啤酒 (píjiǔ) Beer (Beginner)
啤酒 (píjiǔ) Beer (Beginner)
Example: A: Zǎoshànghǎo, yǒu shénme kěyǐ bāng nín ma? A: 早上好， 有 什么 可以 帮 您 吗？ A: Good morning, can I help you?
B: Wǒ xiǎng yào yíguàn píjiǔ. B: 我 想 要 一罐 啤酒。 B: I want a can …
Mandarin Essentials
你是哪种风格？Which is Your Style? (Intermediate)
你是哪种风格？ (Nǐ shì nǎzhǒng fēnggé?) Which is Your Style? (Intermediate) Key Learning Points (Preview):
帅哥 (shuàigē): n handsome man or cute boy (Who Is the Most Popular “帅哥 (shuàigē)” in China?)
美女 (měinǚ): n beautiful girl
假小子 (jiǎxiǎozi): n tomboy
For teenagers in China, there …
好吃 (hǎochī) Delicious (Beginner)
好吃 (hǎochī) Delicious (Beginner)
Example:
A: Nǐ juéde gōngbǎo jīdīng zěnmeyàng? 你 觉得 宫保 鸡丁 怎么样？
How do you like Kung Pao Chicken?
B: Wǒ juéde hěn hǎochī. 我 觉得 很 好吃。
I think it’s very delicious.
流行词语 (liúxíng cíyŭ) Popular Daily Chinese Words
wŏ de shén a 我 的 神 啊 Where does it originate? “我的神啊 (wŏ de shén a)” first became popular from a hot Chinese TV series “武林外传 (wŭlín wàizhuàn ) My Own Swordsman” as a pet phrase of Tong Xiangyu, the owner of Tongfu tavern. …
兴高采烈 (xìnggāocǎiliè) In High Spirit/ Overjoyed (Advanced)
兴高采烈 (xìnggāocǎiliè) In High Spirit/ Overjoyed (Advanced)
When the character “兴 (xìng)” takes the falling tone, it means happy. But when it is pronounced as “xīng” it means to flourish. “高 (gāo)” means high. “采 (cǎi)” means to gather. “烈 (liè)” means violent.
Example: A: …
舞会 (wǔhuì) Prom/ Ball (Intermediate)
舞会 (wǔhuì) Prom/ Ball (Intermediate)
The character “舞 (wǔ)” means dance; “会 (huì)” here is used as a noun and it means a party or a meeting.
Example:
A: Nǐ yuànyì hé wǒ yìqǐ qù cānjiā wǔhuì ma? A: 你 愿意 和 我 一起 去 …
微波炉 (wēibōlú) Microwave Oven (Intermediate)
微波炉 (wēibōlú) Microwave Oven (Intermediate)
Example:
Wēibōlú shì yìzhǒng chángjiàn de jiāyòng diànqì. 微波炉 是 一种 常见 的 家用 电器。
You may be interested in more intermediate articles:
◆ iPhone vs. Google Android Phone
◆ Steamed Stuffed Bun Plays Rock & Roll // // HSK …
照相 (zhàoxiàng) Take a Photo (Beginner)
照相 (zhàoxiàng) Take a Photo (Beginner)
The character “照 (zhào)” means to illuminate and “相 (xiàng)” means photograph.
Example:
A: Dǎrǎo yíxià, qǐngwèn kěyǐ bāng wǒmen zhàoxiàng ma? 打扰 一下，请问 可以 帮 我们 照相 吗？ Excuse me, could you please take a photo for us?…
好主意 (hǎozhǔyi) Good Idea (Beginner)
好主意 (hǎozhǔyi) Good Idea (Beginner)
The character “好 (hǎo)” means good; “主 (zhǔ)” means main and “意 (yì)” means idea here.
Example: A: Wǒ xiǎng lìyòng jiàqī xuéxí yìxiē shāngwù hànyǔ. 我 想 利用 假期 学习 一些 商务 汉语。 I want to learn some business …
怎么样 (zěnmeyàng) How about/ What about (Beginner)
怎么样 (zěnmeyàng) How about/ What about (Beginner) “怎么 (zěnme)” mean how and “样 (yàng)” means shape or pattern.
Example:
A: Wǒ zǒngshì zài zhōngwén duìhuà zhōng tīngdào “zěnmeyàng” zhège cí, 我 总是 在 中文 对话 中 听到 “怎么样” 这个 词， tā shì shénme yìsi? 它 …
Peyton Manning vs. Justin Timberlake in a Ping-Pong Match (Beginner)
Peyton Manning vs. Justin Timberlake in a Ping-Pong Match (Beginner)
In the following Sony commercial, American pop musician and actor Justin Timberlake and Indianapolis Colts quarterback, Peyton Manning, square off in a ping-pong match and try out their Mandarin:
When Peyton Manning said, “我的中文也有进步 (Wǒ …
Mini-test Answer：香水 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Correct answer: B
Analysis:
A. “Xiāngjiāo” is the Chinese Pinyin for “香蕉 banana.”
“香 (xiāng)” literally means fragrant, and “蕉 (jiāo) ” means broadleaf plant.
B. “Xiāngshuǐ” is the Chinese Pinyin for “香水 perfume.”
“香 (xiāng)” literally means fragrant, and “水 …
Mini-test Answer: 同事 (Intermediate)
Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)
Correct answer: D
Analysis:
A. “同学 (tóngxué)” are the Chinese characters for “classmate” or “schoolmate.”
“同 (tóng)” means similar, and “学 (xué)” represents the meaning of “学生 (xuéshēng) student.” B. “同时 (tóngshí)” are the Chinese characters for “at the same time.”…
Mini-test Answer: A Large Crowd (Advanced)
Advanced Level 高级 (gāojí)
Correct answer: C
Analysis:
Let’s first look at the meaning of this Chinese dialogue.
Wǒ zhōumò qù shì zhōngxīn guàngjiē le. Zhēnshì rénshānrénhǎi a! A: 我 周末 去 市 中心 逛街 了。 真是 人山人海 啊！ I went to the city center …
Chinese Mini-test: Perfume (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
“我给女朋友买了一瓶香水做生日礼物。I bought a bottle of perfume as a birthday present for my girlfriend.” Do you know the Chinese Pinyin for “香水 perfume” in this sentence? A. xiāngjiāo B. xiāngshuǐ C. mòshuǐ D. xiǎngshòu
// // …
Chinese Mini-test: Colleague (Intermediate)
Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)
A: Do you have any colleagues taking the business Chinese classes? B: Yes, I have six colleagues taking business Chinese classes. Have you learned how to say the word “colleague” in Chinese? A. 同学 (tóngxué) B. 同时 (tóngshí) C. 同意 (tóngyì) …
Chinese Mini-test: 人山人海 (Advanced)
Advanced Level 高级 (gāojí)
Wǒ zhōumò qù shì zhōngxīn guàngjiē le. Zhēnshì rénshānrénhǎi a! A: 我 周末 去 市 中心 逛街 了。 真是 人山人海 啊！ Xìngkuī wǒ méi qù, wǒ zuì pà rén duō le! B: 幸亏 我 没 去，我 最 怕 人 多 了！ …
Quote of the week (Apr. 1, 2010)
Zánliǎ de gǎnqíng xiàng rénmínbì yíyàng jiāntǐng. 咱 俩 的 感情 像 人民币 一样 坚挺。
Our relationship is as strong as Renminbi (RMB). —From Guo Jingming, a famous Chinese writer
生词 (shēngcí) Vocabulary
感情 (gǎnqíng): n relationship
人民币 (rénmínbì): n Renminbi (RMB), the Chinese currency.…
电影 (diànyǐng) Movie (Beginner)
电影 (diànyǐng) Movie
(Beginner)
The character “电 (diàn)” means electricity and “影 (yǐng)” means shadow.
Example:
A: Wǒ hěn xǐhuan zhōngguó diànyǐng. Cóng diànyǐng zhōng wǒ kěyǐ xuéxí zhōngwén. 我 很 喜欢 中国 电影， 从 电影 中 我 可以 学习 中文。 I like Chinese movies, …
高楼大厦 (gāolóudàshà) High Buildings and Large Mansions (Advanced)
高楼大厦 (gāolóudàshà) High Buildings and Large Mansions (Advanced)
The character “高 (gāo)” means high and “楼 (lóu)” means floor. “大 (dà)”
means large and “厦 (shà)” means tall building. Example:
Xiàndàihuà de chéngshì lǐ biàndì shì gāolóudàshà. 现代化 的 城市 里 遍地 是 高楼大厦。
In …