Mandarin Essentials

China’s Most Valuable Brand

China’s Most Valuable Brand

Key Learning Points (Preview):

抱怨 (bàoyuàn): v to complain 

信誉 (xìnyù): n reputation 

In December 2009, China’s most valuable brand list was “揭晓 (jiēxiǎo) announced” in New York and 100 Chinese consumer brands “进入 (jìnrù) entered” the final list, including “联想(liánxiǎng) Lenovo,” and “TCL.”…

磨杵成针 Grinding an Iron Pestle into a Needle

磨杵成针 (móchǔchéngzhēn) Grinding an Iron Pestle into a Needle

(Try our Chinese idiom lesson for you)

Lǐ Bái xiǎo shíhou tè tānwán, yí dào shàngkè jiù zǒushén. 李 白  小    时候   特   贪玩,一 到    上课     就   走神。  Li Bai was fond of playing when he was young, so he was always absent-minded in classes.…

把关 (bǎguān) Check on (Advanced)

把关 (bǎguān) Check on 

The character “把 (bǎ)” means to hold or to grasp and “关 (guān)” means

check point.

Example:

Nǐ xiān zìyǐ xiě zhè piān wénzhāng ba, xiě wánle wǒ bāng nǐ bǎbǎguān.    你先自已写这篇文章吧,写完了我帮你把把关。

First, you write the paper by yourself; then I help you to check on it.…

挂科 (guàkē) Flunk/ Fail in the exam (Intermediate)

挂科 (guàkē) Flunk/ Fail in the exam

The character “挂 (guà)” means failing and “科 (kē)” means subject or a branch of academic or vocational study.

Example:

Yīnwéi méiyŏu nǔlì xuéxí, zhè cì kăoshì Gao Feng yòu guàkē le. 因为没有努力学习,这次考试高峰又挂科了。 Not having studied his lessons very hard, Gāo Fēng failed this exam again.…

Mini-test Answer: 没关系 (Beginner)

Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)

Correct answer: B

Analysis:

A. “Good night” is the phrase for “晚安 (wǎn’ān).” “晚 (wǎn)” refers to night and “安 (ān)” means quiet here.

B. “It doesn’ t matter” is the phrase for “没关系 (méiguānxi).”

“没 (méi)” is a negative word. “关 (guān)” and “系 (xì)” both refer to effect or importance.…

Mini-test Answer: 没日没夜 (Advanced)

Advanced Level 高级 (gāojí)

Correct Answer: D Analysis: A. “Méiwánméiliǎo” is the Chinese pinyin for “没完没了 endless.”

      “没 (méi)” here is a negative word. “完 (wán)” and “了 (liǎo)” both mean end.

B. “Ménxīnzìwèn” is the Chinese pinyin for “扪心自问 to examine one’s conscience.”

“扪 (mén)” means to touch and “心 (xīn)” refers to heart or conscience.…

Mini-test Answer: Happy (Beginner)

Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)

Correct Answer: D

Analysis:

A. “Kāikuò” is the Chinese pinyin of  “开阔.”

      “开阔 (kāikuò)” means broad and capacious. The character “开 (kāi)” in “开 阔 (kāikuò)” means open and “阔 (kuò)” means wide.

B. “Kuàilè” is the Chinese pinyin of  “快乐.” “快乐 (kuàilè)” means joyful or cheerful.…

Mini-test Answer: 福气 (Advanced)

Advanced Level 高级 (gāojí)

Correct Answer: B Analysis: A. “Happiness” is the word for “幸福 (xìngfú).” “幸 (xìng)” means lucky and “福 (fú)” means blessing.

B. “Good fortune” is the phrase for “福气 (fúqi).”

     “福 (fú)” means blessing and “气 (qì)” refers to fortune.

C. “Blessing” is the word for “祝福 (zhù fú).”…

马后炮 (măhòupào) Belated effort (Advanced)

马后炮 (măhòupào) Belated effort 

The character “马 (mă) refers to horse; “后 (hòu)” means later or after and

“炮 (pào)” means big gun or cannon. Example: Nǐ zhè rén jiù shì mǎhòupào, shìxiān zěnme bù tíxǐng wǒ a. 你这人就是马后炮,事先怎么不提醒我啊。

You always give belated effort. Why not remind me in advance?…

碰钉子 (pèngdīngzi) Being rejected / Being turned down (Intermediate)

碰钉子 (pèngdīngzi) Being rejected / Being turned down 

The character “碰 (pèng)” means to run into; “钉 (dīng)” means nail or tack

and “子 (zi)” is used as a suffix here.

Example:

Tā zài bànshì de shíhou pèngle dīngzi, huíjiā hòu xīnqíng bùhǎo. 他在办事的时候碰了钉子,回家后心情不好。

He was in a bad mood when he came back home, for he was rejected when doing his job.…

网虫 (wǎngchóng) People who always surf the internet (Intermediate)

网虫 (wǎngchóng) People who always surf the internet 

The character “网 (wǎng)” means net and “虫 (chóng)” means insect or worm.

Example:

Suízhe hùliánwǎng de fēisù fāzhǎn, xiànzài wǎngchóng yuèláiyuèduō le. 随着互联网的飞速发展,现在网虫越来越多了 With the rapid development of the Internet, there are more and more people who surf the internet from dawn till dusk nowadays.…

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