Answer: D Analysis: Yìfāng shuǐtǔ yǎng yìfāng rén, yóuyú nánběi fāng dìlǐ wèizhì, qìhòu tiáojiàn de bùtóng, 一方水土养一方人。由于南北方地理位置、气候条件的不同， rénmen gèzì de yǐnshí xíguàn yǔ yǐnshí wénhuà yě bújìn xiāngtóng. 人们各自的饮食习惯与饮食文化也不尽相同。 The unique features of a local environment always provide certain characteristics to its inhabitants. Due …
As a standardized test of general language proficiency, HSK is not based on any particular textbook or course of study. Therefore, candidates may refer to any textbook in preparing for the test. Nevertheless, it is important that all candidates read the HSK Test Syllabus carefully. …
In English we have a saying, “Get off your high horse!” It means someone is being prideful and we want them to take their pride down a notch, or just act more humble. The cool thing is that in Chinese we have a similar phrase, …
Can you imagine that your eye has an apple in it?
And, can you imagine that this same apple in your eye represents a person you are extremely fond of?
Well, sometimes expressions are a bit hard to understand, just like “the apple of my …
Answer: A Analysis: Linda: Nǐ zuì xǐhuān de wǔxiá xiǎoshuō shì shénme? Linda: 你最喜欢的武侠小说是什么？ What is your favorite Wuxia novel?
Tom: Wǒ zuì xǐhuān de xiǎoshuō shì dòu luō dàlù. Tom: 我最喜欢的小说是斗罗大陆。 My favorite novel is“Combat Continent.”
Linda: Zuì xǐhuān shū zhōng nǎge rénwù ne? …
Bookstores and online stores have begun carrying an increasing amount of “武侠 (wǔxiá)” novels from China. Readers internationally are taking a keen interest in this genre of fantasy literature.
So, what is “wuxia fiction” and why is it gaining in popularity throughout the world? Heroes …
China is one of the most culturally diverse nations on the planet. China has over 56 nationalities and ethnicities. Among those 56 ethnic groups, there are 55 ethnic minorities and one main ethnicity, Han. Although all of the ethnicities live within the same boundaries lines …
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 …
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 …
It’s an exciting time to be in China! The country is changing each year. The role of women in China is evolving and females are gaining skills and qualities that were not common in the past. In many of my Mandarin Chinese classes here in …
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 …
Answer: B Analysis: Tā cái shì nàgè ài chū yāo ézi de rén. 他 才 是 那个 爱 出 幺 蛾子 的 人。 He is the one who often comes up with abnormal ideas.
么 (Me): interrogative particle; repetition of a tune small; tender.
幺 …
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 …
It’s always fun to use Mandarin Chinese slang among Chinese friends. When we are joking around together, we often tease each other in a playful manner with “吐槽 (tǔcáo)” and lighten the mood. When we want to be self-deprecating regarding our sudden and impulsive behavior, …
Chinese Slang is my favorite thing to teach because there is so much meaning contained in the phrases. This week I taught my students two Chinese slang phrases because they contain the same word/character in them.
That character is:
底 (Dǐ). What does it mean? …
There is one thing that almost all Mandarin Chinese language students here in China have in common: we don’t have our own personal cars. Owing a car in China and being licensed to drive is a complicated and expensive process.
Plus, the public transportation such …
There are many types of people with many types of personalities. In Chinese we use different words to categorize different interpersonal characteristics. One such word is “闷葫芦 (mèn húlu)”. This type of person isn’t necessarily popular, because he/she is considered to be overall quiet, a …
