What’s Your Style? (Beginner)
Conversation:
Nǐ kàn Lady Gaga Xiānggǎng yǎnchànghuì le ma? Jen: 你看 Lady Gaga 香港 演唱会 了 吗？ Have you seen the Lady Gaga Live concert in Hong Kong?
Dāngrán le, nà kě zhēn shì shízú de Lady Gaga fànr a. Lily: 当然 了，那可 真 是 …
Hey, have you eaten yet? (Beginner)
Jack, a foreign friend who has studied Chinese for almost half a year, was excited about finally coming to China and putting his new knowledge to use.
One thing Jack learned was that people in China greet each other with the sentence “你吃了吗？ (Nǐ chīle …
Mini-Test Answer: A.
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The right answer for this test is A. Translation:
Tīngshuō Tom Cruise líhūn le. Jenny: 听说 Tom Cruise 离婚了。
I heard that Tom Cruise is divorced.
Zhēn de jiǎ de? Anna: 真 的 假 的？
Really?
Analysis:
In the above conversation, …
Mini-Test Answer: B. Ellie broke up with her boyfriend.
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct answer to this test is B.
Translation: Ellie, nǐ zěnme le? Lucy: Ellie，你怎么 了？ Ellie, what’s wrong?
Wǒmen fēnshǒu le. Ellie: 我们 分手 了。 We broke up.
Analysis:
The word “分手 (fēnshǒu)” means for two people to part or …
高富帅 (gāo fù shuài) Tall, Rich and Handsome (Beginner)
During the Euro 2012 games, time and time again fans cheered the fantastic goals made by Cristiano Ronaldo.
His impeccable performance, combined with his good looks, attracted the attention of many girls’ eyes in China. Ronaldo was dubbed the top “高富帅 (gāo fù shuài)” …
Mini-Test Answer: 哪 (něi)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The right answer for this test is A. Translation: Wǒ chuān něi jiàn yīfu qù yuēhuì ne? Jen: 我 穿 哪 件 衣服去 约会 呢？
Dear, what dress should I wear for this date?
Zhèi jiàn hóngsè de ba. Mary: 这 …
Mini-Test Answer: 太 (tài)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct answer to this test is B.
Translation: Nǐ kàn Justin Bieter de yǎnchànghuì le ma? Amy: 你看 Justin Bieber的 演唱会 了 吗？ Did you see Justin Bieber’s concert?
Dāngrán le, tā zhēn shì tài shuài le. Tina: 当然 了，他 …
(那是)必须的！((Nà shì) bìxū de!) Absolutely! (Beginner)
“(那是)必须的! ((Nà shì) bìxū de!)” is now a very popular word in the daily life of Chinese that is used to show confirmation. “那 (nà)” means that; “是 (shì)” means is; “必须 (bìxū)” means must; “的 (de)” is a particle. It gained popularity from a …
Victory for the Miami Heat…Right? (Intermediate)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
胜 (shèng) to win
败 (bài) to lose
On June 22nd, the NBA had its fifth and final championship game; the result being that the Miami Heat “大胜 (dà shèng)” beat the Oklahoma City Thunder by a margin of 121–106 and …
Mini-Test Answer: B
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The right answer for this test is B. Translation: Hǎo rè a, wǒ xiǎng chī bīngqílín. Jenny: 好 热啊，我想 吃 冰淇淋。
Such a hot day! I want some ice cream.
Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme wèi de? Lily: 你想 吃 什么 味 …
Mini-Test Answer: 多 (duō)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct answer to this test is A.
Translation: Chángchéng duō cháng a? Jack: 长城 多 长 啊？ How long is the Great Wall?
Bāqiān duō gōnglǐ. Eric: 八千 多 公里。 More than 8000 kilometers.
Analysis: In the above sentence, the …
Ladies, which body type are you? (Elementary)
Amy and her friend Linda meet at a cafe to chat. Amy: Look at you! You’re so slim! Linda: Thanks! Amy: I wish I were you! I really admire those who keep a good figure. Linda: If you eat a healthy diet, you’ll… Amy: I …
Who will pay for the bill? (Elementary)
When I was in Beijing for school, I went to a restaurant and correctly ordered “麻婆豆腐 (Mápódòufu) Mapo Tofu” and “宫保鸡丁 (Gōngbǎojīdīng) Kung-Pao Chicken.” I can’t express how excited I was at the time. Back in Europe, I recited common Chinese menus endlessly to invisible …
Mini-Test Answer: 想 (xiǎng) (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The right answer for this test is B. Translation: Jīnnián shǔjià wǒ yào dāizài Zhōngguó, wǒ bù xiǎng huí guó. Jen: 今年 暑假 我 要 呆在 中国， 我 不 想 回 国。
I will stay in China for the summer holiday. …
Mini-Test Answer: 高尔夫 (gāo’ěrfū)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct answer to this test is A.
Analysis:
A. “高尔夫 (gāo’ěrfū)” means golf in Chinese. You can also say “高尔夫球 (gāo’ěrfūqiú).” B. “羽毛球 (yǔmáoqiú)” means badminton in Chinese. C. “乒乓球 (pīngpāngqiú)” means table tennis or ping-pong in Chinese.
For examples: …
Do you have any stickers on your car? (Beginner)
In recent years, the number of private cars and younger owners in China has steadily risen, bringing with it, the pursuit of “个性 (gèxìng),” or individuality through a more colorful and personal “爱车 (àichē) car.” The simple, but sweet application of a unique “车贴 (chētiē) …
Wearing a Sachet on Dragon Boat Festival (Elementary)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
戴香包 (dài xiāngbāo) v. to wear the sachet
香 (xiāng) adj. fragrant/delicious
It’s widely known that people enjoy “粽子 (zòngzi) rice dumplings” and “赛龙舟 (sài lóngzhōu) dragon-boat races” during the annual Dragon Boat Festival, but amongst all the customs, the most …
Mini-Test Answer: Let’s go to buy some rice dumplings (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The right answer for this test is A. Translation:
Míngtiān shì Duānwǔjié, wǒmen yíhuìr qù mǎi zòngzi, zěnmeyàng? Lily: 明天 是 端午节， 我们 一会儿 去 买 粽子， 怎么样？
Tomorrow is the Dragon Boat Festival. How about we buy some rice dumplings?…
Mini-Test Answer: C
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The right answer for this test is C.
Translation:
Nǐhǎo, huānyíng guānglín. Waitress: 你好，欢迎 光临。 Hello! Welcome to our cafe.
Nǐhǎo, liǎng bēi kāfēi, yì bēi jiā nǎi, yì bēi jiā táng. Tom: 你好，两 杯 咖啡，一杯 加 奶，一杯 加 糖。 Hello! …
I Have A Great Daddy.
“父亲节 (Fùqinjié) Father’s Day” is coming up soon. “I Have a Great Daddy” is a well-known nursery rhyme in China. This is a song that has been around for quite sometime and has deep cultural roots. Sharing its theme with a popular television drama …