Key Learning Point (Preview):
小年 (Xiǎonián): n. the Little New Year
“小年 (Xiǎonián) The Little New Year,” also known as the “祭灶节 (Jìzào jié) the Kitchen God Festival,” is believed to take place on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month when the Kitchen …
Key Learning Points (Preview): 龙年 (lóngnián): n. the Year of the Dragon
本命年 (běnmìngnián): n. one’s year of birth in relation to the Chinese Zodiac
China’s celebration of the lunar New Year, the renowned Spring Festival, is less than a month away. As the zodiac’s …
Key Learning Points (Preview): 新娘 (xīnniáng) n. bride
害羞 (hàixiū) adj. shy
In a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony, the “新娘 (xīnniáng) bride” will wear a red veil made of silk, the color red represents happiness in China. The “新郎 (xīnláng) groom” removes this mysterious red …
秋老虎 (qiū lǎohǔ) The Hottest Days in Autumn Key Learning Points (Preview):
热 (rè): adj. hot
害怕 (hàipà): v. to be afraid of
Why do people call it “秋老虎 (qiū lǎohǔ)?” It is a short hot period (7-15 days) occurring in the latter part of …
Key Learning Points (Preview):
打架 (dǎjià): n/v. fight/to fight
客人 (kèrén): n. guest
An American “学生 (xuésheng) student” traveled to China and was having dinner with his Chinese friends. His “老师 (lǎoshī) teacher” asked him what he thought of China and the Chinese people. The …
What Present Would You Select on Chinese Valentine’s Day?
Key Learning Points (Preview):
礼物 (lǐwù): n. present/gift
送 (sòng): v. to give
Chinese Valentine’s Day -七夕 (Qīxī), on July seventh of the Chinese lunar calendar, is coming up. Many people in China are preparing to …
Online Mandarin Chinese: The Eastern Carnival-火把节 (Huǒbǎjié) The Torch Festival Key Learning Points (Preview):
节日(jiérì): n. festival
旅行(lǚxíng): v. to travel
“火把节 (cHuǒbǎ jié) The Torch Festival” is an ancient and important traditional “节日 (jiérì) festival” for various ethnic groups such as “彝、白、纳西 (Yí, Bái, …
中国古代四大美女 (Zhōngguó gǔdài sì dà měinǚ) The Four Beauties of Ancient China
Key Learning Points (Preview): 美女 (měinǚ): n. beauty
含蓄 (hánxù): adj. reserved/implicit
温柔 (wēnróu): adj. gentle/tender
Throughout China’s five thousand year history, numerous heroic figures have emerged and captured the people’s fancy. But …
Business Etiquette—Showing Honor through Holding Fist Key Learning Points (Preview):
拳头 (quántou) n. fist
祝贺 (zhùhè)n. congratulations
Holding fist is a form of greeting, usually used by men, with one clenched fist cradled in the other hand and held at chest level. It is a …
Online Chinese Lesson- Li Bai- China’s Greatest Poet (Intermediate)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
纪念 (jìniàn): v. to commemorate
风格 (fēnggé): n. style
Feb. 28, 2011 is the 1310th anniversary of the Poet Li Bai, one of the greatest poets in world history. Many people “纪念 …
兔子为什么在生肖中排第四？ (Tùzi wèishénme zài shēngxiāo zhōng pái dì sì?) Key Learning Points (Preview)
生肖 (shēngxiāo): n. Zodiac
出发 (chūfā): v. to start off
Hěn jiǔ yǐqián, Yùhuángdàdì dǎsuàn zài dòngwù zhōng xuǎn shí’èr gè pái shēngxiāo. 很 久 以前，玉皇大帝 打算 在 动物 中 选 十二 …
Key Learning Points (Preview): 商量 (shāngliang): v. to discuss/talk over
决定 (juédìng): n./v. decision/to decide
A long time ago, there was a monster called “夕 (Xī).” The monster was fond of bullying and eating people, especially beautiful girls. People hated the monster, but had no …
Key Learning Points (Preview):
送行 (sòngxíng): to see sb. off
说……的好话 (shuō…de hǎohuà): to speak well of… On the Chinese lunar calendar, “小年 (xiǎo nián),” or The Minor New Year, is on Dec. 23rd, which is when Chinese people make sacrificial offerings to “灶神 (zàoshén) …
中文书信的称呼(Zhōngwén shūxìn de chēnghū) Salutations in Chinese letters
Zhōngguó bèi yùwéi “lǐyízhībāng.” 中国 被 誉为 “礼仪之邦”。 Wúlùn zài rìcháng shēnghuó háishì shāngwù huódòng zhōng, 无论 在 日常 生活 还是 商务 活动 中， Zhōngguórén yìzhí dōu hěn zhùyì lǐyí. 中国人 一直 都 很 注意 礼仪。 China …
“最中国”的中国字The Most “Chinese” Chinese Characters Listen to the whole story Key Learning Points (Preview)
和谐 (héxié): n. harmony
反映 (fǎnyìng): v. to reflect
推崇 (tuīchóng) v. to praise highly
Lā’ěrfū.Àimòshēng shuō, wǒmen kěyǐ cóng yìguó de yǔyán 拉尔夫 爱默生 说，我们 可以 从 一国 的 语言 …
Key Learning Point:
商务用语 (shāngwù yòngyǔ) Business vocabulary
Listen to the whole passage
Look at the short business report:
Jìn jǐ nián lái, rénmínbì huìlǜ wèntí chéngwéi guónèiwài guānzhù de jiāodiǎn. 近 几年 来，人民币 汇率 问题 成为 国内外 关注 的 焦点。 In recent years, governments …
Key Learning Points (Preview):
品牌 (pǐnpái): n. brand
吸引 (xīyǐn): v. to attract
印象 (yìnxiang): n. impression
It is important for foreign brands to have a Chinese name as it enters the Chinese market. How do companies translate their names? How do they make the …
为什么吃醋？(Wèishénme chīcù?) Why do you eat vinegar? (Intermediate)
Why do Chinese lovers “eat vinegar?” This online Chinese lesson will tell you.
Zài Zhōngguó, qínglǚ zhī jiān de jìdù jiào “chīcù.” Wèishénme shì chīcù ér bú shì 在 中国， 情侣 之 间 的 嫉妒 …
Key Learning Points (Preview): 称呼 (chēnghū): n./v. form of address/ to call; to address
In China, husbands often call their wives’ father “岳父 (yuèfù).” The meaning of “父 (fù) father” is rather easy …
The correct answer for this HSK test question is A. Here is the translation: A: Dear, how about we honeymoon in China after we get married? B: Ok!
Analysis: A. “蜜月 (mìyuè)” is the
phrase for “honeymoon.”
