1. Pronunciation of Numbers
The dates May 20 and May 21 are homonyms for different ways to express love. Because of the difference between the two numbers, 520 is mainly for women, and 521 is mainly for men, meaning that men choose to express “520″ (I love you) to their wives, girlfriends, or crushes on May 20, and receive their answer on May 21, when the women might reply, “521” (“I like and I love you”). Because of this, May 20 and May 21 every year have become auspicious days for couples to register for marriage and hold grand wedding banquets.

In addition to “520” and “521”, there are other popular homonymic numbers in Chinese:

2. Knowing the Real Numbers
1234… these are the Arabic numerals used around the world. You will see these if you come to China, but there are other ways to write numbers in Chinese—and not just the characters you probably already know!
In order to distinguish numbers used to keep financial records, “壹贰叁肆伍陆柒捌玖拾佰仟万” were born. Believe it or not, adopting these characters has prevented digital tampering and altering of electronic finances.

3.Celebrations Mean Consumerism
With all of the weddings and engagements and gifts being given, online shopping has taken off around this time. Many businesses have group buying, discounts, and other promotional activities, and sales shoot through the roof. Everywhere people look they see advertisements and promotions for 520 and 521, and when they open their WeChat they see “red envelopes” with cash flooding into their inbox. No industry is ignored—even tour agencies offer special travel discounts to other countries during this time!

Example:
宣布vs.宣传
kǎo  shì  zhī  qián ，jiān  kǎo  lǎo  shī  xuān  bù  le  kǎo  shì    jì    lǜ
考   试    之    前，   监    考    老   师   宣    布    了    考   试    纪   律。
Before the exam, the proctor announced the exam discipline.

xiàn  zài  yǒu  xǔ  duō  xū  jiǎ  guǎng  gào ，xuān  chuán  de  tiān  huā  luàn  zhuì ，bú  dé  bú  ràng  rén chǎn  shēng  huái  yí 
现    在   有   许   多   虚    假    广       告，    宣      传      的      天     花      乱     坠，不   得    不     让     人     产     生     怀    疑。
Now there are many fake advertisements, there’s a lot of hyped-up publicity, and people should be cautious.

Example:

公布VS颁布
guǒ  rán ，sān  tiān  hòu   gōng  bù  le  chéng    jì
果     然，  三    天     后     公     布     了     成     绩。
Sure enough, the results were announced three days later.

zhè   tiáo   fǎ   lǜ   shì  shàng   gè   yuè   xīn   bān   bù   de
这     条     法     律    是     上    个   月    新     颁    布     的。
The law was enacted last month.

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“世界地球日 (shì jiè dì qiú rì) Earth Day” is important now more than ever because we are in the middle of the 6th mass extinction and it is increasingly impacted by humans this time around compared to natural causes alone. “濒危物种 (bīn wēi wù zhǒng) endangered species” need our help because of the “污染 (wū  rǎn) pollution” and loss of “臭氧层 (chòu  yǎng  céng) ozone layer” that the pollution has caused.

“濒危物种 (bīn wēi wù  zhǒng) endangered species”

Example sentences:

shí  nián nèi  běi  jí  xióng  jiù  huì  chéng wéi  bīn wēi  wù zhǒng
十    年    内    北  极    熊     就   会     成    为     濒   危   物    种。
Polar bear will become an endangered species within ten years.

cù jìn bīn wēi wù zhǒng  hé  shēng tài  xì  tǒng   de   huī    fù
促  进  濒  危   物    种     和     生     态   系     统    的   恢   复。
Promote the recovery of endangered species and ecosystems.

But what are some of the manageable ways we can improve the situation?
It’s as simple as doing your part to “保护环境 (bǎo  hù  huán  jìng) protect the environment”. It’s easier to protect the environment than you think. Many countries are banning single-use plastics while others are making their cities more bicycle-friendly. If you live in a city with public transportation, taking the bus or subway is an easy alternative to paying for a taxi or driving your own car.

“保护环境 (bǎo  hù  huán  jìng) protect the environment”

Example sentences:

bǎo  hù  huán  jìng : ràng  wǒ  men  gòng  chuàng  měi  hǎo  de  míng  tiān
保      护    环     境：   让    我      们      共        创       美     好    的     明     天。
Protect the environment: let us create a beautiful tomorrow together

huán bǎo  yóu   wǒ   zuò   qǐ,   huán   dì   qiú    yí    gè   jié   jìng   de  jiā
环    保       由      我    做  起，  还    地   球    一     个   洁    净    的   家 。
Environment protection starts from me, give back earth a clean home

bǎo  hù  huán  jìng  shì  měi   yí gè   gōng  mín  de  zé  rèn
保     护     环     境     是   每   一  个    公      民   的   责   任。
Protecting the environment is everyone’s responsibility

wèi  le fáng zhǐ dì  qiú wēn  shì  xiào  yìng  jiā  jù，wǒ men   yīng   gāi   bǎo  hù   hǎo   huán  jìng
为 了   防    止    地  球  温    室    效     应    加  剧，我    们    应    该     保    护     好      环     境。
In order to prevent the greenhouse effect on earth, we should protect the environment.

The beauty of protecting the environment, is that just making one small change in your lifestyle can have a huge impact. Not everyone will choose the same adjustment and that’s okay! We can learn from one another and do our best. Some people choose to use “太阳能 (tài  yáng  néng) solar power” instead of conventional electricity supplied by the city. Other people insist on trying to ”回收 (huí  shōu) recycle” as much as they can. While the last group of people may arguably have the biggest impact, the plant-based eaters who make meals “仅用植物的 (jǐn   yòng  zhí  wù de) using only plants. A percentage is “纯素食者 (chún  sù  shí  zhě) pure vegan” while others will allow for fish or other animal products in their diets to make the transition easier.

Example sentences:

wǒ  bù  chī  ròu，wǒ  chī  sù.
我   不    吃    肉，  我    吃  素。
I don’t eat meat. I am a vegetarian.

měi  guó  zǒng  tǒng  ào bā  mǎ  yāo  qiú   zài   bā   xī   fǎng  wèn  dòu  liú  qī  jiān   tí  gōng quán  sù  shí  shí  pǐn.
美    国      总       统      奥  巴   马    要    求   在  巴   西    访     问     逗     留  期  间   提      供     全    素  食   食    品。
U.S. President Barack Obama asked to be provided all-vegetarian food during his stay in Brazil.

Whatever you choose to change to create a more sustainable future, do it out of the love for our “濒危物种 (bīn wēi wù  zhǒng) endangered species”, do it for your “行星地球 (xíng xīng dì qiú) planet Earth”. What are some ideas you have that we can each do that make a biggest impact? We’d love to hear them!

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As recent events have unfolded across news outlets and social media platforms, the world has heard of yet another outcry on American soil, pleading “Stop Asian Hate”. This comes shortly after the Black Lives Matter movement rallied globally and is just as significant and timely.

Every year, around 250,000 people in the United States are victimized by hate crimes and America’s Asian communities had already been facing a pandemic-related spike in prejudice and hate. The March shootings were a tipping point for the Asian community, just as George Floyd’s murder was for the Black community. These events didn’t happen in a vacuum. These events were symbols of the centuries of mistreatment and injustices that these communities faced.

America isn’t the only country that has seen an uptick in atrocities aimed at Asians, however. Shared videos coming from Australia, Germany, and the UK have all shown that hate crimes have risen where Asians are a minority. The Asian community, in particular, they are treated as the “other” every time someone asks “But where are you REALLY from?”. How strange would it be to ask a caucasian person the same thing? Oftentimes people of European descent don’t even know their ancestral roots. And if they did they would most likely retort, “I was born HERE, though”. The fact that it is normalized to ask someone with Asian features is alienating at best.

Yet the price that people of Asian descent pay to live in a country they were born into is colossal in comparison to the price that American’s of European ancestry pay.

How many generations make one ‘belong’? It could be speculated that as many generations as it takes to wash the history from the bone structure from one’s face.

Aggressive acts share the same root as mass shootings of Asian people and all the hate crimes that have increased toward Asian people since Covid-19. This idea that Asian people are foreign to certain societies. They aren’t, foreign. They belong. And as long as society as a whole can’t embrace it, there will be unrest.

So, where did it all go wrong? Hate is learned. It is a behavior one adapts to from their upbringing and culture.

Then who taught it to the children in America, who sing songs by heart with lyrics such as

”This land is your land and this land is my land
From California to the New York island
From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and me”?

Who taught good Christain people who preach “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” to hate thy neighbor?

Who forgot that the Statue of Liberty pronounces “Give me you’re tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”.

Who denounces the line about “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” on the United States Declaration of Independence? We are supposed to hold these truths to be sacred & undeniable. They say that all men are created equal and independent. This is supposed to be the law of the land. There is actually no room for hate, especially in America. I say that those people that do not abide by their own Declaration, their own folk songs, and their own monuments can go back to their country of origin. It’s hard to imagine that they would be accepted back so easily, however.

On a more pragmatic level, we have to address the fact that most hate crimes stem from fear. According to the American Psychological Association, “hate crimes are an extreme form of prejudice that is made more likely in the context of political and social change” and can lead people to devalue others that they know very little about, especially if they feel like their livelihood or way of life is being threatened. Historically, times of stress or fear have sometimes been attended by a rise in prejudice – including hate crimes. Then it’s no coincidence that former President Donald Trump’s malicious words such as “China virus” or “Kung flu,” for example, incited public unease. This transpired into mistrust and ultimately fear. Fear then can leading individuals to dehumanize unfamiliar groups of people.

Likewise, if words can cause that much injury then they can also be the remedy. Thus it is our duty to educate one another. It is necessary to befriend people from outside of our groups, to understand the minority struggle, to realize we are all full of bias and confront our own prejudices, dispel stereotypes, challenge ‘jokes’, and stand up for people being targeted. It is our job to stop Asian hate.

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History of International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on March 8, and is a legal holiday in many countries. In addition to focusing on women’s rights, Women’s Day also celebrates women’s important contributions in economic, political and social fields.

The first Women’s Day was held in New York on February 28, 1909 by the Socialist Party of America. On March 8, 1917, in the Russian capital of St. Petersburg, women textile workers held strikes and processions throughout the city, which also led to the beginning of the Russian Revolution. Seven days later, Tsar Nicholas II abdicated, and the provisional government ensured that women had the right to vote.

How International Women’s Day is Celebrated

On March 8 every year, different people find different ways to celebrate women, especially those in their lives. This might take the form of gifts or words of appreciation, time off from work, or special events. At the end of the day, though, the most important thing (and the main idea behind the holiday), is that women are respected as much and treated equally as men – remember, actions (not presents) speak louder than words!

Key Words and Phrases Related to International Women’s Day

With these topics in mind, we’ve prepared some phrases that you might find useful when talking and reading about this important holiday.

1. 权利

权利 (quán  lì): n. right

This kind of “right” generally refers to the power that the law gives people to uphold and achieve their interests.

Examples:

wǒ men bú néng zuò jīn qián  hé  quán  lì  de  nú  lì ，ér  yào zuò tā men de zhǔ rén
我    们   不  能    做   金   钱   和     权  利   的   奴  隶，而   要  做  它  们  的  主   人。
We cannot be slaves of money and power, but masters of money and power.

suī  rán  wǒ  bú  tóng  yì  nǐ  de  shuō  fǎ ，dàn  wǒ  shì  sǐ  hàn  wèi  nǐ  shuō  huà  de  quán  lì
虽  然    我    不    同    意    你   的  说   法  ，但  我  誓  死   捍   卫   你   说     话     的     权   力。
Although I disagree with your point of view, I maintain your right to speak.

2. 举行

举行 (jǔxíng): v. to hold (meeting, ceremony, etc.)

wǒ  men  jiàng  zài  xià  zhōu  jǔ  xíng  kāi  xué  diǎn  lǐ
我    们      将    在   下    周     举    行    开    学   典   礼。
We will hold the opening ceremony next week.

3. 作斗争

作斗争 (zuò dòu zhēng): v. to fight; to struggle

wǒ  men  yào  gǎn  yú  tóng  gè  zhǒng  bù  fǎ  xíng  wéi  zuò  dòu  zhēng
我    们    要     敢    于     同    各    种    不    法    行    为     作   斗     争。
We must dare to fight against all kinds of wrongdoing.

4. 纪念日

纪念日 (jì  niàn  rì): n. anniversary; memorial day

nǐ  zhī  dào  jīn  tiān  shì  shén me  rì  zi  ma
你  知  道   今   天    是     什    么  日 子  吗 ？
Do you know what day today is?

wǒ  zhī  dào,  jīn  tiān  shì  wǒ  men  zài  yī  qǐ  yī  zhōu  nián  jì  niàn  rì
我   知   道，  今   天  是   我   们   在    一  起    一   周   年   纪   念   日。
I know that today is our first anniversary of being together.

eChineseLearning’s Helping You Celebrate

This year on International Women’s Day, eChineseLearning will be doing our best to support women around the world in their endeavors – specifically their Chinese learning aspirations! All women can get in touch with us for FREE Chinese learning courses; no matter your level, no matter your goals, let us work with you to achieve them.

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Recently, a phrase suddenly became popular on the Internet: ”凡尔赛文学(fán’ěrsài wénxué) Versailles Literature”.

Some people say that this expression was inspired by Versailles, the satellite city of Paris, France. The Palace of Versailles has a classic style and a magnificent appearance. It was mainly occupied by nobles, but most people these days would describe it as, “华而不实(huá ér bù shí) flashy” and unsuitable for living. Some people say it comes from the Japanese manga, “The Rose of Versailles”.

华而不实 (huá ér bù shí): “Flowers that bloom beautifully but do not bear fruit.” It refers to something that looks good on the surface, but has no actual substance or is not practical.

华 (huá): adj. flowering (the same as “花(huā)”)

实 (shí): v. to bear fruit

wǒmen zuòshì yào wùshí, bù kě huá ér bù shí.
我们做事要务实，不可华而不实。
We must be pragmatic in doing things, not flashy just for the sake of being flashy.

Huá ér bù shí de dōngxī shì bùkě qǔ de.
华而不实的东西是不可取的。
Superficially flashy things are not desirable.

Regardless of where it comes from, “凡尔赛文学(fáněrsài wénxué) Versailles Literature” describes the words used by those who, “不经意(bùjīngyì) inadvertent(ly)” show off their wealth, humbly show affection, and reveal their superior lifestyle in a calm tone.

不经意 (bùjīngyì): adj. inadvertent

huài xíguàn zǒng shì zài bùjīngyì jiān yǎng chéng de.
坏习惯总是在不经意间养成的。
Bad habits are always formed inadvertently.

shíjiān zǒng zài bùjīngyì jiān liū zǒu.
时间总在不经意间溜走。
Time always slips away inadvertently.

If you want to become well-versed in Versailles literature, you have to keep in mind three elements:

1. Suppress and then uplift, expressly praise and secretly depreciate.
2. Question yourself.
3. Make sure to flexibly employ the third-person perspective.

True “凡尔赛文学(fán’ěrsài wénxué) Versailles Literature” shows off thing the speaker values most by speaking about it as if it means nothing. For example, check out how these celebrities fluently recite their literature:

Tony Leung: “My charm lies in being ordinary.”

Kris Wu: “I don’t think I’m a handsome guy.”

Jack Ma: “I am not interested in money.”

In fact, whether it is the self-deprecation of the “struggling worker” or the revival of the “凡尔赛文学(fán’ěrsài wénxué) Versailles Literature”, at the heart of every item of pop cultural there lies deconstruction and reconstruction of young people’s self-identities. Because of economic growth, expanding resources, and broadened understandings of what is possible young people are increasingly able to find the support they need and live the way they want.

So, have you learned ”凡尔赛文学(fán’ěrsài wénxué) Versailles Literature?” If so, leave us an example of your literature in the comments below!

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斜杠青年 – A Generation of “Slashers”

The English emotion and version of this expression is actually not a foreign one to Chinese people – the popular online salesman/influencer/live streamer/”lipstick brother” Li Jiaqi often says, “Oh my god!” in live broadcasts and product reviews, and his particular way of saying it has become his hallmark.

In today’s article about “Oh my god!”, we’ll cover the Chinese phrases that you blurt out without thinking when you have a certain emotion.

1. 我的天哪 (wǒ de tiān nɑ)

You can use “我的天哪(wǒ de tiān nɑ)” when you are very surprised about something or feel that something is incredible (good or bad). You can also simply said “天哪(tiān nɑ)”.

Examples:

wǒ de tiān nɑ, zhè jiàn yīfú zěnme zhème piányi?
我的天哪，这件衣服怎么这么便宜？
Oh my god, why is this dress so cheap?

wǒ de tiān nɑ, nǐ zěnme zhème zāng?
我的天哪，你怎么这么脏？
Oh my god, why are you so dirty?

2. 我去 (wǒ qù)

In addition to “我的天哪(wǒ de tiān nɑ)”, younger generations of Chinese have developed another, slightly subdued, way to express the same emotion. Millennials have given birth to, “我去(wǒ qù)”.

The phrase literally translates to, “I go”, but that’s not at all what it means in this kind of situation. First appearing on the internet in 2010, this phrase was used by netizens when they felt surprised, or something unexpected happened, they found themselves in an unpleasant or weird situation – the words “我去” escaped their lips (err… fingertips?), conveying a slightly mocking, while at the same time speechless, tone.

When you are angry about something, or you hear some shocking or disappointing news, you can react with “我去(wǒ qù)!”.

Example:

A: tā lí jiā chūzǒu le.
A: 他离家出走了。
A: He ran away from home.

B: wǒ qù!
B: 我去！
B: Oh my god!

Or when you are skeptical about something, you can also use “我去(wǒ qù)!”

Example:

A: tā kǎo shàng le qīnghuá dàxué.
A: 他考上了清华大学。
A: He was admitted to Tsinghua University.

B: wǒqù! zhēnde jiǎde?
B: 我去，真的假的？
B: Oh my god! Really?

3.简直了 (jiǎnzhí le)

“简直(jiǎnzhí)” is an adverb, that literally means “simply”.

Example:

zhè jiǎnzhí tài kěxiào le!
这简直太可笑了！
This is simply ridiculous!

Influenced by the word’s function of exaggerating the degree, young people have started using the phrase “简直了(jiǎnzhíle)” to emphasize their strong emotions in spoken language.

“简直了(jiǎnzhíle)” is often used in conjunction with a tone of astonishment, admiration, disdain, or anger.

For example, when you are about to leave work and your boss suddenly assigns you a task, then you can use “简直了(jiǎnzhíle)”.

4.完蛋了(wándàn le)

When a situation develops to the point where it is irreversible, we will use “完蛋了(wándàn le)” to express a very bad and very desperate mood. Some readers might recognize the English acronym, “FUBAR” – it’s sort of like that, but less crass, and kind of means, “it’s finished”, or, “it’s all over,” or, “there’s no hope.” It can be used when something is very important to you, but you mess up.

Examples:

wǒ yǐwéi wǒ de shēnghuó wándàn le.
我以为我的生活完蛋了。
I thought my life was over.

A: nǐ zuótiān de miànshì zěnme yàng?
A: 你昨天的面试怎么样？
A: How was your interview yesterday?

B: wándàn le, wǒ jūrán wàngjì zhè jiàn shì le!
B: 完蛋了! 我居然忘记这件事了！
B: Oh no! I actually forgot about it!

With more and more exposure to online materials and cross-cultural references, Chinese slang often seems to evolve in lockstep with popular English terminology. However, it’s important to note that while the emotions expressed may be the same, the words are often different; or, while the words may be the same, the emotions they correlate to might not be one-to-one.

It’s a fun exercise to train yourself and your brain to react in ways that are appropriate not only to the way that you’re feeling but also to the environment you’re in – and a fun way to surprise your Chinese friends!

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I have realized that some Mandarin Chinese Halloween vocabulary words are quite literal in their meanings, and I’d like to take a look at them together with you!

Unique decorations

As soon as the fall hits, we start to see the familiar trappings of the spooky holiday – jack o’ lanterns, bats, skeletons and spider webs, to name a few.

These stand out among the familiar fall tropes like leaves, scarfs, and warm drinks, and set the stage for the fun night when people get to dress up and pretend to be someone (or something) they’re not!

1. 南瓜 (nánguā): (n.) pumpkin

南瓜灯 (nánguā dēng): (n.) jack o’ lantern

Examples:

lù de liǎngbiān guà mǎnle nánguā dēng.
路的两边挂满了南瓜灯。
There are pumpkin lanterns on both sides of the road.

wǒ xǐhuān chī nánguā.
我喜欢吃南瓜。
I like to eat pumpkin.

2. 骷髅 (kūlóu): (n.) skeleton; skull

Examples:

tā de yīfú shàng yǒu kūlóu tú’àn.
他的衣服上有骷髅图案。
There is a skull design on his clothes.

kūlóu ràng rén hàipà!
骷髅让人害怕！
Skeletons are scary!

3. 蜘蛛 (zhīzhū): (n.) spider

蜘蛛网 (zhīzhūwǎng): (n.) spider web; cobweb

Examples:

zhīzhū yǒu hěnduō tiáo tuǐ.
蜘蛛有很多条腿。
Spiders have many legs.

qiángbì shàng bù mǎnle zhīzhū wǎng!
墙壁上布满了蜘蛛网！
The walls are covered with spider webs!

4. 蝙蝠 (biānfú): (n.) bat

Examples:

biānfú huì fēi.
蝙蝠会飞。
Bats can fly.

biānfú jīngcháng zài wǎnshàng chūmò.
蝙蝠经常在晚上出没。
Bats often appear at night.

Suprising costumes

On Halloween, everyone wears all kinds of costumes, from simple sheets thrown over the head to elaborate get-ups with scary makeup! China has a good idiom to describe this phenomenon: “奇装异服 (qízhuāngyìfú)”.

奇装异服 (qízhuāngyìfú) means “bizarre dress”. The word “奇” means “novel”, and ”异” means ”special”, so “奇装异服(qízhuāngyìfú)” can be used to mean clothes that are more special than those ordinarily worn. “服装(fúzhuāng)” covers all different kinds of clothes in general, including formal wear, casual clothes, and others.

奇装异服 (qízhuāngyìfú): (n.) bizarre dress

yǒu de rén xǐhuān chuān qízhuāngyìfú, xiǎnde hěn yǒu gèxìng.
有的人喜欢穿奇装异服，显得很有个性。
Some people like to wear bizarre clothes, it really shows their personality.

Haunted house

Is there anything that “embodies” the “spirit” (pun intended!) of Halloween more than a haunted house? Inside its scary walls, anything can happen! The excitement, unknown, and a bit of fear make for an unforgettable experience (especially youngsters) in such a classic setting.

鬼 (guǐ): (n.) ghost

鬼屋 (guǐwū): (n.) haunted house (lit. “ghost house”)

guǐwū lǐ chōngchìzhe jiān jiào sheng!
鬼屋里充斥着尖叫声！
The haunted house is full of screams!

guǐwū hěn hǎowán!
鬼屋很好玩!
Haunted houses are fun!

However you end up celebrating Halloween this year, make sure you stay safe and enjoy your time with friends and family. Of course, if you’re planning on doing some trick-or-treating, then I also wish you good luck in getting your favorite kinds of candy… remember to save some for me!

Please choose the best answer.

What does “奇装异服” mean?
A.Bizarre dress
B. Formal dress
C. Casual dress

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The expression was made popular by a TikTok video where the speaker said, “Don’t mind what he is, 盘他(pán tā). Everything can be ‘盘’, just ‘盘’”.

What does that mean?

Let’s talk about 盘(pán) first.

Now, you may have seen the word 盘(pán) before in the context of eating. For example: 一盘菜(yī pán cài). This literally means, “A plate of food.”

Cānzhuō shàng shàngle yī pán cài.

餐桌上上了一盘菜。

A plate of food was brought to the table.

In this case, “盘” (pán) is being used as a quantifier to mean, “plate.” A quantifier is a word used to express the unit of quantity of people, things or actions.

盘(pán) can also be combined with another word, “子(zi)” to make “盘子(pánzi)” – plate, the kind of plate that is generally used to serve food and eat from.

盘子(pánzi): dish/plate

Examples:

tā bǎ pánzi xǐ gānjìngle.

他把盘子洗干净了。

He washed the dishes.

pánzi bèi dǎ suìle

盘子被打碎了

The plate was broken.

You may be asking yourself: Why are we talking about “plating” someone (盘他(pán tā))?

This is because 盘(pán) can also be used as a verb to mean repeatedly rubbing an object to make the surface smooth and textured. Many ornament collectors carry their ornaments, like good luck charms or even walnut shells, with them in their hands as they go out for a walk, rubbing them and over time changing the texture. In contrast to what many people are used to in the west, this action over time is thought to actually increase certain objects’ value – at least as far as the owners are concerned.

Applying this usage to people first appeared after a 2018 “cross talk” performance, when the speaker said, “It’s so dry, numb, and not round at all … 盘它!” After that, 盘 took on some new meanings:

To express your love for someone or something, e.g.:

juéde tā piàoliàng? xǐhuān tā duì ba? pán tā!

觉得她漂亮？喜欢她对吧？盘她！

You think she’s beautiful? You like her right? Well, show her how you feel!

To jokingly threaten or tease someone, e.g.:

nǐ shuōhuà zhùyì diǎn, xiǎoxīn wǒ pán nǐ.

你说话注意点，小心我盘你！

Be careful about what you say, or I’ll teach you a lesson!

As you can see, being able to this word appropriately takes some practice, given all its possible meanings. Luckily for you, we’ll get you started with a quick quiz to see how closely you paid attention:

Which of these sentences is appropriate to say to a waiter when you’re ordering your food?

A. (pointing at your friend)

qǐng ng pán tā!

请你盘他!

B. (pointing at the menu)

qǐng gěi wǒ lái yī pán ròu.

请给我来一盘肉.

C. (pointing at your plate)

zhège pánzi yǐjiīng pán h o le ma?

这个盘子已经盘好了吗？

D. (pointing at yourself)

wǒ kěyǐ pán něige cài?

我可以盘哪个菜？

“斜杠(xiégàng)” literally means “slash” in English, and refers to the “/” (particularly the key on the computer keyboard). The term was coined by Marci Alboher, a New York Times columnist, in her book One Person/Multiple Careers, in which she used “slashers” to refer to people with multiple occupations and identities.

The concept of “斜杠(xiégàng)” as it refers to people or lifestyles entered China and immediately took hold in youth culture, becoming a popular fashion and life attitude among young people, and amassing hashtags and search hits on social media platforms.

斜杠青年(xiégàng qīngnián): Slashers

斜杠(xiégàng): slash

Examples:

wǒ yǒu hěnduō péngyǒu dōu shì xiégāng qīngnián

我有很多朋友都是斜杠青年。

Many of my friends are slashers.

nǐ xiǎng chéngwéi xiégāng qīngnián ma?

你想成为斜杠青年吗？

Do you want to be a slasher?

Why is the concept of a “slasher” so popular in China?

Looking back, it’s easy to see that since mankind entered the post-industrial era, the service industry gradually risen in prominence, with mass production giving way to more personalized touches, and individuals creating their own value – a large part of people’s focus is shifting back to quality from quantity. Human creativity is once again being valued, and is increasingly dependent on individual autonomy and self-motivation.

This generation of young people is no longer limited to the stability emphasized by the previous generations. They are more open-minded, more eager for innovation and freedom, and more open to pursuing the realization of self-worth. Autonomy, diversification, fun, independence…these allow the “slasher” to adapt to his or her environment in this era of continuous reform and innovation.

Social and professional competition are becoming increasingly fierce, and being multitalented is a huge plus, as it makes it easier for an individual to avoid being replaced by AI or automation. Additionally, the implementation of such improvements also means that the knowledge and skill requirements of the younger generation are getting higher and higher, and another skill means another way to make money.

Therefore, the emergence of slashers is not coincidental, but rather the product of developments at the macro and micro levels.

As companies have laid off dozens if not hundreds of employees due to this year’s epidemic, many people are now unemployed. More and more of them realized the benefit of being able to pivot – they thought that their career or life was going in one direction, but now they have to change. Teachers have become network anchors, and company men are now modeling. The street stall economy has picked up, and some companies have even begun implementing a “shared employees” model.

Here are some famous “slashers”，you may think that they are a bit old, but when they were young they actually had multiple identities.

Su Shi

Poet / essayist / calligrapher / painter / philosopher / gourmet…

His poems, verses, and prose are all highly recognize, and his skill with a calligraphy and paintbrush are nothing to shake a stick at. He is a rare “all-rounder” in Chinese literature and art, recognize among the elite in the field in all of China’s thousands of years of history. In addition, he is also a politician who speaks truth to power, a gourmet, and a health expert.

This man is truly 优秀(yōuxiù) – “Excellent”!

A:  wǒ bǐsài dé liǎo dì yī míng

A: 我比赛得了第一名。

A: I won first place in the competition.

B:yōuxiù

B:优秀!

B:Excellent!

tā shì yī míng yōuxiù de zhōngwén lǎoshī.

她是一名优秀的中文老师。

She is an excellent Chinese teacher.

Many familiar celebrities are also slashers.

Jack Ma

Entrepreneur / Investor / philanthropist

The founder of Alibaba, a well-known entrepreneur, and a successful investor and philanthropist, Jack Ma’s passion for his work and determination to succeed have made him extremely well known the world over.

Jackie Chan

Actor / director  / producer / screenwriter / singer / stuntman

Jackie Chan’s name is a familiar one – a well-known figure in the acting world, he was one of the first Chinese film stars to really make a splash in Hollywood. In recent years, however, Jackie Chan’s name has appeared across industries not only related to the big screen.

So… do you want to be a 斜杠青年?

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HSK Test

General Chinese (Beginner Level) 

General Chinese (Intermediate Level) 

In Chinese, “理解(lǐjiě)” and “了解(liǎojiě)” are two verbs, both of which mean, “to know and understand”. However, there’s a difference: “了解” has a broader meaning and scope than “理解”. “了解” means “to understand” in the general, broader, and even superficial sense, but “理解” indicates a deeper comprehension.

Let’s take a look at some examples:

Example:

wǒ hěn liǎojiě tā.
我很了解他。
I understand him well.

In this case, “understand” just means knowing his name, what he likes, maybe what his job is, etc. In other words, more surface-level information superficial things.

wǒ lǐjiě tā wèishéme zhème zuò.
我理解他为什么这么做。
I understand why he did this.

Here, the “understand” means the speaker comprehends what happened at a deeper level, beyond just the facts that everyone knows.

Let’s look at another usage of “理解(lǐjiě)”, when its meaning of, “understand” is used to suggest allowance, tolerance, etc.

Example:

zhè jiàn shì shuāngfāng dōu yǒu cuò, dàjiā xiānghù lǐjiè yíxià.
这件事双方都有错，大家相互理解一下。
Both sides are wrong in this matter, please understand each other.

Please choose the best answer to fill in the blank.

A. 理解(lǐjiě)

B. 了解(liǎojiě)

1.wǒ xué zhōngwén shì wèile gèng hǎo de______zhōngguó wénhuà.
我学中文是为了更好的______中国文化。

2.zhè jiàn shì shì wǒ zuò cuòle, xīwàng nǐ ______yíxià.
这件事是我做错了，希望你______一下。

3.wǒ bù______tā de fǎnyìng wèishéme zhème dà.
我不______他的反应为什么这么大。

4.wǒ xiǎng shìzhe qù______tā.
我想试着去______他。

See Answer Analysis

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