Know the Warning Signs of Being a 妻管严(qīguǎnyán) in China
A recent study named men in Shanghai as the most submissive, or “henpecked,” in China. The English term “henpecked” is often used to describe these males whose feathers have been “plucked” by their women (his hen). These “henpecked” husbands and boyfriends are controlled by their …
Discuss the new president of the United States with this Chinese quiz
The United States presidential election is nearly here and its time to put your Chinese to the test! There are many different words for different types of leaders in Chinese, let’s see if you know them. Choose the correct answer to fill in the blank: …
Answer to Discuss the new president of the United States with this Chinese quiz
Correct Answer: B
Answer Analysis:
1. 总统 (zǒngtǒng) President
In republican countries like the USA and France, the highest administrative official is called the “总统 (zǒngtǒng) president.”
Example:
Xiànzài qǐng zǒngtǒng jiǎnghuà. 现在 请 总统 讲话. I now invite the president to take the floor.…
Tickets are sold out? Better find a “黄牛党 (huángniúdǎng)” – (Beginner)
When British singer Adele announced her 2016 concert tour, more than 10 million fans swarmed the Ticketmaster.com website to buy tickets to see the megastar performer. Many of those 10 million ticket buyers were “scalpers,” or “黄牛党 (huángniúdǎng).” “黄牛党 (huángniúdǎng) ticket scalpers” are people who …
What does “打气 (dǎ qì) beat air” mean? – (Beginner)
Have you heard of the expression “打 气 (dǎ qì)?” The word “打 (dǎ)” means “hit/strike,” and “气 (qì)” means “air/gas.” As you might guess, this is the literal way of saying “pump up, inflate with air.” You might use it when speaking about inflating …
Answer to HSK grammar: Learn how to use conjunctions in Chinese
Correct Answer: C
Answer analysis:
1. 或者 (huòzhě) — or; possibly; maybe; perhaps The word “或者 (huòzhě)” can be used to connect words when one is offering/considering choices such as “chicken or beef” It is used for “or” statements. Structure: Possibility 1 + 或者 (huòzhě) …
HSK grammar: Learn how to use conjunctions in Chinese
Wǒ zhǐ hē chá, _______ bù hē kāfēi. 我 只 喝 茶，_______ 不 喝 咖啡。 I only drink tea, and I don’t drink coffee. Please choose the correct word to fill in the blank: A. 或者 (huòzhě) B. 和 (hé) C. 而 (ér)
…5 must-know basic expressions for driving in China (Beginner)
In western countries, especially in North America, “automobile culture” has been the way of life for decades. Teenagers often save up for their first car and many Americans have never been on a train or a public bus. Of course, there are exceptions, but for …
Lost in the crowd? You must know “人山人海 (rénshānrénhǎi)” (Beginner)
When you think about China, you may imagine dumplings, The Great Wall, towering skyscrapers, and almost certainly the enormous crowds that can be found here! The Chinese love to get out and explore their public places and tourist attractions. Often, these places quickly become …
Answer to HSK Chinese quiz: Who is the “一把手 (yī bǎ shǒu)”
Correct Answer: D The phrase “一把手 (yī bǎ shǒu)” literally means “a hand.” Now, it is used to mean someone primarily responsible for a particular aspect of work, usually the leader of an organization or a company. It can be translated as “the first in …
HSK Chinese quiz: Who is the “一把手 (yī bǎ shǒu)”
The phrase “一把手 (yī bǎ shǒu)” literally means “a hand.” Although, when speaking about a person’s position in a company (or any community) it takes on another meaning. Try the quiz below and see if you can figure out what it is supposed to mean! …
Kids’ Chinese Song: 七色光之歌 The Song of the Sunlight
Chinese Song: 七色光之歌 (Qīsèguāng zhī gē) The Song of the Sunlight (Beginner)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
太阳 (tàiyáng): n. the sun
今天 (jīntiān): n. today
“七色光之歌 (Qīsèguāng zhī gē)” is a very popular Chinese kid’s song about sunshine and being happy. Tàiyang tàiyang, 太阳 太阳， …
Show humility and learn “Zì hēi” 自黑 for “self-mockery” (Beginner)
Recently, a humorous video titled “Obama hilariously mocks own retirement in skit” gained attention in the US and also in China. What was the occasion for the humorous video and what exactly did Obama do in it? He did something that we call “自黑 (zìhēi) …
How long does it take to learn Chinese?
It depends on your gift for language-learning as well as the time you are able to dedicate to learning it. If you study a few hours every day you’re going to learn a lot faster than someone who only spends one day a week. For …