Quote of the week (Mar. 12, 2010)
Gǔshì zěnme kěnéng yǒu zhuānjiā ne? Gǔshì bù kěnéng yǒu zhuānjiā ma! Gǔshì 股市 怎么 可能 有 专家 呢？股市 不 可能 有 专家 嘛！股市 zhyǒu shūjiā hé yíngjiā. 只有 输家 和 赢家。
How can it be possible to have experts in the stock market? No …
Mandarin Essentials
眼镜 (yǎnjìng) Spectacles/Glasses (Beginner)
眼镜 (yǎnjìng) Spectacles/Glasses (Beginner)
The character “眼 (yǎn)” means eye and “镜 (jìng)” means glass. Example:
Xiànzài hěnduō xuéshēng dōu dàishàng le jìnshì yǎnjìng. 现在 很多 学生 都 戴上 了 近视 眼镜。 Now many students wear glasses.
// // …
乐观 (lèguān) Optimistic (Advanced)
乐观 (lèguān) Optimistic (advanced)
The character “乐 (lè)” means happy; “观 (guān)” means view.
Example:
Tā jíshǐ zài zuì zāogāo de shíhou yě zǒngshì fēicháng lèguān. 她 即使 在 最 糟糕 的 时候 也 总是 非常 乐观。 She was always optimistic, even when things were …
股票 (gǔpiào) Stock/ Share (Intermediate)
股票 (gǔpiào) Stock/ Share (Intermediate) The character “股 (gǔ)” means share; “票 (piào)” means ticket or bank note.
Example:
A: Nín hǎo, wǒ xiǎng zīxún yí xià jǐzhǒng gǔpiào de zuì xīn jiàgé. 您 好， 我 想 咨询 一下 几种 股票 的 最 新 价格。 …
Chinese Mini-test: 五颜六色 (Advanced)
Advanced Level 高级 (gāojí)
In the travel Chinese course, you can learn things that are “五颜六色 (wǔyánliùsè)” about China. Do you know the English meaning of “五颜六色 (wǔyánliùsè)?” A. Colorful B. Beautiful C. Lovely D. Many…
Chinese Mini-test: Air (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
A: The air inside isn’t so good. How about we go outside to prepare for the
HSK exam?
B: Ok, let’s go.
Do you know the Chinese characters for “air” in this dialogue?
A. 氧气 (yǎngqì)
B. 空气 (kōngqì)
C. 气味
Mini-test Answer: Colorful (Advanced)
Advanced Level 高级 (gāojí)
Correct answer: A
Analysis:
A. “五颜六色 (wǔyánliùsè)” is the phrase for “colorful.”
“五 (wǔ)” means five and “颜 (yán)” refers to color. “六 (liù)” means six and “色 (sè)” means color.
B. “美丽 (měilì)” is the phrase for “beautiful.”
“美 (měi)” …
Mini-test Answer: 锻炼 (Intermediate)
Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)
Correct answer: D
Analysis:
A.“训练 (xùnliàn)” is the Chinese phrase for “to train.”
“训 (xùn)” means to train and “练 (liàn)” means to practice.
B.“联系 (liánxì)” is the Chinese phrase for “to contact.” “联 (lián)” means to ally and “系 (xì)” …
Chinese Mini-test: Work out (Intermediate)
Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)
A: Hi, let’s go outside to work out.
B: No, I need to prepare for the Chinese SAT.
A: Come on! It’s important to keep in shape.
Do you know the Chinese characters for “work out” in this dialogue? A. …
Mini-test Answer: 空气 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Correct answer: B
Analysis:
A. “氧气 (yǎngqì)” are the Chinese characters for “oxygen.”
“氧 (yǎng)” means oxygen and “气 (qì)” means smell.
B. “空气 (kōngqì)” are the Chinese characters for “air.” “空 (kōng)” means empty and “气 (qì)” means smell.
C. …
打扫 (dǎsǎo) To Sweep/To Do the Cleaning (Intermediate)
打扫 (dǎsǎo) To Sweep/ To Do the Cleaning (Intermediate)
The character “打 (dǎ)”refer to hit and “扫 (sǎo)” refers to to sweep.
Example:
Měi gè zhōumò tā dōu chèdǐ dǎsǎo yí xià fángzi. 每 个 周末 她 都 彻底 打扫 一 下 房子。 She cleaned …
雷锋 (Léi Fēng) Lei Feng (Beginner)
雷锋 (Léi Fēng) Lei Feng (Beginner)
Listen to this song in the video below: 学习雷锋好榜样 (xuéxí Léi Fēng hǎo bǎngyàng) Follow the Good Example of Lei Feng
Key Learning Points (Preview):
扫帚 (sàozhou): n broom
盆 (pén): n basin
助人为乐 (zhùrénwéilè): adj willing to help…
散步 (sànbù) Go for a Walk/ Take a Walk (Beginner)
散步 (sànbù) Go for a Walk/ Take a Walk (Beginner)
The Chinese character “散 (sàn)” means leisurely here and “步 (bù)” means to go on foot.
Example:
Wǎnfàn hòu wǒmen qù sànbù ba! 晚饭 后 我们 去 散步 吧！
Further Reading:
阳光 (yángguāng) Sunshine (Beginner)
阳光 (yángguāng) Sunshine (Beginner)
The character “阳 (yáng)” refers to the sun and “光 (guāng)” refers to light.
Example:
Jīntiān tiānqì bú cuò, yángguāng zhào zài wǒ liǎn shàng, hěn shūfu. 今天 天气 不 错， 阳光 照 在 我 脸 上， 很 舒服。 The weather …
打篮球 (dǎ lánqiú) Play Basketball (Beginner)
打篮球 (dǎ lánqiú) Play Basketball (Beginner)
The character “打 (dǎ)” means to hit, but in this word it means to play. “篮 (lán)” means basket and “球 (qiú)” means ball.
Example:
A: Nǐ xǐhuan dǎ lánqiú ma? 你 喜欢 打 篮球 吗？
Do you like …
What do Pepsi and the Shaolin Monks Have in Common? (Beginner)
Some people may believe that the symbol of China’s Shaolin Temple monk is American’s Pepsi tab. But in fact, the mark on Shaolin monk’s head is really called “香疤 (xiāng bā) dots made by hot incense.”
In the commercial, the foreign monk broke three pieces …
春天 (chūntiān) Spring (Beginner)
春天 (chūntiān) Spring (Beginner)
The character “春 (chūn)” means spring and “天 (tiān)” means sky or day.
Example:
Chūntiān lái le, wǒmen zhōumò qù páshān ba. 春天 来了，我们 周末 去 爬山 吧。
Spring is coming; let’s go hiking on the weekend.
// // …
取款 (qǔkuǎn) To Withdraw Money (Intermediate)
取款 (qǔkuǎn) To Withdraw Money (Intermediate)
The character “取 (qǔ)” means to get; “款 (kuǎn)” means money.
Example:
A: Yǒu shénme kěyǐ bāng nín ma? 有 什么 可以 帮 您 吗？
Can I help you? B: Shìde, wǒ xiǎng qǔkuǎn. 是的， 我 想 取款。
Yes, …
存款 (cúnkuǎn) To Deposit Money (Intermediate)
存款 (cúnkuǎn) To Deposit Money (Intermediate)
The character “存 (cún)” means to deposit; “款 (kuǎn)” means money.
Example:
A: Yǒu shénme kěyǐ bāng nín ma? 有 什么 可以 帮 您 吗？ Can I help you?
B: Shìde, wǒ xiǎng cúnkuǎn. 是的， 我 想 存款。 Yes, …
Chinese Mini-test: Pet (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Jack is now taking Chinese courses in a Chinese language school. Toady he learned a Chinese phrase for “pet.” Do you know the Chinese characters for it? A. 宠物 (chǒngwù) B. 动物 (dòngwù) C. 植物 (zhíwù) D. 宠爱 (chǒng’ài)
…