What does “打气 (dǎ qì) beat air” mean? – (Beginner)
Have you heard of the expression “打 气 (dǎ qì)?” The word “打 (dǎ)” means “hit/strike,” and “气 (qì)” means “air/gas.” As you might guess, this is the literal way of saying “pump up, inflate with air.” You might use it when speaking about inflating …
Answer to HSK grammar: Learn how to use conjunctions in Chinese
Correct Answer: C
Answer analysis:
1. 或者 (huòzhě) — or; possibly; maybe; perhaps The word “或者 (huòzhě)” can be used to connect words when one is offering/considering choices such as “chicken or beef” It is used for “or” statements. Structure: Possibility 1 + 或者 (huòzhě) …
HSK grammar: Learn how to use conjunctions in Chinese
Wǒ zhǐ hē chá, _______ bù hē kāfēi. 我 只 喝 茶，_______ 不 喝 咖啡。 I only drink tea, and I don’t drink coffee. Please choose the correct word to fill in the blank: A. 或者 (huòzhě) B. 和 (hé) C. 而 (ér)
…5 must-know basic expressions for driving in China (Beginner)
In western countries, especially in North America, “automobile culture” has been the way of life for decades. Teenagers often save up for their first car and many Americans have never been on a train or a public bus. Of course, there are exceptions, but for …
Lost in the crowd? You must know “人山人海 (rénshānrénhǎi)” (Beginner)
When you think about China, you may imagine dumplings, The Great Wall, towering skyscrapers, and almost certainly the enormous crowds that can be found here! The Chinese love to get out and explore their public places and tourist attractions. Often, these places quickly become …
Answer to HSK Chinese quiz: Who is the “一把手 (yī bǎ shǒu)”
Correct Answer: D The phrase “一把手 (yī bǎ shǒu)” literally means “a hand.” Now, it is used to mean someone primarily responsible for a particular aspect of work, usually the leader of an organization or a company. It can be translated as “the first in …
HSK Chinese quiz: Who is the “一把手 (yī bǎ shǒu)”
The phrase “一把手 (yī bǎ shǒu)” literally means “a hand.” Although, when speaking about a person’s position in a company (or any community) it takes on another meaning. Try the quiz below and see if you can figure out what it is supposed to mean! …
Kids’ Chinese Song: 七色光之歌 The Song of the Sunlight
Chinese Song: 七色光之歌 (Qīsèguāng zhī gē) The Song of the Sunlight (Beginner)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
太阳 (tàiyáng): n. the sun
今天 (jīntiān): n. today
“七色光之歌 (Qīsèguāng zhī gē)” is a very popular Chinese kid’s song about sunshine and being happy. Tàiyang tàiyang, 太阳 太阳， …
Show humility and learn “Zì hēi” 自黑 for “self-mockery” (Beginner)
Recently, a humorous video titled “Obama hilariously mocks own retirement in skit” gained attention in the US and also in China. What was the occasion for the humorous video and what exactly did Obama do in it? He did something that we call “自黑 (zìhēi) …
How long does it take to learn Chinese?
It depends on your gift for language-learning as well as the time you are able to dedicate to learning it. If you study a few hours every day you’re going to learn a lot faster than someone who only spends one day a week. For …
Learn the meaning behind the phrase “吃土 (chītǔ) eating dirt” (Beginner)
Jack: Eric, néng jiè diǎnr qián gěi wǒ ma? Jack: Eric, 能 借 点儿 钱 给 我 吗？ Jack: Eric, can you lend me some money? Eric: Nǐ yòu méi qián le? Eric: 你 又 没 钱 了？ Eric: You ran out of money again? …
Answer to Learn the meaning behind the phrase “吃土 (chītǔ) eating dirt” -Beginner
Correct Answer: C
Answer analysis:
吃 (chī): v. to eat 土 (tǔ): n. dirt/soil 吃土 (chītǔ): literally means “to eat dirt,” it is used to describe someone who is very poor. Why? Many people have heard of black Friday in the US, but have you …
Admiring the full moon and eating moon cake (Beginner)
Key Learning Points (Preview): 赏月 (shǎngyuè):
v.
to admire the full moon
月饼 (yuèbǐng): n. moon cake
On Mid-autumn Festival, the custom of “赏月 (shǎngyuè) admiring the full moon” began with people in ancient China, and is still maintained. In the Zhou Dynasty, on the …