“hold住 (hold zhù)” originated from the Sino-British, mixed language in Hong Kong. Its sudden popularization was sparked by internet sensation, Miss Lin, who during an appearance on a Taiwanese variety show, demonstrated fashion ideals to college students by enlisting exaggerated styles, pretentious English and sexual …
Key Learning Points (Preview): 龙年 (lóngnián): n. the Year of the Dragon
本命年 (běnmìngnián): n. one’s year of birth in relation to the Chinese Zodiac
China’s celebration of the lunar New Year, the renowned Spring Festival, is less than a month away. As the zodiac’s …
New Year’s Day, or “元旦 (Yuándàn)” is just around the corner. Wouldn’t you like to impress your friends and relatives by wishing them a happy holiday in Chinese? Today let’s take a look at a few popular phrases in Mandarin for the New Year.
Yuándàn …
Key Learning Points (Preview):
过新年 (Guò xīnnián): v. to celebrate the New Year
跳舞 (tiàowǔ): v. to dance
Guò xīnnián ya, dōng dōng dōng dōng qiàng, 过 新年 呀， 咚 咚 咚 咚 呛， We are celebrating the New Year, Tong Tong Tong Tong Qiang …
The answer to this test is A.
Translation: Yuádàn kuàile! Zhèxiē dōushì wǒ tèyì wèi nǐ zhǔnbèi de. Husband: 元旦 快乐！ 这些 都是 我 特意为 你 准备 的。 Happy New Year! I prepared this meal especially for you. I hope you …
People in China love to sent text messages for blessings on Christmas. It is worth noting, but in Chinese, the pronunciation of the Chinese word for Christmas sounds exactly like another very common expression, “生蛋 (shēngdàn) lay an egg.” Thus we get a play on …
Key Learning Points (Preview):
聚 (jù): v. to get together
大餐 (dàcān): n. feast
Stockings and presents are just around the corner and westerners everywhere are busy wrapping, caroling and bustling about. Since its more widespread publicity in China since the 1990s, Christmas has slowly, …
The right answer for this test is A. 圣诞快乐 (Shèngdàn kuàile)
Analysis:
A: “圣诞快乐 (Shèngdàn kuàile)” is the Chinese for “Merry Christmas.” “圣诞 (Shèngdàn)” means “Christmas,” and “快乐 (kuàile)” means ” merry/happy.”
B: “元旦快乐 (Yuándàn kuàile)” is the Chinese for “Happy …
Key Learning Point (Preview):
如鱼得水 (rúyúdéshuǐ): to feel just like a fish in water
Dōnghàn mònián, tiānxià dà luàn. 东汉 末年， 天下 大 乱。 In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the country was in confusion.
Liú Bèi wèi tǒngyī tiānxià, tèyì bàifǎng yǐnjū de Zhūgě …
The answer to this test is A.
Translation: Lǎogōng, nǐ zuòde zhèshì shénme cài ya, wǒ kànzhe dōu méi shíyù. Wife: 老公， 你 做的 这是 什么 菜 呀，我 看着 都 没 食欲。
Honey, the dishes you cooked made me lose my …
Key Learning Point (Preview): 剩女 (shèngnǚ) n. spinsters
Today we take a look at the Chinese phrase “剩女 (shèngnǚ).” The term shows up every day in newspapers, TV shows and daily life. Can you guess its meaning? “剩 (shèng)” means to remain, or to be …
Key Learning Point (Preview):
意思 (yìsi): n. meaning
Frank is my friend from America. One day, he came to me and told me that he heard a conversation between two Chinese people which confused him. The conversation went as follows: Nǐ zhège rén zhēn yǒu …
Key Learning Point (Preview):
光棍儿 (guānggùnr): n. bachelor
The day of Nov. 11 (11.11) is the so-called “光棍儿节 (Guānggùnr jié) Single’s Day,” because the four number “1’s” in the date look like four sticks with smooth surface. In Chinese the phrase “光棍儿 (guānggùnr)” first appeared …
Conversation:
Hāi, zěnme wújīngdǎcǎi de? Anna: 嗨，怎么 无精打采 的。 Hi, why are you so dispirited?
Fànwǎn dōu diū le, néng gāoxìng de qǐlái ma? Mike: 饭碗 都 丢 了，能 高兴 得 起来吗？ _________, how can I be happy?
What does “饭碗 …
The correct answer for this test is C.
Translation:
Hāi, zěnme wújīngdǎcǎi de? Anna: 嗨，怎么 无精打采 的。 Hi, why are you so dispirited?
Fànwǎn dōu diū le, néng gāoxìng de qǐlái ma? Mike: 饭碗 都 丢 了，能 高兴 得 起来吗？ I …
Key Learning Point (Preview): 神马都是浮云 (shénmǎ dōu shì fúyún): Everything is nothing.
A post in 2010 made the saying, “神马都是浮云 (shénmǎdōu shì fúyún)” become a popular phrase throughout China. It is used broadly in various areas of society, especially on TV shows. “神马 (shénmǎ)” literally …
The right answer for this online Chinese test is A.
Translation:
Nǐ zài zhèr ya, zhǎo nǐ bàn tiān le. Wang Hong: 你 在 这儿呀，找 你 半 天 了。 Ah, here you are. I looked for you for quite a while.…
“少见多怪 (shǎojiànduōguài) is an everyday Chinese expression used to describe someone who is very naive. Besides this, the phrase is sometimes used to poke fun at those who announce a very common fact as a piece of amazing news. In English, people sometimes joke around …
人在囧途 (Rénzài jiǒngtú) Lost on Journey
囧 (jiǒng): adj. depressed; embarrassed and mortified
Watch the movie tailer:
Have you ever seen the movie “人在囧途 (Rénzài jiǒngtú) Lost on Journey?” It is a comedy about a “农民工 (nóngmíngōng) migrant worker” and a
Key Learning Points (Preview): 弯腰 (wān yāo): v. to bow down
点头 (diǎn tóu): v. to nod one’s head
Cāicai wǒ shì shuí? 猜猜 我 是 谁？
Guess who am I? Wǒ chángcháng cóng nǐ shēn biān jīngguò, 我 常常 …
