Quote of Week (Dec. 31, 2010)
Hūnyīn zěnme xuǎn dōu shì cuò de, chángjiǔ de hūnyīn jiùshì jiāngcuòjiùcuò. 婚姻 怎么 选 都 是 错 的， 长久 的 婚姻 就是 将错就错。
No matter how you choose to marry, it’s a mistake. To stay married long-term is to make the best of the …
Chinese Character: 冬 (dōng) Winter (Beginner)
冬 (dōng) Winter
拼音 (pīnyīn) pinyin: dōng
笔画 (bǐhuà) number of strokes: 5
含义 (hányì) meaning: winter
笔顺 (bǐshùn) stroke order:
词源 (cíyuán) Etymology: In the Chinese lunar calendar, winter is the last season of each year, for this reason the character “终 (zhōng) end” …
Mini-test Answer: 旅游 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct answer for this Chinese test is C.
Analysis:
A. In Chinese “生活 (shēnghuó)” means “life.”
B. In Chinese “购物 (gòuwù)” means “shopping.”
C. In Chinese “旅游 (lǚyóu)” means “travel.”
D. In Chinese “体育 (tǐyù)” means “Physical Education.”
Culture Note:…
Quote of the Week (Nov. 19, 2010)
Wǒ juéde shìbó yīngggāi yǒngyuǎn yǒngyuǎn de chíxù xiàqu, 我 觉得 世博 应该 永远 永远 地 持续 下去， wǒ zhēnxīn de xīwàng shìjiè shàng de měi yígè rén 我 真心 地 希望 世界 上 的 每 一个 人 dōu kěyǐ hùxiāng xuéxí qítā guójiā. 都 …
Mandarin Lesson: Salutations in Chinese Letters (Intermediate)
中文书信的称呼(Zhōngwén shūxìn de chēnghū) Salutations in Chinese letters
Zhōngguó bèi yùwéi “lǐyízhībāng.” 中国 被 誉为 “礼仪之邦”。 Wúlùn zài rìcháng shēnghuó háishì shāngwù huódòng zhōng, 无论 在 日常 生活 还是 商务 活动 中， Zhōngguórén yìzhí dōu hěn zhùyì lǐyí. 中国人 一直 都 很 注意 礼仪。 China …
“最中国”的中国字 The Most “Chinese” Chinese Characters (Intermediate)
“最中国”的中国字The Most “Chinese” Chinese Characters Listen to the whole story Key Learning Points (Preview)
和谐 (héxié): n. harmony
反映 (fǎnyìng): v. to reflect
推崇 (tuīchóng) v. to praise highly
Lā’ěrfū.Àimòshēng shuō, wǒmen kěyǐ cóng yìguó de yǔyán 拉尔夫 爱默生 说，我们 可以 从 一国 的 语言 …
老马识途 An Old Horse Knows the Way (Advanced)
Chinese Language Story: 老马识途 (lǎomǎshítú) An Old Horse Knows the Way (Advanced) Listen to the whole story Key Learning Points (Preview): 凯旋而归 (kǎixuán’érguī): v. to return triumphant
毫不犹豫 (háobùyóuyù): adv. without hesitation
The Chinese idiom “老马识途 (lǎomǎshítú)” literally means that an old horse knows the …
How Do Brand Names Attract Chinese Consumers?
Key Learning Points (Preview):
品牌 (pǐnpái): n. brand
吸引 (xīyǐn): v. to attract
印象 (yìnxiang): n. impression
It is important for foreign brands to have a Chinese name as it enters the Chinese market. How do companies translate their names? How do they make the …
Quote of the Week (Oct. 13, 2010)
Wǒ yìzhí duì zìjǐ shuō, nánrén sānshí yì zhī huā, zhège niánlíng yīnggāi dàibiǎo 我 一直 对 自己说， 男人 三十 一 枝 花， 这个 年龄 应该 代表 lìng yì zhǒng kāishǐ. 另 一 种 开始。
I tell myself all the time: a thirty-year-old man is …
Why Does a Chinese Husband Call His Wife’s Father “岳父 (Yuèfù)?” (Intermediate)
Why Does a Chinese Husband Call His Wife’s Father “岳父 (Yuèfù)?” (Intermediate)
Key Learning Points (Preview): 称呼 (chēnghū): n./v. form of address/ to call; to address
In China, husbands often call their wives’ father “岳父 (yuèfù).” The meaning of “父 (fù) father” is rather easy …
New TV Series: 红楼梦 (Hóng Lóu Mèng) Dream of the Red Chamber (Intermediate)
New TV Series: 红楼梦 (Hóng Lóu Mèng)Dream of the Red Chamber
Key Learning Points (Preview):
首映 (shǒuyìng): n. premiere 期待 (qīdài): v. to look forward toThe “首映 (shǒuyìng) premiere” of the new TV series “《红楼梦》(Hóng Lóu Mèng)Dream of the Red Chamber” kicked off on Sept. …
Read Chinese story about 七夕节 (Qīxījié) Double Seven Festival (Chinese Valentine’s Day) (Beginner)
七夕节 (Qīxījié) Double Seven Festival (Chinese Valentine’s Day)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
鹊桥 (què qiáo): n. a bridge made up of magpies
七夕节 (Qīxījié): n. Double Seven Festival
中国情人节 (Zhōngguó Qíngrénjié): n. Chinese Valentine’s Day
The Double Seven Festival or Chinese Valentine’s Day is on …
Looking for Double Happiness (Beginner)
Are you looking for “Mr. or Mrs. Right?”
Key Learning Points (Preview):
男朋友 (nánpéngyou): n. boyfriend
喜欢 (xǐhuan): v. to like
谈恋爱 (tánliàn’ài): v. to fall in love
Chinese Conversation (Part I):
A: Zhōumò wǎnshang yí gè rén zài jiā kàn diànshì duō wúliáo a! …
Quote of the week (Jul. 13, 2010)
Nǐ de zhìshāng zhēn de hěn tíshén. 你 的 智商 真 的 很 提神。
Your IQ is really refreshing. —From “李成功 (Lǐ Chènggōng) Li Chenggong,” criticizing his subordinates in the movie “Lost on a Journey.”
Culture Note:
In a humorous and ironic way, “李成功 (Lǐ… 端午节 (Duānwǔ jié) Dragon Boat Festival
端午节 (Duānwǔ jié) Dragon Boat Festival
The fifth of May of lunar calendar is Dragon Boat Festival. There are many legends about this traditional Festival and the most popular one is “屈原 (Qū Yuán) QuYuan,” who was a Chinese scholar and minister to the King …
吉祥物 (jíxiángwù) Mascot (Intermediate)
吉祥物(jíxiángwù)Mascot(Intermediate) The character “吉祥(jíxiáng)” means lucky and “物 (wù)” means thing or object.
Example:
Shànghǎi shìbóhuì de jíxiángwù hǎo kě’ài ya. A: 上海 世博会 的 吉祥物 好 可爱 呀。 The Shanghai Expo’s mascot is so cute.
Èn, wǒ zhīdào tā de míngzi jiào hǎibǎo, wǒ …
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 …
Can Fans be Weapons in Martial Arts? (Intermediate)
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 Mini-test: To Treat (Intermediate)
Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)
Jìrán nǐ dōu tōngguò HSK kǎoshì le, yīnggāi qǐngkè qìngzhù yí xià ba? A: 既然 你 都 通过 HSK 考试了， 应该 请客 庆祝 一 下吧？ Since you have passed the HSK test, would you treat us to dinner to celebrate it? …
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 …