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 …
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, …
Since the Beijing Olympics of 2008, there has been a large increase in the amount of foreign travelers coming into China. In recent years, with China’s economic and cultural rise, more and more people are choosing to come to China for travel, work and study. …
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 …
Since 1930, football (or “soccer”) fans around the world have gathered to watch the “FIFA World Cup” every four years. The 2018 World Cup is being held for the first time in Russia. While there are no major changes to the rules of the game, …
Life in China is different in so many ways from life in America. One of the most noticeable differences is the goods available for purchase in the shops and supermarkets. For my foreign classmates and myself, finding our everyday goods such as deodorant, maple syrup …
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 …
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 …
Answer: C Analysis: 老铁 (Lǎotiě) is a popular Mandarin word used on the internet and in daily life. It can be used to describe the close relationship between friends and is the equivalent to “brothers”, “dude”, etc. in English. It means that the relationship is …
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 …
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, …
There are some words you hear over and over again once you begin living in China. As a student of Mandarin Chinese, the words may not be so familiar to us as we learn from textbooks and study for our Chinese exams. However, some words …
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 …
