Wǒ zhǔnbèi zìjǐ chuàngyè. 我准备自己创业。 I plan to start my own business. Wǒ de xìngfú shēnghuó huì yìzhí yánxù. 我的幸福生活会一直延续。 My happy life will continue. —from common Chinese female workers in a recent cover story of the TIME magazine Got questions?…
How to say “Merry Christmas” in Chinese? Learn the correct saying and the most useful Christmas expressions in this video lesson! Taught by professional Chinese teachers from eChineseLearning, the dialogue teaches you useful expressions in gift exchange among family members and friends, home decoration, Christmas …
随便 (suíbiàn) Casual/Informal
The character “随 (suí)” means to comply with and “便 (biàn)” means convenience. Example： Tā píngshí zhuózhuāng hěn suíbiàn, cóngbù jiǎngjiu. 他平时着装很随便，从不讲究。 He usually dresses casually and never pays much attention to the way he dresses.
Got questions? // // …
下马威 (xiàmǎwēi) Show one’s power to intimidate others at the
The character “下 (xià)” means to get down; “马 (mǎ)” means horse and
“威 (wēi)” means power. Oftentimes, this phrase is used when power or
severity is displayed by an official upon taking office.…
知己 (zhījǐ) Extremely close friend/ Bosom friend
The character “知 (zhī)” means to know and “己 (jǐ)” means self.
Example:
Yī gè rén huì yǒu hěnduō péngyou, dàn nénggòu chéngwéi zhījǐ de què hěn shǎo. 一个人会有很多朋友，但能够成为知己的却很少。
A person will have many friends, but just a …
加油 (jiāyóu) Make an extra effort
The character “加 (jiā)” means to increase or to add and “油 (yóu)” means
oil. So the phrase literally means to add oil.
Example: Nǐ kě yào jiāyóu a, búyào gūfùle dàjiā duì nǐ de qīwàng. 你可要加油啊，不要辜负了大家对你的期望。
You must …
面熟 (miànshú) Look familiar
The character “面 (miàn)” means face or surface and “熟 (shú)” means familiar.
Zhè xiǎo nánhái hǎo miànshú ya, hǎoxiàng zài nǎ’er jiànguò. 这小男孩好面熟呀，好像在哪儿见过。
The little boy looked so familiar. I seem to have seen him somewhere before. Got questions?…
Xiànzài de fángjià shì méiyǒu zuì gāo, zhǐyǒu gèng gāo, bú duàn dì gèng gāo, yuè lái yuè gāo. 现在的房价是没有最高，只有更高，不断地更高，越来越高。
The housing price now will never reach the highest. It will only go higher and higher.
—From the hot Chinese TV series《蜗居》(Wōjū) Dwelling Narrowness
Got …
Yǒngyuǎn bú yào wèn lǐfàshī nǐ shìfǒu xūyào lǐfà！ 永远不要问理发师你是否需要理发！
Never ask the barber whether you need haircut or not! Got questions?…
Fěnsī mài dào yúchì de jiàgé cái jiào pàomò. 粉丝卖到鱼翅的价格才叫泡沫。
If the price of vermicelli is equal to that of shark’s fins, we can say there is a bubble in this market. — By 任志强(Rèn Zhìqiáng) Ren Zhiqiang, a famous executive commenting on China’ s …
Correct answer: D Analysis: A. “红色 (hóngsè)” are the Chinese characters for “red.”
“红 (hóng)” means red and “色 (sè)” means color.
B. “蓝色 (lánsè)” are the Chinese characters for “blue.”
“蓝 (lán)” means blue and “色 (sè)” means color.
C. …
Correct answer: C Analysis: A. “理解 (lǐjiě)” are the Chinese characters for “understand.”
“理 (lǐ)” means logic and “解 (jiě)” means to understand.
B. “梦想 (mèngxiǎng)” are the Chinese characters for “dream.”
“梦 (mèng)” means to dream and “想 (xiǎng)” means …
Correct answer: A Analysis: A. “Liǎobùqǐ” is the Chinese pinyin for “了不起 great.” “了 (liǎo)” means totally and “不 (bù)” means not . “起 (qǐ)” means to be competent for.
B. “Qiáobùqǐ” is the Chinese pinyin for “瞧不起 to look down …
花木兰 (huāmùlán) Hua Mulan
考验 (kǎoyàn): n ordeal or test
毅力 (yìlì): n willpower
Do you remember the popular cartoon movie Mulan made by Disney in 1998? Recently, the same story that a courageous girl pretending to be a male soldier …
China’s Most Valuable Brand
Key Learning Points (Preview):
抱怨 (bàoyuàn): v to complain
信誉 (xìnyù): n reputation
In December 2009, China’s most valuable brand list was “揭晓 (jiēxiǎo) announced” in New York and 100 Chinese consumer brands “进入 (jìnrù) entered” the final list, including “联想(liánxiǎng) …
隐形的翅膀 (Yǐnxíng De Chìbǎng ) Invisible Wings Listen to this song
坚强 (jiānqiánɡ): n. strong 希望 (xīwànɡ): n/v. hope/to hope Měi yí cì dōu zài páihuái gūdān zhōng jiānqiáng, 每一次都在徘徊孤单中坚强， Every time in hesitation and loneliness I become stronger, Měi yí …
(Try our Chinese idiom lesson for you)
Lǐ Bái xiǎo shíhou tè tānwán, yí dào shàngkè jiù zǒushén. 李 白 小 时候 特 贪玩，一 到 上课 就 走神。 Li Bai was fond of playing when he …
把关 (bǎguān) Check on
The character “把 (bǎ)” means to hold or to grasp and “关 (guān)” means
check point.
Example:
Nǐ xiān zìyǐ xiě zhè piān wénzhāng ba, xiě wánle wǒ bāng nǐ bǎbǎguān. 你先自已写这篇文章吧，写完了我帮你把把关。
First, you write the paper by yourself; then I …
翘课 (qiàokè) Skip classes
The character “翘 (qiào)” means to stick up or to bend upwards and “课
(kè)” means class.
Example:
Nǐ bú yào zài qiàokè le, fǒuzé zhè cì kǎoshì tōng bú guò le. 你不要再翘课了，否则这次考试通不过了。
Don’ t skip classes. Otherwise you won’ t …
挂科 (guàkē) Flunk/ Fail in the exam
The character “挂 (guà)” means failing and “科 (kē)” means subject or a branch of academic or vocational study.
Example:
Yīnwéi méiyŏu nǔlì xuéxí, zhè cì kăoshì Gao Feng yòu guàkē le. 因为没有努力学习，这次考试高峰又挂科了。 Not having studied his lessons …
