HSK 5 • Lesson 13让我们关注生活质量
HSK 5 • 中级篇Lesson 13 / 14

让我们关注生活质量

Ràng wǒmen guānzhù shēnghuó zhìliàng
Let's Pay Attention to Quality of Life
Pattern 1

无从谈起

Used in the consequent clause to state that without satisfying the prerequisite, the topic in question is groundless or impossible to discuss.

Examples
如果这些问题得不到解决，生活质量就无从谈起。
Rúguǒ zhèxiē wèntí débùdào jiějué, shēnghuó zhìliàng jiù wúcóng tánqǐ.
If these problems are not resolved, talking about quality of life is completely out of the question.
不掌握基本词汇和基础语法，交际就无从谈起。
Bù zhǎngwò jīběn cíhuì hé jīchǔ yǔfǎ, jiāojì jiù wúcóng tánqǐ.
Without mastering basic vocabulary and fundamental grammar, communication is out of the question.
Pattern 2

没...没...

Repeated '没': 1. Combines with synonyms to stress absolute lack (no food, no clothes, endless); 2. Combines with antonyms to indicate lack of propriety or tact (disrespectful, indiscreet).

Examples
如果一个人没吃没穿，他就不会关注生活质量。
Rúguǒ yí ge rén méi chī méi chuān, tā jiù bú huì guānzhù shēnghuó zhìliàng.
If a person lacks food and clothing, he won't pay attention to the quality of life.
东方人觉得直呼父母名字是不懂规矩，没大没小。
Dōngfāngrén juéde zhíhū fùmǔ míngzi shì bù dǒng guīju, méi dà méi xiǎo.
Easterners feel that calling parents directly by their first names is ill-mannered, lacking respect for elders.
Pattern 3

就...而言 / 对...而言

Adverbial phrase introducing a specific perspective, subject, or scope of reference ('in terms of / as far as ... is concerned').

Examples
就目前的情况而言，中国居民的消费已经和以往大不一样了。
Jiù mùqián de qíngkuàng ér yán, Zhōngguó jūmín de xiāofèi yǐjīng hé yǐwǎng dà bù yíyàng le.
As far as the current situation is concerned, consumer spending among Chinese residents is vastly different from the past.
Pattern 4

唱主角

Idiom metaphorically meaning to play the leading role or dominate a field/trend.

Examples
旅游、娱乐、健身以及提高自身素质在消费中逐渐唱了主角。
Lǚyóu, yúlè, jiànshēn yǐjí tígāo zìshēn sùzhì zài xiāofèi zhōng zhújiàn chàng le zhǔjué.
Tourism, recreation, fitness, and personal self-improvement are gradually playing the leading role in consumption.
Pattern 5

表面上...，实际上...

Contrasts superficial appearance with underlying reality ('on the surface..., but in reality...').

Examples
表面上这是消费水平问题，实际上它反映了人们的消费观念和生活观念。
Biǎomiàn shang zhè shì xiāofèi shuǐpíng wèntí, shíjì shang tā fǎnyìng le rénmen de xiāofèi guānniàn hé shēnghuó guānniàn.
On the surface this is an issue of spending level, but in reality it reflects people's consumption mindset and values in life.
Pattern 6

以...为...

Prepositional pattern meaning 'to take ... as ... / regard ... as ...'.

Examples
长期以来，人们总是把物质生活水平的高低作为衡量生活质量的唯一标准。
Chángqī yǐlái, rénmen zǒngshì bǎ wùzhì shēnghuó shuǐpíng de gāodī zuòwéi héngliáng shēnghuó zhìliàng de wéiyī biāozhǔn.
For a long time, people have always taken the level of material wealth as the sole benchmark for measuring quality of life.
Pattern 7

为了...而...

Connects purpose with action: 'in order to ... (subject) ...'.

Examples
家长为了让子女上一个好学校而付出昂贵的“择校费”。
Jiāzhǎng wèile ràng zǐnǚ shàng yí ge hǎo xuéxiào ér fùchū ángguì de “zéxiàofèi”.
Parents pay exorbitant 'school-choice fees' in order to enroll their children in top schools.
Pattern 8

...，而...则...

Coordinating contrastive pattern: '..., whereas ... on the other hand ...'.

Examples
这四个城区居民的健康与闲暇生活质量有了提高，而居住和社区环境质量则有了不同程度的下降。
Zhè sì ge chéngqū jūmín de jiànkāng yǔ xiánxiá shēnghuó zhìliàng yǒu le tígāo, ér jūzhù hé shèqū huánjìng zhìliàng zé yǒu le bùtóng chéngdù de xiàjiàng.
Residents' health and leisure quality in these four districts improved, whereas housing and community environmental quality, on the other hand, declined to varying degrees.