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 …
Mandarin Essentials
Take it easy! (Beginner) 别紧张！（初级）
Learn Chinese Words-别紧张！(Bié jǐnzhāng!) Take it easy! (Beginner)
Example:
Dì yī cì gěi zhème duō rén zuò yǎnjiǎng, wǒ hǎo jǐnzhāng a. A: 第一次 给 这么 多 人 做 演讲， 我 好 紧张 啊。 This is the first time I have had to give a …
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:
Chinese Mini-test: Birthday (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Today is your birthday, so you should cut the cake for us. How do you say “birthday” in Chinese? A. 节日 (jiérì) B. 假日 (jiàrì) C. 生日 (shēngrì) D. 星期日 (xīngqīrì)
Mini-test Answer: 生日 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct answer for this Chinese test is C.
Analysis: A. “节日 (jiérì)” means “festival.” B. “假日 (jiàrì)” means “holiday.” C. “生日 (shēngrì)” means “birthday.” D. “星期日 (xīngqīrì)” means “Sunday.” <<Back to Mini-test // // …
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 …
Quote of the Week (Oct. 29, 2010)
Wǒ bìng bù juéde zìjǐ shì míng èrshíqī suì de lǎo yùndòngyuán le, 我 并 不 觉得 自己是 名 27 岁 的 老 运动员 了， shēntǐ qítā bùwèi ràng wǒ juéde zìjǐ hái xiàng èrshí suì yíyàng. 身体 其他 部位 让 我 觉得 自己还 像 …
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 …
Who knows? (Beginner) 谁知道呢？（初级）
Study Chinese Online-谁知道呢？(Shuí zhīdào ne?) Who knows? (Beginner)
Example:
Nǐ míngtiān yǒuméiyǒu shíjiān? Wǒmen yìqǐ qù dǎqiú ba! A: 你 明天 有没有 时间？ 我们 一起 去 打球 吧！ Do you have any time tomorrow? Let’s play basketball together!
Shuí zhīdào ne? Dào shí hou zài …
老马识途 An Old Horse Knows the Way (Advanced)
Chinese Language Story: 老马识途 (lǎomǎshítú) An Old Horse Knows the Way (Advanced) Listen to the whole story Key Learning Points (Preview): 凯旋而归 (kǎixuán’érguī): v. to return triumphant
毫不犹豫 (háobùyóuyù): adv. without hesitation
The Chinese idiom “老马识途 (lǎomǎshítú)” literally means that an old horse knows the …
Quote of the Week (Oct. 22, 2010)
Yáo Míng guīlái ràng wǒ hěn shòuyì, méiyǒu rén néng qǔdài tā dē zuòyòng. 姚 明 归来 让 我 很 受益， 没有 人 能 取代 他 的 作用。
I benefit greatly from Yao Ming’s return. No one can substitute for him. —From 阿隆•布鲁克斯 (Ālóng• Bùlǔkèsī) …
Chinese Mini-test: Runner-up (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The Love of the Hawthorn Tree, Zhang Yimou’s new film, was the box-office runner-up during the mid-autumn holiday. What is “runner-up” in Chinese? A. 冠军 (guànjūn) B. 亚军 (yàjūn) C. 季军 (jìjūn) D. 军人 (jūnrén)
…
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.” …
Enjoy Yourself! (Beginner) 玩得开心！（初级）
Popular Chinese Words-玩得开心！(Wán de kāixīn!) Enjoy Yourself! (Beginner)
Example:
Māma, wǒ jīntiān néng hé péngyou yìqǐ qù fàng fēngzheng ma? A: 妈妈， 我 今天 能 和 朋友 一起 去 放 风筝 吗？ Mum, can I go fly kites with my friends this afternoon?
Kěyǐ. Xīwàng …
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 …
Mini-test Answer: 面对面 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Let’s take a look at the answers and how these expressions are written in Chinese pinyin.
Analysis: A-3 The Chinese pinyin for 面对面 is “miànduìmiàn.” It means “face to face.”
B-1 The Chinese pinyin for 手牵手 is “shǒuqiānshǒu.” It means “hand …
Chinese Mini-test: 面对面 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
When was the last time you walked hand in hand with a friend, or had a heart to heart chat? Read these Chinese phrases and draw four lines to match them with the English expressions. A 面对面 1. hand in hand …
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 (Oct. 13, 2010)
Wǒ yìzhí duì zìjǐ shuō, nánrén sānshí yì zhī huā, zhège niánlíng yīnggāi dàibiǎo 我 一直 对 自己说， 男人 三十 一 枝 花， 这个 年龄 应该 代表 lìng yì zhǒng kāishǐ. 另 一 种 开始。
I tell myself all the time: a thirty-year-old man is …
I Promise! (Beginner) 我保证！（初级）
Popular Chinese Words-
我保证！
(Wǒ bǎozhèng!) I promise! (Beginner)
Example:
Wǒ bǎozhèng, xià zhōu yídìng dài nǐ qù hǎibiān wán. A: 我 保证， 下 周 一定 带 你 去 海边 玩。 I promise I will take you to the beach to have fun next week. …