1. 不是做什么的料
它不是做这些小玩意儿的。It's not the material for those petty common things.
仿写：他是个好士兵，但不是当军官的料儿。 He is a good soldier, but not really officer material.
2. 不知不觉
不知不觉，天天踩着盼的石阶而上，自己竟成了一个大男人，一个挣钱养家糊口的忙碌人了。 Climbing the upward steps of hope I had become a fully grown man before I was aware of it, a busy breadwinner with a family on my hands.
仿写：不知不觉，十个年头就这样溜走了。 Ten years have slipped away before I was aware of it.
3. 不用说
我不忍离了中国而去，更不忍在这大时代中放弃每人应做的工作而去，抛弃了许多亲爱的勇士在后面。
I cannot find it in my heart to leave China, much less during these stormy times when I have to abandon my bounden duty and leave behind so many dear brave fighters.
much less是成语，常跟在否定句后面，作“更不用说”（and certainly not）解，有时也用even less或still less
仿写：我对于这种举动并不赞成，哪里还谈得上参与呢。
I couldn't assent to, much less participate in such proceeding.
4. 不如，而是
譬如说，人死了，不说死掉，而说“老掉了”。
For instance, if someone died, you do not say he was dead but "he has passed away."
仿写：如遇困难，不能说害怕，而说我可以。
If you have trouble, you not say you are afraid but I can do it.
5. 只有
这里只有快乐。 There is nothing but happiness.
6. 白白度过一段时间
我有了生命以来，在这个世界上虽然仅仅经历了二十几个寒暑，但是这短短的时期也并不是白白度过的。
Ever since I was born, I have passed no more than twenty odd summers in this world, but this short period of time has not been spent for nothing at all.
7. 一点也不/不太
他的脑子也不小。 His brain is none too small.
仿写：他看上去不太开心。 He is looking none too pleased.
8. ...被逼到做...的地步/...被迫干...为生
还有盗匪---实在是最可怜的同胞，他们种地没得吃，有力气没处卖，当了兵经常饿肚皮，无可奈何只好出此下策。
To complicate matters, there are bandits lurking around---those pitiful fellow countrymen who, unable to ward off starvation by farming or soldiering or whatnot, have been reduced to the disreputable business as a last resort.
下策（不体面的行为）disreputable business
被逼从事... be reduced to
作为最后的手段 as a last resort
仿写：他实在是走投无路了，只好当掉了传家宝。
He was reduced to impawn his family heirloom as a last resort for the sake of livelihood.
9. 全靠/唯有...才能...
这是全靠雄健的精神才能冲过去的。 Nothing short of a heroic spirit can help surmount them.
仿写：唯有行动，才能解除你所有的不安。
Nothing short of action can help remove all your restlessness.
10. ...太多以至于不能一一描述
回忆中的场景很多，在此就不一一描写了。
My experiences of this trip, however, are too numerous to be recounted one by one.
仿写：描写北平的文字太多了，从中文到外文，从元代到今日，我很难一一列举。
Essays on Peking---from Chinese to foreign language from Yuan Dynasty to today---are too numerous to be recounted one by one.
11. 以某物为最高准则
应天下为公，以国家民族利益为最高准则。
One should be public-minded and put the interests of the country and the nation above all.
仿写：学生应该以学习为最高准则
Students should put study above all.
12. 一半因为...一半因为.../由于...共同影响
这些日子，家中光景很是惨淡，一半为了丧事，一半为了父亲的赋闲。
Between grandma's funeral and father's unemployment, our family wan then in reduced circumstances.
仿写：生活的累，一半为了生存，一半为了攀比。
Between subsistence and comparisons, we live a hard life.
13. 等待
我的生活还不会结束，我也不知道在前面还有什么等着我。
There is still some way to go before my life runs out, and I do not know what the future has in store for me.
14. ...让某人大开眼界
老陈和他的徒弟的工作使我的眼界宽了不少。
The work which Lao Chen and his apprentices did was a real eye-opener to me.
15. 在...与...之间划清界限
世间有不少的人为了家庭抛弃朋友，至少也会在家庭和朋友之间划一个界限。
Many people forsake their friends in favour of their own families, or at least draw a line of demarcation between families and friends.
16. 被认为
有时又被认为薄命的佳人，忧国的志士。
She has come to be known sometimes as a beauty with misfortune and sometimes as a patriot concerned over the fate of the nation.
仿写：老师被认为是辛勤的园丁。 Teachers has come to be known as industrious gardeners.
