Answer to What does “打气 (dǎ qì) beat air” mean?-(Beginner)
Correct Answer 1. B <<Back to “What does “打气 (dǎ qì) beat air” mean?-Beginner”
Mandarin Essentials
What does “打气 (dǎ qì) beat air” mean? – (Beginner)
Have you heard of the expression “打 气 (dǎ qì)?” The word “打 (dǎ)” means “hit/strike,” and “气 (qì)” means “air/gas.” As you might guess, this is the literal way of saying “pump up, inflate with air.” You might use it when speaking about inflating …
5 must-know basic expressions for driving in China (Beginner)
In western countries, especially in North America, “automobile culture” has been the way of life for decades. Teenagers often save up for their first car and many Americans have never been on a train or a public bus. Of course, there are exceptions, but for …
Lost in the crowd? You must know “人山人海 (rénshānrénhǎi)” (Beginner)
When you think about China, you may imagine dumplings, The Great Wall, towering skyscrapers, and almost certainly the enormous crowds that can be found here! The Chinese love to get out and explore their public places and tourist attractions. Often, these places quickly become …
Show humility and learn “Zì hēi” 自黑 for “self-mockery” (Beginner)
Recently, a humorous video titled “Obama hilariously mocks own retirement in skit” gained attention in the US and also in China. What was the occasion for the humorous video and what exactly did Obama do in it? He did something that we call “自黑 (zìhēi) …
Learn the meaning behind the phrase “吃土 (chītǔ) eating dirt” (Beginner)
Jack: Eric, néng jiè diǎnr qián gěi wǒ ma? Jack: Eric, 能 借 点儿 钱 给 我 吗？ Jack: Eric, can you lend me some money? Eric: Nǐ yòu méi qián le? Eric: 你 又 没 钱 了？ Eric: You ran out of money again? …
Answer to Learn the meaning behind the phrase “吃土 (chītǔ) eating dirt” -Beginner
Correct Answer: C
Answer analysis:
吃 (chī): v. to eat 土 (tǔ): n. dirt/soil 吃土 (chītǔ): literally means “to eat dirt,” it is used to describe someone who is very poor. Why? Many people have heard of black Friday in the US, but have you …
Learn about “吉日 (jírì) lucky days”and “凶日(xiōngrì) unlucky days”
All cultures have their superstitions. The Chinese people are no different! There are many interesting beliefs involving colors, gifts, self-grooming, and especially, numbers and dates. In Chinese superstition, the number “4” is considered as unlucky because the pronunciation is similar to the word “死 (sǐ) …
Answer to What does “花花肠子 flowery intestines ” signify?-Intermediate
Correct Answer: B The phrase “花花肠子 (huāhuāchángzi)” is a folk saying that means “cunning; trickery; cunning plot.” This word originally referred to the ovaries and the fallopian tube, and was used in common speech. Now, it is mainly used as a metaphor for fraudulent schemes …
What does “花花肠子 flowery intestines” signify? (Intermediate)
Tom: Jenny, nǐ juéde Jack zhège rén zěnme yàng? Tom: Jenny, 你 觉得 Jack 这个 人 怎么样？ Tom: Jenny, what do you think of Jack? Jenny: Wǒ bú tài xǐhuan tā, tā yí dùzi de huāhuāchángzi. Jenny: 我 不 太 喜欢 他，他 一肚子的 花花肠子。 Jenny: …
The Hangzhou G20 summit: know “峰会 (fēnghuì)” to describe it
The G20 (or G-20 or Group of Twenty) is an international forum for the governments of 20 of the largest economies in the world. Each year, the G20 holds an annual “summit,”or “meeting,” to address many of the world’s economic and financial problems. Past locations …
Learn “完蛋了(wándàn le)” if you are “Over With” (Advanced)
Has your boat ever “gone under?”
We have all been in those doomed situations, sometimes.
In English, you might express this situation as being “doomed,” “in trouble,” or “in a bad spot.”
In Chinese, you can say “完蛋了 (wándàn le).” Your business is closing? The …