Foreigners Challenge Beijing Opera (Advanced)
In this video, four foreigners “challenged” the four “京剧 (jīngjù) Beijing Opera” performers by showing off their moves. What these foreigners did is also called “叫板 (jiàobǎn),” which means “to challenge somebody” in daily life. Originally in Beijing Opera, “叫板 …
打折 (dǎzhé) To Give a Discount (Advanced)
The character “打 (dǎ)” means to beat and “折 (zhé)” means fold or discount.
Example: A: Tīngshuō Bǎishèng dǎzhé ne, xiǎng qù kànkan ma? 听说 百盛 打折 呢， 想 去 看看 吗？ I heard that there is sale …
跑题 (pǎotí) Digress into a Different Subject (Advanced)
The character “跑 (pǎo)” means to run; “题 (tí)” means topic or subject.
Example:
Zhècì zuòwén wǒ hǎoxiàng xiě pǎotí le. 这次 作文 我 好像 写 跑题了。 I seem to digress from the subject in this essay …
Correct answer: B
Analysis: A. “堵塞 (dǔsè)” are the Chinese characters for “to block.”
Both “堵 (dǔ)” and “塞 (sè)” mean to stop up.
B. “堵车 (dǔchē)” are the Chinese characters for “traffic jam.”
“堵 (dǔ)” means to stop up, and …
“Such bad luck! Today I was stuck in a traffic jam on the way to take my
, and I was almost too late.” Do you know how to write the
for “traffic jam” in this sentence? …
宫保鸡丁的来历 (Gōngbǎo jīdīng de láilì) Origin of Kung Pao Chicken (Advanced)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
宫保鸡丁 (gōngbǎo jīdīng): n Kung Pao Chicken
川菜 (chuāncài): n Sichuan dish
鸡肉 (jīròu):n chicken
“宫保鸡丁 (gōngbǎo jīdīng)Kung Pao Chicken” is usually perceived as a “川菜 (chuāncài) Sichuan dish,” and …
乐观 (lèguān) Optimistic (advanced)
The character “乐 (lè)” means happy; “观 (guān)” means view.
Tā jíshǐ zài zuì zāogāo de shíhou yě zǒngshì fēicháng lèguān. 她 即使 在 最 糟糕 的 时候 也 总是 非常 乐观。 She was always optimistic, even when things were …
In the travel Chinese course, you can learn things that are “五颜六色 (wǔyánliùsè)” about China. Do you know the English meaning of “五颜六色 (wǔyánliùsè)?” A. Colorful B. Beautiful C. Lovely D. Many…
Correct answer: A
Analysis:
A. “五颜六色 (wǔyánliùsè)” is the phrase for “colorful.”
“五 (wǔ)” means five and “颜 (yán)” refers to color. “六 (liù)” means six and “色 (sè)” means color.
B. “美丽 (měilì)” is the phrase for “beautiful.”
“美 (měi)” …
A: Jiàn wǒ mèimei le ma? 见 我 妹妹 了 吗？ B: Tā gāng hé wǒ shuō le yí jù huà, jiù cōngmáng zǒu le. 她 刚 和 我 说 了 一 句 话， 就 匆忙 走 了。 Do you know …
Correct answer: B Analysis: A. “及时 (jíshí)” is the phrase for “in time.”
“及 (jí)” means to reach and “时 (shí)” refers to time.
B. “匆忙 (cōngmáng)” is the phrase for “in a hurry.” “匆 (cōng)” means hurried and “忙 (máng)” …
幸亏 (xìnɡkuī) Fortunately/ Thanks to
The character “幸 (xìng)” means lucky and “亏 (kuī)” originally means loss.
Xìngkuī huǒchē wǎndiǎn le, wǒmen cái gǎnshàng le chē. 幸亏 火车 晚点 了， 我们 才 赶上 了 车。
Fortunately, the train came late so we did not …
If you learn Mandarin, you may have heard of a famous poet named Haizi in China. One of his most famous poem is “面朝大海, 春暖花开.” Do you know the meaning of “春暖花开 (chūnnuǎnhuākāi)?” A. Flushed with success.
B. Beaming with Satisfaction…
盼 (pàn) To Expect/ To Hope for (Advanced) The character “盼 (pàn)” means to expect or to hope for.
Example:
Chúxīyè hái méi dào, háizimen jiù kāishǐ pàn le, yīnwèi tāmen kěyǐ dédào yāsuìqián ne! 除夕夜 还 没 到， 孩子们 就 开始 盼 了，因为 他们 …
Correct answer: D Analysis: A. “Méikòng” is the Chinese pinyin for “没空 have no time.” “没 (méi)” means no. “空 (kòng)” means empty literally. But here it means time and takes the falling tone.
B. “Méiyòng” is the Chinese pinyin for …
A: Nǐ juéde wǒ búqù shàng Zhōngwénkè néng tōngguò kǎoshì ma? 你 觉得 我 不去 上 中文课 能 通过 考试 吗？ Do you think I can pass the exam without taking Chinese courses? B: Xiāngxìn wǒ, gēmenr, _________. 相信 我，哥们儿，没门儿。 Believe …
Correct Answer: C
Analysis:
A. “喜从天降 (xǐcóngtiānjiàng)” is the Chinese phrase for “a heaven-sent fortune.” “喜 (xǐ)” means happiness and “从 (cóng)” means from. “天 (tiān)” means sky in this context and “降 (jiàng)” means to fall.
B. “喜出望外 (xǐchūwàngwài)” is …
The Chinese New Year is coming up soon. All the surroundings in China are full of happiness. Do you know the Chinese meaning of “full of happiness?” A. 喜从天降 (xǐcóngtiānjiàng) B. 喜出望外 (xǐchūwàngwài) C. 喜气洋洋 (xǐqìyángyáng) D. 喜怒哀乐 (xǐnù’āilè)
…红红火火 (hónghónghuǒhuǒ) Flourishing (Advanced)
The character “红 (hóng)” means red and “火 (huǒ)” means fire.
Example:
Chūnjié dào le, dàjiā dōu hónghónghuǒhuǒ guò xīnnián. 春节到了，大家都红红火火过新年。
Spring festival is coming; people are celebrating the New Year with excitement.…
In China, parents always say to their children: “你不要总把我的话当作耳旁风.” Do you know the meaning of Chinese phrase “耳旁风?”
A. Deceive oneself
B. Walls have ears
C. What you hear may be false
D. Turn a deaf ear to something…
