HSK Sample Chinese Test: What do you think of this movie?
Basic 初级 (chūjí)
HSK Preparation Sample Test:
A：你觉得《唐山大地震》这个电影怎么样？
B：很_________。
A. 好吃
B. 感人
C. 简单
D. 漂亮
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叶公好龙 (Yègōng hào lóng) Lord Ye Loved Dragons! (Beginner)
叶公好龙 (Yègōng hào lóng) Lord Ye Loved Dragons
“叶公好龙 (Yègōng hào lóng)” is a Chinese idiom meaning that someone loves a certain thing outwardly, but not sincerely.
Key Learning Point (Preview):
好 (hào): v. to love/to like
Cóngqián yǒu gè rén jiào Yègōng, tā hěn …
Quote of the week (Aug. 17, 2010)
Wàngjì diànshì shàng de nàxiē guǎnggào ba, 忘记 电视 上 的 那些 广告 吧， wǒ zhīdào wǒ méiyǒu Dàwèi·Bèikèhànmǔ shuài. 我 知道 我 没有 大卫·贝克 汉姆 帅。
Forget those ads on TV, I know I’m not as handsome as David Beckham. —From “姚明 (Yáo Míng) …
See You Soon! (Beginner) 一会儿见！(初级)
Chinese Words: 一会儿见 (yí huìr jiàn) See You Soon (Beginner)
Wǒ yào xiān jiē gè diàn huà ， nǐ jìn diàn yǐng yuàn lǐ miàn děng wǒ ba 。 A: 我 要 先 接 个 电话， 你 进 电影院 里面 等 我 吧。 I need …
Sorry! (Beginner) 对不起！（初级）
Chinese Speaking: 对不起 (duì bù qǐ) Sorry! (Beginner) Example: Duì bù qǐ, wǒ bù xiǎoxīn bǎ nǐ de bēizi shuāi suì le. A: 对 不 起，我 不 小心 把 你 的 杯子 摔 碎 了。 Sorry, I broke your cup because of my carelessness.
Méi …
田忌赛马 (Tián Jì sài mǎ) General Tian Ji in a Horse Race
Read a Chinese Story: 田忌赛马 (Tián Jì sài mǎ) General Tian Ji in a Horse Race (Intermediate)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
输(shū): v. to lose
赢(yíng): v. to win
Qíguó de dà jiāngjūn Tián Jì hěn xǐhuan sàimǎ. 齐国 的 大 将军 田 忌 很 …
HSK Preparation Sample Test Answer: Play Football (Basic)
Basic Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct answer for this HSK
question is B. The whole sentence translates as:
My father likes playing football very much.
Analysis:
In Chinese, when referring to ball games, people usually use the verbs “踢 (tī)” and “打 (dǎ).” People use …
HSK Preparation Sample Test
Basic 初级 (chūjí)
HSK Preparation Sample Test: Please choose the correct noun to match the verb. 我爸爸非常喜欢踢_____。 A. 篮球 B. 足球 C. 乒乓球 D. 网球
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A Movie:《唐山大地震》(Tángshān dà dìzhèn) Tangshan Earthquake (Beginner)
《唐山大地震》(Tángshān dà dìzhèn) Tangshan Earthquake
Key Learning Points (Preview):
回家 (huíjiā): go home
At daybreak on July 28, 1976, the city of Tangshan was destroyed by a 7.8 magnitude “地震 (dìzhèn) earthquake” in just 23 seconds. After the earthquake, a young mother faced the …
Quote of the week (Aug. 10, 2010)
Wǒ shì Lǐ Xiǎolóng de chāojí fěnsī, tā jiāo huì wǒ zěnyàng yíng qiú. 我 是 李 小龙 的 超级 粉丝，他 教 会 我 怎样 赢 球。
I am a huge fan of Bruce Lee, who taught me how to win the game. —From “科比•布莱恩特 …
No Worries! (Beginner) 不要紧！（初级）
How to Speak Chinese: 不要紧 (bú yào jǐn) No Worries! (Beginner) Example:
Wǒmen cuòguò gōngjiāochē le. A: 我们 错过 公交车 了。 We’ve missed the bus.
Bú yào jǐn, guò shí fēnzhōng hái yǒu yí tàng. B: 不 要 紧，过 十 分钟 还 有 一 趟。 …
No Way! (Beginner) 不行！（初级）
Chinese Words: 不行！(Bù xíng) No Way! Example:
Nǐ néng jiè wǒ wǔ bǎi yuán qián mā? A: 你 能 借 我 五 百 元 钱 吗？ Could you please lend me five hundred Yuan?
Bù xíng! Nǐ qùnián qiàn wǒ de qián hái méi huán …
Kids Chinese Story: A Bird Startled by the Twang of a Bow String
惊弓之鸟 (Jīnggōngzhīniǎo) A Bird Startled by the Mere Twang of a Bow String (Intermediate)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
慢 (màn): adj. slow
害怕 (hàipà): v. to be afraid of
Nowadays, “惊弓之鸟 (jīnggōngzhīniǎo)” is used to describe people who are so frightened from past experience that …
Chinese Mini-test: 漂亮 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Nǐ jīntiān zhēn piàoliang, yào qù yuēhuì ma? 你 今天 真 漂亮， 要 去 约会 吗？ Do you know the meaning of “漂亮?” A. Beautiful B. Handsome C. Great D. Good
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Mini-test Answer: Beautiful (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Correct answer: A
Analysis:
A. “漂亮 (Piàoliang)” is the phrase for “Beautiful.”
B. “英俊 (Yīngjùn)” is the phrase for “Handsome.” C. “太棒了 (Tài bàng le)” is the phrase for “Great.” D. “好 (Hǎo)” is the phrase for “Good.” Key learning points:…
Read Chinese story about 七夕节 (Qīxījié) Double Seven Festival (Chinese Valentine’s Day) (Beginner)
七夕节 (Qīxījié) Double Seven Festival (Chinese Valentine’s Day)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
鹊桥 (què qiáo): n. a bridge made up of magpies
七夕节 (Qīxījié): n. Double Seven Festival
中国情人节 (Zhōngguó Qíngrénjié): n. Chinese Valentine’s Day
The Double Seven Festival or Chinese Valentine’s Day is on …
Quote of the week (Aug. 3, 2010)
Wǒ zhēn de xiǎng bāngzhù Yáo Míng. 我 真 的 想 帮助 姚 明。
I really want to help Yao Ming. —From “布拉德•米勒 (Bùlādé•Mǐlè) Brad Miller.” Miller signed with the Houston Rockets and would become a substitute for Yao Ming. …
Long Time No See! (Beginner) 好久不见！（初级）
Learn Chinese: 好久不见 (hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn) Long Time No See! (Beginner)
Example: Hǎo jiǔ bú jiàn, zhè duàn shíjiān nǐ qù nǎ le? A: 好 久 不 见，这 段 时间 你 去 哪 了？ Long time no see! Where have you been these days?…
爱屋及乌 (Àiwūjíwū) Love Me, Love My Dog
爱屋及乌 (Àiwūjíwū) Love Me, Love My Dog
In this Chinese idiom “爱屋及乌 (àiwūjíwū) Love me, love my dog,” “爱” means “like” or “love;” “屋” refers to “house;” “及” is a conjunction which means “and;” “乌” refers to “乌鸦 (wūyā),” which is “crow.” “爱屋及乌” is a …
Quote of the week (Jul. 27, 2010)
Chāopiào zhǐyǒu yòng diào le yǐhòu cái shì nǐ de, 钞票 只有 用 掉 了 以后 才 是 你 的， dǎ kāi píjiāzi, kànkan méiyǒu yòng diào de chāopiào, 打 开 皮夹子，看看 没有 用 掉 的 钞票， shàngmian yìn de shì “Zhōngguó rénmín yínháng,” gēn …