建国60周年新词选录（1）
阅兵式 military review
Starting early Saturday morning, the rehearsal featured a mass pageant involving nearly 200,000 citizens and 60 simulated floats, a gala by around 12,000 performers and a military review.
这次彩排从周六凌晨开始，内容包括有将近20万市民参加、动用了60辆模拟彩车的群众欢庆游行，有1.2万人参与演出的联欢活动以及阅兵式。
国庆“禁飞” ban on flying activities
Beijing has widened a ban on flying activities to include pigeons and kite flying in its latest efforts to beef up security ahead of the National Day celebrations, police said Tuesday.
警方于周二称，为加强国庆前安保工作，北京近日已扩大了“禁飞”范围，鸽子和风筝也在其中。
长安街“整修” face-lift
Beijing's main road, the Chang’an Avenue, is getting a makeover ahead of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in October. The avenue received its last face-lift in 1999 for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of PRC.
在今年十月中华人民共和国建国60周年前夕，北京市主干道长安街正进行全面整修。长安街上次整修是在1999年，当时是为了庆祝建国50周年。
人工消雨&人工降雨 artificial rain reduction/precipitation
Zhang Qiang, deputy director of the Beijing Weather Modification Office, told China Daily that "artificial rain reduction" measures were in place for the National Day celebration, during which President Hu Jintao will give a speech and the military will parade past the Tian'anmen Square.
北京市人工影响天气办公室主任张强在接受《中国日报》记者采访时称，已做好准备在国庆庆典期间采取“人工消雨”。在庆典中，中国国家主席胡锦涛将致词，军队将在天安门广场举行阅兵仪式。
群众欢庆游行 mass pageant
The military parade and mass pageant will be rehearsed at Tian'anmen Square several times from August 29 to September 26.
8月29日至9月26日，天安门广场将举行数次国庆阅兵和群众欢庆游行彩排活动。
彩车 float
The Tian'anmen Square will see a massive celebration to mark the nation's 60th birthday on October 1, said a spokesperson for the 60th National Day celebration preparation committee of the Beijing municipal government Monday. A mass pageant involving about 200,000 citizens and 60 floats will follow a military parade.
据首都国庆60周年北京市筹备委员会新闻发言人24日介绍，今年10月1日，天安门广场将隆重庆祝新中国成立60周年，届时，将举行有近20万群众和60辆彩车组成的欢庆活动。
地铁“安检” security check
Subway security officers are considering rapid checks for small bags, which means such bags won't have to go through X-ray machines. However, because of the huge passenger flow, passengers with small bags, such as waist packs,
can actually escape security checks even now.
地铁安检工作人员正考虑对小包实行快速检查，也就是不必通过X光机进行检测。但由于客流巨大，目前携带腰包等小包的乘客事实上可以逃过安检。
红袖章 red armband
Restaurant owners, barbers and shopkeepers along Beijing's streets were all given a red armband and everybody is wearing them with pride. The sea of red armbands will frighten the potential attackers, the community official explained.
北京街道沿线的餐馆、理发店，以及商店的老板每人都领到了一个红袖章，而且都自豪地戴着。社区官员解释说，大量的“红袖章”会将潜在的违法者吓走。
游行乐队 marching band
The parade featured 22 floats, 2 dragon teams, 3 lion teams, 30 marching Groups, 8 marching bands and officials and dignitaries. The parade is a joint effort by Chicago Chinese community, Chinese Consulate in Chicago and the city of Chicago.
这次游行包括22辆彩车、2支舞龙队、3支舞狮队、30支游行队伍、8支游行乐队，出席游行的还有官员和其他重要人物。这次游行由芝加哥华人社区、中国驻芝加哥领事馆和芝加哥城共同发起。
观礼台 viewing stand
A red carpet is decorated on the temporary viewing stand in front of the Tian'anmen Rostrum in Beijing, China, on Sept. 17 2009. The stand was set up for the upcoming National Day Parade on Oct. 1, which marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
9月17日，北京天安门城楼前的临时观礼台上铺上了红毯。这个临时观礼台是为即将到来的庆祝中华人民共和国建国六十周年而举行的十一国庆阅兵搭建的。
National Day parade 国庆阅兵
From Friday to Saturday, about 3 million people from across the country visited Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, where the National Day parade was held on Oct 1 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of New China, Beijing Daily reported.
据《北京日报》报道，从上周五到上周六，来自祖国各地的大约300万人参观了北京天安门广场。10月1日，这里举办了庆祝中华人民共和国成立60周年的国庆阅兵仪式。
flag-rising ceremony 升旗仪式
Celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China began early on October 1st in Sichuan, when thousands of people came to watch a flag-rising ceremony held at 7:00 am at Tianfu Square, the center of Chengdu, Sichuan's capital city.
10月1日清晨，四川省举办了中华人民共和国建国60周年庆祝仪式。数千名群众前往四川省省会成都市中心的天府广场观看早晨7点举行的升旗仪式。
The Chinese people have stood up 中国人民从此站起来了
His declaration to the world "The Chinese people have stood up" is now, more than ever before, truly echoed and felt in the country with a population of more than 1.3 billion as it b
ecomes increasingly influential amid rapid economic and social progress.
毛泽东主席向世界宣布“中国人民从此站起来了！”这一声音从未像现在一样真实地回荡在空中，回响在人们的心间。有13亿多人口的中国经济迅猛发展，社会飞速进步，影响力也越来越大。
maintain a peaceful world 维护世界和平
"It's very common for a modern country to have a modern army," she said. "A strong China can help maintain a peaceful world because we Chinese people love peace."
她说：“现代国家拥有现代化的军队很正常，强大的中国可以维护世界和平，因为中国人民都热爱和平。”
military brass band 军乐队
A 1,500-member military brass band, a 2,100-member adult choir, a 300-member children's choir and a 130-member folk percussion group sang and played 21 songs to accompany the parade. It was the largest number of people to make music for a National Day parade.
在阅兵过程中，1500人的军乐队、2100人的成人合唱团、300人的儿童合唱团、以及130人的民间打击乐队演唱和弹奏了21支乐曲。这是最大规模的国庆阅兵伴奏团队。
formation 方队
The military parade was followed by a civilian procession that featured six massive performing groups and 36 formations, comprising 100,000 people. In addition, 60 floats represented everything from China's geographic areas to last year's Olympics.
在阅兵队伍之后，上场的是由10万群众组成的游行队伍，包括6个大型表演团体，以及36个方队。此外，60辆彩车代表了中国各个地理区域，以及去年成功举办奥运会等成就。
most advanced weapons 最先进的武器装备
Waves of applause were heard when the most advanced weapons were displayed for the first time to the world.
当最先进的武器装备首次在世界面前亮相时，全场爆发出一次又一次的掌声。
full-dress National Day Military parade 全副武装的国庆阅兵大典
phalanx 方阵
Second Artillery Force 第二炮兵
special forces 特种军
intercontinental nuclear-capable ballistic missiles 具有核能力的洲际弹道导弹
sophisticated radar 精密雷达
airborne early warning and control aircraft 空中预警与指挥飞机
unmanned aerial vehicles(UAV) 无人机
satellite communication devices 卫星通讯设备
fighter-bomber echelon 战斗机梯队
"Today, a socialist China geared to modernization, the world and the future has stood rock-firm in the east of the world." “今天，一个面向现代化、面向世界、面向未来的社会主义中国巍然屹立在世界东方。”（胡锦涛主席在国庆阅兵庆典上的讲话）
float 彩车
Red Flag limousine 红旗轿车
drill camp 阅兵村
civilian procession 群众游行
同志们好，首长好，同志们辛苦了，为人民服务。
新华网的译文（供参考）：
Greetings, comrades.
Greetings, leader.
Comrades, you are working h
ard.
We serve the people.
建国60周年流行词回顾
从“知青”(educated youth)、“铁饭碗”(iron rice bowl)到“包二奶”(keeping a mistress)，再到今天我们常说的“囧”，60年来的风风雨雨尽数包含在这些流行词汇中。在建国60周年到来之际，让我们一起来盘点60年来国内流行的口头语， 一起回顾伟大祖国过去60年来的点点滴滴……
建国60周年特色词汇专题
20世纪50年代 1950s
好好学习，天天向上 study hard and move forward every day
Mao Zedong wrote to honor an 8-year-old boy, Chen Yongkang, who helped police catch a spy in Suzhou, in 1951. Mao asked all kids to study hard to do a better job for the country. Banners with this slogan could be seen in almost every classroom.
年轻人经常戏谑地说Good good study, day day up。它和"Long time no see"(好久不见)一样逐渐成为部分老外能明白的中式英语。但这样的直译只是博君一笑的特例。
粮票 food coupon
This allowed people to get certain food supplies under the planned economy. Low agricultural production meant insufficient food supplies and a quota system and the coupons were a means of distribution. The quota system lasted to the early 1990s. The tickets are now the stuff of collectors.
那时是国家统一定价(uniform pricing system), 后来经济发展了，市场上出现了国家供应粮之外的市场定价粮，通常高于国家牌价，叫做“议价粮”，可以解释为food that's outside the quota system（配额制，定额分配制）, which has a higher price。
20世纪60年代 1960s
毛主席语录 quotations from Chairman Mao
Practically everyone has heard of the Little Red Book. This collection of quotations from Mao Zedong's speeches and writings was published from 1964 until about 1976. The title Little Red Book was coined by Westerners because of the red cover and pocket-book size.
当年为了翻译《毛主席语录》，国家动用了强大的专家力量，因此据说英文版“红宝书”是学习翻译的好教材。
红卫兵 Red Guard
In primary schools, Little Red Guards replaced the Young Pioneers. The "Gang of Four" used Red Guards to challenge authority. They were a key cause of social disorder, but their reign ended in 1978.
红卫兵的主要手段是贴“大字报”(wall posters using large Chinese characters as a means of protest or propaganda)，以及全国“大串联”(red guards took public transportation for free across the country to exchange revolutionary ideas)。
20世纪70年代 1970s
知青 educated youth
60年代中期到70年代末，约1700万城市中学毕业生响应毛主席的号召来到农村。他们被告诫要尊敬农民，向农民学习。到了1979年，大多数知青返回城市。
From the mid 1960s to the late 1970s, about 17 million urban middle school grads answered Mao's call and flocked to the countryside. They were encouraged to pay respect to and lear
n from the peasants. By 1979, most educated youth were heading back to the cities.
走后门 pull string
It originated under the planned economy when people used connections to get goods from the back door of a state-owned shop. This string-pulling reached a sort of climax in the late 1970s when the "educated youth" tried everything possible to get back to the cities.
pull strings来源于木偶戏，引申为幕后操纵，或利用关系进行幕后操纵。相关表达“拉关系”可翻译成make social connections to gain favors.
老外 laowai
The term was coined in the late 1970s as many foreigners came to China after the country's reform and opening up. At first it carried a teasing tone. But now it's more of a friendly nickname.
像大山这种在中国居住、工作或学习时间较久，精通中国文化的外国人常被称作an old China hand（中国通）。
20世纪80年代 1980s
铁饭碗 iron rice bowl
A secure, lifetime job assigned by the government. By the 1980s, with the new market economy, there was a competitive model of employment. And the cherished iron rice bowl was gone after more than 30 years.
英语中，表示一份工作稳定通常用safe, stable或者reliable来形容。
三好学生 all-round good student
Literally, "thrice-good", given to students who were virtuous, talented, and good at PE; first used in the 1950s by Mao to encourage young people to keep fit, study well, and work hard.
“三好”指的是德、智、体三方面，而英语中的 straight A student指的是每门功课都得A的学生。所以两者并不完全对等。“三好学生”也不能翻成 three-goods student，因为goody-goody是指那种在老师面前挣表现的“好”学生。
倒爷 profiteering
For the market economy, a dual-pricing system was tried in 1979. The price of certain goods was fixed and they were distributed instead of sold. If a factory exceeded its quota, it could sell the surplus at a higher price. People close to government or factory officials got the low-priced goods and sold them at a higher price. This profiteering was outlawed in 1987.
官倒，是指官员利用职权进行倒买倒卖谋利，可译为official profiteering。
待业青年 youth waiting for job
The unemployed young people of the 1980s, after the government stopped assigning jobs to middle school grads, at state-owned enterprises or government offices. Some unemployed youth could "inherit" a post from a retired parent. Others tried small businesses.
英语中称“待业”为between jobs。现在有些年轻人毕业后take a gap year，四处旅游或学习更多技能后再来找工作。
20世纪90年代 1990s
炒股 speculate in stock
Investing in the stock market was the order of the day in the late 1990s after the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges opened. Chinese used a word from cooking, "chao" (stir-fry), to describe the unstable nature of the trading, which involved keeping the shares moving (b
uying and selling) to keep it hot.
“炒”后来被广泛用于口语，炒房、炒楼都可以用speculate。
包二奶 keeping a mistress
Originally, Cantonese for a married man with a long-term extramarital affair, where he kept a woman by giving her money, a car, or a flat. This became more common in the late 1990s when people got rich enough to afford such costs.
包二奶的男人叫sugar daddy，“傍大款”就是 find a sugar daddy。“包养”：pay for a mistress 。“被包养”： financially dependent on a man who's having an affair with her。
2000年 2000s
小康 well-off
This refers to a standard of living that's considered relatively comfortable. It's originally from Confucius and was used by Deng for the reforms by the end of the 1980s. A well-off society would not only solve the clothing and food problems, but would also push the standard of living to a higher level, culturally and intellectually.
well-off是指具备充足的物质条件，可以过上惬意舒适的生活。按照该定义，如果说一个人well off，他就应该有自己的房子和汽车，衣食住行游，样样不用愁。
囧 sunk
This uncommon character means "brightness" in its classical sense. Around 2008, netizens brought it back to life as a perfect emoticon for online chatting. It has a look of disappointment, so it's gained a new meaning: embarrassment or awkwardness. It is also used in spoken language as an adjective. Sometimes it's used in conjunction with "orz", as "囧rz", to represent a person on hands and knees, a symbol of despair or failure.
英文当中有一些常用的词组或用法，可以表达“囧”，比如 turn red in the face，从字面意思就可看出是因为尴尬，害羞而脸红；或I just died，意思是 I was so embarrassed I really wanted to"die"。
建国60周年新词选录（1）
阅兵式 military review
Starting early Saturday morning, the rehearsal featured a mass pageant involving nearly 200,000 citizens and 60 simulated floats, a gala by around 12,000 performers and a military review.
这次彩排从周六凌晨开始，内容包括有将近20万市民参加、动用了60辆模拟彩车的群众欢庆游行，有1.2万人参与演出的联欢活动以及阅兵式。
国庆“禁飞” ban on flying activities
Beijing has widened a ban on flying activities to include pigeons and kite flying in its latest efforts to beef up security ahead of the National Day celebrations, police said Tuesday.
警方于周二称，为加强国庆前安保工作，北京近日已扩大了“禁飞”范围，鸽子和风筝也在其中。
长安街“整修” face-lift
Beijing's main road, the Chang’an Avenue, is getting a makeover ahead of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in October. The avenue received its last face-lift in 1999 for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of PRC.
在今年十月中华人民共和国建国60周年前夕，北京市主干道长安街正进行全面整修。长安街上次整修是在1999年，当时是为了庆祝建国50周年。
人工消雨&人工降雨 artificial rain reduction/precipitation
Zhang Qiang, deputy director of the Beijing Weather Modification Office, told China Daily that "artificial rain reduction" measures were in place for the National Day celebration, during which President Hu Jintao will give a speech and the military will parade past the Tian'anmen Square.
北京市人工影响天气办公室主任张强在接受《中国日报》记者采访时称，已做好准备在国庆庆典期间采取“人工消雨”。在庆典中，中国国家主席胡锦涛将致词，军队将在天安门广场举行阅兵仪式。
群众欢庆游行 mass pageant
The military parade and mass pageant will be rehearsed at Tian'anmen Square several times from August 29 to September 26.
8月29日至9月26日，天安门广场将举行数次国庆阅兵和群众欢庆游行彩排活动。
彩车 float
The Tian'anmen Square will see a massive celebration to mark the nation's 60th birthday on October 1, said a spokesperson for the 60th National Day celebration preparation committee of the Beijing municipal government Monday. A mass pageant involving about 200,000 citizens and 60 floats will follow a military parade.
据首都国庆60周年北京市筹备委员会新闻发言人24日介绍，今年10月1日，天安门广场将隆重庆祝新中国成立60周年，届时，将举行有近20万群众和60辆彩车组成的欢庆活动。
地铁“安检” security check
Subway security officers are considering rapid checks for small bags, which means such bags won't have to go through X-ray machines. However, because of the huge passenger flow, passengers with small bags, such as waist packs,
can actually escape security checks even now.
地铁安检工作人员正考虑对小包实行快速检查，也就是不必通过X光机进行检测。但由于客流巨大，目前携带腰包等小包的乘客事实上可以逃过安检。
红袖章 red armband
Restaurant owners, barbers and shopkeepers along Beijing's streets were all given a red armband and everybody is wearing them with pride. The sea of red armbands will frighten the potential attackers, the community official explained.
北京街道沿线的餐馆、理发店，以及商店的老板每人都领到了一个红袖章，而且都自豪地戴着。社区官员解释说，大量的“红袖章”会将潜在的违法者吓走。
游行乐队 marching band
The parade featured 22 floats, 2 dragon teams, 3 lion teams, 30 marching Groups, 8 marching bands and officials and dignitaries. The parade is a joint effort by Chicago Chinese community, Chinese Consulate in Chicago and the city of Chicago.
这次游行包括22辆彩车、2支舞龙队、3支舞狮队、30支游行队伍、8支游行乐队，出席游行的还有官员和其他重要人物。这次游行由芝加哥华人社区、中国驻芝加哥领事馆和芝加哥城共同发起。
观礼台 viewing stand
A red carpet is decorated on the temporary viewing stand in front of the Tian'anmen Rostrum in Beijing, China, on Sept. 17 2009. The stand was set up for the upcoming National Day Parade on Oct. 1, which marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
9月17日，北京天安门城楼前的临时观礼台上铺上了红毯。这个临时观礼台是为即将到来的庆祝中华人民共和国建国六十周年而举行的十一国庆阅兵搭建的。
National Day parade 国庆阅兵
From Friday to Saturday, about 3 million people from across the country visited Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, where the National Day parade was held on Oct 1 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of New China, Beijing Daily reported.
据《北京日报》报道，从上周五到上周六，来自祖国各地的大约300万人参观了北京天安门广场。10月1日，这里举办了庆祝中华人民共和国成立60周年的国庆阅兵仪式。
flag-rising ceremony 升旗仪式
Celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China began early on October 1st in Sichuan, when thousands of people came to watch a flag-rising ceremony held at 7:00 am at Tianfu Square, the center of Chengdu, Sichuan's capital city.
10月1日清晨，四川省举办了中华人民共和国建国60周年庆祝仪式。数千名群众前往四川省省会成都市中心的天府广场观看早晨7点举行的升旗仪式。
The Chinese people have stood up 中国人民从此站起来了
His declaration to the world "The Chinese people have stood up" is now, more than ever before, truly echoed and felt in the country with a population of more than 1.3 billion as it b
ecomes increasingly influential amid rapid economic and social progress.
毛泽东主席向世界宣布“中国人民从此站起来了！”这一声音从未像现在一样真实地回荡在空中，回响在人们的心间。有13亿多人口的中国经济迅猛发展，社会飞速进步，影响力也越来越大。
maintain a peaceful world 维护世界和平
"It's very common for a modern country to have a modern army," she said. "A strong China can help maintain a peaceful world because we Chinese people love peace."
她说：“现代国家拥有现代化的军队很正常，强大的中国可以维护世界和平，因为中国人民都热爱和平。”
military brass band 军乐队
A 1,500-member military brass band, a 2,100-member adult choir, a 300-member children's choir and a 130-member folk percussion group sang and played 21 songs to accompany the parade. It was the largest number of people to make music for a National Day parade.
在阅兵过程中，1500人的军乐队、2100人的成人合唱团、300人的儿童合唱团、以及130人的民间打击乐队演唱和弹奏了21支乐曲。这是最大规模的国庆阅兵伴奏团队。
formation 方队
The military parade was followed by a civilian procession that featured six massive performing groups and 36 formations, comprising 100,000 people. In addition, 60 floats represented everything from China's geographic areas to last year's Olympics.
在阅兵队伍之后，上场的是由10万群众组成的游行队伍，包括6个大型表演团体，以及36个方队。此外，60辆彩车代表了中国各个地理区域，以及去年成功举办奥运会等成就。
most advanced weapons 最先进的武器装备
Waves of applause were heard when the most advanced weapons were displayed for the first time to the world.
当最先进的武器装备首次在世界面前亮相时，全场爆发出一次又一次的掌声。
full-dress National Day Military parade 全副武装的国庆阅兵大典
phalanx 方阵
Second Artillery Force 第二炮兵
special forces 特种军
intercontinental nuclear-capable ballistic missiles 具有核能力的洲际弹道导弹
sophisticated radar 精密雷达
airborne early warning and control aircraft 空中预警与指挥飞机
unmanned aerial vehicles(UAV) 无人机
satellite communication devices 卫星通讯设备
fighter-bomber echelon 战斗机梯队
"Today, a socialist China geared to modernization, the world and the future has stood rock-firm in the east of the world." “今天，一个面向现代化、面向世界、面向未来的社会主义中国巍然屹立在世界东方。”（胡锦涛主席在国庆阅兵庆典上的讲话）
float 彩车
Red Flag limousine 红旗轿车
drill camp 阅兵村
civilian procession 群众游行
同志们好，首长好，同志们辛苦了，为人民服务。
新华网的译文（供参考）：
Greetings, comrades.
Greetings, leader.
Comrades, you are working h
ard.
We serve the people.
建国60周年流行词回顾
从“知青”(educated youth)、“铁饭碗”(iron rice bowl)到“包二奶”(keeping a mistress)，再到今天我们常说的“囧”，60年来的风风雨雨尽数包含在这些流行词汇中。在建国60周年到来之际，让我们一起来盘点60年来国内流行的口头语， 一起回顾伟大祖国过去60年来的点点滴滴……
建国60周年特色词汇专题
20世纪50年代 1950s
好好学习，天天向上 study hard and move forward every day
Mao Zedong wrote to honor an 8-year-old boy, Chen Yongkang, who helped police catch a spy in Suzhou, in 1951. Mao asked all kids to study hard to do a better job for the country. Banners with this slogan could be seen in almost every classroom.
年轻人经常戏谑地说Good good study, day day up。它和"Long time no see"(好久不见)一样逐渐成为部分老外能明白的中式英语。但这样的直译只是博君一笑的特例。
粮票 food coupon
This allowed people to get certain food supplies under the planned economy. Low agricultural production meant insufficient food supplies and a quota system and the coupons were a means of distribution. The quota system lasted to the early 1990s. The tickets are now the stuff of collectors.
那时是国家统一定价(uniform pricing system), 后来经济发展了，市场上出现了国家供应粮之外的市场定价粮，通常高于国家牌价，叫做“议价粮”，可以解释为food that's outside the quota system（配额制，定额分配制）, which has a higher price。
20世纪60年代 1960s
毛主席语录 quotations from Chairman Mao
Practically everyone has heard of the Little Red Book. This collection of quotations from Mao Zedong's speeches and writings was published from 1964 until about 1976. The title Little Red Book was coined by Westerners because of the red cover and pocket-book size.
当年为了翻译《毛主席语录》，国家动用了强大的专家力量，因此据说英文版“红宝书”是学习翻译的好教材。
红卫兵 Red Guard
In primary schools, Little Red Guards replaced the Young Pioneers. The "Gang of Four" used Red Guards to challenge authority. They were a key cause of social disorder, but their reign ended in 1978.
红卫兵的主要手段是贴“大字报”(wall posters using large Chinese characters as a means of protest or propaganda)，以及全国“大串联”(red guards took public transportation for free across the country to exchange revolutionary ideas)。
20世纪70年代 1970s
知青 educated youth
60年代中期到70年代末，约1700万城市中学毕业生响应毛主席的号召来到农村。他们被告诫要尊敬农民，向农民学习。到了1979年，大多数知青返回城市。
From the mid 1960s to the late 1970s, about 17 million urban middle school grads answered Mao's call and flocked to the countryside. They were encouraged to pay respect to and lear
n from the peasants. By 1979, most educated youth were heading back to the cities.
走后门 pull string
It originated under the planned economy when people used connections to get goods from the back door of a state-owned shop. This string-pulling reached a sort of climax in the late 1970s when the "educated youth" tried everything possible to get back to the cities.
pull strings来源于木偶戏，引申为幕后操纵，或利用关系进行幕后操纵。相关表达“拉关系”可翻译成make social connections to gain favors.
老外 laowai
The term was coined in the late 1970s as many foreigners came to China after the country's reform and opening up. At first it carried a teasing tone. But now it's more of a friendly nickname.
像大山这种在中国居住、工作或学习时间较久，精通中国文化的外国人常被称作an old China hand（中国通）。
20世纪80年代 1980s
铁饭碗 iron rice bowl
A secure, lifetime job assigned by the government. By the 1980s, with the new market economy, there was a competitive model of employment. And the cherished iron rice bowl was gone after more than 30 years.
英语中，表示一份工作稳定通常用safe, stable或者reliable来形容。
三好学生 all-round good student
Literally, "thrice-good", given to students who were virtuous, talented, and good at PE; first used in the 1950s by Mao to encourage young people to keep fit, study well, and work hard.
“三好”指的是德、智、体三方面，而英语中的 straight A student指的是每门功课都得A的学生。所以两者并不完全对等。“三好学生”也不能翻成 three-goods student，因为goody-goody是指那种在老师面前挣表现的“好”学生。
倒爷 profiteering
For the market economy, a dual-pricing system was tried in 1979. The price of certain goods was fixed and they were distributed instead of sold. If a factory exceeded its quota, it could sell the surplus at a higher price. People close to government or factory officials got the low-priced goods and sold them at a higher price. This profiteering was outlawed in 1987.
官倒，是指官员利用职权进行倒买倒卖谋利，可译为official profiteering。
待业青年 youth waiting for job
The unemployed young people of the 1980s, after the government stopped assigning jobs to middle school grads, at state-owned enterprises or government offices. Some unemployed youth could "inherit" a post from a retired parent. Others tried small businesses.
英语中称“待业”为between jobs。现在有些年轻人毕业后take a gap year，四处旅游或学习更多技能后再来找工作。
20世纪90年代 1990s
炒股 speculate in stock
Investing in the stock market was the order of the day in the late 1990s after the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges opened. Chinese used a word from cooking, "chao" (stir-fry), to describe the unstable nature of the trading, which involved keeping the shares moving (b
uying and selling) to keep it hot.
“炒”后来被广泛用于口语，炒房、炒楼都可以用speculate。
包二奶 keeping a mistress
Originally, Cantonese for a married man with a long-term extramarital affair, where he kept a woman by giving her money, a car, or a flat. This became more common in the late 1990s when people got rich enough to afford such costs.
包二奶的男人叫sugar daddy，“傍大款”就是 find a sugar daddy。“包养”：pay for a mistress 。“被包养”： financially dependent on a man who's having an affair with her。
2000年 2000s
小康 well-off
This refers to a standard of living that's considered relatively comfortable. It's originally from Confucius and was used by Deng for the reforms by the end of the 1980s. A well-off society would not only solve the clothing and food problems, but would also push the standard of living to a higher level, culturally and intellectually.
well-off是指具备充足的物质条件，可以过上惬意舒适的生活。按照该定义，如果说一个人well off，他就应该有自己的房子和汽车，衣食住行游，样样不用愁。
囧 sunk
This uncommon character means "brightness" in its classical sense. Around 2008, netizens brought it back to life as a perfect emoticon for online chatting. It has a look of disappointment, so it's gained a new meaning: embarrassment or awkwardness. It is also used in spoken language as an adjective. Sometimes it's used in conjunction with "orz", as "囧rz", to represent a person on hands and knees, a symbol of despair or failure.
英文当中有一些常用的词组或用法，可以表达“囧”，比如 turn red in the face，从字面意思就可看出是因为尴尬，害羞而脸红；或I just died，意思是 I was so embarrassed I really wanted to"die"。