Nursery Rhyme – 种树歌(Zhòngshùgē) Song for Planting Trees
Shù ya, shù ya, 树 呀，树 呀， Oh, tree, tree,
Wǒ bǎ nǐ zhòngxià, 我 把 你 种下， I’ll plant you here,
Búpà fēngyǔ kuàidiǎn zhǎngdà. 不怕 风雨 快点 长大。 Hope you won’t be afraid of storms and grow up quickly.
Zhǎngzhe lǜde yè, 长着 …
Answer to Three “Spicy” Provinces in China (Part I) – Sichuan
Correct Answers: 1. B 2. A 3. C <<Back to “Three ‘Spicy’ Provinces in China (Part I) – Sichuan”
Three “Spicy” Provinces in China (Part I) – Sichuan
(Want to travel in China? Try a Travel Chinese lesson first!)
Mention of the word “spicy” often reminds people of hot peppers, which turn red when ripening. In China, red color is the color of auspiciousness and prosperity, symbolizing good luck, …
Song for Kids – 小乌龟(Xiǎowūguī) Little Turtle
Xiǎoxiǎo wūguī shàngshānpō, 小小 乌龟 上山坡， The little turtle is climbing up the hillside,
Hēihēiyo, hēihēiyo. 嘿嘿哟， 嘿嘿哟。 Stomp, stomp.
Dàizhe miànbāo hé tángguǒ, 带着 面包 和 糖果， With some bread and candies,
Yántú lèyōuyōu. 沿途 乐悠悠。 He is joyful and leisurely throughout his journey.…
Answer to Measure Word Mix-Up: “对(duì)” and “双(shuāng)”
Answer: B “对(duì)” and “双(shuāng)” are two Chinese measure words. They can both be translated as “a pair of” in English, and there are only a few differences between them. In the Chinese language, “双(shuāng)” is used to describe things that often come in pairs …
Measure Word Mix-Up: “对(duì)” and “双(shuāng)”
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks. Wǒ xīn mǎi le _____ yùndòngxié hé _____ ěrhuán. 我 新 买 了 _____ 运动鞋 和 _____ 耳环。 I bought a new _____ sneakers and _____ earrings. A. 一对(yíduì), 一双(yìshuāng)
B. 一双(yìshuāng), 一对(yíduì)
Answer to Frequency Words: “经常(jīngcháng)” vs. “通常(tōngcháng)”
Answer: A In Chinese, “经常(jīngcháng)” and “通常(tōngcháng)” are both used as adverbials. “经常(jīngcháng)” means “often or frequently”, which is a time adverbial emphasizing that the action happens many times, and that the time between each occurrence is very short. On the other hand, “通常(tōngcháng)” means …
Frequency Words: “经常(jīngcháng)” vs. “通常(tōngcháng)”
In Chinese, we use “经常(jīngcháng)” or “通常(tōngcháng)” to express frequency. Do you know the differences between the two? Take the following test to have a try! Wǒ zuìjìn _____ jiābān. 我 最近 _____ 加班。 I _____ work overtime these days. A. 经常(jīngcháng)
B. 通常(tōngcháng)
“热点 (rèdiǎn)”, “热词 (rècí)”, “汉语热 (hànyǔrè)” and “健身热 (jiànshēnrè)”
Yesterday, May 6, 2015, was a special day called 立夏(Lì xià),” the seventh solar term of the 24 Chinese Solar Terms This is the day that marks the beginning of the hot summer in China. These days, the maximum air temperatures of most cities in …
Chinese Nursery Rhyme – 粉刷匠(Fěnshuājiàng) The Painter
Wǒ shì yígè fěnshuājiàng, 我 是 一个 粉刷匠， I am a painter,
Fěnshuā běnlǐng qiáng. 粉刷 本领 强。 I am good at painting.
Wǒ yào bǎ nà xīnfángzi, 我 要 把 那 新房子， I will make that new house,
Shuāde gèngpiàoliang. 刷得 更漂亮。 More beautiful …
Answer to Expressing “Not Even One” in Chinese
Answer: C To express “not even one” in Chinese, we usually use the following structure: “Subjective + 一 + Measure Word + (Noun) + 也/都 + Verb.” “一(yī)” means “one” and it is followed by a measure word. You can use either “也(yě)” or “都(dōu),” …
Expressing “Not Even One” in Chinese
There may be times when you want to emphasize how little of something you have or how seldom you have done something, like “none at all” or “not even once” in English. Do you know how to express this in Chinese? Take the following test …
Answer to Who Was Born First on the Earth: A Woman or A Man?
The answer is A. Let’s take a look at how to get to the bottom of this Chinese brainteaser. Chinese people often use “先生 (xiānsheng) Mr.” to address a “男人(nánrén)man.” In Chinese, separately “先 (xiān)” means “first, earlier, or before” and “生(sheng)” means “to be …
Who Was Born First on the Earth: A Woman or A Man?
Q: Shìjièshàng xiānyǒu nánrén háishì xiānyǒu nǚrén? Q: 世界上 先有 男人 还是 先有 女人？ Q: Who was born first on the earth: a woman or a man? A. 男人(nánrén)
B. 女人(nǚrén)