Quote of the week (Apr. 26, 2010)
Wǒ bù zhīdào shénme shì shíshàng, dàn wǒ zhīdào wǒ yìzhí zài yǐnlǐng shíshàng. 我 不 知道 什么 是 时尚， 但 我 知道 我 一直 在 引领 时尚。
I’ve no idea what fashion is, but I know that I have been leading the fashion trend. …
Movie: Alice in Wonderland (Intermediate)
Movie: Alice in Wonderland (Intermediate) Key Learning Points (Preview):
梦游 (mèngyóu): n sleepwalking
梦想 (mèngxiǎng): v/n to dream of/dream
白日梦 (báirìmèng): n daydream
A：Zuìjìn de sānwéi lìtǐ diànyǐng zhēn jīngcǎi! 最近 的 三维 立体 电影 真 精彩！ The recent 3D movies are really wonderful!
B：Shì，Bǐrú …
糖醋里脊 Sweet and Sour Pork (Intermediate)
糖醋里脊 (táng cù lǐjǐ) Sweet and Sour Pork (Intermediate)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
糖醋里脊 (táng cù lǐjǐ): n Sweet and Sour Pork
炒 (chǎo): v to stir-fry
“糖醋里脊 (táng cù lǐjǐ) Sweet and Sour Pork” is a
in western countries. It belongs …
Chinese Song for Kids: A Doll Dances with a Little Bear (Beginner)
Are you wondering how to learn Chinese with joy? Learning Chinese songs may be a good way to enjoy Chinese music at the same progress in your Chinese learning. So please listen to this well-known Chinese song for kids and learn some Chinese knowledge from …
Quote of the week (Apr. 20, 2010)
Chéngzhǎng jiù huì chūchǒu, chūchǒu cái huì chéngzhǎng. 成 长 就 会 出丑， 出丑 才 会 成 长。
Making a fool of yourself is just part of your growing process. And only after that can you grow up. –From “刘一秒 (Liú Yìmiǎo) Liu Yimiao,” one …
Learn Chinese Character: 爱 Love (Beginner)
Do you know how to say “I love you” in Chinese? Today, let’s learn the Chinese character “ài 爱 (love),” including how to pronounce, write, and use it. We’ll also share a song about “ài (爱)” that can help you better understand this …
Can I say “Have a Good Shower” in Chinese? (Intermediate)
Can I say “Have a Good Shower” in Chinese? (Intermediate)
Howard Wolowitz in American sitcom “The Big Bang Theory” can say “have a good shower” in six different languages, including Chinese. See the video clip below:
In fact, Chinese people seldom wish others …
Quote of the week (Apr. 14, 2010)
Wǒ bú zàihu qǐdiǎn yǒu duō gāo, zuì zhòngyào de shì zhōngdiǎn. 我 不 在乎 起点 有 多 高， 最 重要 的 是 终点。 I don’t care how I started, but I do care where I end up. — From Yao Ming, a Chinese NBA …
你是哪种风格？Which is Your Style? (Intermediate)
你是哪种风格？ (Nǐ shì nǎzhǒng fēnggé?) Which is Your Style? (Intermediate) Key Learning Points (Preview):
帅哥 (shuàigē): n handsome man or cute boy (Who Is the Most Popular “帅哥 (shuàigē)” in China?)
美女 (měinǚ): n beautiful girl
假小子 (jiǎxiǎozi): n tomboy
For teenagers in China, there …
可口可乐与中国计谋 Coca-Cola and Ancient Chinese Stratagems (Advanced)
可口可乐与中国计谋 (Kěkǒu kělè yǔ Zhōngguó jìmóu) Coca-Cola and Ancient Chinese Stratagems (Advanced) Key Learning Points (Preview):
三十六计 (sānshíliùjì): n thirty six stratagems
欲擒故纵 (yùqín gùzòng): n/v to catch something, first set it free
利润 (lìrùn): n profit
More than 20 years ago, “可口可乐 (kěkǒu kělè) …
Peyton Manning vs. Justin Timberlake in a Ping-Pong Match (Beginner)
Peyton Manning vs. Justin Timberlake in a Ping-Pong Match (Beginner)
In the following Sony commercial, American pop musician and actor Justin Timberlake and Indianapolis Colts quarterback, Peyton Manning, square off in a ping-pong match and try out their Mandarin:
When Peyton Manning said, “我的中文也有进步 (Wǒ …
Chinese Nursery Rhyme for Kids: 画鸭子 To Draw a Duck
Chinese Nursery Rhyme for Kids (Beginner) 画鸭子 (Huà yāzi) To Draw a Duck Key Learning Points (Preview):
星期二 (xīngqīèr): n Tuesday
鸡蛋 (jīdàn): n egg
小鸭子 (xiǎo yāzi): n duckling Listen to the nursery rhyme:
Jīntiān xīngqīèr. 今天 星期二。 Today is Tuesday.
Nǎinai mǎi le …
Quote of the week (Apr. 1, 2010)
Zánliǎ de gǎnqíng xiàng rénmínbì yíyàng jiāntǐng. 咱 俩 的 感情 像 人民币 一样 坚挺。
Our relationship is as strong as Renminbi (RMB). —From Guo Jingming, a famous Chinese writer
生词 (shēngcí) Vocabulary
感情 (gǎnqíng): n relationship
人民币 (rénmínbì): n Renminbi (RMB), the Chinese currency.…
寄一封慢信给未来 Deliver A “Slow Letter” to the Future (Beginner)
寄一封慢信给未来 (Jì yìfēng màn xìn gěi wèilái) Deliver A “Slow Letter” to the Future (Beginner)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
熊猫 (xióngmāo): n panda
鼓励 (gǔlì): v to encourage
感激 (gǎnjī): n gratitude
Recently a “特别的 (tèbiéde) special” company, whose primary service is delivering “slow” letters …
留得青山在，不怕没柴烧 Where There is Life, There is Hope (Intermediate)
留得青山在，不怕没柴烧 (Liú dé qīngshān zài, búpà méi chái shāo) Where There is Life, There is Hope (Intermediate)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
长大 (zhǎngdà): v to grow up
富裕 (fùyù): adj rich
In ancient times, there was an old man who used “木材 (mùcái) wood” to …
Quote of the week (Mar. 29, 2010)
Chūlái tōucài, zǒngshì yào huán de. 出 来 偷菜， 总 是 要 还 的。
If you steal others’ crops, you will have to pay back for that (because others will steal your crops in return; i.e., what goes around comes around).
—A famous Internet quote …
Foreigners Challenge Beijing Opera (Advanced)
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 …
Quote of the week (Mar. 23, 2010)
Ài búshì xiù de, xìngfú búshì shài de. 爱 不是 秀 的，幸福 不是 晒 的。
Love is not for showing off and happiness is not for display. Culture Note: Many famous stars in China like to show that they are satisfied with their personal lives …
Chinese Song for Kids: 青蛙歌 Frog Song (Beginner)
A Chinese Nursery Rhyme for Children (Beginner)
青蛙歌 (Qīngwā gē) Frog Song
Key Learning Points (Preview):
青蛙 (qīngwā): n frog
嘴 (zuǐ): n mouth
腿 (tuǐ): n leg
Yì zhī qīngwā yì zhāng zuǐ, 一 只 青蛙 一 张 嘴， A frog has one mouth, …
蜗牛 (wōniú) Snail (Beginner)
蜗牛 (wōniú) Snail
Listen to the song Key Learning Points (preview):
重 (zhòng): adj heavy and 轻 (qīng): adj light
静 (jìng): adj quiet
About the singer
: This song is sung by 周杰伦 (Zhōu Jiélún) Jay Chou, a very famous pop singer in China. …