笨鸟先飞 (Bènniǎoxiānfēi) Clumsy birds have to start flying early
Key Learning Points (Preview):
决心 (juéxīn):v. to resolve
志气 (zhìqì): n. aspiration
Idiom Story
Shù shàng yì zhī niǎo māma fū chū le liù zhī niǎo bǎobao, 树 上 一 只 鸟 妈妈 孵 出 了 六 只 鸟 宝宝， A bird hatches six baby birds,
Xiǎoliù yòu shòu yòu xiǎo, gēge jiějie men dōu qīfu tā; 小六 又 瘦 又 小， 哥哥 姐姐 们 都 欺负 它； Xiaoliu is very weak and small; his sisters and brothers usually bully him.…
不错 (búcuò) Pretty Good/Not Bad (Beginner)
The character “不 (bú)” means not and “错 (cuò)” means bad.
Example:
Nǐ zhè cì wénzhāng xiě de búcuò, jiāyóu! 你这次文章写得不错，加油！
The article you’re writing this time is pretty good. Let’s continue to make greater effort! // // …
开玩笑 (kāi wánxiào) To Make a Joke (Intermediate)
The character “开 (kāi)” literally means to open but here means to make; “玩
(wán)” means to play and “笑 (xiào)” means laugh or smile.
A: Gēmenr, wàimiàn yǒu gè měinǚ zhǎo nǐ ne! 哥们儿，外面有个美女找你呢！ Brother, there is a beautiful girl looking for you outside!…
生活 (shēnghuó) Life/Living (Beginner)
The character “生 (shēng)” means life and “活 (huó)” means living. Example:
Nǐ xiǎng yào huó de kuàilè, jiù yào rè’ài shēnghuó. 你想要活得快乐，就要热爱生活。
If you want to be happy, you need to love life itself. …
Key Learning Points (Preview):
站着说话不腰疼(zhànzhe shuōhuà bù yāo téng) It’s easier said than done
黄昏(huánghūn): n. dusk
跪(guì): v. to kneel
打断(dǎduàn): v. to interrupt
Qíncháo de shíhou, Xiào Gōng de chǒngchén Jǐng Jiān jiāng Shāng Yāng yǐnjiàn gěi Qín Xiào Gōng. 秦朝 的 时候， 孝 公 的 宠臣 景 监 将 商 鞅 引荐 给 秦 孝 公。 In the Qin dynasty, Jing Jian, the King’s minion, recommended Shang Yang to Qin Xiaogong.…
加班 (jiābān) Work Overtime (Beginner)
The character “加 (jiā)” means to add or increase and “班 (bān)” means work
here. Example:
Jīntiān wǒ gōngzuò hěn duō, kàn lái yòu děi jiābān le. 今天我工作很多，看来又得加班了。
I have a lot of work today, and it appears I have to work overtime.…
发火 (fāhuǒ) To Get Angry (Intermediate)
The character “发 (fā)” means to show (one’s feeling) here and “火 (huǒ)”
literally means fire but here, means temper or anger. Example:
Gōngsī xiàoyì bù hǎo de shíhou, lǎobǎn jiù hěn ài fāhuǒ. 公司效益不好的时候，老板就很爱发火。
When a company is not doing well, its boss gets angry easily.…
Bù chī bǎo nǎ yǒu lìqi jiǎnféi a. 不吃饱哪有力气减肥啊。
If you are not full, how could you have the strength to lose weight?
—From the TV series 我的青春谁做主 (Wŏ de qīngchūn shuí zuòzhŭ) Who is the Master of My Own Youth?
吃 (chī): v to eat
饱 (bǎo): adj full
力气 (lìqi): n strength
Got questions?…
Correct answer: B Analysis:
A. “为什么 (wèishénme)” are the Chinese characters for “Why.” “为 (wèi)” means for. “什么 (shénme)” means what.
B. “怎么办 (zěnmebàn)” are the Chinese characters for “What shall I do.” “怎么 (zěnme)” equals what in English. “办 (bàn)” means do.…
Correct answer: C Analysis:
A. “要不然 (yàobùrán)” are the Chinese characters for “Or else” or “Otherwise.” “要 (yào)” means demand; “不 (bù)” means not and “然 (rán)” means so or thus.
B. “是不是 (shìbushì)” are the Chinese characters for “If.” “是 (shì)” means yes and “不 (bù)” means not.…
Correct answer: D Analysis: A. “Nǎinai” is the Chinese Pinyin for “奶奶 grandmother.” B. “Bàba” is the Chinese Pinyin for “爸爸 father.” C. “Yéye” is the Chinese Pinyin for “爷爷 grandfather.” D. “Māma” is the Chinese Pinyin for “妈妈 mother.”
Take a Free 1-on-1 live online lesson with our professional teachers.…
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中国茶 (Zhōngguóchá) Chinese Tea
Key Learning Points (Preview): 减肥 (jiănféi): v to lose weight
美容 (měiróng): v to beautify the features/beauty
Chinese tea has a history of over 5000 years in China, and it has been a daily beverage for most Chinese. There is a variety of Chinese tea, such as white tea, green tea, black tea, pu’er tea and so on.…
发短信 (fāduǎnxìn) Send a Text Message
“发 (fā)” means to send; “短 (duǎn)” means short and “信 (xìn)” means message.
Example:
Míngtiān shì wǒ hǎopéngyou de shēngrì; gěi tā fāduǎnxìn sòng shàng wǒ de shēngrì zhùfú. 明天是我好朋友的生日，给她发短信送上我的生日祝福。
Tomorrow is my friend’s birthday; I’ ll send a text message to wish her a happy birthday.…
打电话 (dǎdiànhuà) Make a Call
“打 (dǎ)” means to beat or to strike; “电 (diàn)” means electricity and “话
(huà)” means word or talk.
Wǒ gěi wǒ mā dǎ gè diànhuà, gàosu tā jīnwǎn wǒ wándiǎnr huíqù. 我给我妈打个电话，告诉她今晚我晚点儿回去。
I call my mother to tell her that I will go home later tonight.…
麻烦 (máfan) Trouble
The character “麻 (má)” means to bother; The character “烦 (fán)” means
upset or trouble.
Máfan nǐ bāng wǒ kànkan zhè dào tí zěnme zuò？ 麻烦你帮我看看这道题怎么做?
Can I trouble you to teach me how to solve this question?
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稍等 (shāoděng) Wait a Bit
The character “稍 (shāo)” means a bit or a little and “等 (děng)” means to wait. Example:
Shāoděng yíhuìr, wǒ mǎshàng jiù lái. 稍等一会儿，我马上就来。
Wait a bit, I’ ll be right there.
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没事儿 (méishìr) It doesn’t Matter /Nothing
The character “没 (méi)” means not or be without; “事 (shì)” means matter
and “儿 (ér)” here is a suffix.
A: Bùhǎoyìsi, wǒ bùxiǎoxīn bǎ nǐ de bǐ nònghuài le. 不好意思，我不小心把你的笔弄坏了。
I’ m sorry; I broke your pen by mistake.…
