Think you know Chinese? Step outside and the real learning begins. On China’s streets, walls speak. Shop signs shout for attention. Random graffiti? It might hold a cultural message or a warning you need to understand. Here we’ll break down the real-world language you’ll see …
热到融化 (Rè dào róng huà) – So hot I’m melting
晒成狗 (Shài chéng gǒu) – Sunburnt like a dog
闷得像蒸笼 (Mēn de xiàng zhēng lóng) – Muggy like a steamer basket
出门靠勇气 (Chū mén kào yǒng qì) – Leaving home takes courage
热得冒烟 (Rè …
加油！ (Jiāyóu! – Let’s go!)
稳了！ (Wěn le! – We’ve got this!)
稀烂！ (Xī làn – Terrible performance!)
神操作！ (Shén cāozuò – Genius move!)
裁判瞎了！ (Cáipàn xiā le – The ref is blind!)
稳住，别浪！ (Wěn zhù, bié làng! – Stay steady, don’t mess around!)
Watching …
小作文 (xiǎo zuòwén) used to mean a short essay in exams, usually around 100–300 characters.
But today, on the internet, “小作文” is slang for overly emotional, awkward, or dramatic posts 🤪 —like breakup stories, long public apologies, or self-pity rants.
Example (Internet):
Fēnshǒu hòu tā …
Receipts in China can be confusing if you don’t know what to look for. Whether you’re dining out, shopping, or taking a taxi, understanding your receipt helps avoid billing mistakes. This guide breaks down key terms, common errors, and what to do when something …
When traveling or living in China, knowing basic medical phrases can be crucial in emergencies. Here’s a practical guide to essential healthcare vocabulary and expressions:
Jiùmìng! 救命! Help! / Emergency!
Qǐng dǎ 120! 请打120! Please call 120!
Wǒ xūyào yīshēng! 我需要医生! I need …
Navigating Chinese legal documents requires mastering its unique vocabulary. Here’s the complete glossary of key terms with explanations:
If you’ve ever been misunderstood, unfairly blamed, or challenged in a Chinese-speaking environment, you know how frustrating it feels not being able to respond clearly. Arguing doesn’t always mean fighting—it can also mean explaining, defending, and clarifying your point of view.
In Chinese, this process …
As a foreigner learning Chinese, few things are as frustrating as measure words. You carefully construct a sentence, only to be met with confused looks because you said “我要一猫” (Wǒ yào yī māo) instead of “我要一只猫” (Wǒ yào yī zhī māo).
Why does Chinese need …
For many Chinese learners, passing HSK feels like a major milestone—and it is. You’ve memorized hundreds, even thousands, of characters. You’ve conquered grammar rules. You can read, write, and translate basic texts. But when you step into a real-life conversation with a native speaker, you …
If you’ve ever studied Chinese in a classroom, you may feel confident with vocabulary and grammar… until you hear two native speakers chatting at full speed.
Suddenly, everything you learned disappears.
Where are the words you studied? Why is everything slurred together? Are they …
For non-native speakers, writing academic papers in Chinese can feel like cracking a secret code. While conversational Chinese focuses on daily communication, scholarly writing follows strict conventions with specialized vocabulary and formal structures. Whether you’re preparing a research paper, thesis, or conference presentation, these …
For many learners, the moment of breakthrough in Chinese doesn’t come from passing a test or memorizing 1,000 characters. It comes when they stop translating.
You may not realize how much mental energy is spent thinking, “How do I say this in Chinese?”—then building a …
One of the most mind-bending moments for Chinese learners? Realizing that Chinese doesn’t “do” tenses—at least not how most learners expect. In English, time is baked right into the verb: “eat” becomes “ate,” “will eat,” or “has eaten.” But in Mandarin, the verb stays exactly …
Many Chinese learners make the common mistake of saying “我吃饭在食堂” (Wǒ chīfàn zài shítáng), directly translating from English word order. However, this sounds unnatural to native speakers because Chinese follows different syntactic rules. Understanding these rules is crucial for speaking Chinese fluently.
Studying in China is more than just earning a degree—it’s about building friendships, navigating campus life, and discovering a new culture. Whether you’re joining a semester exchange program or pursuing a full degree, learning to speak Chinese will make your life in China smoother …
Learning Chinese characters can feel overwhelming—there are thousands of them, and memorizing each one individually seems impossible. But what if you could guess the meaning of new characters—even if you’ve never studied them before?
Good news: You can.
Chinese characters aren’t random scribbles. They follow …
Let’s get real: You opened your Chinese textbook, full of motivation…
And it taught you how to say:
Nǐ hǎo! Wǒ xìng Lǐ, jiào Lǐ Míng. Wǒ shì Yīngguó rén. 你好！我姓李，叫李明。我是英国人。 Hello! My surname is Li. My name is Li Ming. I am British.
Cool. …
Quiz: What’s the real purpose of asking “吃了吗?” (Have you eaten?)?
A. Actual meal inquiry
B. Like saying “How are you?”
C. Restaurant promotion
The correct answer is: B. Like saying “How are you?”
In Chinese culture, “吃了吗?” (Have you eaten?) is a common greeting, …
Quiz: In Chinese culture, what does the number “8” symbolize?
A. Xìngyùn hé fánróng (幸运和繁荣) – Luck and prosperity
B. Chángshòu (长寿) – Longevity
C. Sǐwáng (死亡) – Death
D. Àiqíng (爱情) – Love
Answer: A. Xìngyùn hé fánróng (幸运和繁荣) – Luck and prosperity
Explanation: …
