Mandarin Essentials
新气象 (xīnqìxiàng) The New Look (Intermediate)
新气象 (xīnqìxiàng) The New Look
The character “新 (xīn)” means new; “气 (qì)” means gas or air and “象
(xiàng)” means alike or resemble.
Example:
Tāde chūxiàn gěi tǐtán zēngtiān le jǐfēn xīnqìxiàng. 他的出现给体坛增添了几分新气象。
The emergence of him breathes new life into the sporting world.…
联欢晚会 (liánhuān wǎnhuì) Festival Gala Evening (Intermediate)
联欢晚会 (liánhuān wǎnhuì) Festival Gala Evening
The character “联 (lián)” means to unite; “欢 (huān)” means happy; “晚
(wǎn)” means evening and “会 (huì)” means party.
Example:
Jùshuō chūnjié liánhuān wǎnhuì yǒu hěnduō míngxīng lái yǎnchū. 据说春节联欢晚会有很多明星来演出。
It is said that a lot of stars …
大餐 (dàcān) Sumptuous Meal (Intermediate)
大餐 (dàcān) Sumptuous Meal
“大餐(dàcān)” are the Chinese characters for “Sumptuous Meal.” The
character “大 (dà)” means big or sumptuous and the character “餐 (cān)”
means meal.
Example:
Wǒ shèngdànjié wǎnshang yào hé péngyou yìqǐ qù chī dàcān. 我圣诞节晚上要和朋友一起去吃大餐。
I’m going to have a sumptuous …
中国工人入选时代周刊 Chinese Worker Selected as Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year”
中国工人入选时代周刊 (Zhōngguó gōngrén rùxuǎn shídài zhōukān) Chinese Worker Selected as Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year”
On Dec.16, 2009, “the Chinese worker” ended up ranking second in the selection of Time magazine’s prestigious “Person of the Year 2009.” They were the only group selected. Time …
Quote of the week (Dec.29,2009)
Fángzi jiàgé tàigāo, lǎopo yāoqiú tàigāo, liǎngzhě wǒ dōu zhuī bú shàng! wú fáng de wǒ, bùxiǎng bèi bōduó jiéhūn de quánlì! 房子价格太高，老婆要求太高，两者我都追不上！无房的我，不想被剥夺结婚的权利！
The price of houses is too high, my wife asks for too much, I can’t satisfy them both! I have no house, …
Mini-test Answer: 虎年大吉 (Advanced)
Advanced Level 高级 (gāojí)
Correct answer: C Analysis: A. “Cáiyuánguǎngjìn” is the Chinese pinyin for “财源广进 making plenty of money.” “财 (cái)” means money and “源 (yuán)” means source. “广 (guǎng)” means widely and “进 (jìn)” means to come into.
B. “Xīnniánkuàilè” is the Chinese …
Mini-test Answer: 团圆 (Intermediate)
Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)
Correct answer: A Analysis: A. “团圆 (tuányuán)” are the Chinese characters for “reunion” or “to have a reunion.” “团 (tuán)” means to reunite and “圆 (yuán)” means round.
B. “团结 (tuánjié)” are the Chinese characters for “to unite.”
“团 (tuán)” means …
Mini-test Answer: 元旦 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Correct answer: B Analysis: A. “春节 (chūnjié)” are the Chinese characters for “Spring Festival.”
“春 (chūn)” means spring and “节 (jié)” means festival.
B. “元旦 (yuándàn)” are the Chinese characters for “New Year’s Day.” “元 (yuán)” means the first and “旦 …
圣诞老人 (shèngdàn lǎorén) Santa Claus (Beginner)
圣诞老人 (shèngdàn lǎorén) Santa Claus “圣诞老人 (shèngdàn lǎorén)” are the Chinese characters for “Santa Claus.” The character “圣 (shèng)” means saint; “诞 (dàn)” means birth; “老 (lǎo)” means old, and “人 (rén)” means person.
Example:
Nǐ zhīdào shèngdàn lǎorén xiànzài duō dà niánlíng ma? 你知道圣诞老人现在多大年龄吗？ …
糖果 (tángguǒ) Candy (Beginner)
糖果 (tángguǒ) Candy
“糖果 (tángguǒ)” are the Chinese characters for “Candy.” The character
“糖 (táng)” means sugar or sweets and the character “果 (guǒ)” means
fruit.
Example: Měi nián shèngdànjié de shíhou, tángguǒ de xiāoliàng dōu hěn hǎo. 每年圣诞节的时候，糖果的销量都很好。
Candy sells well at every Christmas. …
派对 (pàiduì) Party (Beginner)
派对 (pàiduì) Party
“派对 (pàiduì)” are the Chinese characters for “Party.” The character “派 (pài)” means group and the character “对 (duì)” means pair.
Example:
Shèngdànjié nǐ néng lái cānjiā wǒ de pàiduì ma? 圣诞节你能来参加我的派对吗？
Would you come to my Christmas party? …
狂欢 (kuánghuān) Binge or Revelry (Intermediate)
狂欢 (kuánghuān) Binge or Revelry
“狂欢 (kuánghuān)” are the Chinese character for “Revelry.” The
character “狂 (kuáng)” means unrestrained and the character “欢 (huān)”
means happy.
Example:
Shèngdànjié dàjiā yìqǐ qù kuánghuān ba！
圣诞节大家一起去狂欢吧！
We are going to revel at Christmas.
Got questions?
// // …
圣诞节 (shèngdànjié) Christmas (Beginner)
圣诞节 (shèngdànjié) Christmas
“圣诞节 (shèngdànjié)” are the Chinese characters for “Christmas.” The character “圣 (shèng)” means saint; “诞 (dàn)” means birth, and “节
(jié)” means festival.
Example: Yuèláiyuèduō de zhōngguórén yě kāishǐ guò shèngdànjié. 越来越多的中国人也开始过圣诞节。
More and more Chinese people have begun to celebrate Christmas.…
平安夜 (píng’ān yè) Christmas Eve (Beginner)
平安夜 (píng’ān yè) Christmas Eve
“平安夜 (píng’ānyè)” are the Chinese characters for “Christmas Eve.”
The character “平 (píng)” means flat; “安 (ān)” means peace or safe, and “夜 (yè)” means night.
Example:
Xiàn zài hěnduō niánqīngrén xuǎnzé hé fùmǔ yìqǐ guò píng ān yè. 现在很多年轻人选择和父母一起过平安夜。 …
放心 (fàngxīn) Feel relieved (Intermediate)
放心 (fàngxīn) Feel relieved
The character “放 (fàng)” means put down and “心 (xīn)” means heart.
Example: Tā hěn xìxīn de, zhè shì jiāogěi tā lái bàn, nín jiù fàngxīn ba. 她很细心的，这事交给她来办，您就放心吧。
Let her handle the matter, for she is very careful. Please don’ t …
圣诞节里的绿色商机 Green Business Opportunity at Christmas
圣诞节里的绿色商机 (Shèngdànjié lǐ de lǜsè shānɡjī) Green Business Opportunity at Christmas
Christmas is a golden time for many businesses in China to make the most out of the holiday season. On the Wangfujing Street in Beijing on December 16, 2009, 15 meters “环保 (huánbǎo) environmental …
Mini-test Answer: 节日 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Correct answer: C Analysis: A. “Party” is the word for “聚会 (jùhuì).”
“聚 (jù)” means to get together and “会 (huì)” means party.
B. “Birthday” is the word for “生日 (shēngrì).”
“生 (shēng)” means to be born and “日 (rì)” means …
Mini-test Answer: Gift (Intermidiate)
Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)
Correct answer: B Analysis: A. “动物 (dòngwù)” are the Chinese characters for “animal.”
“动 (dòng)” means to move and “物 (wù)” means object.
B. “礼物 (lǐwù)” are the Chinese characters for “gift.”
“礼 (lǐ)” means gift and “物 (wù)” means object.…
Mini-test Answer: 不知不觉 (Advanced)
Advanced Level 高级 (gāojí)
Correct answer: D Analysis: A. “Bùshēngbùxiǎng” is the Chinese pinyin for “不声不响 quiet.”
“不 (bù)” means not; “声 (shēng)” means voice or sound, and “响 (xiǎng)” means to make a sound.
B. “Bújiànbúsàn” is the Chinese pinyin for “不见不散 not leave …