Mandarin Essentials
Know the Warning Signs of Being a 妻管严(qīguǎnyán) in China
A recent study named men in Shanghai as the most submissive, or “henpecked,” in China. The English term “henpecked” is often used to describe these males whose feathers have been “plucked” by their women (his hen). These “henpecked” husbands and boyfriends are controlled by their …
Discuss the new president of the United States with this Chinese quiz
The United States presidential election is nearly here and its time to put your Chinese to the test! There are many different words for different types of leaders in Chinese, let’s see if you know them. Choose the correct answer to fill in the blank: …
Answer to Discuss the new president of the United States with this Chinese quiz
Correct Answer: B
Answer Analysis:
1. 总统 (zǒngtǒng) President
In republican countries like the USA and France, the highest administrative official is called the “总统 (zǒngtǒng) president.”
Example:
Xiànzài qǐng zǒngtǒng jiǎnghuà. 现在 请 总统 讲话. I now invite the president to take the floor.…
Tickets are sold out? Better find a “黄牛党 (huángniúdǎng)” – (Beginner)
When British singer Adele announced her 2016 concert tour, more than 10 million fans swarmed the Ticketmaster.com website to buy tickets to see the megastar performer. Many of those 10 million ticket buyers were “scalpers,” or “黄牛党 (huángniúdǎng).” “黄牛党 (huángniúdǎng) ticket scalpers” are people who …
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 …