Answer: A In China, the full name of a Han Chinese person (Han is the largest ethnic group in China) is composed of two parts: the surname and the given name. In Chinese, the surname comes first and is then followed by the given …
How much do you know about Chinese surnames and given names? Take the following test! If a Chinese woman’s name is 张小梅(Zhāng Xiǎoméi), then 张(Zhāng) is _____. A. her surname B. her given name
Answer: B The translation of “喝西北风(hēxīběifēng)” is “to drink the northwest wind.” It is a Chinese idiom which means getting nothing to eat or, essentially, having to live on air. The idiom comes from the philosophy of Taoism — “吸风(xīfēng) to absorb the air,” which …
In the Chinese language there are many interesting idioms, or turns of phrase. How many do you know? How about the following one? What is the implied meaning of the Chinese idiom – “喝西北风(hēxīběifēng)”? A. to predict the weather B. to have nothing to eat …
Correct Answers: 1. B 2. C 3. C <<Back to “Three ‘Spicy’ Provinces in China (Part II) – Hunan”
In China, “辣椒(làjiāo) chili” has rich cultural connotations. The fire-red chilies, connected with feelings of joy and celebration, symbolize colorful and thriving lives. What’s more, the character “交(jiāo) make friends or associate with someone” is a homophone of “椒(jiāo)”, suggesting that making good friends with …
Answer: B In option A, “蜜蜂(mìfēng)” means “bee” and “蜂蜜(fēngmì)” means “honey.” In B, “苹果(píngguǒ)” is “apple” but the character combination “果苹(guǒpíng)” doesn’t hold any meaning in Chinese. In option C, “国王(guówáng)” refers to “a king” and “王国(wángguó)” is his “kingdom.” Finally, in D, “白雪(báixuě)” …
In Chinese, some two-character words or phrases will take on new meanings if the order of the two characters is swapped. For example, “牛奶(niúnǎi)” means “milk” but “奶牛(nǎiniú)” means “cow”, “喜欢(xǐhuān)” is “to like” but “欢喜(huānxǐ)” is “happy”, and “刷牙(shuāyá)” means “to brush one’s teeth” …
Try this test to check your mastery of the pinyin of “扫地” and “扫把”. Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks. Zhāng Yáng zhèngzài yòng ( ) ( ). 张 阳 正在 用 扫把 扫地。 Zhang Yang is sweeping the floor with …
Answer: C In Chinese there are a few polyphones, or characters with multiple pronunciations, “扫(sǎo/sào)” in the test is one of them. The two pronunciations of “扫(sǎo/sào)” express different meanings. “扫(sǎo)” means “sweep” in English, as in to clean the dust and rubbish away, like …
Shù ya, shù ya, 树 呀，树 呀， Oh, tree, tree,
Wǒ bǎ nǐ zhòngxià, 我 把 你 种下， I’ll plant you here,
Búpà fēngyǔ kuàidiǎn zhǎngdà. 不怕 风雨 快点 长大。 Hope you won’t be afraid of storms and grow up quickly.
Zhǎngzhe lǜde yè, 长着 …
Correct Answers: 1. B 2. A 3. C <<Back to “Three ‘Spicy’ Provinces in China (Part I) – Sichuan”
(Want to travel in China? Try a Travel Chinese lesson first!)
Mention of the word “spicy” often reminds people of hot peppers, which turn red when ripening. In China, red color is the color of auspiciousness and prosperity, symbolizing good luck, …
Xiǎoxiǎo wūguī shàngshānpō, 小小 乌龟 上山坡， The little turtle is climbing up the hillside,
Hēihēiyo, hēihēiyo. 嘿嘿哟， 嘿嘿哟。 Stomp, stomp.
Dàizhe miànbāo hé tángguǒ, 带着 面包 和 糖果， With some bread and candies,
Yántú lèyōuyōu. 沿途 乐悠悠。 He is joyful and leisurely throughout his journey.…
Answer: B “对(duì)” and “双(shuāng)” are two Chinese measure words. They can both be translated as “a pair of” in English, and there are only a few differences between them. In the Chinese language, “双(shuāng)” is used to describe things that often come in pairs …
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks. Wǒ xīn mǎi le _____ yùndòngxié hé _____ ěrhuán. 我 新 买 了 _____ 运动鞋 和 _____ 耳环。 I bought a new _____ sneakers and _____ earrings. A. 一对(yíduì), 一双(yìshuāng)
B. 一双(yìshuāng), 一对(yíduì)
Answer: A In Chinese, “经常(jīngcháng)” and “通常(tōngcháng)” are both used as adverbials. “经常(jīngcháng)” means “often or frequently”, which is a time adverbial emphasizing that the action happens many times, and that the time between each occurrence is very short. On the other hand, “通常(tōngcháng)” means …
In Chinese, we use “经常(jīngcháng)” or “通常(tōngcháng)” to express frequency. Do you know the differences between the two? Take the following test to have a try! Wǒ zuìjìn _____ jiābān. 我 最近 _____ 加班。 I _____ work overtime these days. A. 经常(jīngcháng)
B. 通常(tōngcháng)
