots.'