Every year on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar (this year it falls on August 23) is Chinese Valentine’s Day “七夕节(Qīxījié).” As is the custom elsewhere in the world, this is a day devoted to romance. Chinese Valentine’s Day is …
Key Learning Points (Preview):
支持 (zhīchí): v./n. to support/support
相信 (xiāngxìn): v. to believe
努力 (nǔlì): v./n. to try hard/effort
Examples:
Liú Xiáng, wǒmen yǒngyuǎn zhīchí nǐ. 刘 翔， 我们 永远 支持 你! Liu Xiang, we will support you forever!
Nǐ duì wǒ de zhīchí …
Recently the Chinese people have been enthralled by the 30th Olympic Games in London, with many people staying up late into the night to watch the representatives from their country compete. China has had some big wins in 2012, as well as some losses, each …
A Chinese teacher organized over ten foreign students to walk to the Tianjin Zoo; they were hoping to get their first glimpse of the panda. After leaving the school gate, the group needed to cross a busy road with rushing traffic. The teacher told the …
After a successful and extravagant opening ceremony, the London “奥运会 (Àoyùnhuì) Olympic Games” are now in full swing. So far, China has claimed thirty “金牌 (jīnpái) gold medals.” Ye Shiwen, an athlete on the Chinese women’s swimming team, has “破世界纪录 (pò shìjiè jìlù) broken the …
Tom recently moved to Beijing. He is renting an apartment in a Hutong. There are more traditional Chinese neighborhoods, places teeming with life and usually small alleys tucked between or behind other large buildings.Tom is really enjoying living in such an interesting place, but he …
The child is learninging Chinese. At first, his teacher teaches him to say numbers in Chinese. After that, she gives the child candy and asks him: 好吃吗? (Hǎo chī ma?) Is it yummy? And the kid replies: 好吃 (hǎo chī). It’s yummy. Now, let’s try …
How should I address Chinese young women?
Test-tube baby Charlotte Holmes as the UK’s Miss World representative has been drawing attention to the 2012 Miss World contest. Over a hundred young ladies will compete for the crown in Ordos, China, all of them between eighteen …
Conversation:
Nǐ kàn Lady Gaga Xiānggǎng yǎnchànghuì le ma? Jen: 你看 Lady Gaga 香港 演唱会 了 吗？ Have you seen the Lady Gaga Live concert in Hong Kong?
Dāngrán le, nà kě zhēn shì shízú de Lady Gaga fànr a. Lily: 当然 了，那可 真 是 …
Jack, a foreign friend who has studied Chinese for almost half a year, was excited about finally coming to China and putting his new knowledge to use.
One thing Jack learned was that people in China greet each other with the sentence “你吃了吗？ (Nǐ chīle …
During the Euro 2012 games, time and time again fans cheered the fantastic goals made by Cristiano Ronaldo.
His impeccable performance, combined with his good looks, attracted the attention of many girls’ eyes in China. Ronaldo was dubbed the top “高富帅 (gāo fù shuài)” …
Have you ever been “bored to death,” or were so hungry that you said you were “starving?” If yes, you were most likely not actually near death, but were using exaggeration to intensify a situation.
In Chinese, the word “死 (sǐ)” refers to death and …
“(那是)必须的! ((Nà shì) bìxū de!)” is now a very popular word in the daily life of Chinese that is used to show confirmation. “那 (nà)” means that; “是 (shì)” means is; “必须 (bìxū)” means must; “的 (de)” is a particle. It gained popularity from a …
Key Learning Points (Preview):
胜 (shèng) to win
败 (bài) to lose
On June 22nd, the NBA had its fifth and final championship game; the result being that the Miami Heat “大胜 (dà shèng)” beat the Oklahoma City Thunder by a margin of 121–106 and …
Amy and her friend Linda meet at a cafe to chat. Amy: Look at you! You’re so slim! Linda: Thanks! Amy: I wish I were you! I really admire those who keep a good figure. Linda: If you eat a healthy diet, you’ll… Amy: I …
When I was in Beijing for school, I went to a restaurant and correctly ordered “麻婆豆腐 (Mápódòufu) Mapo Tofu” and “宫保鸡丁 (Gōngbǎojīdīng) Kung-Pao Chicken.” I can’t express how excited I was at the time. Back in Europe, I recited common Chinese menus endlessly to invisible …
In recent years, the number of private cars and younger owners in China has steadily risen, bringing with it, the pursuit of “个性 (gèxìng),” or individuality through a more colorful and personal “爱车 (àichē) car.” The simple, but sweet application of a unique “车贴 (chētiē) …
Key Learning Points (Preview):
戴香包 (dài xiāngbāo) v. to wear the sachet
香 (xiāng) adj. fragrant/delicious
It’s widely known that people enjoy “粽子 (zòngzi) rice dumplings” and “赛龙舟 (sài lóngzhōu) dragon-boat races” during the annual Dragon Boat Festival, but amongst all the customs, the most …
“父亲节 (Fùqinjié) Father’s Day” is coming up soon. “I Have a Great Daddy” is a well-known nursery rhyme in China. This is a song that has been around for quite sometime and has deep cultural roots. Sharing its theme with a popular television drama …
Key Learning Points (Preview):
红 (hóng) red
白 (bái) white
黑 (hēi) black
Chinese have developed a rich culture around the use of color, especially in language. Below we will explain the significance of a few colors in Chinese culture: First, something you’ll no doubt …
