#ChineseForBeginnerLearners
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: 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 …
Chinese Culture: Origin of “元旦 (Yuándàn) New Year’s Day”
Origin of “元旦 (Yuándàn) New Year’s Day” Key Learning Point (Preview): 元旦 (Yuándàn) n. New Year’s Day
“元旦(Yuándàn) New Year’s Day” has a three thousand-year history in China. In ancient times, “元旦 (Yuándàn)” was the “农历 (nónglì) lunar calendar” new year—today’s “春节 (Chūnjié) Spring Festival.” …
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? …
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。 …
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 …
Quotes of the week (Dec.22, 2009)
Wǒ zhǔnbèi zìjǐ chuàngyè. 我准备自己创业。 I plan to start my own business. Wǒ de xìngfú shēnghuó huì yìzhí yánxù. 我的幸福生活会一直延续。 My happy life will continue. —from common Chinese female workers in a recent cover story of the TIME magazine Got questions?…
加油 (jiāyóu) Make an extra effort (Beginner)
加油 (jiāyóu) Make an extra effort
The character “加 (jiā)” means to increase or to add and “油 (yóu)” means
oil. So the phrase literally means to add oil.
Example: Nǐ kě yào jiāyóu a, búyào gūfùle dàjiā duì nǐ de qīwàng. 你可要加油啊，不要辜负了大家对你的期望。
You must …
Quote of the week (Dec. 15, 2009)
Xiànzài de fángjià shì méiyǒu zuì gāo, zhǐyǒu gèng gāo, bú duàn dì gèng gāo, yuè lái yuè gāo. 现在的房价是没有最高，只有更高，不断地更高，越来越高。
The housing price now will never reach the highest. It will only go higher and higher.
—From the hot Chinese TV series《蜗居》(Wōjū) Dwelling Narrowness
Got …
Quote of the week (Dec. 1, 2009)
Yǒngyuǎn bú yào wèn lǐfàshī nǐ shìfǒu xūyào lǐfà！ 永远不要问理发师你是否需要理发！
Never ask the barber whether you need haircut or not! Got questions?…
Quote of the week (Dec. 9, 2009)
Fěnsī mài dào yúchì de jiàgé cái jiào pàomò. 粉丝卖到鱼翅的价格才叫泡沫。
If the price of vermicelli is equal to that of shark’s fins, we can say there is a bubble in this market. — By 任志强(Rèn Zhìqiáng) Ren Zhiqiang, a famous executive commenting on China’ s …
Mini-test Answer: Yellow (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Correct answer: D Analysis: A. “红色 (hóngsè)” are the Chinese characters for “red.”
“红 (hóng)” means red and “色 (sè)” means color.
B. “蓝色 (lánsè)” are the Chinese characters for “blue.”
“蓝 (lán)” means blue and “色 (sè)” means color.
C. …
China’s Most Valuable Brand
China’s Most Valuable Brand
Key Learning Points (Preview):
抱怨 (bàoyuàn): v to complain
信誉 (xìnyù): n reputation
In December 2009, China’s most valuable brand list was “揭晓 (jiēxiǎo) announced” in New York and 100 Chinese consumer brands “进入 (jìnrù) entered” the final list, including “联想(liánxiǎng) …
隐形的翅膀 (Yǐnxíng De Chìbǎng ) Invisible Wings
隐形的翅膀 (Yǐnxíng De Chìbǎng ) Invisible Wings Listen to this song
Key Learning Points (Preview):
坚强 (jiānqiánɡ): n. strong 希望 (xīwànɡ): n/v. hope/to hope Měi yí cì dōu zài páihuái gūdān zhōng jiānqiáng, 每一次都在徘徊孤单中坚强， Every time in hesitation and loneliness I become stronger, Měi yí …
Mini-test Answer: 没关系 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Correct answer: B
Analysis:
A. “Good night” is the phrase for “晚安 (wǎn’ān).” “晚 (wǎn)” refers to night and “安 (ān)” means quiet here.
B. “It doesn’ t matter” is the phrase for “没关系 (méiguānxi).”
“没 (méi)” is a negative word. …