What a Pity! (Beginner) 太遗憾了！（初级）
太遗憾了！(Tài yíhàn le!) What a Pity! (Beginner)
Example:
Nánhái: Míngtiān wǒ kěyǐ yuē nǐ hē kāfēi ma? 男孩： 明天 我 可以 约 你 喝 咖啡 吗？ Boy: May I take you out for coffee tomorrow?
女孩: 太 遗憾 了，我 已经 有 约 了。 Girl: What …
Mandarin Essentials
渔翁得利 Tencent (QQ) vs. 360: The Fisherman benefits (Intermediate)
渔翁得利 (Yúwēngdélì) Tencent (QQ) vs. 360: The Fisherman benefits.
Key Learning Points (Preview):
渔 (yú)：v. to catch fish
渔翁 (yúwēng)：n. fisherman
利 (lì)：n. profit
之 (zhī)：a structural auxiliary word, which means “of…,” more often used in ancient Chinese text
In early November, two of China’s …
Quote of the Week (Dec. 3th, 2010)
Liú Xiáng réng shì wéiyī jùxīng, shuí néng chūrèn xīn lǐngjūnren? 刘翔 仍 是 唯一 巨星， 谁 能 出任 新 领军人？
Liu Xiang is still the only superstar. Who else can take over as the new leader in sports?
—reported by Xinhua net after Liu …
Chinese Mini-Test: Of course! (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
–Will you go home for Christmas Eve? –Of course! What does “of course” mean in Chinese? A. 不知道 (bùzhīdào) B. 当然 (dāngrán) C. 可能 (kěnéng) D. 不客气 (búkèqi)
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Mini-test Answer: 当然！(Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct answer for this Mandarin mini-test is B.
Analysis: A. 不知道 (bùzhīdào) means “I don’t know” or “I have no idea.”
B. 当然 (dāngrán) means “Of course.”
C. 可能 (kěnéng) means “It’s possible.”
D. 不客气 (búkèqi) means “You are welcome.”…
Make yourself at home! (Beginner) 请随意！（初级）
请随意！(Qǐng suíyì!) Make yourself at home! (Beginner)
Example:
Nǐhǎo，Wáng Lì! Kuài jìnlái , qǐng suíyì! Lái diǎn kékǒukělè zěnmeyàng? A：你好， 王力！ 快 进来， 请 随意！来 点 可口可乐 怎么样？ Hi, Wang Li! Come in, please! Make yourself at home! How about some Coca-Cola?
Hǎo de! Xièxiè! …
Quote of the Week (Nov. 29, 2010)
Rén de qiánlì shì wúxiàn de, yì gè rén jiù xiàng xiàngpíjīn yíyàng, 人 的 潜力 是 无限 的，一 个人 就 像 橡皮筋 一样， xūyào búduàn de lā, zài zhè gè guòchéng zhōng tiǎozhàn zìjǐ 需要 不断 地 拉，在 这 个 过程 中 挑战 自己 …
You are so kind! (Beginner) 你真好！（初级）
你真好！(Nǐ zhēnhǎo!) You are so kind! (Beginner)
Example:
A: Tiānqì yuèláiyuèlěng le, wǒ gěi nǐ mǎi le yífù yángmáo shǒutào, dàizhe tā jiù nuǎnhuo le! A：天气 越来越冷 了，我 给你 买 了 一副 羊毛 手套， 戴着 它 就 暖和 了！ A: The weather is getting colder …
Chinese Mini-Test: Travel (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
“Up above there is heaven; down below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou.” Hangzhou is considered the best city for travel in China. What’s the meaning of travel in Chinese? A. 生活 (shēnghuó) B. 购物 (gòuwù) C. 旅游 (lǚyóu) D. 体育 (tǐyù) …
Mini-test Answer: 旅游 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct answer for this Chinese test is C.
Analysis:
A. In Chinese “生活 (shēnghuó)” means “life.”
B. In Chinese “购物 (gòuwù)” means “shopping.”
C. In Chinese “旅游 (lǚyóu)” means “travel.”
D. In Chinese “体育 (tǐyù)” means “Physical Education.”
Culture Note:…
Group Purchasing-The New Way to Save Money (Intermediate)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
团购 (tuángòu): n. group purchasing
捏团 (niētuán): v. to form a group
捏友 (niēyǒu): n. friends made from group purchasing
Will you participate in group purchasing today?
With rising prices these days, “团购 (tuángòu) group purchasing” is becoming a big part …
That’s funny! (Beginner) 真有趣！（初级）
真有趣！(Zhēn yǒuqù!) That’s funny! (Beginner)
Example:
Wǒ lǎogōng jīngcháng zài mènglǐ xiàng wǒ dàoqiàn! A：我 老公 经常 在 梦里 向 我 道歉！ A: My husband often apologizes to me in his dreams!
Zhēn yǒuqù! B：真 有趣！ B: That’s funny!
Further Reading:
Chinese Mini-Test Answer: 婚纱 (Intermediate)
Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)
The correct answer for this Chinese test is A.
Analysis:
A: “婚纱 (hūnshā)” is the Chinese word for “wedding veil.”
B: “婚礼 (hūnlǐ)” is the Chinese word for “wedding.”
C: “婚姻 (hūnyīn)” is the Chinese word for “marriage.”
D: “礼服 (lǐfú)” …
Chinese Mini-Test: Wedding Veil (Intermediate)
Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)
A: I plan to get married with Jim right after Christmas. B: Really? I can’t wait to see your wedding veil! What does “Wedding Veil” mean in Chinese? A. 婚纱 (hūnshā) B. 婚礼 (hūnlǐ) C. 婚姻 (hūnyīn) D. 礼服 (lǐfú)
…How to say “Thanksgivings” in Chinese? (Intermediate)
Thanksgiving Day is coming up. Do you know how to read and write the Chinese Characters
for Thanksgiving Day? The Chinese Characters
for “Thanksgiving Day” are “感恩节(Gǎn’ēnjié),” or the traditional Chinese characters “感恩節(Gǎn’ēnjié).” “感(gǎn)” means to appreciate or to give thanks. “恩(ēn)” means the favor …
Quote of the Week (Nov. 19, 2010)
Wǒ juéde shìbó yīngggāi yǒngyuǎn yǒngyuǎn de chíxù xiàqu, 我 觉得 世博 应该 永远 永远 地 持续 下去， wǒ zhēnxīn de xīwàng shìjiè shàng de měi yígè rén 我 真心 地 希望 世界 上 的 每 一个 人 dōu kěyǐ hùxiāng xuéxí qítā guójiā. 都 …
Please Help Me! (Beginner) 帮帮我！（初级）
Speaking Chinese-帮帮我！(Bāngbang wǒ!) Please Help Me! (Beginner)
Example:
Bāngbang wǒ! Nǚpéngyou ràng wǒ péi tā qù xué fǎyǔ, kěshì wǒ A： 帮帮 我！女朋友 让 我 陪 她 去 学 法语，可是 我 zhēnde hěn xiǎng xué shuō hànyǔ. 真的 很 想 学 说 汉语。 A: Please …
Chinese Test: It is cold!(Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
A: It is cold outside. You’d better put on warm clothes. B: Okay.
What does “cold” mean in Chinese language?
A. 冷 (lěng)
B. 热 (rè)
C. 凉爽 (liángshuǎng)
D. 温暖 (wēnnuǎn)
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Mini-test Answer: 冷 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct answer for this online Chinese mini-test is A.
Analysis: A. “冷 (lěng)” means “cold.”
B. “热 (rè)” means “hot.”
C. “凉爽 (liángshuǎng)” means “cool.”
D. “温暖 (wēnnuǎn)” means “warm.”
// // …
上海世博会The Shanghai World Expo (Advanced)
上海世博会(Shànghǎi Shìbóhuì) The Shanghai World Expo
Listen to the whole story:
Key Learning Points (Preview) 世博会(Shìbóhuì): n. World Expo
突破(tūpò): v. to break
创造(chuàngzào): v. to create
Shíyuè sānshíyī rì, Zhōngguó Shànghǎi Shìbóhuì zài rèliè de wǎnhuì zhōng chénggōng 10月 31 日, 中国 上海 世博会 …