“No zuo no die!” Chinese young netizens are always saying this on the internet these days. This phrase was even recorded in “The Urban Dictionary,” an American web-based dictionary of
, and more than 4,000 “thumbs” were given to it. However, …
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blank. Rose: Zhè běn shū shì shuí de? Rose：这 本 书 是 谁 的？ Zeo: Shì wǒ de. Zeo：是 我 的。 Rose: Nǐ kàn wán le ma? Rose：你看 完 了 吗？ Zoe: _____ Zoe：_____ A. 我完了。(Wǒ …
We have published four issues of newsletter in April 2014. Have you read all of them? Let’s see how much you have learned from this month’s issues! Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blank. Zhāng Míng: Jim, nǐ hé Anna shénme shíhou …
While learning Chinese, we have become familiar with the numbers “七(qī) seven,” “八(bā) eight,” and the two verbs “上 (shàng) up,” and “下 (xià) down.” Such as, “七天 (qī tiān) seven days, ” “八点(bā diǎn) eight o’clock,” “上楼 (shànglóu) go upstairs,” and “下山 (xiàshān) go …
Chū dōngmén, guò dà qiáo, dà qiáo dǐ xià yí shù zǎo , 出 东门， 过 大 桥， 大 桥 底 下 一 树 枣， Going across the bridge after getting out of the eastern gate. There are a lot of dates on the tree. …
Bàba māma, 爸爸 妈妈， Dad and mom, Rúguǒ nǐmen ài wǒ, jiù duōduō de péipei wǒ. 如果 你们 爱 我，就 多多 地 陪陪 我 。 If you love me, please spend more time with me. Rúguǒ nǐmen ài wǒ, jiù duōduō de qīnqin wǒ. 如果 …
“潮(cháo),” literally means “tide,” and is typically used in phrases related to the tide, such as “潮水(cháoshuǐ) tide” and “涨潮(zhǎngcháo) rising tide” etc.
Examples
Qiántángjiāng de cháoshuǐ hěn yǒumíng. 钱塘江 的 潮水 很 有名。
The tide of Qiantang River is very famous.
Zhǎngcháo de shíhou …
In the Chinese language, the basic meaning of “门(mén)” is “door.”
Example
Qǐng guānmén! 请 关门！
Close the door, please!
But in some words although they contain the character “门(mén),” the meaning of the word has nothing to do with “door,” such as “热门(rèmén)” and …
In the Chinese language, many words, when combined with other words, will have different meanings. Today, let’s talk about the word “卖(mài).”
Generally, “卖(mài)” means “to sell,” usually we have “卖菜(mài cài) sell vegetables,” “卖报纸(mài bàozhǐ) sell the newspaper” “卖书(mài shū) sell books” etc.
Examples…
shuōhuǎng de xiǎoxióng 说谎 的 小熊
The Little Bear That Lied Měilì de dà sēnlín lǐ, yǒu yípiàn jīnhuángsè de xiàngrìkuí. 美丽 的 大 森林 里，有 一片 金黄色 的 向日葵。
In a beautiful forest, there is a section of golden sunflowers.
Ér sēnlín de lìng …
Key Learning Points (Preview):
胜 (shèng) to win
败 (bài) to lose
On June 22nd, the NBA had its fifth and final championship game; the result being that the Miami Heat “大胜 (dà shèng)” beat the Oklahoma City Thunder by a margin of 121–106 and …
There are varying ways to greet people in Chinese depending on the time of day “早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo) good morning” or the situation “好久不见 (háo jiǔ bú jiàn) long time no see.” One of the more baffling greetings you’re likely to encounter in China is …
Conversation:
Mike’s going to buy a car; he wants advice from his friend Tom who bought a car last year.
Gēmenr, wǒ xiǎng mǎi chē, nǐ shì guòláirén, yǒu shénme hǎo de jiànyì ma? Mike: 哥们儿，我 想 买 车，你 是 过来人， …
Conversation:
Tom nearly had an accident when he was driving. He was so scared that the fear stayed in his eyes for quite a time. He recently had a conversation with his friend Mike.
Gēmen, zěnme liǎnsè bú tài hǎo. Mike: …
“不可救药 (bùkějiùyào)” literally means that someone is so sick that no medicine can bring him back to good health, to be beyond saving, or in other words, hopeless. Just like the English word “hopeless,” “不可救药 (bùkějiùyào)” has evolved to describe someone who can’t be changed …
“萌 (méng)” literarily means to sprout and is the symbol of spring. From this, the meaning of “萌 (méng)” has been extended to describe girls who are young and innocent. The term originated from the animation industry and was used as a lingua franca to …
Conversation:
Mike is at his boss’s door; he knocks to enter.
Mén kāi zhe, jìnlai ba. Boss: 门 开 着，进来 吧。
Lǎobǎn, zhè shì nín yào de wénjiàn. Mike: 老板， 这 是 您 要 的 文件。
What does the boss mean?…
The right answer to the quiz is A.
Translation: Mén kāi zhe, jìnlai ba. Boss: 门 开 着，进来 吧。
The door is open, please come in.
Lǎobǎn, zhè shì nín yào de wénjiàn. Mike: 老板， 这 是 您 要 的 文件。…
Key Learning Points (Preview):
能手 (néngshǒu): n. an expert/someone who masters a certain skill perfectly
中 (zhòng): v. to hit
Listen to the whole idiom story
Yǎng Yóujī shì gǔdài zhùmíng de shèjiàn néngshǒu. 养 由基 是 古代 著名 的 射箭 能手。
Yang Youji was …
Key Learning Points (Preview):
抬 (tái): v. to lift/raise
理发 (lǐfà): v. to have a haircut
In North China, there is a saying that goes “二月二，龙抬头 (èr yuè èr, lóng tái tóu) The Dragon Raises Its Head.” It signals the arrival of spring, the beginning …
