So you are learning to speak Mandarin. That’s great! But can you speak with native Chinese people? The first step to doing so is to use a little slang or at least be able to understand when you hear it in conversation. Today’s slang word …
Answer: B Here’s why: Anna: Wǒ yìdiǎn’r dōu bù xǐhuān wǒmen lǎobǎn! Anna: 我 一 点 儿 都 不 喜欢 我 们 老 板！ Anna: I don’t like our boss at all!
Jack: Wèishénme? Jack: 为 什 么？ Jack: Why?
Anna: Tā jīngcháng bǎ gōngzuò …
In English we have the saying, “Take a chill pill!” This can be slightly derogatory, but it also can encourage others to relax a bit when they are being too up-tight. In Chinese we have a phrase that very much relates to this meaning. It …
Answer: B Analysis: Lily: Mike zěnme yàng la? Lily: Mike 怎 么 样 啦？ Lily: How is Mike?
Ethan: Tā tīng dào nǐ de chéngnuò, xiàng shì chī xià le dìngxīnwán. Ethan: 他 听 到 你 的 承 诺， 像 是 吃 下 了 定 …
Xiǎoméi: Nǐ yǒu shénme _____? 小 梅：你 有 什 么 _____? Ān Qí: Wǒ xǐhuān kànshū. 安 琪：我 喜 欢 看 书。 A. 活动 (Huódòng)
B. 工作 (Gōngzuò)
C. 爱好 (Àihào)…
Answer: C Analysis: Xiǎoméi: Nǐ yǒu shénme àihào? 小 梅： 你 有 什 么 爱好? Xiaomei: What is your hobby?
Ān Qí: Wǒ xǐhuān kànshū. 安 琪：我 喜 欢 看 书。 An Qi: I like reading.
活动 (Huódòng): activity.
工作 (Gōngzuò)): work.
爱好(Àihào): hobby.
According …
Quite often, I receive messages from parents outside China who would like some guidance and suggestions on how to motivate their children to learn Mandarin Chinese and what goals to set. While standardized tests may only motivate some students, I do find that the AP …
Expressing emotion is difficult enough but trying to say how you feel in another language is a whole new challenge. Here is a Chinese slang expression that reveals feelings of frustration and aggravation. For instance, most of us have faced this situation: You are typing …
Answer: B Zhè tiānqì kě zhēn bù hǎo! Jack: 这 天 气 可 真 不 好 ！ This weather is really bad!
Shì a! Fēng zǒng shì zhème guā, zhēn shāng nǎojīn. Lily: 是 啊！风 总 是 这 么 刮， 真 伤 脑 筋。 Yes! …
Western breakfast in Chinese terms.
1. A: John, wǒmen míngtiān zǎocān chī màipiàn, zěnmeyang? B: Wǒ bù xiǎng chī màipiàn, wǒ xiǎng chī niúnǎi hé miànbāoquān. What does John want to eat for breakfast tomorrow? Please choose the best answer. A. …
Lǐ huá tèbié xiǎng mǎi zhè ____ xié, dànshì tā de jiǎo tài dà. 李 华 特别 想 买 这 ____ 鞋，但 是 他 的 脚 太 大。 A. 把 (Bǎ)
B. 双 (Shuāng)…
Answer: B Analysis: Lǐ huá tèbié xiǎng mǎi zhè shuāng xié, dànshì tā de jiǎo tài dà. 李 华 特别 想 买 这 双 鞋，但 是 他 的 脚 太 大。 Li Hua really want to buy this pair of shoes, but his feet are …
If you’re ever planning on living in China and understanding Mandarin Chinese, a working knowledge of Chinese words with both literal and figurative meanings will be absolutely necessary to follow the topic and direction of the conversation.
If we are learning through books or outdated …
Answer: B Analysis: 泡沫 (Pàomò): foam, froth.
价格泡沫 (Jiàgé pàomò): price bubble.
金融 (Jīnróng): finance.
Housing prices for buying and renting in cities such as Shanghai and Beijing are famously expensive. Some speculators and economists say that the prices overly high and that one day …
As we all know, rice is a very common food in China. We eat it all the time! If you look at the amount of chopsticks we use it to eat every year, you can see it is a staple in our diet and our …
Answer: B Analysis: Nǐ zhēn shì gè fàntǒng a, zhème jiǎndān de tí dōu bú huì! 你 真 是 个
啊, 这 么 简 单 的 题 都 不 会！ You are a good for nothing, you can’t even answer a simple question!…
April Fools’ Day is fast approaching! Have you prepared the surprise for your friends?
1. A: Rachel, you told me you wrecked my car! It looks fine to me…what’s wrong with you? B: Hàha, jīntiān shì Yúrénjié! Yúrénjié kuàilè! Which of …
1. A 2. C 3. A 4. A 5. B <<Back to “Video Lesson: April Fool’s Day!” …
1. Choose the best answer to fill in the blanks. Jīntiān jiàn le xīn péngyǒu Lily, wǒ ____ tā de yìnxiàng _____. 今 天 见 了 新 朋 友 Lily，我 ____ 她 的 印 象 _____。
A. 使 (shǐ)，很好 (hěnhǎo) B. 让 (ràng)，很好 (hěnhǎo) C. …
