Chinese Mini-test: 漂亮 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Nǐ jīntiān zhēn piàoliang, yào qù yuēhuì ma? 你 今天 真 漂亮， 要 去 约会 吗？ Do you know the meaning of “漂亮?” A. Beautiful B. Handsome C. Great D. Good
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Mandarin Essentials
Mini-test Answer: Beautiful (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Correct answer: A
Analysis:
A. “漂亮 (Piàoliang)” is the phrase for “Beautiful.”
B. “英俊 (Yīngjùn)” is the phrase for “Handsome.” C. “太棒了 (Tài bàng le)” is the phrase for “Great.” D. “好 (Hǎo)” is the phrase for “Good.” Key learning points:…
Quote of the week (Aug. 3, 2010)
Wǒ zhēn de xiǎng bāngzhù Yáo Míng. 我 真 的 想 帮助 姚 明。
I really want to help Yao Ming. —From “布拉德•米勒 (Bùlādé•Mǐlè) Brad Miller.” Miller signed with the Houston Rockets and would become a substitute for Yao Ming. …
Long Time No See! (Beginner) 好久不见！（初级）
Learn Chinese: 好久不见 (hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn) Long Time No See! (Beginner)
Example: Hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn, zhè duàn shíjiān nǐ qù nǎ le? A: 好 久 不 见，这 段 时间 你 去 哪 了？ Long time no see! Where have you been these days?…
爱屋及乌 (Àiwūjíwū) Love Me, Love My Dog
爱屋及乌 (Àiwūjíwū) Love Me, Love My Dog
In this Chinese idiom “爱屋及乌 (àiwūjíwū) Love me, love my dog,” “爱” means “like” or “love;” “屋” refers to “house;” “及” is a conjunction which means “and;” “乌” refers to “乌鸦 (wūyā),” which is “crow.” “爱屋及乌” is a …
Quote of the week (Jul. 27, 2010)
Chāopiào zhǐyǒu yòng diào le yǐhòu cái shì nǐ de, 钞票 只有 用 掉 了 以后 才 是 你 的， dǎ kāi píjiāzi, kànkan méiyǒu yòng diào de chāopiào, 打 开 皮夹子，看看 没有 用 掉 的 钞票， shàngmian yìn de shì “Zhōngguó rénmín yínháng,” gēn …
Me too! (Beginner) 我也是!（初级）
How to Learn Chinese: 我也是！(Wǒ yě shì)
Me too!
(Beginner)
Example:
Wǒ réngrán bù zhīdào gāi zěnyàng xué hànyǔ. A： 我 仍然 不 知道 该 怎样 学 汉语。
I still don’t know how to learn Chinese.
Wǒ yě shì, huòxǔ wǒmen kěyǐ wènwen Tuōni. B： …
Mercedes-Benz E-class Convertible
The new Mercedes-Benz E-class convertible has just hit the market recently. The new design 软硬兼施(ruănyìngjiānshī) uses both hard-top and soft-top models, meaning it is versatile and stylish and should meet the eagerly awaited expectations of many car fans. It will use the new engine-AMG with …
I Love You! (Beginner) 我爱你！（初级）
Learn Chinese lessons: 我爱你 (Wǒ ài nǐ) I love you! (Beginner)
Example:
Wǒ ài nǐ! Nǐ kěyǐ zuò wǒ de nǚpéngyǒu mā? A: 我 爱 你！你 可以 做 我 的 女朋友 吗？ I love you! Could you be my girlfriend?
Duìbùqǐ, wǒ yǐjīng yǒu …
Looking for Double Happiness (Beginner)
Are you looking for “Mr. or Mrs. Right?”
Key Learning Points (Preview):
男朋友 (nánpéngyou): n. boyfriend
喜欢 (xǐhuan): v. to like
谈恋爱 (tánliàn’ài): v. to fall in love
Chinese Conversation (Part I):
A: Zhōumò wǎnshang yí gè rén zài jiā kàn diànshì duō wúliáo a! …
Read Chinese Story: 矛和盾的故事 (Máo hé dùn de gùshi) The Story of Spear and Shield (Beginner)
矛和盾的故事 (Máo hé dùn de gùshi) The Story of Spear and Shield
Key Learning Points (Preview):
卖 (mài): v. to sell
问 (wèn): v. to ask
Yǒu yí gè Chǔguó rén, mài dùn yòu mài máo. 有 一个 楚国 人，卖 盾 又 卖 矛。
In …
Just So So! (Beginner) 一般！（初级）
HSK Preparation: 一般! (Yìbān!) Just So So! (Beginner)
Example:
Yuēhàn, nǐ zuìjìn hànyǔ shuǐpíng kǎoshì zhǔnbèi de zěnmeyàng le? A: 约 翰，你 最近 汉语 水平 考试 准备 的 怎么样 了？ Hi, John, how is your going? HSK preparation
Yìbān. Nǐ ne? B: 一般。你 呢？ Just …
Quote of the week (Jul. 20, 2010)
Dāng rénmen wèn jí wǒ nǎ yí gè jìnqiú shì zuì jīngcǎi, piàoliang de,
当 人们 问 及我 哪一 个 进球 是 最 精彩、 漂亮 的，
wǒ de huídá shì: xià yí gè！ 我 的 回答 是：下一 个！
When I was asked which the most …
Forget It! (Beginner) 算了! (初级)
How to Learn Chinese：算了! (suàn le) Forget It! (Beginner)
Example:
Zhège zhōumò wǒmen yìqǐ qù Shànghǎi lǚyóu ba. A: 这个 周末 我们 一起 去 上海 旅游 吧。
Let’s go to Shanghai in this weekend.
Suàn le ba, zhè ge zhōumò wǒ hěn máng. Xià zhōu …
Quote of the week (Jul. 13, 2010)
Nǐ de zhìshāng zhēn de hěn tíshén. 你 的 智商 真 的 很 提神。
Your IQ is really refreshing. —From “李成功 (Lǐ Chènggōng) Li Chenggong,” criticizing his subordinates in the movie “Lost on a Journey.”
Culture Note:
In a humorous and ironic way, “李成功 (Lǐ… Learn Chinese (Chinese Character Lesson): 七 (Qī) Seven and 北 (Běi) North (Beginner)
Chinese Character Lesson: 七 (Qī) Seven and 北 (Běi) North
In the past, you have learned the Chinese character “山 (shān) ,” and in this issue, you can learn Chinese characters “七 (qī) seven” and “北 (běi) north.”
七 (qī) Seven
Chinese lessons: 七…How Much? (Beginner) 多少钱? (初级)
Business Chinese: 多少钱？(Duōshǎo qián?) How much? (Beginner)
Example:
Qǐng wèn zhèjiàn hóngsè de chènshān duōshǎo qián? A: 请 问 这件 红色 的 衬衫 多少 钱？ Excuse me, how much is this red shirt?
Yìbǎi kuài. B: 一百 块。 One hundred Yuan. Take a Free 1-on-1 …
Not Bad! (Beginner) 还不错！（初级）
Chinese Words and Grammar: 还不错！(hái bú cuò!) Not Bad! (Beginner)
Example:
Zhècì de hànyǔ yǔfǎ kǎoshì, nǐ kǎo de zěnmeyàng? A: 这次的汉语语法考试，你考的怎么样？
How about your Chinese grammar test this time?
Hái bú cuò. B: 还不错。
Not Bad.
Tài hǎo le! Gōngxǐ nǐ! A: 太好了！恭喜你！
Great! …
Quote of the week (Jul. 6, 2010)
Zhè zhǒng fànguī jiù xiāngdāngyú qìchē zhuīwěi, fù zérèn de zǒng shì hòumian de rén. 这 种 犯规 就 相当于 汽车 追尾， 负 责任 的 总 是 后面 的 人。
This kind of foul is like rear-end collision, and the one behind always has to …
Chinese Character: 山 (shān) Mountain (Beginner)
Chinese Character (Beginner)山 (shān) Mountain
Chinese Character: 山 (shān) Mountain 拼音 (pīnyīn) pinyin: shān 笔画 (bĭhuà) number of strokes: 3 含义 (hányì) meaning: mountain 笔顺 (bǐshùn) stroke order:词源 (cíyuán)Etymology: “Mountain” in Chinese is a pictograph character which has its origin in the shape of …