Quote of the week (Oct. 8, 2010)
Wǒ xīn lǐ chōngmǎn le gǎn’ēn hé yùnqi, wǒ hái bù rú Shīwǎxīngé, yuǎn yuǎn bù rú 我 心 里 充满 了 感恩 和 运气，我 还 不 如 施瓦辛格， 远 远 不 如 tā. 他。
My heart is filled with gratitude and I am very …
Mandarin Essentials
Chinese Mini-test: TV drama (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
I heard a new version of the TV drama The Dream of Red Mansions would soon be put on air. Regarding this sentence, do you know how to say “TV drama” in Chinese? A. 电影 (diànyǐng) B. 电视剧 (diànshìjù) C. 歌剧 …
Mini-test Answer: 电视剧 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct Chinese phrase for “TV drama” is B.
Analysis :
A. “电影 (diànyǐng)” means “movie.”
B. “电视剧 (diànshìjù)” means “TV drama.” C. “歌剧 (gējù)” means “opera.” D. “舞蹈剧 (wǔdǎojù)” means “dance drama.”
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I think so. (Beginner) 我也这么想。（初级）
Popular Chinese Words-
我也这么想。
(Wǒ yě zhème xiǎng.) I think so. (Beginner)
Example:
Zhèlǐ de fēngjǐng hǎo měi a! A: 这里 的 风景 好 美 啊！ The scenery here is so beautiful!
Wǒ yě zhème xiǎng. B: 我 也 这么 想。 I think so.
Further …
What’s up? (Beginner) 最近怎么样？（初级）
Popular Chinese Words-最近怎么样？(Zuìjìn zěnmeyàng?)
What’s up?
(Beginner)
Example:
Zuìjìn zěnmeyàng, Yuēhàn? A: 最近 怎么样， 约翰？ What’s up, John?
Háibúcuò, wǒ zuìjìn zhèngzài wǎngshàng xué hànyǔ. B: 还不错， 我 最近 正在 网上学汉语。 Not bad, I am learning Chinese online recently.
Further Reading:
Quote of the week (Sept. 20, 2010)
Wǒ xiànzài yǒu jiǔ jiàn xīzhuāng, dōushì Zhōngguó zhìzào de, qítā de dōu rēng diào le. 我 现在 有 9 件 西装, 都是 中国 制造 的，其他 的 都 扔 掉 了。 I now have nine suits, all made in China. I threw away the rest …
New TV Series: 红楼梦 (Hóng Lóu Mèng) Dream of the Red Chamber (Intermediate)
New TV Series: 红楼梦 (Hóng Lóu Mèng)Dream of the Red Chamber
Key Learning Points (Preview):
首映 (shǒuyìng): n. premiere 期待 (qīdài): v. to look forward toThe “首映 (shǒuyìng) premiere” of the new TV series “《红楼梦》(Hóng Lóu Mèng)Dream of the Red Chamber” kicked off on Sept. …
None of your business! (Beginner) 与你无关！（初级）
Popular Chinese Words-与你无关！(Yǔ nǐ wú guān!)
None of your business! (Beginner)
I heard you and your girlfriend broke up. Is it true? Yǔ nǐ wú …
I’m back! (Beginner) 我回来了！（初级）
Popular Chinese Words-我回来了！(Wǒ huílai le!) I’m back! (Beginner)
Example:
Māma, wǒ huílai le! Jīntiān wǒmen bān shàng láile yí wèi xīn tóngxué. A: 妈妈， 我 回来 了！今天 我们 班 上 来了 一 位 新 同学。 Mom, I’m back! We have a new classmate today.…
Learn to Speak Chinese through a Famous Quote (Sept. 14, 2010)
Wǒ jiǎngle bú suàn. 我 讲了 不 算。
I have no say in the matter. —From “李书福 (Lǐ Shūfú) Li Shufu,” the Chairman of Geely, in response to the question of Volvo’s future location in China, August 26, 2010 (Note: Geely bought Volvo on August …
Chinese Mini-test: Mid-Autumn Festival (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Test of Basic Chinese Phrases:
Nǐ zhīdào Zhōngguó rén Zhōngqiūjié chī shénme ma？ 你 知道 中国 人 中秋节 吃 什么 吗？ Do you know what Chinese people eat during Mid-Autumn Day? A. 面条 B. 月饼 C. 饺子 D. 火锅
…Mini-test Answer: 月饼 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct answer for this test of basic Chinese Phrases is B
Analysis of Basic Chinese Phrases :
A. “面条 (miàntiáo)” means “noodle.”
B. “月饼 (yuèbǐng)” means “moon cake.” C. “饺子 (jiǎozi)” means “dumpling.” D. “火锅 (huǒguō)”means “hotpot.”
Are you kidding? (Beginner) 你在开玩笑吗？（初级）
Speak Chinese: 你在开玩笑吗？ (Nǐ zài kāiwánxiào ma?) Are you kidding? (Beginner) Example: Gōngxǐ nǐ zhòng le wǔbǎi wàn! A: 恭喜 你 中 了 五百 万！ Congratulations! You’ve won five million in the lottery!
Tiān na, nǐ zài kāiwánxiào ma? B: 天 哪，你 在 开玩笑 吗？ …
Chinese Mini-test: Autumn (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Autumn is coming. Do you know how to say “autumn” in an online Chinese test? A. 夏天 B. 冬天 C. 春天 D. 秋天
…
Mini-test Answer: 秋天 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct answer for this online Chinese test is D.
Analysis:
A. “夏天 (xiàtiān)” means “summer.”
B. “冬天 (dōngtiān)” means “winter.” C. “春天 (chūntiān)” means “spring.” D. “秋天 (qiūtiān)” means “autumn.”
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画饼充饥 (Huàbǐngchōngjī) Drawing Pancakes to Stave off Hunger (Beginner)
画饼充饥 (Huàbǐngchōngjī) Drawing Pancakes to Stave off Hunger
In Chinese idiom “画饼充饥 (huàbǐngchōngjī) ,” “画 (huà)” means “to draw;” “饼 (bǐng)” refers to “pancakes;” “充 (chōng)” is “to fill or stuff sth,” which indicates “to stave off or to relieve” in this Chinese idiom; “饥 …
My God! (Beginner) 天哪！（初级）
Learn to Speak Chinese Words: 天哪！(tiān na) My God! (Beginner)
Example:
Tiān na! Zhè yǔ xià de hǎo dà ya! A: 天 哪！这 雨 下 得 好 大 呀！ My God! It’s pouring rain!
Zhè xià zāo le, wǒ méi dài yǔsǎn. B: 这 下 …
Quote of the week (Sept. 7, 2010)
Wǒ xīwàng Yáo Míng huīfù jiànkāng bìngqiě nénggòu huíguī.
我 希望 姚 明 恢复 健康 并且 能够 回归。
I hope Yao Ming will get better and return to his team. —From “科比•布莱恩特 (Kēbǐ•Bùlái’ēntè) Kobe Bryant,” on Aug. 16, 2010.
Mandarin Language Vocabulary:
我 (wǒ): pron. …
That’s it! (Beginner) 就这样！（初级）
Online Free Chinese Learning: 就这样！(jiù zhè yàng!) That’s it! (Beginner)
Example:
… Nǐ zhè piān wénzhāng hái xūyào zài gǎi xià ba. A: 你 这 篇 文章 还 需要 再 改 下 吧。 I think you need to revise your essay again.
Wǒ jìnlì le, jiù