You’re Vivian, aren’t you? He is your boyfriend, isn’t he? Let’s learn how to use “吧 (ba)” to indicate a supposition.
1. Tracy: Tā shì Ted ba? Amy: Shì de, Tracy. Tā shì Ted. He is a really nice guy. Shall we say hello to him?…
1. B 2. A 3. A 4. B 5. B <<Back to “Video Lesson: You’re Vivian, Aren’t You? (Part III)” …
Answer: C Analysis: 老铁 (Lǎotiě) is a popular Mandarin word used on the internet and in daily life. It can be used to describe the close relationship between friends and is the equivalent to “brothers”, “dude”, etc. in English. It means that the relationship is very close and will stand the test of time.…
Language is always evolving, and Mandarin Chinese is no exception. The past two years or so, more and more Chinese people are using the word “老铁 (lǎotiě).”
Originally, “老铁 (lǎotiě)” was used as a word by a northeastern Chinese dialect.
One example of how this word was created is the following:
Winter in northern China is cold, very, very cold, almost freezing.…
Many of my American Mandarin Chinese language students are surprised to learn that the NBA Basketball League is now the most popular sports league to follow in China, based on online views.
The popularity of Chinese Hall of Fame player Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets, along with stars such as Kobe Bryant, have captivated Chinese audiences and helped our cultures become more interlinked.…
At times, Chinese can sound curiously similar to English. So what’s going on?
1. A: Becky, shénme shíhòu kāihuì? B: Bùzhīdào, nǐ wènwen zhāng zǒng ba! Which of the following can be inferred from the tone of the conversation? Please choose the best answer. A.…
1. B 2. A 3. B 4. C 5. A <<Back to “Video Lesson: Let Me Have A Look” …
While learning Chinese expressions, it’s important that you understand the literal meaning and also the figurative meaning as well. Knowing the figurative meaning will help you apply the language to the appropriate situation, while knowing the literal meaning will help you avoid embarrassing or funny misuse of the expression or idiom.…
Answer: B Analysis: Amy: Kàn, wǒ gěi nǐ dài lái le mǎn mǎn de gānhuò, bāo nǐ xuéhuì hànyǔ. Amy: 看，我 给 你 带 来 了 满 满 的 干 货， 包 你 学 会 汉 语。 Amy: Look, I have collected for you lots of practical tips to learn Chinese.…
Your meeting with your new Chinese clients has just begun when you realize you left something essential behind. As you scan the meeting table you notice someone has just what you need. Great! Now all you need to do is politely ask to borrow it. “我能借你的…?…
Answer: A Analysis: Ann: Wǒ néng jiè nǐ de píngbǎn diànnǎo yòng yíxià ma? Ann: 我 能 借 你 的 平 板 电 脑 用 一下 吗？ Ann: Can I borrow your tablet?
Bob: Kě yǐ, wǒ fàng zài jiànpán yòubiān le. Bob: 可 以，我 放 在 键 盘 右 边 了。 Bob: Sure.…
Both “néng” and “kěyǐ” mean CAN. What’s the difference?
1. A: We’re going to have a big business conference in New York tomorrow. Nǐ kěyǐ qù ma? B: Sorry. I got really sick this morning. … What would she say? Please choose the correct answer. A.…
1. Read this following public sign and answer the question.
A. Schoolchildren B. Pedestrians C. Motorists
…Answer: C Analysis: “此处禁止停车 (Cǐchù jìnzhǐ tíngchē)” means no parking.
We can divide this sign into three parts: 此处 (Cǐ chù): here.
禁止 (Jìnzhǐ ): no; forbid.
停车 (Tíngchē): parking your car.
Normally, we would see this sign on the side of the street or an open space.…
The pinyin of “中文” is zhōng wén which uses the first tone and second tone accordingly. So, the answer is A.
…I get asked all the time by prospective students, new students, or even seasoned students–“How do I improve my spoken Chinese?” And not only do they want to know the answer to that question, they also want to know: “How can I do it fast?” Often if you are a Westerner learning Chinese, you are not able to be around Mandarin 24/7.…
Answer: A Analysis: The pinyin of “中文” is zhōng wén which uses the first tone and second tone accordingly. So, the answer is A.
<<Back to “It’s as Easy as 1-2-3: How to Improve Your Spoken Chinese”…
Learning fun Chinese slang which can be applied to, and be used in, a classroom or boardroom setting is one of my favorite things to teach in my Mandarin Chinese classes. One of these Chinese expressions which I find to be very useful is “幺蛾子 (yāo ézi).”…
Answer: B Analysis: Tā cái shì nàgè ài chū yāo ézi de rén. 他 才 是 那个 爱 出 幺 蛾子 的 人。 He is the one who often comes up with abnormal ideas.
么 (Me): interrogative particle; repetition of a tune small; tender.
幺 (Yāo): one; youngest.…
