啤酒 (píjiǔ) Beer (Beginner)
啤酒 (píjiǔ) Beer (Beginner)
Example: A: Zǎoshànghǎo, yǒu shénme kěyǐ bāng nín ma? A: 早上好， 有 什么 可以 帮 您 吗？ A: Good morning, can I help you?
B: Wǒ xiǎng yào yíguàn píjiǔ. B: 我 想 要 一罐 啤酒。 B: I want a can of beer.…
#ChineseForBeginnerLearners
好吃 (hǎochī) Delicious (Beginner)
好吃 (hǎochī) Delicious (Beginner)
Example:
A: Nǐ juéde gōngbǎo jīdīng zěnmeyàng? 你 觉得 宫保 鸡丁 怎么样？
How do you like Kung Pao Chicken?
B: Wǒ juéde hěn hǎochī. 我 觉得 很 好吃。
I think it’s very delicious.
// // General Chinese (Beginner Level) General Chinese (Intermediate Level) …
照相 (zhàoxiàng) Take a Photo (Beginner)
照相 (zhàoxiàng) Take a Photo (Beginner)
The character “照 (zhào)” means to illuminate and “相 (xiàng)” means photograph.
Example:
A: Dǎrǎo yíxià, qǐngwèn kěyǐ bāng wǒmen zhàoxiàng ma? 打扰 一下，请问 可以 帮 我们 照相 吗？ Excuse me, could you please take a photo for us?
B: Hǎode. 好的。 OK.…
好主意 (hǎozhǔyi) Good Idea (Beginner)
好主意 (hǎozhǔyi) Good Idea (Beginner)
The character “好 (hǎo)” means good; “主 (zhǔ)” means main and “意 (yì)” means idea here.
Example: A: Wǒ xiǎng lìyòng jiàqī xuéxí yìxiē shāngwù hànyǔ. 我 想 利用 假期 学习 一些 商务 汉语。 I want to learn some business Chinese during my holiday.…
怎么样 (zěnmeyàng) How about/ What about (Beginner)
怎么样 (zěnmeyàng) How about/ What about (Beginner) “怎么 (zěnme)” mean how and “样 (yàng)” means shape or pattern.
Example:
A: Wǒ zǒngshì zài zhōngwén duìhuà zhōng tīngdào “zěnmeyàng” zhège cí, 我 总是 在 中文 对话 中 听到 “怎么样” 这个 词， tā shì shénme yìsi? 它 是 什么 意思？ I always hear “怎么样” in Chinese conversations.…
Peyton Manning vs. Justin Timberlake in a Ping-Pong Match (Beginner)
Peyton Manning vs. Justin Timberlake in a Ping-Pong Match (Beginner)
In the following Sony commercial, American pop musician and actor Justin Timberlake and Indianapolis Colts quarterback, Peyton Manning, square off in a ping-pong match and try out their Mandarin:
When Peyton Manning said, “我的中文也有进步 (Wǒ de Zhōngwén yě yǒu jìnbù) My Chinese has improved too,” Justin Timberlake said, “你的中文也就一般般 (Nǐ de Zhōngwén yě jiù yìbānbān) Your Mandarin is shaky at best.”…
Chinese Nursery Rhyme for Kids: 画鸭子 To Draw a Duck
Chinese Nursery Rhyme for Kids (Beginner) 画鸭子 (Huà yāzi) To Draw a Duck Key Learning Points (Preview):
星期二 (xīngqīèr): n Tuesday
鸡蛋 (jīdàn): n egg
小鸭子 (xiǎo yāzi): n duckling Listen to the nursery rhyme:
Jīntiān xīngqīèr. 今天 星期二。 Today is Tuesday.
Nǎinai mǎi le ge dà jīdàn.…
Mini-test Answer：香水 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Correct answer: B
Analysis:
A. “Xiāngjiāo” is the Chinese Pinyin for “香蕉 banana.”
“香 (xiāng)” literally means fragrant, and “蕉 (jiāo) ” means broadleaf plant.
B. “Xiāngshuǐ” is the Chinese Pinyin for “香水 perfume.”
“香 (xiāng)” literally means fragrant, and “水 (shuǐ) ” literally means water.…
Chinese Mini-test: Perfume (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
“我给女朋友买了一瓶香水做生日礼物。I bought a bottle of perfume as a birthday present for my girlfriend.” Do you know the Chinese Pinyin for “香水 perfume” in this sentence? A. xiāngjiāo B. xiāngshuǐ C. mòshuǐ D. xiǎngshòu
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绕口令 (ràokǒulìng) Tongue Twister (Beginner)
绕口令 (ràokǒulìng) Tongue Twister
茄子和鞋子 (qiézi hé xiézi) Eggplant and Shoes
Listen to the tongue twister
Key Learning Points (Preview):
鞋子 (xiézi): n shoe
茄子 (qiézi): n eggplant
Yígè xiǎo háizi, 一个 小 孩子，
There was a little child,
Shǒu ná shuāng xiézi. 手 拿 双 鞋子。
Who had a pair of shoes in his hand.…
电影 (diànyǐng) Movie (Beginner)
电影 (diànyǐng) Movie
(Beginner)
The character “电 (diàn)” means electricity and “影 (yǐng)” means shadow.
Example:
A: Wǒ hěn xǐhuan zhōngguó diànyǐng. Cóng diànyǐng zhōng wǒ kěyǐ xuéxí zhōngwén. 我 很 喜欢 中国 电影， 从 电影 中 我 可以 学习 中文。 I like Chinese movies, and I can learn Chinese from watching them.…
感冒 (gǎnmào) To Catch a Cold (Beginner)
感冒 (gǎnmào) To Catch a Cold (Beginner) The character “感 (gǎn)” means to feel and “冒 (mào)” literally means to emit .
Example:
A: Zěnme le, kàn nǐ qìsè bú tài hǎo. 怎么 了，看 你 气色 不 太 好。 What’s up? You don’t look good.
B: Ài, zhè jǐ tiān gǎnmào le. 哎，这 几 天 感冒 了。 I caught a cold these days.…
同事 (tóngshì) Colleague (Beginner)
同事 (tóngshì) Colleague (Beginner) The character “同 (tóng)” means the same and “事 (shì)” means thing literally.
Example:
A: Nǐ rènshi Wáng Hóng ma? 你 认识 王 宏 吗？ Do you know Wang Hong?
B: Dāngrán le, tā shì wǒ tóngshì ne. 当然 了，他 是 我 同事 呢。 Of course, he is my colleague.…
回家 (huíjiā) To Go Home (Beginner)
回家 (huíjiā) To Go Home (Beginner) The character “回 (huí)” means to return and “家 (jiā)” means home.
Example:
Zài wài gōngzuò de érnǚ yào cháng huíjiā kànkan fùmǔ. 在 外 工作 的 儿女 要 常 回家 看看 父母。 The sons and daughters who are working out of town should often come back home to see their parents.…
Mini-test Answer: Cānjīnzhǐ (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Correct answer: B
Analysis:
A. “Xǐshǒujiān” is the Chinese Pinyin for “洗手间 toilet.”
“洗 (xǐ)” means to wash; “手 (shǒu) ” means hand and “间 (jiān)” means space here.
B. “Cānjīnzhǐ” is the Chinese Pinyin for “餐巾纸 napkin.”
“餐 (cān)” means meal; “巾 (jīn)” means towel and “纸 (zhǐ)” means paper.…
Chinese Mini-test: 餐巾纸 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
A: Waiter, please give me some “餐巾纸 napkin.”
B: Ok, please wait for a moment.
Do you know the Chinese Pinyin for “餐巾纸 napkin” in this dialogue? A. Xǐshǒujiān B. Cānjīnzhǐ C. Bànɡōnɡshì D. Jìsuànjī
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寄一封慢信给未来 Deliver A “Slow Letter” to the Future (Beginner)
寄一封慢信给未来 (Jì yìfēng màn xìn gěi wèilái) Deliver A “Slow Letter” to the Future (Beginner)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
熊猫 (xióngmāo): n panda
鼓励 (gǔlì): v to encourage
感激 (gǎnjī): n gratitude
Recently a “特别的 (tèbiéde) special” company, whose primary service is delivering “slow” letters for its customers, appeared in Beijing.…
迟到 (chídào) Late (Beginner)
迟到 (chídào) Late (Beginner)
The character “迟 (chí)” means late and “到 (dào)” means to arrive.
Example: A: Lǎobǎn, duìbuqǐ, wǒ chídào le. 老板， 对不起，我 迟到了。
I’m sorry, boss. I’m late.
B: Xià cì yào zhùyì. 下 次 要 注意。
Be careful next time.
Further Reading:
◆ Top 7 Taboos in China (Beginner) ◆ Chinese Characters (Beginner) ◆ Chinese for Kids(Beginner Level) // // …
旅馆 (lǚguǎn) Hotel (Beginner)
旅馆 (lǚguǎn) Hotel (Beginner)
The character “旅 (lǚ)” means trip or travel and “馆 (guǎn)” means place for guests.
Example:
Zhè jiā lǔguǎn bùjǐn jiàgé piányi ěrqiě gānjìng zhěngjié. 这 家 旅馆 不仅 价格 便宜 而且 干净 整洁。 The hotel is not only cheap but also clean and tidy.…