Fan is an instrument for producing a current of air and people use it to keep cool in hot summers. But do you know that fans can also be weapons in martial arts?
In many Chinese martial arts novels and dramas, “扇子 (shànzi) fans” are …
Chinese Songs for Kids (Beginner)
世上只有妈妈好 (Shì shàng zhǐyǒu māma hǎo) Mom is the best in the world
Mother’s day is coming up soon, so we chose a famous Chinese song for kids who can sing the song to their moms. Hope this song can …
Foreigners Challenge Beijing Opera (Advanced) In this video, four foreigners “challenged” the four “京剧 (jīngjù) Beijing Opera” performers by showing off their moves. What these foreigners did is also called “叫板 (jiàobǎn),” which means “to challenge somebody” in daily life. Originally in Beijing Opera, “叫板 …
宫保鸡丁的来历 (Gōngbǎo jīdīng de láilì) Origin of Kung Pao Chicken (Advanced)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
宫保鸡丁 (gōngbǎo jīdīng): n Kung Pao Chicken
川菜 (chuāncài): n Sichuan dish
鸡肉 (jīròu):n chicken
“宫保鸡丁 (gōngbǎo jīdīng)Kung Pao Chicken” is usually perceived as a “川菜 (chuāncài) Sichuan dish,” and …
一年之计在于春 (Yì nián zhī jì zàiyú chūn) A Year’s Plan Starts with Spring (Beginner)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
日 (rì): n day/ date
年 (nián): n year
早晨 (zǎochen): n early morning
“一年之计在于春，一日之计在于晨 (Yì nián zhī jì zàiyú chūn, yí rì zhī jì zàiyú …
国家 (guójiā) Country/ Nation (Beginner)
The character “国 (guó)” means nation or country and “家 (jiā)” means
family or home.
Zhōngguó shì yígè yǒu zhe yōujiǔ lìshǐ de dōngfāng guójiā. 中国 是 一个 有 着 悠久 历史 的 东方 国家。
China is an oriental …
笨鸟先飞 (Bènniǎoxiānfēi) Clumsy birds have to start flying early
Key Learning Points (Preview):
决心 (juéxīn):v. to resolve
志气 (zhìqì): n. aspiration
Idiom Story
Shù shàng yì zhī niǎo māma fū chū le liù zhī niǎo bǎobao, 树 上 一 只 鸟 妈妈 孵 出 了 …
中国茶 (Zhōngguóchá) Chinese Tea
Key Learning Points (Preview): 减肥 (jiănféi): v to lose weight
美容 (měiróng): v to beautify the features/beauty
Chinese tea has a history of over 5000 years in China, and it has been a daily beverage for most Chinese. There is a …
“说曹操，曹操到 (shuō Cáo Cāo, Cáo Cāo dào) Speak of the Devil and He Appears”
Origin
The story about “说曹操，曹操到 (shuō Cáo Cāo, Cáo Cāo dào) speak of the devil and he appears” was from《三国演义(sānguó yǎnyì)》The Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
汉献帝 (Hàn Xiàndì) Han Xiandi …
蜗居(wōjū) Dwelling Narrowness
房价(fángjià) n. housing price
房奴(fángnú) n. mortgage slave
“蜗居(wōjū) Dwelling Narrownes” is probably the most popular TV series in 2009. It is about a new couple struggling for buying their first “房子(fángzi) house.” The script expresses a confusion …
Origin of “元旦 (Yuándàn) New Year’s Day” Key Learning Point (Preview): 元旦 (Yuándàn) n. New Year’s Day
“元旦(Yuándàn) New Year’s Day” has a three thousand-year history in China. In ancient times, “元旦 (Yuándàn)” was the “农历 (nónglì) lunar calendar” new year—today’s “春节 (Chūnjié) Spring Festival.” …
Wǒ zhǔnbèi zìjǐ chuàngyè. 我准备自己创业。 I plan to start my own business. Wǒ de xìngfú shēnghuó huì yìzhí yánxù. 我的幸福生活会一直延续。 My happy life will continue. —from common Chinese female workers in a recent cover story of the TIME magazine Got questions?…
花木兰 (huāmùlán) Hua Mulan
考验 (kǎoyàn): n ordeal or test
毅力 (yìlì): n willpower
Do you remember the popular cartoon movie Mulan made by Disney in 1998? Recently, the same story that a courageous girl pretending to be a male soldier …
China’s Most Valuable Brand
Key Learning Points (Preview):
抱怨 (bàoyuàn): v to complain
信誉 (xìnyù): n reputation
In December 2009, China’s most valuable brand list was “揭晓 (jiēxiǎo) announced” in New York and 100 Chinese consumer brands “进入 (jìnrù) entered” the final list, including “联想(liánxiǎng) …
(Try our Chinese idiom lesson for you)
Lǐ Bái xiǎo shíhou tè tānwán, yí dào shàngkè jiù zǒushén. 李 白 小 时候 特 贪玩，一 到 上课 就 走神。 Li Bai was fond of playing when he …
Chinese New Year 2009 falls on January 26, 2009 when Chinese twelve-year circle will roll into the year of ox. In Chinese language, ox is pronounced as Niu. Niu, as an animal in general, was playing the role of dragging a plough in field before …
