Key Learning Points: Using “吧” in Mandarin Some students have difficulty understanding how to use “吧.” This Mandarin lesson is designed to foster a clearer understanding of how “吧” should be used. We will break down the details of how “吧” functions both as an auxiliary word and as a noun.…
Wǒ yìzhí duì zìjǐ shuō, nánrén sānshí yì zhī huā, zhège niánlíng yīnggāi dàibiǎo 我 一直 对 自己说， 男人 三十 一 枝 花， 这个 年龄 应该 代表 lìng yì zhǒng kāishǐ. 另 一 种 开始。
I tell myself all the time: a thirty-year-old man is like a blossom; this age should stand for a new beginning.…
(Wǒ bǎozhèng!) I promise! (Beginner)
Wǒ bǎozhèng, xià zhōu yídìng dài nǐ qù hǎibiān wán. A: 我 保证， 下 周 一定 带 你 去 海边 玩。 I promise I will take you to the beach to have fun next week.
Hǎode, qīn’àide, wǒ xiāngxìn nǐ.…
Wǒ xīn lǐ chōngmǎn le gǎn’ēn hé yùnqi, wǒ hái bù rú Shīwǎxīngé, yuǎn yuǎn bù rú 我 心 里 充满 了 感恩 和 运气，我 还 不 如 施瓦辛格， 远 远 不 如 tā. 他。
My heart is filled with gratitude and I am very lucky.…
I heard a new version of the TV drama The Dream of Red Mansions would soon be put on air. Regarding this sentence, do you know how to say “TV drama” in Chinese? A. 电影 (diànyǐng) B. 电视剧 (diànshìjù) C. 歌剧 (gējù) D.…
The correct Chinese phrase for “TV drama” is B.
Analysis :
A. “电影 (diànyǐng)” means “movie.”
B. “电视剧 (diànshìjù)” means “TV drama.” C. “歌剧 (gējù)” means “opera.” D. “舞蹈剧 (wǔdǎojù)” means “dance drama.”
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(Wǒ yě zhème xiǎng.) I think so. (Beginner)
Zhèlǐ de fēngjǐng hǎo měi a! A: 这里 的 风景 好 美 啊！ The scenery here is so beautiful!
Wǒ yě zhème xiǎng. B: 我 也 这么 想。 I think so.
Further Reading:
◆ No Way!…
(Beginner)
Zuìjìn zěnmeyàng, Yuēhàn? A: 最近 怎么样， 约翰？ What’s up, John?
Háibúcuò, wǒ zuìjìn zhèngzài wǎngshàng xué hànyǔ. B: 还不错， 我 最近 正在 网上学汉语。 Not bad, I am learning Chinese online recently.
Further Reading:
◆ My God!…
Wǒ xiànzài yǒu jiǔ jiàn xīzhuāng, dōushì Zhōngguó zhìzào de, qítā de dōu rēng diào le. 我 现在 有 9 件 西装, 都是 中国 制造 的，其他 的 都 扔 掉 了。 I now have nine suits, all made in China. I threw away the rest of my suits.…
Key Learning Points (Preview):
首映 (shǒuyìng): n. premiere 期待 (qīdài): v. to look forward toThe “首映 (shǒuyìng) premiere” of the new TV series “《红楼梦》(Hóng Lóu Mèng)Dream of the Red Chamber” kicked off on Sept. 1, 2010.…
I heard you and your girlfriend broke up. Is it true? Yǔ nǐ wú guān!…
Māma, wǒ huílai le! Jīntiān wǒmen bān shàng láile yí wèi xīn tóngxué. A: 妈妈， 我 回来 了！今天 我们 班 上 来了 一 位 新 同学。 Mom, I’m back! We have a new classmate today.
Learn the (different ways to address your mother in Chinese) Shì ma?…
Wǒ jiǎngle bú suàn. 我 讲了 不 算。
I have no say in the matter. —From “李书福 (Lǐ Shūfú) Li Shufu,” the Chairman of Geely, in response to the question of Volvo’s future location in China, August 26, 2010 (Note: Geely bought Volvo on August 2, 2010).…
Nǐ zhīdào Zhōngguó rén Zhōngqiūjié chī shénme ma？ 你 知道 中国 人 中秋节 吃 什么 吗？ Do you know what Chinese people eat during Mid-Autumn Day? A. 面条 B. 月饼 C. 饺子 D. 火锅
Basic Chinese Test: 漂亮 (Beginner) Basic Chinese Test: Bread (Beginner) Basic Chinese Test: Let’s Go to Eat Hamburgers!…
The correct answer for this test of basic Chinese Phrases is B
Analysis of Basic Chinese Phrases :
A. “面条 (miàntiáo)” means “noodle.”
B. “月饼 (yuèbǐng)” means “moon cake.” C. “饺子 (jiǎozi)” means “dumpling.” D. “火锅 (huǒguō)”means “hotpot.”
<<Back to Mini-test // // …
Speak Chinese: 你在开玩笑吗？ (Nǐ zài kāiwánxiào ma?) Are you kidding? (Beginner) Example: Gōngxǐ nǐ zhòng le wǔbǎi wàn! A: 恭喜 你 中 了 五百 万！ Congratulations! You’ve won five million in the lottery!
Tiān na, nǐ zài kāiwánxiào ma? B: 天 哪，你 在 开玩笑 吗？ Oh my God!…
Autumn is coming. Do you know how to say “autumn” in an online Chinese test? A. 夏天 B. 冬天 C. 春天 D. 秋天
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The correct answer for this online Chinese test is D.
Analysis:
A. “夏天 (xiàtiān)” means “summer.”
B. “冬天 (dōngtiān)” means “winter.” C. “春天 (chūntiān)” means “spring.” D. “秋天 (qiūtiān)” means “autumn.”
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In Chinese idiom “画饼充饥 (huàbǐngchōngjī) ,” “画 (huà)” means “to draw;” “饼 (bǐng)” refers to “pancakes;” “充 (chōng)” is “to fill or stuff sth,” which indicates “to stave off or to relieve” in this Chinese idiom; “饥 (jī)” means “being hungry.”…
Example:
Tiān na! Zhè yǔ xià de hǎo dà ya! A: 天 哪！这 雨 下 得 好 大 呀！ My God! It’s pouring rain!
Zhè xià zāo le, wǒ méi dài yǔsǎn. B: 这 下 糟 了，我 没 带 雨伞。 This is terrible!…
