Mandarin Essentials

Chinese Test: I want to buy a pair of pants.

Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)

Conversation:

Lana wants to go shopping with Lucy on the weekend.

         Zhōumò qù guàngjiē ba. Lana: 周末      去   逛街       吧。

          Hǎode, nǐ xiǎng mǎi shénme? Lucy: 好的 ,你 想    买    什么?

          Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yì ____ kùzi. Lana: 我   想      买   一 ___  裤子。

Choose the correct word below to fill in the blank.…

Mini-Test Answer: 条 (tiáo)

Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)

The right answer to the test is A.

Translation:

Zhōumò qù guàngjiē ba. Lana: 周末      去   逛街      吧。

Let’s go shopping this weekend.

Hǎode, nǐ xiǎng mǎi shénme? Lucy: 好的,   你 想     买    什么?

Ok, what do you want to buy?

Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yì tiáo kùzi.…

Chinese Test: What on earth shall I wear?

Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)

Conversation:

Mary is going to a dance party without having any idea of what she wants to wear. So she asks her friend Anne for some advice.

        Qīn, nǐ juéde wǒ chuān nǎ jiàn bǐjiào hǎo ne? Mary: 亲,你觉得 我   穿       哪 件   比较   好 呢?

         Zhè jiàn bú cuò.…

Mini-Test Answer: to give up on an idea forever

Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)

The right answer to the question is A.

Translation:       

        Nǐ hái méi sǐ xīn a? Jack: 你还 没  死心啊?

You still haven’t given up?

        Děngzhe qiáo ba, tā yídìng huì jiēshòu wǒ de. Tom: 等着       瞧    吧,她 一定   会   接受    我   的。

Just wait and see.…

汗 (hàn), Don’t sweat it.

“汗 (hàn)” is the Chinese character for perspiration, or the sweat people produce when playing sports, or when faced with other intense or strenuous conditions. On the Internet, the word has come to indicate that one has nothing to say on an issue or conversation. In this way, it translates roughly into “I’m without words,” or simply “I have nothing to add.”…

Chinese Test: How to say “God knows” in Chinese?

Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)

Conversation:

It is Friday and it has been raining all day. However, Lisa and Emily plan to go out on the weekend.          Zhè yǔ yào xià dao shénme shíhou ya?   Lisa: 这雨 要     下 到      什么       时候   呀?

          Guǐ zhīdao, zài xià, zhōumò jiù bù néng chūqu wán le.…

Mini-Test Answer: God knows.

Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)

The right answer to the test is B.

Translation:

          Zhè yǔ yào xià dao shénme shíhou ya?    Lisa: 这雨   要     下   到     什么     时候   呀?

           When will the rain stop?

          Guǐ zhīdao, zài xià, zhōumò jiù bù néng chūqu wán le. Emily: 鬼知道, 再   下,周末        就 不 能      出去   玩 了。

           God knows.…

Chinese Test: You should go see a doctor.

Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)

Conversation:                            

Anne found that Helen looked a little sick and that she had also been coughing a lot lately.

           Nǐ zěnme le?  Anne: 你 怎么 了?

           Yǒu diǎnr gǎnmào. Helen: 有    点儿    感冒。

           Wǒ péi nǐ qù ___ yīshēng ba.  Anne: 我   陪 你去 ___  医生     吧。

           Hǎo de, xièxie le.…

Mini-Test Answer: 看 (kàn)

Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)

The right answer to the test is C.

Translation:            Nǐ zěnme le?  Anne: 你   怎么 了?

           Are you OK?

           Yǒu diǎnr gǎnmào. Helen: 有    点儿    感冒。

           I think I have a cold.

          Wǒ péi nǐ qù kàn yīshēng ba. Anne: 我   陪 你去 看    医生     吧。

           I think you should go see a doctor.…

Mini-Test Answer: 没门儿 (No way)

Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)

The right answer to the quiz is “B.”

Translation:

          Néng jiè wǒ diǎnr qián ma? Mary: 能   借   我  点儿    钱     吗?

          Can you lend me some money?

           Bù hǎo yìsi a, wǒ zuìjìn qián yě bú tài gòu yòng. Helen: 不好  意思啊,我最近    钱    也 不 太 够     用。            (Xīn xiǎng: xiǎng wèn wǒ jiè qián, méiménr.)          (心    想: 想     问     我 借 钱, 没门儿。)

           I’m so sorry I can’t, because I’m short of money these days too.…

烫头发 (tàng tóufa) Having a perm

Dialogue:

        Nǐ jīntiān de fàxíng hěn bù yíyàng ye. Tom: 你今天   的 发型     很  不   一样   耶。

        Your hairstyle looks very different today.         Ò, wǒ tàngle yí xià.  Jen: 哦,我烫了 一 下。

        Oh yeah, I got a perm. After a while…         Á, yán bu yánzhòng a?…

Chinese Test: You are dressed fashionably today.

Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)

Conversation:

Lily is dressing up for a party. Jen sees her and says:

       Hāi, nǐ jīntiān chuān de hěn cháo ma. Jen: 嗨,你今天      穿     得 很    潮     嘛。        Dāngrán, dōu shì jīnnián zuì liúxíng de. Lily: 当然,    都    是   今年     最   流行   的。

What does Jen think about Lily’s clothing?…

Mini-Test Answer: 潮 (cháo)

Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)

The right answer to the quiz is “B.”

Translation:

Lily is dressing fashionably today for a party. Jen sees her and says:

      Hāi, nǐ jīntiān chuān de hěn cháo ma. Jen: 嗨,你今天    穿      得   很    潮    嘛。       Hi, your clothes are hot.…

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