Answer to A Thousand Ways to Say a Million (Intermediate)
Answer: A On the one hand, “千万(qiānwàn)” and “万千(wànqiān)”, meaning “ten million”, both refer to a huge amount.
Examples:
Zhèlǐ měinián dōuyǒu qiānwàn kē shù bèi kǎndiào. 这里 每年 都有 千万 棵 树 被 砍掉。 Every year about ten million trees are cut down here.…
A Thousand Ways to Say a Million (Intermediate)
Bet you don’t know these ways to use “千(qiān)” and “万(wàn)”! Take our test to prove us wrong. We dare you! Zhāng Yīng: Wáng Míng, _____ méi xiǎngdào nǐ guàkē le! 张 英： 王 明， _____ 没 想到 你 挂科 了！ Zhang Ying: Wang Ming, …
Tasty Chinese Breakfast: Stuffed Steamed Buns and Porridge (Part II)
Before we introduced one of China’s delicious breakfast duos, 豆浆油条(dòujiāng yóutiáo) or soy milk and fried dough sticks.
A breakfast meal for the hearty looking to be filled with a full, warm meal. Yet there is another breakfast option for those who enjoy eating a …
Chinese Idiom: 哪壶不开提哪壶 To Touch A Soft Spot
The idiom “哪壶不开提哪壶 (nǎ hú bù kāi tí nǎ hú)” literally means “to pick the kettle that is not boiling.” It’s used to indicate that someone is saying or doing something that shouldn’t be mentioned in front of others, or that someone is bringing up …
Answer to Why do Dogs Ignore Tianjin’s Delicious Steamed Buns? (Beginner)
Answer: C The name 狗不理(gǒu bùlǐ) comes from a person named 高贵友(Gāo Guìyǒu) who lived during the Qing Dynasty. Throughout his life he was called by his nickname “狗子(gǒu zi)” or “dog.” He lived in Tianjin since childhood, and worked for three years at a …
Why do Dogs Ignore Tianjin’s Delicious Steamed Buns? (Beginner)
There is a kind of steamed bun from Tianjin that are called “狗不理包子(gǒu bùlǐ bāozi),” which means “the steamed buns that even the Dog ignores.” Try to figure out the answer to the quiz below to learn more!
Do you know why such a delicious …
Chinese Idiom: 隔墙有耳 (géqiángyǒu’ěr) Walls Have Ears
Key Learning Point (Preview): 隔墙有耳 (géqiángyǒu’ěr): walls have ears
Cóngqián, yǒu yíge hàoqíxīn hěn zhòng de rén. 从前， 有 一个 好奇心 很 重 的 人。 Once upon a time, there was a curious man.
Tā zǒngshì xǐhuan sìchù dǎting biérén de mìmi. 他 总是 喜欢 …
China’s Traditional Breakfast Combination: Soy Milk and Fried Dough Sticks (Part I)
Most mornings people don’t have much time before work or school to make breakfast. Its a troublesome problem for many that still want something filling to have in the morning. But, in China, the perfect solution has been found! This simple, yet delicious, breakfast consists …
Answer to How Many Usages of “How Many” in Chinese? (Advanced)
Answer: C “多少(duōshǎo)” is often used in daily conversation. It’s generally used in two ways. First, the “多(duō) much” in “多少(duōshǎo)” can be used as an adverb to modify the adjective “少(shǎo)”, which means “as little as possible” . For example, “夏天能穿多少穿多(Xiàtiān néng chuān duōshǎo …
How Many Usages of “How Many” in Chinese? (Advanced)
Lǐ Lì: Jīntiān zhēn rè a! 李丽：今天 真 热 啊！ Lily: It’s so hot today! Wáng Lín: Shì a, néng chuān duōshǎo chuān duōshǎo, tài rè le. 王 琳：是 啊， 能 穿 多少 穿 多少, 太 热 了。 Wang Lin: Yes, ________. It’s too hot. …
Chinese Idiom: 对牛弹琴 To Play the Harp to A Cow
“对牛弹琴 (Duìniútánqín)” is used by Chinese people to describe someone who is explaining something complicated to a fool, or sometimes this idiom is used to describe a person who is trying to tell something to the wrong audience. In English, people sometimes joke around by …
Four Must-Know Phrases for Surfing the Internet
Nowadays, everyone is using the internet for something, whether it be for shopping online or just surfing the web, the internet has become an important tool for daily life. This means in your journey to become fluent in Chinese, it is important to learn some …
A Special Chinese Food: Brain of Tofu?
China is known for its many traditional food. How much do you know about them? Here is a test! All of these are Chinese traditional food for special festivals except . A. “月饼(yuèbǐng)” B. “汤圆(tāngyuán)” C. “粽子(zòngzi)” D. “豆腐脑(dòufunǎo)”
Answer to A Special Chinese Food: Brain of Tofu?
Answer: D “月饼(yuèbǐng) moon cake” is the Chinese traditional food for the Mid-autumn Festival, “汤圆(tāngyuán) rice dumpling” for the Lantern Festival and “粽子(zòngzi) zongzi”for the Dragon Boat Festival. “豆腐脑(dòufunǎo) tofu jelly”, also called “豆腐花(dòufuhuā)”, is a kind of special snacks in China. Many Chinese would …
Chinese Idiom: 毛遂自荐 (Máo Suí zìjiàn) To recommend oneself
Key Learning Point (Preview):
毛遂自荐 (Máo Suí zìjiàn) to volunteer for a task; to recommend oneself for a difficult job
Idiom Story:
Máo Suí zài Zhàoguó dāile sān nián, què yìzhí bú bèi zhòngyòng. 毛 遂 在 赵国 待了 三 年，却 一直 不 被 重用。 …
The Secret to Speaking Chinese Easily: Phrases Adopted from English
Did you know that by knowing some simple English words you already can speak some popular colloquial Chinese phrases? If you have been studying Chinese for a while some words might immediately jump to mind. What occurs is actually the adoption of particular words from …