“哥们儿(gēmenr)”- Not Brothers but Just Like Brothers
If you have been to northern cities in China such as Beijing and Tianjin, you must be familiar with the following oral expressions: “爷们儿(yémenr),” “姐们儿(jiěmenr),” and “哥们儿(gēmenr).” Actually, these expressions have nothing to do with grandpa, sister or brother as the names might suggest. Rather, …
Keep the Change: 给(gěi) or 找(zhǎo)?
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks. Chūzūchē sījī: Yígòng jiǔ kuài qián. 出租车 司机：一共 9 块 钱。 Taxi driver: That’s a total of 9 Yuan. Gùkè: ___ nǐ shí kuài qián. Búyòng ___ qián le. 顾客：___ 你10 块 钱。 不用 ___ …
Answer to the Exercise on Keep the Change: 给(gěi) or 找(zhǎo)?
Correct Answer: C Although both “给(gěi)” and “找(zhǎo)” can mean “to give,” there are some differences between them.
给(gěi) Literally, “给(gěi)” means “to give.” The sentence structure for its usage is: “给(gěi)” + somebody + something. Such as “给我一本书(gěi wǒ yì běn shū) give me …
Answer to the Exercise on “婆婆妈妈(pópomāmā)”-Neither Mother-in-law Nor Mother (Elementary)
Correct Answer: B
Translation of the Dialogue:
Nǐ shì gè nánzǐhàn, bié pópomāmā! 你 是 个 男子汉， 别 婆婆妈妈！ You are a man, don’t act like a sissy! Back to “’婆婆妈妈(pópomāmā)’-Neither Mother-in-law Nor Mother (Elementary)”
Answer to the exercise Where Does Your Father Work?
Correct Answer: B
Translation of the Dialogue:
Wáng Lì: Nǐ bàba zài nǎlǐ gōngzuò? 王 丽：你 爸爸 在 哪里 工作？ Wang Li: Where does your father work? Linda: Wǒ bàba zài Shànghǎi gōngzuò. Linda: 我 爸爸 在 上海 工作。 Linda: My father works in Shanghai. …
“婆婆妈妈(pópomāmā)”-Neither Mother-in-law Nor Mother (Elementary)
Which answer best matches the meaning of the following sentence? Nǐ shì gè nánzǐhàn, bié pópomāmā! 你 是 个 男子汉， 别 婆婆妈妈！
A.You are a man, don’t act like a mother-in-law. B.You are a man, don’t act like a sissy. C.You are a man, don’t …
Where Does Your Father Work? (Elementary)
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blank. Wáng Lì: Nǐ bàba zài nǎlǐ gōngzuò? 王 丽：你 爸爸 在 哪里 工作？ Linda: __________. Wǒ bàba gōngzuò zài Shànghǎi. A. 我 爸爸 工作 在 上海。
Wǒ bàba zài Shànghǎi gōngzuò. B. 我 爸爸 在 …
Answer to the Exercise on Measure Words for Counting People – “个(gè),” “位 (wèi),” and “口(kǒu)”
Correct Answer: D
Translation of the Dialogue:
Jim shì yíwèi lǜshī, tā yǒu liǎng gè háizi, jiālǐ yígòng sì kǒu rén. Jim 是 一位 律师，他 有 两 个 孩子， 家里 一共 四 口 人。 Jim is a lawyer. He has two children, and there are …
Measure Words for Counting People -“个(gè),” “位 (wèi),” and “口(kǒu)” (Elementary)
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks. Jim shì yí __ lǜshī, tā yǒu liǎng __ háizi, jiālǐ yígòng sì __ rén. Jim 是 一___律师，他 有 两 ___ 孩子，家里 一共 四___人。 A. 个 (gè), 口(kǒu),位(wèi)
B. 位 (wèi), 个(gè),位(wèi)
C. 口(kǒu), 口(kǒu),个(gè)…
Answer to the Exercise on “一下(yíxià)” vs. “一会儿(yíhuìr)”
Correct Answer: A
Translation of the Dialogue:
Linda: Zhè jiàn máoyī zhēn piàoliang! Wǒ nénɡ shì yíxià ma? Linda：这 件 毛衣 真 漂亮！ 我 能 试 一下 吗？ Linda: This sweater is so beautiful! Can I try it on? Salesgirl: kěyǐ! Salesgirl：可以！ Salesgirl: OK! <<Back …
“一下(yíxià)” vs. “一会儿(yíhuìr)” (Elementary)
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blank. Linda: Zhè jiàn máoyī zhēn piàoliang! Wǒ néng shì ___ ma? Linda：这 件 毛衣 真 漂亮！ 我 能 试 ___ 吗？ Salesgirl: kěyǐ! Salesgirl：可以！ A. 一下 (yíxià)
B. 一会儿(yíhuìr)
Not sure about the …
Chinese Nursery Rhyme-小鸟小鸟(Xiǎoniǎo xiǎoniǎo) Little Bird
Chūntiān lǐ yǒu yángguāng, 春天 里 有 阳光， There is sunlight in the spring,
Shùlín lǐ yǒu huāxiāng, 树林 里 有 花香， There are fragrant flowers in the forest,
Xiǎoniǎo xiǎoniǎo, 小鸟 小鸟， Little bird, little bird.
Nǐ zìyóu de fēixiáng. 你 自由 地 …
秒杀(miǎoshā)-Online Shopping Buzzword
If you have a passion for online shopping, you must know that feeling of intently and thoroughly browsing a site, glued to the computer screen, until you find that perfect item at the best price.
It can certainly be satisfying to finally get what you …
Answer to the Exercise on Someone’s a Busy Bee
Correct Answer: B In our daily lives, we all get tied down with work, errands, and other responsibilities that leave little time to simply take a break and relax. So, what’s the right way to express “busy” in Chinese? Actually, in the Chinese language, “忙(máng)” …
Someone’s a Busy Bee (Elementary)
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks. Wǒ zuìjìn hěn ____, měitiān xiàbān dōu hěn wǎn. 1. 我 最近 很 ____，每天 下班 都 很 晚。 I’m very busy lately, so I have to work late every day. Měitiān de zhège shíhou, jiāotōng …
Chinese Nursery Rhyme-两只小象(liǎnɡzhī xiǎoxiànɡ) Two Little Elephants
Liǎngzhī xiǎoxiàng hébiān zǒu, 两只 小象 河边 走， Two little elephants walk along the river. Jiànmiàn yáng qǐ bízi gōu yì gōu, 见面 扬 起 鼻子 勾 一 勾， They raise their trunks and hook them together when they meet. Jiù xiàng liǎnggè hǎo péngyou. …