Quote of the Week (Nov.5, 2010)
Yào xiǎng dádào yí gè gèng hǎo de zhuàngtài, nǐ bìxū cóng xiǎoshì zuò qǐ, 要 想 达到 一 个 更 好 的 状态， 你 必须 从 小事 做 起， cóng yí gè bǐjiào dī de mùbiāozuò qǐ. 从 一个 比较 低 的 目标 做 …
It’s up to you! (Beginner) 你决定！（初级）
Learn Mandarin Chinese words-你决定！(Nǐ juédìng!) It’s up to you! (Beginner)
Example:
Wǒmen dào nǎlǐ chīfàn ne? A: 我们 到 哪里 吃饭 呢？ Where shall we have dinner?
Nǐ juédìng ba! B: 你 决定 吧！ It’s up to you!
Further Reading:
The Man From Chi Who Worried That The Sky Would Fall Down (Intermediate)
Learn Online Mandarin Idiom: 杞人忧天 (Qǐrényōutiān) The Man from Chi Who Worried that the Sky Would Fall Down Listen to the whole story Key Learning Points: (Preview) 忧 (yōu)：v. to worry
解决 (jiějué)：v. to solve Cóngqián zài ChūnqiūZhànguó shíqī de Qǐguó,yǒu yígè dǎnzi hěnxiǎo de …
Perhaps! (Beginner) 也许！（初级）
Learn Mandarin Chinese words-也许！(Yéxǔ!) Perhaps! (Beginner)
Example:
Tīngshuō zài wǎng shàng xué hànyǔ de rén yuè lái yuè duō le. A: 听说 在 网 上 学 汉语 的 人 越 来 越 多 了。 I heard that more and more people are learning Mandarin Chinese …
Mini-test Answer: 亚军 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct answer is B. We hope the following explanation can help you learn the Mandarin language.
Analysis :
A. “冠军 (guànjūn)” means “champion.”
B. “亚军 (yàjūn)” means “runner-up.” C. “季军 (jìjūn)” means “the third place.” D. “军人 (jūnrén)” means “soldier.” …
It’s my pleasure! (Beginner) 我很乐意！（初级）
Popular Chinese Words-我很乐意！(Wǒ hěn lèyi!) It’s my pleasure! (Beginner)
Example:
Wáng Huá, xièxie nǐ jiāo wó xué Hànyǔ. A: 王华， 谢谢 你 教 我 学 汉语。 Wang Hua, thank you for teaching me Chinese.
Bú yòng kèqi. Wǒ hěn lèyi! B: 不 用 客气。我 很 …
Jennifer’s grammar lecture – How do we use “吧?” (Intermediate)
Key Learning Points: Using “吧” in Mandarin Some students have difficulty understanding how to use “吧.” This Mandarin lesson is designed to foster a clearer understanding of how “吧” should be used. We will break down the details of how “吧” functions both as an …
Quote of the week (Sept. 20, 2010)
Wǒ xiànzài yǒu jiǔ jiàn xīzhuāng, dōushì Zhōngguó zhìzào de, qítā de dōu rēng diào le. 我 现在 有 9 件 西装, 都是 中国 制造 的，其他 的 都 扔 掉 了。 I now have nine suits, all made in China. I threw away the rest …
HSK Sample Test Answer: 蜜月 (Threshold)
Threshold 入门级 (rù mén jí)
The correct answer for this HSK test question is A. Here is the translation: A: Dear, how about we honeymoon in China after we get married? B: Ok!
Analysis: A. “蜜月 (mìyuè)” is the
Mandarin Chinese
phrase for “honeymoon.”
B.
… Quote of the week (Sept. 7, 2010)
Wǒ xīwàng Yáo Míng huīfù jiànkāng bìngqiě nénggòu huíguī.
我 希望 姚 明 恢复 健康 并且 能够 回归。
I hope Yao Ming will get better and return to his team. —From “科比•布莱恩特 (Kēbǐ•Bùlái’ēntè) Kobe Bryant,” on Aug. 16, 2010.
Mandarin Language Vocabulary:
我 (wǒ): pron. …
Chinese For Kids: An Old Man In The Frontier Lost His Horse (Intermediate)
塞翁失马 (Sàiwēngshīmǎ) An Old Man in Frontier Lost His Horse—A Blessing in Disguise (Intermediate)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
邻居 (línjū): n.neighbor
听说 (tīngshuō): v. to hear
带来 (dàilái): v. to bring
Zhànguó shí, yí wèi xìng Sài de lǎorén yǎngle xǔduō mǎ. 战国 时，一位 姓 …
Quote of the week (Aug. 31, 2010)
Hǎi zhī suǒyǐ néng zhuāng nàme duō shuǐ, 海 之 所以 能 装 那么 多 水， shì yīnwèi tā de wèizhi zuì dī — zuò rén yào dīdiào. 是 因为 它 的 位置 最 低——做 人 要 低调。
The reason the sea can hold so …
田忌赛马 (Tián Jì sài mǎ) General Tian Ji in a Horse Race
Read a Chinese Story: 田忌赛马 (Tián Jì sài mǎ) General Tian Ji in a Horse Race (Intermediate)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
输(shū): v. to lose
赢(yíng): v. to win
Qíguó de dà jiāngjūn Tián Jì hěn xǐhuan sàimǎ. 齐国 的 大 将军 田 忌 很 …
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 …
AP Sample Test Answer: What is Your Nationality?
你是哪国人？means: What is your nationality? A. “我是美国人 (wǒ shì měiguórén)” in this conversation means “I am an American” or “I come from America.”
B. “我学习汉语 (wǒ xuéxí hànyǔ)” means “I learn Chinese.”
“汉语(hànyǔ)” is also known as “Mandarin” in many Chinese conversations.
C. “我住在英国 (wǒ
… I See (Beginner) 我明白了 (初级)
strong>我明白了 (wǒ míngbai le) I See (Beginner)
strong>Example:
Wǒ fāxiàn nǐ zuìjìn hànyǔ jìnbù hǎo kuài a！ A: 我 发现 你最近 汉语 进步 好 快 啊！ I find you have made so much progress in your Chinese learning.
Dāngrán le, wǒ zuìjìn yì zhí zài …
Chinese Mini-test: 裙子 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
What does the the phrase “裙子 (qúnzi)” refer to? A. Shirt B. Shoe C. Trousers D. Skirt
Learn Practical Mandarin Words:
Learn the Mandarin word: 漂亮 beautiful (Beginner) Learn the Popular Mandarin Word: Bread (Beginner) Learn the Mandarin Phrase: …
爆冷门 (Bàolěngmén) To have an unexpected winner (Advanced)
爆冷门 (Bàolěngmén) To have an unexpected winner
Origin:
“爆冷门 (bàolěngmén)” appeared first in casinos. Most people put their stakes on the popular side, and the opposite of the popular side got little attention by gamblers. This unpopular side was called “冷门 (lěngmén).” “爆 (bào)” means …
心急吃不了热豆腐 (xīn jí chī bù liǎo rè dòufu ) Haste Makes Waste (Advanced)
Learn Mandarin: 心急吃不了热豆腐 (xīn jí chī bù liǎo rè dòufu ) Haste Makes Waste (Advanced)
Example:
Bié zháojí, xué hànyǔ xūyào yǒu nàixīn, yǒu héngxīn, xīn jí chī bù liǎo rè dòufu. A: 别 着急，学 汉语 需要 有 耐心、有 恒心， 心 急 吃 不 了 …
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 …