新年真热闹(Xīn’nián Zhēn Rènao) The New Year is So Lively
Guò xīn’nián zhēn rènao, fàng ya fàng biānpào. 过 新 年 真 热闹，放 呀 放 鞭炮。 The New Year is so lively as we set off firecrackers.
Dà hóngbāo, yāsuìqián, cāi cāi yǒu duōshǎo. 大 红包， 压岁钱， 猜 猜 有 多少。 We get red envelopes …
Phobia (and Controversy) of Chinese New Year’s Visits
“拜年(bàinián),” to pay a New Year’s call, is a traditional Chinese custom during the Spring Festival. “拜年(bàinián)” is a way for the Chinese to say goodbye to the current year and ring in the new one, and it provides Chinese people with opportunities to show …
Answers to Asking Questions with “吗(ma),” “呢(ne),” or “吧(ba)”
Correct Answer: C
When you ask questions in the Chinese language you should choose different question particles in different situations. The following text will help you to learn how to ask questions with the correct question particle.
The three most common question particles in the …
Asking Questions with “吗(ma),” “呢(ne),” or “吧(ba)”
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blank. Lǐ Lín: Nǐ chī le ___? 李 玲：你 吃 了____？ Li Ling: Have you eaten?
Betty: Chī le, nǐ _____? Betty：吃 了，你_____？ Betty: Yes, how about you?
A. 吗(ma)，吧(ba)
B. 呢(ne)，呢(ne)
C. 吗(ma)，呢(ne)
Answers to Been There, Done That: Using “曾经(céngjīng )” and “已经(yǐjīng)
Answer: A
In the Chinese language, both “曾经(céngjīng)” and “已经(yǐjīng)” can be used to describe a habit, behavior, or action that happened in the past and has already stopped. Both of them can also be used before verbs. However, their meanings are not quite the …
Been There, Done That: Using “曾经(céngjīng)” and “已经(yǐjīng)
Liú Huá: Nǐ qù guò Běijīng ma? 刘 华： 你 去 过 北京 吗？ Liu Hua: Have you ever been to Beijing? Linda: Shìde, wǒ _____ qù guò Běijīng. Linda：是的，我 _____ 去 过 北京。 Linda: Yes, I have been to Beijing before. A. 曾经(céngjīng)
B. …
Answers to Older or Younger? : How to Compare Ages in Chinese
Correct Answer: A
Not everyone likes to directly reveal their age, as in “我九岁了。(Wǒ jiǔ suì le.) I’m nine years old.” or “我四十了。(Wǒ sìshí le.) I’m forty years old.” Some prefer to use another way to express their age indirectly. From the following text, you …
排排坐吃果果(pái pái zuò chī guǒ guǒ) Sit In A Row And Eat Fruit
Pái pái zuò chī guǒ guǒ, 排 排 坐 吃 果 果， We sit in a row and eat fruit, Nǐ yígè, wǒ yígè, 你 一个，我 一个。 One for you and one for me, Mèimei shuìzháo le, 妹妹 睡着 了， Our little sister has …
Why Does “Wearing Red” Bring Good Luck in a Zodiac Year (Ben Ming Nian)?
The Spring Festival is coming up soon and Chinese people are preparing to welcome the Year of the Sheep. It is around this time that you may hear some Chinese people claiming that this coming year is his or her year of fate. What do …
Older or Younger? How to Compare Ages in Chinese
Lǐ Huá: Nǐ duō dà? 李 华： 你 多 大？ Li Hua: How old are you? Jim: Wǒ shíwǔ suì. Nǐ ne? Jim：我 十五 岁。你 呢？ Jim: I’m fifteen years old. What about you? Lǐ Huá: Wǒ bǐ nǐ ____. 李 华： 我 比 你_____。 …
Answers to “千金(qiānjīn)”-Priceless or Princess?
Answer: C
In the Chinese language, “千金(qiānjīn)” is short for “一千两黄金(yìqiān liǎnɡ huánɡjīn)” referring to “one thousand units of gold,” which is a large amount of money. So, Chinese people usually use “千金(qiānjīn)” to make a general reference to a lot of money.
Examples:
Zhè …
“千金(qiānjīn)”-Priceless or Princess?
Liú xiānsheng zuìjìn xǐ dé qiānjīn. 刘 先生 最近 喜 得 千金。 Do you know what happened to Mr. Liu? A. He’s happy because he won a thousand dollars. B. He just received something expensive. C. His wife just had a baby girl.
…红绿灯(hóng lǜ dēng) The Traffic Lights
Wǒ hé gēge shǒu lā shǒu, 我 和 哥哥 手 拉 手， My elder brother and I walk hand in hand, Yìqǐ zǒu dào mǎlù kǒu. 一起 走 到 马路 口。 We arrive at the intersection. Kànjiàn hóngdēng tíng yì tíng. 看见 红灯 停 …
How to Order Food in Chinese?
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blank
Fúwùyuán: Qǐngwèn nín yào shénme? 服务员： 请问 您 要 什么？ Waiter: What would you like?
Gùkè: ___ yìwǎn niúròumiàn, xiè xiè! 顾客：___一碗 牛肉面， 谢谢！ Customer: A bowl of beef noodles. Thank you! Which of the …