Do you work really hard for the money you earn? In the West, we have different levels of jobs. We separate them by words like “蓝领 (lánlǐng) blue-collar” and “白领 (báilǐng) white-collar” jobs. In China, there are different types of jobs as well, some harder than others.…
Answer: B
Analysis: Julia: Wǒ xiǎng zhǎo bà mā ná sān wàn kuài mǎi gè xiāngnài’r bāobāo. Julia: 我 想 找 爸 妈 拿 三 万 块 买 个 香 奈儿 包 包。 Julia: I want to get 30,000 Yuan from parents for purchasing a Channel bag.…
This movie is pretty good! The weather is pretty nice! He is pretty humorous! That jacket is pretty cool! See what we are getting at?
1. A: Judy, nĭ de zhōumò zĕnmeyàng? B: Tĭng búcuò de. I watched the Euro Cup. Which of the following statements is true according to the dialogue?…
1. A 2. C 3. C 4. A 5. C 6. B 7. C <<Back to “Video Lesson: I’m Doing Pretty Good!” …
Have you tried Chinese white liquor before? Maotai or Erguotou, which do you prefer?
1. A: David, wǒmen hē shénme? B: … What would David most likely to say according to the dialogue? A. Lái yí gè gōngbǎo jīdīng. B. Wǒ bù xiǎng qù. C.…
1. C 2. B 3. C 4. A 5. C <<Back to “Video Lesson: Bottoms up! Cheers!” …
So you are learning to speak Mandarin. That’s great! But can you speak with native Chinese people? The first step to doing so is to use a little slang or at least be able to understand when you hear it in conversation. Today’s slang word is used as an exaggeration for describing something in its entirety.…
Answer: B Here’s why: Anna: Wǒ yìdiǎn’r dōu bù xǐhuān wǒmen lǎobǎn! Anna: 我 一 点 儿 都 不 喜欢 我 们 老 板！ Anna: I don’t like our boss at all!
Jack: Wèishénme? Jack: 为 什 么？ Jack: Why?
Anna: Tā jīngcháng bǎ gōngzuò yìgǔnǎo’r quán rēng gěi wǒ.…
In English we have the saying, “Take a chill pill!” This can be slightly derogatory, but it also can encourage others to relax a bit when they are being too up-tight. In Chinese we have a phrase that very much relates to this meaning. It is “定心丸 (Dìngxīnwán)”.…
Answer: B Analysis: Lily: Mike zěnme yàng la? Lily: Mike 怎 么 样 啦？ Lily: How is Mike?
Ethan: Tā tīng dào nǐ de chéngnuò, xiàng shì chī xià le dìngxīnwán. Ethan: 他 听 到 你 的 承 诺， 像 是 吃 下 了 定 心 丸。 Ethan: He heard your promise.…
Expressing emotion is difficult enough but trying to say how you feel in another language is a whole new challenge. Here is a Chinese slang expression that reveals feelings of frustration and aggravation. For instance, most of us have faced this situation: You are typing a way on your computer and suddenly it freezes.…
Answer: B Zhè tiānqì kě zhēn bù hǎo! Jack: 这 天 气 可 真 不 好 ！ This weather is really bad!
Shì a! Fēng zǒng shì zhème guā, zhēn shāng nǎojīn. Lily: 是 啊！风 总 是 这 么 刮， 真 伤 脑 筋。 Yes! It is a nuisance the way it keeps on blowing.…
Western breakfast in Chinese terms.
1. A: John, wǒmen míngtiān zǎocān chī màipiàn, zěnmeyang? B: Wǒ bù xiǎng chī màipiàn, wǒ xiǎng chī niúnǎi hé miànbāoquān. What does John want to eat for breakfast tomorrow? Please choose the best answer. A. Only cereal.…
If you’re ever planning on living in China and understanding Mandarin Chinese, a working knowledge of Chinese words with both literal and figurative meanings will be absolutely necessary to follow the topic and direction of the conversation.
If we are learning through books or outdated lessons, we may take every word literally and miss the real meaning of the discussion.…
Answer: B Analysis: 泡沫 (Pàomò): foam, froth.
价格泡沫 (Jiàgé pàomò): price bubble.
金融 (Jīnróng): finance.
Housing prices for buying and renting in cities such as Shanghai and Beijing are famously expensive. Some speculators and economists say that the prices overly high and that one day the “价格泡沫 (Jiàgé pàomò) price bubble” will burst and values will go down.…
As we all know, rice is a very common food in China. We eat it all the time! If you look at the amount of chopsticks we use it to eat every year, you can see it is a staple in our diet and our life.…
Answer: B Analysis: Nǐ zhēn shì gè fàntǒng a, zhème jiǎndān de tí dōu bú huì! 你 真 是 个
啊, 这 么 简 单 的 题 都 不 会！ You are a good for nothing, you can’t even answer a simple question!
<<Back to “A Bucket of Rice and A Good-For-Nothing, Which One Are You?”…
April Fools’ Day is fast approaching! Have you prepared the surprise for your friends?
1. A: Rachel, you told me you wrecked my car! It looks fine to me…what’s wrong with you? B: Hàha, jīntiān shì Yúrénjié! Yúrénjié kuàilè! Which of the following is true according to the dialogue?…
1. A 2. C 3. A 4. A 5. B <<Back to “Video Lesson: April Fool’s Day!” …
