Mandarin Essentials

Quote of the week (Jul. 6, 2010)

Zhè zhǒng fànguī jiù xiāngdāngyú qìchē zhuīwěi, fù zérèn de zǒng shì hòumian de rén. 这     种       犯规  就    相当于        汽车    追尾, 负 责任  的  总     是   后面      的  人。

This kind of foul is like rear-end collision, and the one behind always has to take the responsibility.…

I See (Beginner) 我明白了 (初级)

strong>我明白了 (wǒ míngbai le) I See (Beginner)

strong>Example:

     Wǒ fāxiàn nǐ zuìjìn hànyǔ jìnbù hǎo kuài a! A: 我 发现    你最近   汉语   进步   好   快  啊!      I find you have made so much progress in your Chinese learning.

   Dāngrán le, wǒ zuìjìn yì zhí zài wǎngshàng xuéxí hànyǔ.…

Have You Watched the World Cup Last Night? (Advanced)

Have You Watched the World Cup Last Night?

    Nǐ zuówǎn kàn Shìjièbēi le  mā? A: 你 昨晚     看     世界杯  了 吗?

     Did you watch the World Cup last night?     Wǒ xiǎng kàn, dànshì wǒ děi shàng hànyǔ kè. Sàikuàng rúhé? B: 我   想       看, 但是   我  得 上       汉语   课。赛况        如何?

     I’d love to, but I had to take the Chinese language lesson.…

Wait for a moment (Beginner) 稍等(初级)

Prepare for HSK test:稍等 (shāoděng) Wait for a moment  (Beginner)

Example:

   Jiějie, ràng wǒ yòng diànnǎo fùxí yí xià ba, hànyǔ shuǐpíng A: 姐姐,让    我 用       电脑   复习一 下 吧,汉语    水平    kǎoshì  (

HSK test

) jiù yào dào le.    考试     (

) 就 要   到   了。

   Sister, please let me use the computer.…

爆冷门 (Bàolěngmén) To have an unexpected winner (Advanced)

爆冷门 (Bàolěngmén) To have an unexpected winner

Origin:

“爆冷门 (bàolěngmén)” appeared first in casinos. Most people put their stakes on the popular side, and the opposite of the popular side got little attention by gamblers. This unpopular side was called “冷门 (lěngmén).” “爆 (bào)” means to produce  (an unexpected result).…

What’s wrong (Beginner) 怎么了(初级)

HSK Preparation: 怎么了 (Zěnme le)

What’s wrong

(Beginner)

Example:

Bǎobèi, zěnme le? Kū de nàme shāngxīn? A: 宝贝,  怎么 了? 哭 得 那么      伤心? Honey, what’s wrong? Why are you crying so sadly?

Māma, wǒ hànyǔ shuǐpíng kǎoshì (HSK) méi kǎo hǎo. B: 妈妈,我    汉语     水平     考试(HSK)  没 考    好。 Mom, I failed in my test.…

Take Care (Beginner) 保重(初级)

Chinese lessons: 保重 (bǎozhòng) Take Care (Beginner) Example:

Sūshān, jīntiān de hànyǔ kè jiù dào zhèlǐ,  wǒ gāi zǒu le. A:  苏 珊,今天的汉语课就到这里,我该走了。 Susan, that’s all for today’s Chinese lessons, I should leave.

Hǎo de, bǎozhòng. B:  好的,保重。 OK, take care, please.

Know more Chinese expressions for “take care“ 路上小心 (lùshang xiǎoxīn) Take Care on Your Way Back (Advanced) Chinese Mini-test: Take Care!

Quote of the week (Jun. 18, 2010)

Xībānyá zuì dà de dírén bú shì biérén, jiù shì zìjǐ. 西班牙   最 大 的 敌人 不 是 别人, 就 是 自己。

The biggest enemy of  (the soccer team of) Spain is not its opponent, but is itself. —From “黄健翔 (Huáng Jiànxiáng) Huang Jianxiang,” a famous sports commentator and host in China, on Spain being defeated by Switzerland in 2010 World Cup.…

乌龙球 (wūlóngqiú) Own Goal (Intermediate)

乌龙球 (wūlóngqiú) Own Goal (Intermediate)

Key Learning Points  (Preview):

乌龙球 (wūlóngqiú): n own goal

龙 (lóng): n dragon

On June 14, Simon Poulsen, defender of Denmark’s soccer team, scored an own goal, resulting in Denmark’s loss to Netherlands in 2010 World Cup. Do you know how to say “Own Goal” in Chinese language?…

Mini-test Answer: 教师 (jiàoshī) (Beginner)

Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)

Correct answer: C

Analysis:

A. “工人 (gōngrén)” is the Chinese characters for “Worker.”

     The character “工 (gōng)” means worker or labor and “人 (rén)” means person.

 B. “儿童 (értóng)” are the Chinese characters for “Child.”

Both the characters “儿 (ér)” and “童 (tóng)” mean child.…

Please Pardon Me (Beginner) 请原谅(初级)

Business Chinese: 请原谅 (qǐng yuánliàng) Please Pardon Me (Beginner)

Example:

Qǐng yuánliàng, wǒ děi shīpéi yíxià,  wǒ de shāngwù hànyǔ gùwèn zhǎo wǒ.            请      原谅,   我  得   失陪  一下, 我 的    商务       汉语     顾问   找   我。

Please pardon me, I have to leave for a while because my teacher is looking for me.…

Sorry (Beginner) 抱歉 (初级)

Learn Chinese: 抱歉 (bàoqiàn) Sorry (Beginner)

Example:

    Āi yo,  nǐ yā dào wǒ de shǒu le! A: 哎哟!你 压 到   我 的   手 了!

    Ouch! You are pressing on my hand!

     Ō, bào qiàn, wǒ zhǐ shì xiǎng kànkan nǐ de hànyǔ yǔfǎ zuòyè. B: 噢,抱 歉, 我 只 是    想     看看    你 的 汉语   语法 作业。

    Oh, sorry, I just want to have a look at your homework of Chinese grammar.…

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