Far more common than...like to admit

Question

Hi teachers,He was sentenced to 10 in prison for bribery, a crime that's far more common in China than both Chinese and foreign businesspeople like to admit.Would you break down the sentence for me to understand?ThanksTinanam

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Which parts do you not understand, Tinanam?  I see no idioms.

Coloraday · Answer

As the title suggests, you might've run into difficulty with the second bit.

What the sentence wants to say is that although very few people are arrested on bribery charges in China, to the writer's surprise, 'he' was sentenced to 10 years for it.

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi Mister Micawber,

The part "a crime that's far more common in China than both Chinese and foreign businesspeople like to admit"

1. Do the Chinese and foreign businesspeople like to admit?
2. Is it a common (popular) crime in China?
3. Why is there a comparsion?

Thank you
Tinanam

AlpheccaStars · Answer

tinanam0102"a crime that's far more common in China than both Chinese and foreign businesspeople like to admit"

OK. People don't want to be ashamed about crime in their country. They like to think that everyone is honest and obeys the laws.

This crime (bribery) exists in China. People might agree that there is occasionally some bribery in China, but actually there is more bribery than that. The crime of bribery is common - more common than people (Chinese and foreigners) say there is.

Admit = to agree to something reluctantly. It is the opposite of deny.

Bobby took his teacher's pencil when she was not looking.
When she asked Bobby about the pencil, he denied that he took it.
But his friend said to the teacher, "I saw Bobby take your pencil."
Then Bobby had to admit that he took the pencil.

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi AlpheccaStars,

Thanks for your time to break it down to me.

Have a great day.
TN

Far more common than...like to admit

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