银行 (yínháng) Bank (Beginner)
银行 (yínháng) Bank (Beginner)
The character “银 (yín)” means silver; “行 (háng)” means row.
Example:
Wǒjiā fùjìn yǒu hǎo jǐjiā yínháng. 我家 附近 有 好 几家 银行。
There are many banks around my home.
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休息 (xiūxi) To Have a Rest (Beginner)
休息 (xiūxi) To Have a Rest (Beginner)
The character “休 (xiū)” means to rest; “息 (xī)” means to rest or breath.
Example:
Tā lìyòng xiūxi shíjiān xuéxí hànyǔ. 他 利用 休息 时间 学习 汉语。
He made use of his spare time to learn Chinese.
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可爱 (kěài) Lovely/ Cute (Beginner)
可爱 (kěài) Lovely/ Cute (Beginner)
The character “可 (kě)” means can; “爱 (ài)” means love.
Example:
Zhè zhī xiǎo tùzi zhēn kěài! 这 只 小 兔子 真 可爱！
This little rabbit is so cute!
Wanna get connected with the Chinese language？Learn Chinese here
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Warren Buffett Bullish on China’s BYD
The “Sage of Omaha” Warren Buffett has invested in “比亚迪 (bǐyàdí) BYD-Build Your Dreams” CO Ltd, which is a Chinese manufacturer of batteries, “手机 (shǒujī) cellphones,” and electric vehicles founded by Wang Chuanfu. Buffett “看好 (kànhǎo)” apparently is bullish on the rise of “技术 (jìshù) …
Quote of the week (Mar. 1, 2010)
Liǎng zhī lǎohǔ xiāngróng zhǐyǒu yì zhǒng kěnéng, yì gōng yì mǔ! 两 只 老虎 相容 只有 一 种 可能， 一 公 一 母！
The only way possible for two tigers to be tolerant with each other is when one is a male and the …
火车票 (huǒchēpiào) Train Ticket (Beginner)
火车票 (huǒchēpiào) Train Ticket (Beginner)
The character “火 (huǒ)” means fire; “车 (chē)” means vehicle; “票 (piào)” means ticket.
Example:
Chūnjié qījiān, huǒchēpiào hěn nán mǎi. 春节 期间， 火车票 很 难 买。
It is difficult to buy a train ticket during the Spring Festival.
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幸亏 (xìngkuī) Fortunately/ Thanks to (Advanced)
幸亏 (xìnɡkuī) Fortunately/ Thanks to
The character “幸 (xìng)” means lucky and “亏 (kuī)” originally means loss.
Example:
Xìngkuī huǒchē wǎndiǎn le, wǒmen cái gǎnshàng le chē. 幸亏 火车 晚点 了， 我们 才 赶上 了 车。
Fortunately, the train came late so we did not …
合同 (hétong) Contract (Intermediate)
合同 (hétong) Contract (Intermediate)
The character “合 (hé)” refers to combine and “同 (tóng)” means together or agree.
Example:
Hétong shì yìzhǒng héfǎ de xiédìng. 合同 是 一种 合法 的 协定。
A contract is a formal agreement.…
中国元宵节 The Chinese Lantern Festival (Intermediate)
中国元宵节 (Zhōngguó yuánxiāojié)
The Chinese Lantern Festival
Key Learning Points (Preview):
农历 (nónglì): n/adj the lunar calendar/lunar
愿望 (yuànwàng): n wish
完美 (wánměi): adj perfect
The Lantern Festival falls on the fifteenth day of the first “农历 (nónglì) lunar” month. In ancient China, people called …
做生意 (zuòshēngyi) Do business (Intermediate)
做生意 (zuòshēngyi) Do Business (Intermediate)
The character “做 (zuò)” means to do; “生 (shēng)” means life and “意
(yì)” means ideas. “生意 (shēngyi)” means business.
Example:
Wǒ hěn lèyì hé tā zuòshēngyi. 我 很 乐意 和 他 做生意。
I am glad to do business with …
When Hip-Hop Meets Chinese Stilts (Beginner)
What would it be like when hip-hop meets Chinese stilts? See this video below.
“街舞 (jiēwǔ) Hip-hop” was first introduced into China in 1980s, and is
becoming more and more popular among Chinese youth. “高跷 (gāoqiāo)
stilts”, which is also called “拐子 (guǎizi) cane”, originated …
绕口令 (Ràokǒulìng) Tongue Twister (Beginner)
绕口令 (Ràokǒulìng) Tongue Twister (Beginner)
会与费 (Huì yǔ fèi) Can and Cost
Listen to the tongue twister
Key Learning Points (Preview):
学 (xué): v to learn
会 (huì): v can/be able to
The Chinese tongue twister below is a very typical one which will help …
Chinese Mini-test: 春暖花开 (Advanced)
Advanced Level 高级 (gāojí)
If you learn Mandarin, you may have heard of a famous poet named Haizi in China. One of his most famous poem is “面朝大海, 春暖花开.” Do you know the meaning of “春暖花开 (chūnnuǎnhuākāi)?” A. Flushed with success.
B. Beaming with Satisfaction…
YCT Sample Chinese Test: 开学
YCT Sample Test Question:
The new term begins tomorrow, and I finished my holiday homework. “开学” are the Chinese characters for “new term begins.” Do you know the Chinese Pinyin of “开学?”
A. Kāixīn
B. Kāikuò
C. Kāixué
D. Kāishǐ
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Chinese Mini-Test: Student (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
A: Mastering a new language can be helpful for personal growth, so I am choosing Chinese as my second language. How about you? B: I’m not sure now, but I heard that many students in my class chose to learn Chinese. …
Mini-test Answer: 学生 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Correct answer: B
Analysis:
A. “学习 (xuéxí)” are the Chinese characters for study.
“学 (xué)” means to learn, “习 (xí)” means to study or to practice.
B.“学生 (xuéshēng)” are the Chinese characters for student. “学 (xué)” means to learn and “生 …
Mini-test Answer: Kāixué (Intermediate)
Intermediate Leve 中级 (zhōngjí)
The Chinese Pinyin for “开学” is C (Kāixué)
Analysis:
A.“Kāixīn” is the Chinese Pinyin for “开心 to feel happy.”
“开 (kāi)” means open and “心 (xīn)” means heart.
B.“Kāikuò” is the Chinese Pinyin for “开阔 open or wide.”
“开 (kāi)” means …
Mini-test Answer: During the Warmth of Spring, All the Flowers Bloom (Anvanced)
Advanced Level 高级 (gāojí)
Correct answer: D
Analysis:
A. “春风得意 (chūnfēngdéyì)” is the phrase for “Flushed with success.”
“春(chūn)” means spring and “风 (fēng)” refers to wind. “得 (dé)” means to gain and “意 (yì)” refers to meaning.
B. “春风满面 (chūnfēngmǎnmiàn)” is the phrase for …
国家 (guójiā) Country/ Nation (Beginner)
国家 (guójiā) Country/ Nation (Beginner)
The character “国 (guó)” means nation or country and “家 (jiā)” means
family or home.
Example:
Zhōngguó shì yígè yǒu zhe yōujiǔ lìshǐ de dōngfāng guójiā. 中国 是 一个 有 着 悠久 历史 的 东方 国家。
China is an oriental …
可以 (kěyǐ) OK (Beginner)
可以 (kěyǐ) OK (Beginner)
The character “可 (kě)” means to permit and “以 (yǐ)” means withal.
Example:
A: Míngtiān zánmen yíkuàir gòuwù qù, kěyǐ ma? 明天 咱们 一块儿 购物 去，可以 吗？
Let’s go shopping tomorrow, will you? B: Kěyǐ a, méi wèntí. 可以啊，没 问题。
Ok, …