Conversation:
It was New Year’s Day. The husband wanted to give his wife a surprise, so he prepared a big meal for her.
Yuádàn kuàile! Zhèxiē dōushì wǒ tèyì wèi nǐ zhǔnbèi de. Husband: 元旦 快乐！ 这些 都是 我 特意为 你 …
Key Learning Points (Preview):
聚 (jù): v. to get together
大餐 (dàcān): n. feast
Stockings and presents are just around the corner and westerners everywhere are busy wrapping, caroling and bustling about. Since its more widespread publicity in China since the 1990s, Christmas has slowly, …
Christmas is coming along with everybody’s favorite jolly fat man! In today’s lesson, we’ll take a look at the four most popular Chinese words for kids during Christmas time. And for any kids reading: study hard, be kind and we’ll all keep our fingers crossed …
Conversation:
Jen: Hi, Tom, Merry Christmas.
Tom: Thanks, and a Merry Christmas to you.
How do you say “Merry Christmas” in Chinese?
A: 圣诞快乐 (Shèngdàn kuàile)
B: 元旦快乐 (Yuándàn kuàile)
C: 快乐圣诞 (Kuàile Shèngdàn)
Conversation
Zhōumò qù guàngjiē ba, Shèngdànjié hěnduō dōngxi dōu dǎzhé ne! Mary: 周末 去 逛街 吧，圣诞节 很多 东西 都 打折 呢。
Hǎo a. Lana: 好 啊。
What does Mary mean? A. Christmas is coming soon.
B. Discounts will be given in …
Read the conversation:
Nǐ zuò de cài zhēn hǎo chī. Tom: 你做 的 菜 真 好 吃。
Nà dāngrán le, zuòcài kě shì wǒ de náshǒuhǎoxì. Mike: 那 当然 了，做菜 可 是 我 的 拿手好戏。
What does Mike mean here? A. …
Key Learning Point (Preview): 小人 (xiǎorén): n. a mean/cruel person
One day, my British friend asked me how to say “adult” in Mandarin. It’s “大人 (dàrén) adult” I told him. “So then, I’m an ‘大人 (dàrén) adult’, and you are too,” he started, “but my …
Key Learning Point (Preview):
辣 (là): adj. spicy/hot
Read this short conversation where Mike and John discuss a new colleague.
Wǒmen bùmén xīn lái le yíge nǚ tóngshì. Mike: 我们 部门 新 来 了一个 女 同事。 There is a new woman colleague in our department. …
Conversation:
Kàn nàge nǚháir, wǒ tǐng xǐhuan tā de. Dan: 看 那个 女孩儿，我 挺 喜欢 她的。 Nà jiù gǎnjǐn zhuī ya, cuòguòle kě jiù láibují le. Tom: 那就 赶紧 追 呀， 错过 了 可就 来不及了。
What does “追 (zhuī)” Imply here? …
Lily complains about her husband to Lucy.
Conversation: Tā jìngrán bǎ wǒ de huà dàng ěrpángfēng, qì sǐ wǒ le. Lily: 他 竟然 把 我 的 话 当 耳旁风， 气 死我了。
Āiya, bié shànghuǒ le. Lucy: 哎呀，别 上火 了。
What does …
Conversation:
Wǒ ____ nián shíyī zhǔnbèi qù Ōuzhōu lǚyóu. Lily: 我____ 年 十一 准备 去 欧洲 旅游。
Shì ma? Tǐng hǎo de. Lucy: 是吗？ 挺 好 的。
Choose the right word for the blank.
A: 明 (míng) B: 下 (xià) …
“钻牛角尖 (zuān niújiǎojiān)” refers to someone who wastes time and effort trying to figure out an insignificant or insoluble problem. Sometimes this idiom is used to describe a narrow-minded person.
Key Learning Point (Preview):
钻牛角尖 (zuān niújiǎojiān): to get into a dead end
Yìzhī lǎoshǔ …
Key Learning Point (Preview): 剩女 (shèngnǚ) n. spinsters
Today we take a look at the Chinese phrase “剩女 (shèngnǚ).” The term shows up every day in newspapers, TV shows and daily life. Can you guess its meaning? “剩 (shèng)” means to remain, or to be …
“纠结 (jiūjié)” was first used by the animation Fansub group back in 2001. In one of the cartoons, a character shouted “纠结啊! (jiūjié a!)” Since then, the term transitioned from being popular among animation fans, to being a popular termed widely used by the masses.…
Conversation:
Láibùjí le, mòbānchē zǒu le. Anne: 来不及了，末班车 走 了。
Āi, yòu děi dǎchē huíjiā le. Tina: 哎，又 得 打车 回家 了。
Based on the conversation above choose the correct answer.
What does “来不及 (láibùjí)” mean in the dialogue?
A: Come …
Conversation: Chángchang wǒ zuò de Xīhóngshì chǎo jīdàn zěnmeyàng? Mary: 尝尝 我 做 得 西红柿 炒 鸡蛋 怎么样？
Búcuò a, hěn hǎo chī! Ella: 不错 啊，很 好 吃！
What does “不错 (búcuò)” mean in this dialogue?
A: Right/correct B: Good/not bad…
Key Learning Point (Preview):
不到黄河心不死 (bù dào Huánghé xīn bù sǐ): Don’t stop until the goal is reached.
A long time ago, there was a boy who was fond of imitating bird songs. His “模仿 (mófǎng) imitation” was so perfect that even birds were drawn …
Conversation: Wǒ yào xiàng Lily biǎobái. Dan: 我 要 向 Lily 表白。
Qù ba, wǒ tǐng nǐ. Frank: 去 吧，我 挺 你！
What does “挺 (tǐng)” mean in this sentence?
A: quite/very
B: To stand upright
C: To support
Wǒ shì Michael Jackson de chāojí fěnsī. Alice: 我 是 Michael Jackson 的 超级 粉丝。 Wǒ yě shì! Wǒ ài Michael! James: 我 也 是！我爱 Michael!
What does “粉丝 (fěnsī)” mean in this dialogue?
A: Bean vermicelli
B: Fans
C: Beancurd…
Key Learning Point (Preview):
光棍儿 (guānggùnr): n. bachelor
The day of Nov. 11 (11.11) is the so-called “光棍儿节 (Guānggùnr jié) Single’s Day,” because the four number “1’s” in the date look like four sticks with smooth surface. In Chinese the phrase “光棍儿 (guānggùnr)” first appeared …
