Quote of the week (Jul. 6, 2010)
Zhè zhǒng fànguī jiù xiāngdāngyú qìchē zhuīwěi, fù zérèn de zǒng shì hòumian de rén. 这 种 犯规 就 相当于 汽车 追尾， 负 责任 的 总 是 后面 的 人。
This kind of foul is like rear-end collision, and the one behind always has to …
孟母三迁 Mencius’ Mother Relocates Home Three Times to Improve Her Son’s Education (Beginner)
孟母三迁 (Mèngmǔ sān qiān) Mencius’ Mother Relocates Home Three Times to Improve Her Son’s Education
Key Learning Points (Preview):
学习 (xuéxí): v to learn/to study
儿子 (érzi): n son
Once upon a time, there was a “淘气 (táoqì) naughty” boy named Mencius. At the beginning, …
Have You Watched the World Cup Last Night? (Advanced)
Have You Watched the World Cup Last Night?
Nǐ zuówǎn kàn Shìjièbēi le mā? A: 你 昨晚 看 世界杯 了 吗？
Did you watch the World Cup last night? Wǒ xiǎng kàn, dànshì wǒ děi shàng hànyǔ kè. Sàikuàng rúhé? B: 我 想 看， 但是 …
Quote of the week (Jun. 18, 2010)
Xībānyá zuì dà de dírén bú shì biérén, jiù shì zìjǐ. 西班牙 最 大 的 敌人 不 是 别人， 就 是 自己。
The biggest enemy of (the soccer team of) Spain is not its opponent, but is itself. —From “黄健翔 (Huáng Jiànxiáng) Huang Jianxiang,” a …
Quote of the week (Jun. 12, 2010)
Xiě de bú shì zuòwén, shì qínghuái. 写 的 不 是 作文， 是 情怀。
What the high school students who took the “Chinese Subject Test” in the National University Entrance Exam in June 2010 wrote were not compositions but feelings. —From ” 海岩 (Hǎi Yán) …
HSK Sample Chinese Test: Introduction
Basic 初级 (chūjí)
HSK Sample Test Question:
不久以前，有人给我妹妹介绍了一个______。
A. 房间
B. 同学
C. 对象
D. 公司
More HSK Tests to Help You Learn Chinese: HSK Sample Test: Wedding Plan HSK Test: What do you think of this movie? HSK Test: She is Younger …
Popular Daily Chinese Word “赞 (zàn) Marvelous” (Intermediate)
流行词语 (liúxíng cíyǔ) Popular Chinese Word (Intermediate)
赞 (zàn) Marvelous
“赞 (zàn)” originally means “to praise.” For instance, “赞美” and “称赞” both mean to praise. We also have a popular Chinese expression starting with “赞,” that is “赞不绝口 (zànbùjuékǒu) to praise profusely.” For example: 他对你赞不绝口 …
初生牛犊不怕虎 New-born Calves are not Afraid of Tigers (Beginner)
初生牛犊不怕虎 (chū shēng niúdú bú pà hǔ) New-born Calves are not Afraid of Tigers
Key Learning Point (Preview): 怕 (pà): v to fear/ be afraid of
Towards the end of Eastern Han Dynasty, “刘备 (Liú Bèi) Liu Bei” captured the city “汉中 (Hànzhōng) Hanzhong” from …
富有的乞丐 (Fùyǒu de qǐgài) A Rich Beggar (Intermediate)
Take a look at this video about a Rich Beggar where you can learn some useful
daily Chinese
expressions:
Scene No. 1: At Home
Nǚ’ér: Gànma a? Bàba, tā dǎ wǒ. 女儿：干嘛 啊？爸爸，他 打我。 Daughter: What are you doing? Dad, he hit me.
Érzi: Wǒ …
滥竽充数 Fill a Post without Real Qualifications (Beginner)
滥竽充数 (Lànyúchōngshù) Fill a Post without Real Qualifications (Beginner)
Key Learning Point (Preview):
数 (shǔ/shù): v/n count/number
In the Warring States Period of China, a king named Qixuan liked listening to the “合奏 (hézòu) instrumental ensemble” of Yu (an instrument in ancient China). The more …
长城 The Great Wall (Advanced)
长城 (Chángchéng) The Great Wall (Advanced)
Key Learning Point (Preview):
不到长城非好汉 (bú dào Chángchéng fēi hǎohàn): He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man.
This popular Chinese saying originated from a poem 《清平乐•六盘山》 (Qīngpíngyuè • Liùpánshān) Qingpingyue • Liupanshan …
Quote of the week (May 19, 2010)
Huáicái jiù xiàng huáiyùn, shíjiān jiǔ le cái néng kàn chūlái. 怀才 就 像 怀孕， 时间 久 了 才 能 看 出来。
It takes a long time to find one’s talent just as it takes long to find out someone is pregnant. —From 易中天 Yi …
Chinese Quiz-How to Say “Good Night” in Chinese?
Correct answer: A
Analysis:
A. “Good night” is “晚安 (wǎn’ān)” in Chinese.
B. “To sleep” is “睡觉 (shuì jiào)” in Chinese language.
C. “To brush the teeth” is “刷牙 (shuā yá)” in Chinese language.
D. “To wash face” is “洗脸 (xǐ liǎn) in Chinese language.…
让我们荡起双桨 Let’s Paddle Together (Intermediate)
让我们荡起双桨 (Ràng wŏmen dàngqĭ shuāngjiăng) Let’s Paddle Together (Intermediate) Let’s paddle together is a very famous and traditional Chinese song for teens in China. You can definitely practice speaking Chinese while singing it.
Learn Chinese through this beautiful Chinese song!
Listen to the song Key …
Quote of the week (May. 12, 2010)
Xīn xiàoyuán, huì yǒu de! Xīn jiāyuán, huì yǒu de! 新 校园， 会 有 的！新 家园， 会 有 的！
We will have new schools. We will have new homes.
生词 (shēngcí) Vocabulary:
新 (xīn): adj new
校园 (xiàoyuán): n school
家园 (jiāyuán): n home
Stand up in Mandarin (Intermediate)
站起来 (zhànqǐlái) stand up. In this phrase, 站 (zhàn) is a verb and means to stand and “起来 (qǐlái)” means up. Other similar phrases are: “拿起来 (náqǐlái) pick up and “坐下去 (zuòxià qu) sit down.” In formal occasions, people can also say “起立 (qǐlì) stand …
Kids’ Chinese Song: 世上只有妈妈好 Mom is the Best in the World
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 …
Quote of the week (May. 4, 2010)
Míngcì hé róngyù, jiù xiàng tiānshàng de yún, bùnéng tǎng jìnqù, tǎng jìnqù jiù diē xiàlái le. 名次 和 荣誉，就 像 天 上 的 云， 不能 躺 进去，躺 进去 就 跌 下来了。
Rank and honor are just like the clouds in the sky. You’ll fall …
看病挂号 Registration in a Hospital (Intermediate)
看病挂号 (kànbìng guàhào) Registration in a Hospital (Intermediate) Key Learning Points (Preview):
舒服 (shūfu): adj comfortable
挂号 (guàhào): n/v registration / to register
There is a well-known Chinese saying “身体是革命的本钱 (Shēntǐ shì gémìng de běnqián) Health is the foundation for conducting revolutionary work.” You should …
Chinese Tongue Twister (Beginner)
Chinese Tongue Twister (Beginner) 采蘑菇 (Cǎi mógu) Pick Mushrooms
Key Learning Point (Preview):
蘑菇 (mógu): n mushroom
Hēitù hé báitù, 黑兔 和 白兔，
The black rabbit and the white rabbit, Shàngshān cǎi mógu. 上山 采 蘑菇。
Climbed up the mountain to pick mushrooms. Xiǎohóu hé …