Ice cream is a popular dessert loved the world over. Many of my students assume that ice cream is a dessert that is imported from the West. That is NOT true!
Actually, ice cream originated in China. Millenniums ago, emperors stored iced drinks in cellars, …
Answer analysis:
Wǒ zhù shànghǎi fàndiàn 1002 hào fángjiān. 我住上海饭店1002号房间。 I live in Shanghai Hotel Room 1022.
层 (Céng): floor.
个 (Gè): piece.
号 (Hào): number.
1022 is a room number. So, C is the best fit.
Tā cóng wǒ miànqián …
Let’s face it: The Internet has changed everything. And, “everything” includes Mandarin Chinese language learning! Years ago, the classroom and textbooks were the only resources available to begin learning Chinese. However, with recent online resources emerging, learning Mandarin Chinese is easier and more accessible than …
When talking about language, people often instantly assume that when you say “Chinese” you mean “Mandarin.” This is because “Mandarin Chinese” is the standard language of China, the world’s #1 spoken language (in terms of native speakers), and the most common language to learn right …
You know Chinese Kung Fu because of movies, right?
Chinese Kung Fu is so much more. It embodies China’s national wisdom and traditional culture in one very pure active art form.
The main concepts of Kung Fu are moderation and harmony. Its artistic nature and …
Answer: C Analysis: 老师 (Lǎoshī): teacher
房子 (Fángzi): house
代购 (Dàigòu): overseas personal shopper
Ann: Wǒ xiǎng gěi wǒ nǚ’ér mǎi guówài de nǎifěn, nǐ zhīdào nǎlǐ néng mǎi dào ma? Ann: 我 想 给 我 女儿 买 国 外 的 奶 粉，你知 道 哪里 …
Answer: B Analysis: Amy: Jīntiān shàng de shì nǎ běn jiàocái? Amy: 今 天 上 的 是 哪 本 教 材？ Amy: Which textbook will the teacher use today?
Bob: Qīngsōng xué zhōngwén. Bob: 《轻 松 学 中 文》。 Bob: Easy steps to Chinese.
童话书 …
I get asked all the time by my students the same question: What books are really gonna help me get ahead in Chinese? There are many, many Mandarin Chinese textbooks out there. It can be a gamble to choose which one is going to be …
Did you know we celebrate Father’s Day in China too? This holiday is one of my favorites because I love to give my dad the best gifts possible, as a token of gratitude for all he has done for my life. Many Chinese children do …
Language is always evolving, and Mandarin Chinese is no exception. The past two years or so, more and more Chinese people are using the word “老铁 (lǎotiě).”
Originally, “老铁 (lǎotiě)” was used as a word by a northeastern Chinese dialect.
One example of how this …
Many of my American Mandarin Chinese language students are surprised to learn that the NBA Basketball League is now the most popular sports league to follow in China, based on online views.
The popularity of Chinese Hall of Fame player Yao Ming of the Houston …
While learning Chinese expressions, it’s important that you understand the literal meaning and also the figurative meaning as well. Knowing the figurative meaning will help you apply the language to the appropriate situation, while knowing the literal meaning will help you avoid embarrassing or …
I get asked all the time by prospective students, new students, or even seasoned students–“How do I improve my spoken Chinese?” And not only do they want to know the answer to that question, they also want to know: “How can I do it fast?” …
Learning fun Chinese slang which can be applied to, and be used in, a classroom or boardroom setting is one of my favorite things to teach in my Mandarin Chinese classes. One of these Chinese expressions which I find to be very useful is “幺蛾子 …
Answer: A Analysis: Mr Wu: Tóngxuémen, jīntiān de zhōngwén kè jiù shàng dào zhèlǐ. Dàjiā yǒu shénme bùdǒng Mr Wu: 同 学 们，今 天 的 中 文 课 就 上 到 这里。大家 有 什 么 不 懂 de wèntí kěyǐ xiàkè lái wèn wǒ. 的 …
I like to introduce my students to common words used in Mandarin Chinese daily life. It’s important to learn words to use correctly in all kinds of social situations. One such popular Mandarin Chinese vocabulary word is “小看 (xiǎokàn).” What does it mean? Let’s look …
Learning Mandarin Chinese is different from learning other languages such as Italian or French. It is nearly impossible to self-study Mandarin Chinese or learn through books and audio/video resources alone. To effectively learn Mandarin Chinese, you need to immerse yourself into a learning process with …
Do you work really hard for the money you earn? In the West, we have different levels of jobs. We separate them by words like “蓝领 (lánlǐng) blue-collar” and “白领 (báilǐng) white-collar” jobs. In China, there are different types of jobs as well, some harder …
In English we have the saying, “Take a chill pill!” This can be slightly derogatory, but it also can encourage others to relax a bit when they are being too up-tight. In Chinese we have a phrase that very much relates to this meaning. It …
Quite often, I receive messages from parents outside China who would like some guidance and suggestions on how to motivate their children to learn Mandarin Chinese and what goals to set. While standardized tests may only motivate some students, I do find that the AP …
