Key Learning Point (Preview):
不到黄河心不死 (bù dào Huánghé xīn bù sǐ): Don’t stop until the goal is reached.
A long time ago, there was a boy who was fond of imitating bird songs. His “模仿 (mófǎng) imitation” was so perfect that even birds were drawn …
Conversation: Wǒ yào xiàng Lily biǎobái. Dan: 我 要 向 Lily 表白。
Qù ba, wǒ tǐng nǐ. Frank: 去 吧，我 挺 你！
What does “挺 (tǐng)” mean in this sentence?
A: quite/very
B: To stand upright
C: To support
The correct answer for this test is C.
Translation:
Wǒ yào xiàng Lily biǎobái. Dan: 我 要 向 Lily 表白。
I’m willing to express my love to Lily.
Qù ba, wǒ tǐng nǐ. Frank: 去 吧，我 挺 你！
Ok, I support …
Wǒ shì Michael Jackson de chāojí fěnsī. Alice: 我 是 Michael Jackson 的 超级 粉丝。 Wǒ yě shì! Wǒ ài Michael! James: 我 也 是！我爱 Michael!
What does “粉丝 (fěnsī)” mean in this dialogue?
A: Bean vermicelli
B: Fans
C: Beancurd…
The correct answer for the test is B.
Translation:
Wǒ shì Michael Jackson de chāojí fěnsī. Alice: 我 是 Michael Jackson 的 超级 粉丝。 I’m a big fan of Michael Jackson.
Wǒ yě shì! Wǒ ài Michael! James: 我 也 是！我 …
Key Learning Point (Preview):
光棍儿 (guānggùnr): n. bachelor
The day of Nov. 11 (11.11) is the so-called “光棍儿节 (Guānggùnr jié) Single’s Day,” because the four number “1’s” in the date look like four sticks with smooth surface. In Chinese the phrase “光棍儿 (guānggùnr)” first appeared …
The proper meaning of “牛 (niú)” is cow, but now it can be used to express “cool,” “awesome” or “excellent.” It is believed that this meaning originated from the north-eastern Chinese dialect.
You can say “你好牛啊 (nǐ hǎo niú a)” or “真牛 …
Zuótiān, wǒ zài jiēshàng jiàndào Màikè le. Lily: 昨天， 我 在 街上 见到 麦克 了。
Bié chuī ___ le, Màikè zài Měiguó ne. Anne: 别 吹 ___了， 麦克 在 美国 呢。
Choose the correct word to fill in the blank. A: …
The correct answer for this test is A. Translation: Zuótiān, wǒ zài jiēshàng jiàn dào Màikè le. Lily: 昨天， 我 在 街上 见 到 麦克 了。
I saw Mike on the street yesterday.
Bié chuīniú le, Màikè zài Měiguó ne. Anne: …
Conversation:
Gēmen, bāng ge máng, bāng wǒ gěi wǒ nǚpéngyou sòng shù méiguihuā. Mike: 哥们， 帮 个 忙， 帮 我 给 我 女朋友 送 束 玫瑰花。
Wǒ yūn, nà shì nǐ nǚpéngyou, yòu bú shì wǒ nǚpéngyou. Jason: 我 晕，那 是 …
The right answer to this test is C.
Gēmen, bāng ge máng, bāng wǒ gěi wǒ nǚpéngyou sòng shù méiguihuā. Mike: 哥们，帮 个 忙， 帮 我 给 我 女朋友 送 束 玫瑰花。 Buddy, can you please help me send this …
The right answer to this test is C.
Tom, gàn de búcuò a! Alice: Tom, 干 得 不错 啊！ Tom, well done!
Wǒ zhǐshì yì ge càiniǎo, háiyào duōduō xuéxí la. Tom: 我 只是 一个 菜鸟， 还要 多多 学习 啦。 …
Key Learning Point (Preview): 红 (hóng): to become popular/successful
Amongst different cultures, different words and concepts carry with them varying undertones and meanings. As you progress in the Mandarin language, you’ll learn this is especially true with the word “红 (hóng),” or “red.” Perhaps you’ve …
Gēmen, bié dīngzhe měinǚ kàn le, nǐ dōu liúkǒushuǐ le. 哥们, 别 盯着 美女 看 了，你都 流口水 了。 Buddy, don’t stare at those beautiful girls. You are drooling.
What does “流口水 (liúkǒushuǐ)” refer to?
A. Drool B. Mouth C. Water
See …
The right answer to this test is A.
Translation: Gēmen, bié dīngzhe měinǚ kàn le, nǐ dōu liúkǒushuǐ le. 哥们, 别 盯着 美女 看 了，你 都 流口水 了。 Buddy, don’t stare at those beautiful girls. You are drooling. Analysis:
A: “流口水 …
“伤不起 (shāngbùqǐ)” means that someone has already been hurt enough that she can’t stand any more torment.
At first, “伤不起 (shāngbùqǐ)” was only popular in schools and on the internet, but now “伤不起 (shāngbùqǐ)” is widely used in daily life. Some television programs are using …
The right answer to this test is B.
Translation: Gānggāng diànnǎo sǐjī le, wǒ de gōngzuò quán dōu bái gàn le. 刚刚 电脑 死机了，我的 工作 全 都 白 干 了。
My computer crashed just now. All my work was in vain.…
Gānggāng diànnǎo sǐjī le, wǒ de gōngzuò quán dōu bái gàn le. 刚刚 电脑 死机了，我 的 工作 全 都 白 干 了。
What does “白 (bái)” refer to in the above context?
A. White B. In vain C. Black
Key Learning Point (Preview):
马马虎虎 (mǎma hūhu): careless/just so so
The idiom “马马虎虎 (mǎma hūhu)” is widely used by Chinese people in their daily lives. But why do people in China use this idiom? Let’s read the following story to find out.
Listen to the …
Conversation:
Hāi, zěnme wújīngdǎcǎi de? Anna: 嗨，怎么 无精打采 的。 Hi, why are you so dispirited?
Fànwǎn dōu diū le, néng gāoxìng de qǐlái ma? Mike: 饭碗 都 丢 了，能 高兴 得 起来吗？ _________, how can I be happy?
What does “饭碗 …
