Mandarin Essentials

Chinese Mini-test: To Ask for Taking Some Time Off (From Work) (Intermediate)

Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)

Wǒ xiàzhōu de gōngzuò jiù jiāogěi nǐ le, yīnwèi wǒ yào           qù kàn 2010 Shànghǎi A: 我     下周    的    工作    就   交给  你 了,因为  我  要             去  看 2010   上海 Shìbóhuì la! 世博会    啦! I’ll hand over my next week’s work to you, because I’ve asked for taking some time off and I’m going to attend

.…

Mini-test Answer: 请假 (qǐngjià) (Intermediate)

Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)

Correct answer: D

Analysis:

A. “出差 (chūchāi)” is the Chinese word for “be on a business trip.”

B. “旅游 (lǚyóu)” is the Chinese word for “travel.”

C. “看病 (kànbìng)” is the Chinese word for “to see a doctor.”

D. “请假 (qǐngjià)” is the Chinese word for “to ask for taking some time off.”…

Chinese Mini-test: To Fall in Love at First Sight (Advanced)

Advanced Level 高级 (gāojí)

Qīnàide, zhīdào wǒ shì shénme shíhou ài shàng nǐ de ma? A: 亲爱的,知道     我  是    什么      时候   爱   上   你  的  吗? Darling, do you know when I started loving you? Bù zhīdào. Shénme shíhou ne? Zhǐ jìdé wǒmen shì zài nà nián de hànyǔbān rènshi de.…

Mini-test Answer: 一见钟情 (yíjiànzhōngqíng) (Advanced)

Advanced Level 高级 (gāojí)

Correct answer: D

Analysis:

A.  “情不自禁 (qíngbúzìjìn)” are the Chinese characters for “cannot control one’s emotion.”

B. “Be fair and reasonable” is “合情合理 (héqínghélǐ)” in Chinese language.

C.  “心甘情愿 (xīn’gānqíngyuàn)” are the Chinese characters for “to be totally willing to.”

D. …

卧室 (wòshì) Bedroom (Beginner)

卧室 (wòshì) Bedroom (Beginner)

Example:
    

Bǎobèi, nǐ de wòshì zěnme zhème luàn ne, chuángshàng hái rēnɡ le hǎoduō shū. A: 宝贝,  你 的 卧室  怎么     这么   乱   呢,  床上             还  扔    了  好多     书。

      Honey, how come your bed is in such a mess with lots of books on it?       Bàbɑ, hànyǔ shuǐpíng kǎoshì mǎshàng jiù yào dào le,  wǒ zài  nǔlì zhǔnbèi ne.…

说大话 (shuōdàhuà) Brag (Advanced)

说大话 (shuōdàhuà) Brag (Advanced)

说 (shuō) means to talk, 大话 (dàhuà) means exaggerated words. Example: A: Nǐ   de xuéshù nénglì pínggū kǎoshì zhǔnbèi de zěnmeyàng le?      你  的    学术   能力     评估    考试      准备     的    怎么样     了?

     How is your preparation for the SAT exam going? B: Kěndìng méi wèntí.      肯定       没   问题。

     No problem.…

感动 (gǎndòng) Be Touched (Intermediate)

感动 (gǎndòng) Be Touched (Intermediate)  Example

A: Kàn le “Dāng Xìngfú Lái Qiāomén,” wǒ bèi shēn shēn de gǎndòng le. 看 了“ 当      幸福   来     敲门”,    我 被   深     深   地    感动     了。 I was deeply touched by the movie “The Pursuit of Happiness.”

B: Èn,  nà quèshí shì bù hǎo diànyǐng.…

地震 (dìzhèn) Earthquake (Intermediate)

地震 (dìzhèn) Earthquake (Intermediate) 

Example: A: Xīnlàng wǎng shàng bàodào le dìzhèn zhōng de sǐwáng rénshù. 新浪       网    上      报道      了   地震     中    的    死亡    人数。

The death toll in the earthquake was reported on sina.com B:  Ài,  zìrán zāihài zhēn shì hěn kěpà! 哎,自然 灾害    真   是    很   可怕!

Yeah, natural disasters are really terrible! // // …

饿 (è) Hungry (Beginner)

饿 (è) Hungry (Beginner) Example: A: Wǒ è   le, wǒmen chūqu chī wǔfàn ba? 我 饿 了,我们    出去    吃 午饭 吧? I am hungry. Let’s have lunch together.

 

B: Bù xíng a,  wǒ yào zhǔnbèi hànyǔ shǔipíng kǎoshì ne! 不 行   啊,我 要   准备      汉语      水平      考试    呢! Sorry, I am afraid I can’t.…

“老公”“老婆”在中国有几种叫法?How to Call “Husband” and “Wife” in Chinese? (Beginner)

How to call husband:

1. “老公 (lăogōng)” refers to the man with whom a woman will live a long time together (i.e., get old together).

In this term, “老 (lăo)” means “old” (Find out why “老” can also stand for wisdom and prestige here.) and “公 (gōng)” refers to male.…

Mini-test Answer: I (Beginner)

Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)

Correct answer: C

Analysis:

A. “You” is the meaning for “你 (nǐ).”

     If you want to know how to write the Chinese character “你,”  take a look at      The right way to write the Chinese character “你.” B. “They” means “他们 (tāmen),” “她们 (tāmen)” or “它们 (tāmen).”       In Mandarin Chinese, “他们 (tāmen)” refers to men or boys.…

Mini-test Answer: Home Made Dish (Advanced)

Advanced Level 高级 (gāojí)

Correct answer: A

Analysis:

A.  “Home made dish” is “家常菜 (jiāchángcài)” in Chinese.

B.  “Chinese cuisine” is “中国菜 (Zhōngguó cài)” in Chinese.

C.  “Western-style food” is “西餐 (xīcān)” in Chinese.

If you want to know more about Chinese food, take a look at 糖醋里脊 Sweet and Sour Pork 宫保鸡丁的来历 Origin of Kung Pao Chicken.…

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