File a complaint by using “吐槽 (tǔcáo)”
Everyone makes mistakes, right? Are we never allowed to complain just a bit? Well, when you’ve just about had enough of something (or someone), you can use the verb “吐槽 (tǔcáo)” to playfully express your discontent, or simply to complain about something or someone. You …
Is Chinese hard to learn? What’s the best way to learn Chinese?
If you’re interested in learning Chinese, I strongly suggest you work with a qualified teacher. A teacher will be able to help you make the most of your studies in a way that studying on your own is hard to imitate. And since going to …
Learn the legendary way to reply!
“神回复 (shén huífù) legendary reply” is a term you may not be familiar with, although you may have done it yourself! “神回复 (shén huífù) legendary reply,” is an Internet slang term that refers to an extremely creative and funny comment on social networking sites. Let’s …
画蛇添足 (Huàshétiānzú) Draw a snake and add feet to it
画蛇添足 (Huàshétiānzú) Draw a snake and add feet to it
Key Learning Points (Preview):
蛇 (shé): n. snake
画 (huà): v./n. to draw/picture
Chǔguó yǒu gè guìzú. 楚国 有 个 贵族。 During the Chu dynasty, there was an aristocrat.
Jì guò zǔzong yǐhòu, tā bǎ …
Video lesson: Know “不 (bù)” to express the negative meaning in Chinese
Negative adverb “不 (bù) no/not” can be placed in front of a verb or adjective to make its meaning negative. “不 (bù) no/not” has the 4th tone, but when it is followed by another 4th tone, it becomes 2nd tone. An example of the change …
Video lesson: Tickled pink? Tell everyone you’re happy in Chinese
You got a Valentine’s Day gift, and you are pleasantly surprised. How do you describe your feeling at that very moment? In fact, you can use one of the most basic sentence patterns to do so: Subject+hěn+adjective. Watch Video Answers …
Video lesson: Hot tempered? Learn “I am mad” in Chinese
No matter how calm, almost everyone ‘blows up’ every now and then. Before you do something crazy, let someone know how you feel! In Chinese “我很生气 (wǒ hěn shēngqì) means “I am mad!” In addition to this expression, there are a few other useful and …
Pieces or dollars? A hilarious mixup in Chinese!
According to the calculating method of the man wearing a black shirt in the conversation, in the end how much does the “豆腐 (dòufu) tofu” cost?
A. 两块 (liǎng kuài) 2 yuan B. 五毛 (wǔ máo) 5 mao C. 一块 (yí kuài) 1 yuan D. …
Answer to pieces or dollars? A hilarious mixup in Chinese!
Correct Answer 1. B
Answer Analysis
If you paid attention to the beginning of the comic your answer might be A, 2 yuan, since that is what the person in the hat says when the other first asks, “豆腐多少钱 (dòufu duōshǎo qián?) How much is …
Enjoy China’s street food-大排档 (dàpáidàng)
Are you a “吃货(chīhuò) foodie? ” In every Chinese city there are fast, affordable and delicious restaurants available on the street or at traditional markets. In English we call this: street food, hawker fare, stall food, or food vendors. You can sit on a small …
Answer to enjoy China’s street food-大排档 (dàpáidàng)
Correct Answers 1. C 2. C <<Back to “Enjoy China’s street food-大排档 (dàpáidàng)
What to be careful of when you are in China
Seen regularly near low ceilings and doorways, many foreigners would be confused by a sign asking them to “carefully bang head.” This is just one of the many wonderful ways “小心碰头 (xiǎoxīn pèng tóu)” has been mistranslated – others include “carefulness bump head,” “carefully hits …
Video lesson: Learn “在 (zài)” to find everything and everyone you need!
Your wallet just got stolen and you don’t know where the police are. Could it get worse? At least you can ask someone for help and find the police using your Mandarin skills! Watch Video Answers …