Guess The Fruit.
Tā shì huángsède, xiàng wānwān de yuèliang. 1. 它 是 黄色的， 像 弯弯 的 月亮。
It is yellow and like the curved moon. Tā shì hóngsède, yuányuánde. 2. 它 是 红色的， 圆圆的。
It is red and round. Tā shì zǐsède, xiǎoxiǎode yuányuánde. 3. 它 是 …
Chinese Test: I’m a great cook.
Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)
Conversation:
Mary’s decided to show off her cooking talent for Tom, who’s arrived just in time for a proper feast.
Nǐ kě zhēn yǒu kǒu fú, zhèng hǎo pèng shàng wǒ zhège dà chú. Mary: 你可 真 有 口 福， 正 …
Mini-Test Answer: to be blessed with good food
Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)
The right answer to the test is A.
Translation:
Nǐ kě zhēn yǒu kǒu fú, zhèng hǎo pèng shàng wǒ zhège dà chú. Mary: 你可 真 有 口 福，正 好 碰 上 我 这个 大 厨。 You really are blessed with …
Mini-Test Answer: 还是 (háishì)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The right answer to this question is A.
Translation:
Nǐ xǐhuan chī Zhōngguó cài háishì Yìdàlì cài? Mike: 你喜欢 吃 中国 菜 还是 意大利菜？ Which one do you prefer, Chinese dishes or Italian dishes?
Dāngrán shì Zhōngguó cài le. Lucy: 当然 …
Chinese Test: What kind of food do you like?
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Conversation:
Mike wanted to invite Lucy to have dinner with him. He didn’t know which kind of dishes Lucy liked, so he decided to ask her in advance.
Nǐ xǐhuan chī Zhōngguó cài ___ Yìdàlì cài? Mike: 你喜欢 吃 中国 菜___ …
Chinese Test: Are you a sweet talker?
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Conversation:
Lisa is shopping with her daughter Amy. In the street, they meet Lora, Lisa’s classmate. Lisa let Amy say “hello” to Lora.
Lora āyí hǎo. Amy: Lora 阿姨好。
Amy nǐhǎo. Lora: Amy 你好。
Lora āyí zhēn piàoliang. Amy: Lora 阿姨 …
Mini-Test Answer: Amy is a sweet talker.
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The right answer to the quiz is A.
Translation:
Lora ā yíhǎo. Amy: Lora 阿姨好。
Hello, Aunt Lora.
Amy nǐhǎo. Lora: Amy 你好。
Hello, Amy.
Lora āyí zhēn piàoliang. Amy: Lora 阿姨 真 漂亮。
Aunt Lora is so beautiful.
(Xiàozhe shuō) …
萌 (méng) young and innocent
“萌 (méng)” literarily means to sprout and is the symbol of spring. From this, the meaning of “萌 (méng)” has been extended to describe girls who are young and innocent. The term originated from the animation industry and was used as a lingua franca to …
Chinese Test: Did you watch the 3D-version of “Titanic?”
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Conversation:
Anne and Tom walked past the cinema and saw the poster advertising the 3D-version of the movie, “Titanic.”
Tàitǎnníkèhào jìngrán chū 3D bǎn le. Anne: 泰坦尼克号 竟然 出 3D 版 了。
Shì a, nǐ cái zhīdao a. Tom: 是啊，你才 知道 …
Chinese Test: You’re such a show off!
Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)
Conversation:
Lana was wearing a new dress and felt eager to tell her colleague Amy as soon as she stepped into the office:
Kànkan wǒ zhè yìshēn, gòu měi ba. Lana: 看看 我 这 一身， 够 美 吧。
(Xiàozhe shuō) Nǐ …
Mini-Test Answer: just
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The right answer to this question is A.
Translation:
Tàitǎnníkèhào jìngrán chū 3D bǎn le. Anne: 泰坦尼克号 竟然 出 3D 版 了。 The movie “Titanic” is now in 3D!
Shì a, nǐ cái zhīdao a. Tom: 是啊，你才 知道 啊。 You’ve just …
Mini-Test Answer: Lana is such a show off!
Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)
The right answer to the test is C.
Translation: Kànkan wǒ zhè yìshēn, gòu měi ba. Lana: 看看 我 这 一身， 够 美 吧。 Look at me! Don’t I look beautiful in this new dress?
(Xiàozhe shuō) Nǐ kě zhēn gòu …
Why does “Old” stand for wisdom and prestige in China?
Key Learning Point:
老 (lǎo): adj. old
Several years ago, when Bill Clinton came to China and visited Shanghai, he felt uncomfortable when he was called “Grandpa Clinton” by children in a community. But when one of the children called him “Clinton,” he began to …
Chinese Test: When will the meeting be held?
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Conversation:
Mike, the head of the company, is confirming the time for a conference with his secretary Amy.
Zhège huìyì dìng zài shénme shíhou le? Mike: 这个 会议 定 在 什么 时候 了？
Míngtiān zǎoshang shí ____. Amy: 明天 早上 十_____。…
Mini-Test: 点(钟) (diǎn (zhōng))
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct answer for the question is B.
Translation： Zhège huìyì dìng zài shénme shíhou le? Mike: 这个 会议 定 在 什么 时候 了？ When will the conference be held? Míngtiān zǎoshang shídiǎn (zhōng). Amy: 明天 早上 十点 (钟)。 At ten …
Chinese Test: What does “亲口 (qīnkǒu)” mean?
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Conversation:
Mary just found out that Kiki is planning on getting married, so she’s telling Anna the big news. (Everyone knows how much Kiki reveled in being single.)
Kiki yào jiéhūn le, nǐ zhīdao ma? Mary: Kiki 要 结婚 了，你知道 吗？…
Mini-Test Answer: to say personally
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct answer to the test is B.
Translation: Kiki yào jiéhūn le, nǐ zhīdao ma? Mary: Kiki 要 结婚 了，你 知道 吗？ Did you know that Kiki is getting married?
Zěnme kěnéng?! Anna: 怎么 可能？！ Seriously?!
Zhēnde, tā qīnkǒu gàosu …
80后 (bā líng hòu) Post-1980s: Eighties Babies in China
Are you old enough to remember the ’80s? Crazy hairstyles and fashion often popped up throughout the world as well as a series of advancements in technology that changed the world. Those who grew up during that time can often be seen as having similar …
Chinese Test: I want to buy a pair of pants.
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Conversation:
Lana wants to go shopping with Lucy on the weekend.
Zhōumò qù guàngjiē ba. Lana: 周末 去 逛街 吧。
Hǎode, nǐ xiǎng mǎi shénme? Lucy: 好的 ，你 想 买 什么？
Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yì ____ kùzi. Lana: 我 想 买 …
Mini-Test Answer: 条 (tiáo)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The right answer to the test is A.
Translation:
Zhōumò qù guàngjiē ba. Lana: 周末 去 逛街 吧。
Let’s go shopping this weekend.
Hǎode, nǐ xiǎng mǎi shénme? Lucy: 好的， 你 想 买 什么？
Ok, what do you want to buy?…