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.
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? …
狂欢 (kuánghuān) Binge or Revelry
“狂欢 (kuánghuān)” are the Chinese character for “Revelry.” The
character “狂 (kuáng)” means unrestrained and the character “欢 (huān)”
means happy.
圣诞节大家一起去狂欢吧！
We are going to revel at Christmas.
Got questions?
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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
“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.
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。 …
放心 (fàngxīn) Feel relieved
The character “放 (fàng)” means put down and “心 (xīn)” means heart.
Example: Tā hěn xìxīn de, zhè shì jiāogěi tā lái bàn, nín jiù fàngxīn ba. 她很细心的，这事交给她来办，您就放心吧。
Let her handle the matter, for she is very careful. Please don’ t …
随便 (suíbiàn) Casual/Informal
The character “随 (suí)” means to comply with and “便 (biàn)” means convenience. Example： Tā píngshí zhuózhuāng hěn suíbiàn, cóngbù jiǎngjiu. 他平时着装很随便，从不讲究。 He usually dresses casually and never pays much attention to the way he dresses.
Got questions? // // …
下马威 (xiàmǎwēi) Show one’s power to intimidate others at the
The character “下 (xià)” means to get down; “马 (mǎ)” means horse and
“威 (wēi)” means power. Oftentimes, this phrase is used when power or
severity is displayed by an official upon taking office.…
知己 (zhījǐ) Extremely close friend/ Bosom friend
The character “知 (zhī)” means to know and “己 (jǐ)” means self.
Example:
Yī gè rén huì yǒu hěnduō péngyou, dàn nénggòu chéngwéi zhījǐ de què hěn shǎo. 一个人会有很多朋友，但能够成为知己的却很少。
A person will have many friends, but just a …
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 …
面熟 (miànshú) Look familiar
The character “面 (miàn)” means face or surface and “熟 (shú)” means familiar.
Zhè xiǎo nánhái hǎo miànshú ya, hǎoxiàng zài nǎ’er jiànguò. 这小男孩好面熟呀，好像在哪儿见过。
The little boy looked so familiar. I seem to have seen him somewhere before. Got questions?…
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) …
(Try our Chinese idiom lesson for you)
Lǐ Bái xiǎo shíhou tè tānwán, yí dào shàngkè jiù zǒushén. 李 白 小 时候 特 贪玩，一 到 上课 就 走神。 Li Bai was fond of playing when he …
把关 (bǎguān) Check on
The character “把 (bǎ)” means to hold or to grasp and “关 (guān)” means
check point.
Example:
Nǐ xiān zìyǐ xiě zhè piān wénzhāng ba, xiě wánle wǒ bāng nǐ bǎbǎguān. 你先自已写这篇文章吧，写完了我帮你把把关。
First, you write the paper by yourself; then I …
翘课 (qiàokè) Skip classes
The character “翘 (qiào)” means to stick up or to bend upwards and “课
(kè)” means class.
Example:
Nǐ bú yào zài qiàokè le, fǒuzé zhè cì kǎoshì tōng bú guò le. 你不要再翘课了，否则这次考试通不过了。
Don’ t skip classes. Otherwise you won’ t …
挂科 (guàkē) Flunk/ Fail in the exam
The character “挂 (guà)” means failing and “科 (kē)” means subject or a branch of academic or vocational study.
Example:
Yīnwéi méiyŏu nǔlì xuéxí, zhè cì kăoshì Gao Feng yòu guàkē le. 因为没有努力学习，这次考试高峰又挂科了。 Not having studied his lessons …
折腾 (zhēteng) Do much ado about nothing
The character “折 (zhē)” means to roll over or turn over and “腾 (téng)”
means galloping or jumping. Example:
Còuhezhe shuì yíhuìr, bié zhēteng le. 凑合着睡一会儿，别折腾了。
Just try to sleep for a while. Don’ t do much ado …
搞定 (gǎodìng) Make it/ Work out/ Get it done
The character “搞 (gǎo)” means to make or to do and “定 (dìng)”
means to calm down or to decide.
Wǒ xiāngxìn nǐ yídìng néng gǎodìng zhè jiàn shì. 我相信你一定能搞定这件事。
I believe you can get …
马后炮 (măhòupào) Belated effort
The character “马 (mă) refers to horse; “后 (hòu)” means later or after and
“炮 (pào)” means big gun or cannon. Example: Nǐ zhè rén jiù shì mǎhòupào, shìxiān zěnme bù tíxǐng wǒ a. 你这人就是马后炮，事先怎么不提醒我啊。
You always give belated effort. Why …
碰钉子 (pèngdīngzi) Being rejected / Being turned down
The character “碰 (pèng)” means to run into; “钉 (dīng)” means nail or tack
and “子 (zi)” is used as a suffix here.
Tā zài bànshì de shíhou pèngle dīngzi, huíjiā hòu xīnqíng bùhǎo. 他在办事的时候碰了钉子，回家后心情不好。
He …
时髦 (shímáo) Fashionable or Stylish
The character “时 (shí)” means a long period of time and “髦 (máo)” means
fine long hair.
Thomas Jeffrey Hanks shì gè ài gǎn shímáo de rén. 汤姆汉克斯是个爱赶时髦的人。
Thomas Jeffrey Hanks is a man who is very fashionable.
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