Did you know we celebrate Father’s Day in China too? This holiday is one of my favorites because I love to give my dad the best gifts possible, as a token of gratitude for all he has done for my life. Many Chinese children do …
You’re Vivian, aren’t you? He is your boyfriend, isn’t he? Let’s learn how to use “吧 (ba)” to indicate a supposition.
1. Tracy: Tā shì Ted ba? Amy: Shì de, Tracy. Tā shì Ted. He is a really nice guy. Shall …
Many of my American Mandarin Chinese language students are surprised to learn that the NBA Basketball League is now the most popular sports league to follow in China, based on online views.
The popularity of Chinese Hall of Fame player Yao Ming of the Houston …
Learning fun Chinese slang which can be applied to, and be used in, a classroom or boardroom setting is one of my favorite things to teach in my Mandarin Chinese classes. One of these Chinese expressions which I find to be very useful is “幺蛾子 …
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 …
Learning Chinese has one specific challenge in its early stages: pronunciation. The tonal sounds of Mandarin Chinese will be a challenge that you will have to overcome. A Mandarin Chinese learner will have to exercise and train their mouths to create the Mandarin Chinese pronunciation …
Have you heard about the recent discovery of two new planets? We are always discovering new things, including what NASA calls exoplanets, or planets outside of the earth’s solar system. Most recently, NASA and Google have discovered two new planets in a far-away “太阳系 (tài …
When you are buying a house, a car, or some precious jewelry for your girlfriend, don’t just worry about the money, you haven’t known how to express that large amount yet.
1. A: Ellie, nǐ de xuéxiào zhēn dà ya! Zhèr …
In China, the most popular food you can find is definitely rice. We consume so much of it every year that it’s hard to keep up with the demand. This year, the China National Hybrid Rice Research and Development Center has recognized Yuan Longping, a …
Drinking culture in China, compared drinking culture in Western societies is quite different. And, by “drinking” I don’t mean tea or juice! Just as most other societies like to “put one back” and have one (or many!) alcoholic beverages in an evening, so too do …
Either way is fine with me! It’s up to you! Whatever! In Chinese, you can just say “随便 (Suíbiàn)!”
1. A: Jenny, wǒmen wǎnshang qù chànggē, hǎo mɑ? B: Xíng. A: Wǒmen qù něi jiā KTV? B: Wǒ dōu xínɡ, suíbiàn. …
0.5, 1/2, 50%…How do you read these numbers in Chinese?
1. A: Gabrielle Douglas zhēn bànɡ! She did great in the individual all-around competition in the London Olympics. B: Yeah, and she got 62.232. How many points did Douglas get in …
It was a lovely summer’s day where I just couldn’t say inside.
The beautiful riverside park near my home was calling me. In an unexpected twist that caused the perfect day, I ran into some of my old students playing badminton on the courts.
There …
In today’s Mandarin Chinese lesson, Teacher Becky introduces the the parts of the face and gives useful examples of how these parts can be used in a sentence (and also how the Chinese traditionally find them attractive!). Let’s take a look:
Correct Answers 1. D If you read the third paragraph of this blog, you can find the correct answer for this quiz. The key sentence is: When speaking of the game Mahjong, you should pronounce “将” as “jiàng.” 2. C If you know the meanings …
It’s very likely you have heard of Mahjong before, you might have even played some version of it on the computer or your phone. Or, perhaps you saw the Chinese mafia in movies playing Mahjong.
But, do you know its everyday significance in China?
麻将 …
From listening to music and playing sports, to taking photos and playing video games, I have lots of hobbies. What are yours? Watch Video Answers
What kind of music do you like? Which game is fun to play? What kind of hair style is cool… Today let’s talk about how to use “什么 (shénme)” when asking questions. Watch Video Answers …
The 微信 (wēixìn) WeChat app is not only an important part of life in China, it is essential. By the end of 2016, WeChat had over a billion accounts created, and 700 million accounts were active. Outside of China, 70 million users are also active …
As you know, the context and tone of how you say a word or expression in any language can change it’s meaning and intention. In English, you might jokingly say to your friends “you really screwed me over!” during a friendly game of Monopoly. However, …
