Mandarin Essentials
Answer to “跑腿(pǎotuǐ)” Fancy Footwork Gets the Job Done! (Beginner)
“跑腿(pǎotuǐ)” doesn’t literally mean “to run with one’s legs”. It has two meanings. One is to serve others for money or for free. The other is to run here and there to do odds and ends for oneself. So “跑腿(pǎotuǐ)” actually means “to do legwork/footwork …
“跑腿(pǎotuǐ)” Fancy Footwork Gets the Job Done! (Beginner)
In Chinese, people often use “跑腿(pǎotuǐ)” when describing their jobs. What does this mean? Find out after completing this test!
Wáng Lín: Mǎ Kè, nǐde xīngōngzuò zěnmeyàng a? 王 琳：马 克，你的 新工作 怎么样 啊？ Wang Lin: Mark, how’s your new job? Mǎ Kè: Biétíle, tiāntiān …
Chinese Test: Joining the Red Envelope Frenzy for Spring Festival?
Mike: Spring Festival is coming up. I’m pretty excited. Dan: Yeah, maybe we’ll get some red envelopes.
What does “red envelope” mean in Chinese?
A. 包裹 (bāoguǒ) B. 红包 (hóngbāo) C. 礼物 (lǐwù) C. 情书 (qíngshū)
Answer to Chinese Test: Joining the Red Envelope Frenzy for Spring Festival?
Answer: B
Analysis:
A: “包裹 (bāoguǒ)” means “package.” B: “红包 (hóngbāo)” means “red envelope.” C: “礼物 (lǐwù)” means “present.” D: “情书 (qíngshū)” means “love letter.”
Culture Note:
In Chinese culture, a “红包 (hóngbāo) red envelope” is usually presented with good tidings written on it and …
Answer to A Thousand Ways to Say a Million (Intermediate)
Answer: A On the one hand, “千万(qiānwàn)” and “万千(wànqiān)”, meaning “ten million”, both refer to a huge amount.
Examples:
Zhèlǐ měinián dōuyǒu qiānwàn kē shù bèi kǎndiào. 这里 每年 都有 千万 棵 树 被 砍掉。 Every year about ten million trees are cut down here.…
A Thousand Ways to Say a Million (Intermediate)
Bet you don’t know these ways to use “千(qiān)” and “万(wàn)”! Take our test to prove us wrong. We dare you! Zhāng Yīng: Wáng Míng, _____ méi xiǎngdào nǐ guàkē le! 张 英： 王 明， _____ 没 想到 你 挂科 了！ Zhang Ying: Wang Ming, …
Chinese Idiom: 哪壶不开提哪壶 To Touch A Soft Spot
The idiom “哪壶不开提哪壶 (nǎ hú bù kāi tí nǎ hú)” literally means “to pick the kettle that is not boiling.” It’s used to indicate that someone is saying or doing something that shouldn’t be mentioned in front of others, or that someone is bringing up …
Chinese Idiom: 隔墙有耳 (géqiángyǒu’ěr) Walls Have Ears
Key Learning Point (Preview): 隔墙有耳 (géqiángyǒu’ěr): walls have ears
Cóngqián, yǒu yíge hàoqíxīn hěn zhòng de rén. 从前， 有 一个 好奇心 很 重 的 人。 Once upon a time, there was a curious man.
Tā zǒngshì xǐhuan sìchù dǎting biérén de mìmi. 他 总是 喜欢 …
Answer to How Many Usages of “How Many” in Chinese? (Advanced)
Answer: C “多少(duōshǎo)” is often used in daily conversation. It’s generally used in two ways. First, the “多(duō) much” in “多少(duōshǎo)” can be used as an adverb to modify the adjective “少(shǎo)”, which means “as little as possible” . For example, “夏天能穿多少穿多(Xiàtiān néng chuān duōshǎo …
How Many Usages of “How Many” in Chinese? (Advanced)
Lǐ Lì: Jīntiān zhēn rè a! 李丽：今天 真 热 啊！ Lily: It’s so hot today! Wáng Lín: Shì a, néng chuān duōshǎo chuān duōshǎo, tài rè le. 王 琳：是 啊， 能 穿 多少 穿 多少, 太 热 了。 Wang Lin: Yes, ________. It’s too hot. …
Four Must-Know Phrases for Surfing the Internet
Nowadays, everyone is using the internet for something, whether it be for shopping online or just surfing the web, the internet has become an important tool for daily life. This means in your journey to become fluent in Chinese, it is important to learn some …
Chinese Idiom: 毛遂自荐 (Máo Suí zìjiàn) To recommend oneself
Key Learning Point (Preview):
毛遂自荐 (Máo Suí zìjiàn) to volunteer for a task; to recommend oneself for a difficult job
Idiom Story:
Máo Suí zài Zhàoguó dāile sān nián, què yìzhí bú bèi zhòngyòng. 毛 遂 在 赵国 待了 三 年，却 一直 不 被 重用。 …
Saying “Sunday” in Chinese, a Trick of Numbers
There are several ways to say “Sunday” in Chinese! Do you know all of them? Take the test to have a check! You can say “Sunday” in Chinese except ______. A. “星期天(xīngqītiān)” B. “礼拜天(lǐbàitiān)” C. “星期日(xīngqīrì)” D. “星期七(xīngqīqī)”
Answer to Saying “Sunday” in Chinese, a Trick of Numbers
Answer: D In Chinese, “Sunday” is “星期日(xīngqīrì)”, “星期天(xīngqītiān)”. You can also call it “礼拜天(lǐbàitiān)” or “礼拜日(lǐbàirì)”, but not “星期七(xīngqīqī)”. Here’s a tip to help you remember: In Christianity and Judaism, it is said that the weekdays from “星期一(xīngqīyī) Monday” to “星期六(xīngqīliù) Saturday” are six workdays …
Body Parts: The Names of the Fingers in Chinese
Read the Story:
“五个手指头的对话(Wǔ gè Shǒuzhǐtou de Duìhuà)” The Five Fingers’ Dialogue
Yìtiān wǎnshang, wǔ gè shǒuzhǐtou tǎng zài chuáng shàng liáotiān. 一天 晚上， 五 个 手指头 躺 在 床 上 聊天。 One night, five fingers laid on the bed chatting.
Zhōngzhǐ shuō: “āiyō, mǔzhǐ …
Have You Ever “蹭饭(cèngfàn)” at Other People’s Homes?
Zhāng Míng: Wáng Lì, jīntiān néng qù nǐjiā cèngfàn ma? 张 明： 王 丽，今天 能 去 你家 蹭饭 吗？ Zhang Ming: Wang Li, Can I go to your home for dinner today?
Wáng Lì: Wèishénme qù wǒjiā cèngfàn? 王 丽：为什么 去 我家 蹭饭？ Wang Li: …