Chinese Mini-test: Mid-Autumn Festival (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Test of Basic Chinese Phrases:
Nǐ zhīdào Zhōngguó rén Zhōngqiūjié chī shénme ma？ 你 知道 中国 人 中秋节 吃 什么 吗？ Do you know what Chinese people eat during Mid-Autumn Day? A. 面条 B. 月饼 C. 饺子 D. 火锅
…Mini-test Answer: 月饼 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct answer for this test of basic Chinese Phrases is B
Analysis of Basic Chinese Phrases :
A. “面条 (miàntiáo)” means “noodle.”
B. “月饼 (yuèbǐng)” means “moon cake.” C. “饺子 (jiǎozi)” means “dumpling.” D. “火锅 (huǒguō)”means “hotpot.”
Are you kidding? (Beginner) 你在开玩笑吗？（初级）
Speak Chinese: 你在开玩笑吗？ (Nǐ zài kāiwánxiào ma?) Are you kidding? (Beginner) Example: Gōngxǐ nǐ zhòng le wǔbǎi wàn! A: 恭喜 你 中 了 五百 万！ Congratulations! You’ve won five million in the lottery!
Tiān na, nǐ zài kāiwánxiào ma? B: 天 哪，你 在 开玩笑 吗？ …
Chinese Mini-test: Autumn (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Autumn is coming. Do you know how to say “autumn” in an online Chinese test? A. 夏天 B. 冬天 C. 春天 D. 秋天
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Mini-test Answer: 秋天 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct answer for this online Chinese test is D.
Analysis:
A. “夏天 (xiàtiān)” means “summer.”
B. “冬天 (dōngtiān)” means “winter.” C. “春天 (chūntiān)” means “spring.” D. “秋天 (qiūtiān)” means “autumn.”
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画饼充饥 (Huàbǐngchōngjī) Drawing Pancakes to Stave off Hunger (Beginner)
画饼充饥 (Huàbǐngchōngjī) Drawing Pancakes to Stave off Hunger
In Chinese idiom “画饼充饥 (huàbǐngchōngjī) ,” “画 (huà)” means “to draw;” “饼 (bǐng)” refers to “pancakes;” “充 (chōng)” is “to fill or stuff sth,” which indicates “to stave off or to relieve” in this Chinese idiom; “饥 …
Bill Gates and Warren Buffett will come to China to “urge donation” (Intermediate)
Bill Gates and Warren Buffett will come to China to “urge donation” (Intermediate) Key learning points (preview): 财富 (cáifù) n. fortune
捐献 (juānxiàn) v. to donate
面对面 (miànduìmiàn) adv. face to face
In June 2010, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett launched a “行动 (xíngdòng) campaign” …
My God! (Beginner) 天哪！（初级）
Learn to Speak Chinese Words: 天哪！(tiān na) My God! (Beginner)
Example:
Tiān na! Zhè yǔ xià de hǎo dà ya! A: 天 哪！这 雨 下 得 好 大 呀！ My God! It’s pouring rain!
Zhè xià zāo le, wǒ méi dài yǔsǎn. B: 这 下 …
Quote of the week (Sept. 7, 2010)
Wǒ xīwàng Yáo Míng huīfù jiànkāng bìngqiě nénggòu huíguī.
我 希望 姚 明 恢复 健康 并且 能够 回归。
I hope Yao Ming will get better and return to his team. —From “科比•布莱恩特 (Kēbǐ•Bùlái’ēntè) Kobe Bryant,” on Aug. 16, 2010.
Mandarin Language Vocabulary:
我 (wǒ): pron. …
That’s it! (Beginner) 就这样！（初级）
Online Free Chinese Learning: 就这样！(jiù zhè yàng!) That’s it! (Beginner)
Example:
… Nǐ zhè piān wénzhāng hái xūyào zài gǎi xià ba. A: 你 这 篇 文章 还 需要 再 改 下 吧。 I think you need to revise your essay again.
Wǒ jìnlì le, jiù
iPhone vs. Google Android Phone (Intermediate)
iPhone vs. Google Android Phone (Intermediate)
Key Learning Points (Preview): 销售(xiāoshòu): n. sale
消费(xiāofèi): v. to consume
For Android, a mobile operating system developed by Google, the year of 2010 has been explosive. The global “销售(xiāoshòu) sales” of Apple’s iPhone have been overtaken by the …
Chinese For Kids: An Old Man In The Frontier Lost His Horse (Intermediate)
塞翁失马 (Sàiwēngshīmǎ) An Old Man in Frontier Lost His Horse—A Blessing in Disguise (Intermediate)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
邻居 (línjū): n.neighbor
听说 (tīngshuō): v. to hear
带来 (dàilái): v. to bring
Zhànguó shí, yí wèi xìng Sài de lǎorén yǎngle xǔduō mǎ. 战国 时，一位 姓 …
Chinese Mini-test: Beer (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
My father likes to drink beer very much.
In this sentence, do you know the Chinese characters for “beer?” A. 啤酒 (píjiǔ) B. 红酒 (hóngjiǔ) C. 白酒 (báijiǔ) D. 可乐 (kělè)
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Mini-test Answer: 啤酒 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Correct answer: A
Analysis:
A. “啤酒 (píjiǔ)” is “beer.”
B. “红酒 (hóngjiǔ)” is “red wine.” C. “白酒 (báijiǔ)” is “white liquor.” D. “可乐 (kělè)” is “coke.”
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Hold On! (Beginner) 等一下！（初级）
Free Chinese Language Phrase: 等一下！(Děng yí xià!) Hold On! (Beginner)
Example:
Wèi, nǐhǎo, qǐng wèn Ānnà zài ma? A: 喂，你好， 请 问 安娜 在 吗？ Hello, excuse me, is Anna there?
Tā zài, qǐng děng yí xià. B: 她 在， 请 等 一 下。 Yes, …
Quote of the week (Aug. 31, 2010)
Hǎi zhī suǒyǐ néng zhuāng nàme duō shuǐ, 海 之 所以 能 装 那么 多 水， shì yīnwèi tā de wèizhi zuì dī — zuò rén yào dīdiào. 是 因为 它 的 位置 最 低——做 人 要 低调。
The reason the sea can hold so …
Leave Me Alone! (Beginner) 走开！（初级）
Learn Chinese Characters: 走开 (zǒukāi) Leave Me Alone (Beginner) Example:
Zǒukāi, wǒ xiǎng yí gè rén zǒu zou. 走开，我想一个人走走。 Leave me alone. I want to take a walk by myself.
Take a Free 1-on-1 live online business Chinese lesson with our professional teachers from China. …
HSK Sample Chinese Test: See a Doctor
Threshold 入门级 (rù mén jí)
HSK Sample Test Question:
A：我今天头疼，很不舒服。
B：那我陪你去___。
A. 看病
B. 生病
C. 疼痛
D. 生气
HSK Sample Test Answer: See a Doctor (Threshold)
Threshold 入门级 (rù mén jí)
The correct answer for this HSK test question is A. Here is the translation: A: I have a headache and feel bad today. B: Then, how about I go with you to see a doctor?
Analysis: A. “看病 (kànbìng)” is …