Chinese Test: Ready to Go But…
You feel very hungry because you didn’t have breakfast this morning. But the Mandarin class doesn’t end for 20 more minutes. At the moment, you’d probably say “我恨不得现在就下课 (Wǒ hènbude xiànzài jiù xiàkè)!”
Question: What does the word “恨不得 (hènbude)” mean here?
A. hate B. …
Answer to Chinese Test: Ready to Go But…
Answer: B
Answer analysis: 恨不得 (hènbude): very anxious to; itch to; how one wishes one could. We use it to express that someone is very anxious to do something that can’t be done in reality. Like in the case, the student wants to get out …
Video Lesson: Making An Apology (Part I)
You will meet an important Chinese client. Unfortunately, you are caught in the traffic jam; it seems that you will be late for this meeting. How do you make a sincere apology when you meet the client?
Exercises in the Video:
1. A: Fúwùyuán, there …
Video Lesson: Take Care!
Learn different ways to say “goodbye” and show how you care for others.
Exercises in the Video:
1. A: Becky, I got a promotion! Yìqǐ qù hē yì bēi? B: Great! Wǎnshang jiǔ diǎn, zěnmeyàng? A: … What would she say? Please choose the best …
Answer to Video Lesson: Take Care!
Answers:
1. B 2. A <<Back to “Video Lesson: Take Care! ” …
Get Shot While Lying Down: The Chinese Expression You Need to Know
Often, the Mandarin Chinese students in my class will hear trendy slang language that they don’t understand. It’s always fun, as a Chinese teacher, to explain to the class what these new expressions mean. Often, I let the students make an educated guess before explaining
Answer to Get Shot While Lying Down: The Chinese Expression You Need to Know
Answer: C For occasions when you are the “innocent bystander” and a victim of overhearing some gossip or criticism that was not intended for you, but applies to you and may offend you anyway, you “躺着也中枪 (Tǎngzhe yě zhòngqiāng) Get shot even when lying down”. …
The Most Common Misconceptions of Chinese by Mandarin Learners
Mandarin Chinese is definitely a foreign language for Westerners and even Easterners alike. But what are some of the most common misconceptions that Mandarin Chinese Learners have? We explore the top four below:
1. All Chinese People Speak Standard Mandarin Chinese
Not true! When I …
Answer to The Most Common Misconceptions of Chinese by Mandarin Learners
Answer: C “你在哪儿？(Nǐ zài nǎr?) Where are you?” is a general question not a greeting expression.
<<Back to “The Most Common Misconceptions of Chinese by Mandarin Learners”…
Video Lesson: Greetings-Have You Had Anything to Eat?
Oftentimes your Chinese friends may greet you by saying: “Have you had anything to eat?” You were puzzled. This is a typical small talk in China though. How do you respond in an authentic way?
Exercise in the Video:
1. A: Hi, Becky! Chī le …
Video Lesson: Let’s Go to Paris!
Let’s go to Paris! Let’s play Angry birds! Let’s learn how to make a suggestion by using “吧 (ba).”
Exercises in the Video: 1. A: Bella, what do you want to do on the weekend? B: Wǒmen qù Disneyland ba! Which of the …
Video Lesson: This Perfume Smells Great!
This tea is very pleasant to drink, that movie is unpleasant to watch. Learn how to express approval or disapproval of something.
Exercises in the Video:
1. A: Anna, nǐ xǐhuan zhèige dàngāo ma? B: Wǒ hěn xǐhuan! ________________。 Please choose the answer that best …
Answer to Video Lesson: This Perfume Smells Great!
Answers:
1. A 2.B 3. A 4.B 5.A <<Back to “Video Lesson: This Perfume Smells Great! ” …
Answer to A Hilarious Chinese Lesson About Your Body Parts
Answer: A
Answer Analysis:
巴掌脸 (bāzhǎng liǎn) can be used to describe that someone has a small face. In China, a small face is regarded as a symbol of classical beauty.
<<Back to “A Hilarious Chinese Lesson About Your Body Parts”…
A Hilarious Chinese Lesson About Your Body Parts
Are you a person who is concerned about the body shapes of yourself and others? Sometimes on the street, we can’t take our eyes away when we see some nice body types, or some “辣眼睛 (làyǎnjīng) eyes feeling spicy” types. In Chinese, we …
Cheers for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
Although volunteers of the Beijing Olympic Games are mainly Chinese people from Beijing and other Chinese provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, as well as from Hong Kong, Macao and Chinese Taipei. There are also a number of foreign volunteers that have been recruited from China …