站着说话不腰疼 It’s easier said than done (Advanced)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
站着说话不腰疼(zhànzhe shuōhuà bù yāo téng) It’s easier said than done
黄昏(huánghūn): n. dusk
跪(guì): v. to kneel
打断(dǎduàn): v. to interrupt
Qíncháo de shíhou, Xiào Gōng de chǒngchén Jǐng Jiān jiāng Shāng Yāng yǐnjiàn gěi Qín Xiào Gōng. 秦朝 的 时候， …
加班 (jiābān) Work Overtime (Beginner)
加班 (jiābān) Work Overtime (Beginner)
The character “加 (jiā)” means to add or increase and “班 (bān)” means work
here. Example:
Jīntiān wǒ gōngzuò hěn duō, kàn lái yòu děi jiābān le. 今天我工作很多，看来又得加班了。
I have a lot of work today, and it appears I have …
发火 (fāhuǒ) To Get Angry (Intermediate)
发火 (fāhuǒ) To Get Angry (Intermediate)
The character “发 (fā)” means to show (one’s feeling) here and “火 (huǒ)”
literally means fire but here, means temper or anger. Example:
Gōngsī xiàoyì bù hǎo de shíhou, lǎobǎn jiù hěn ài fāhuǒ. 公司效益不好的时候，老板就很爱发火。
When a company is …
Quote of the Week (Jan. 27, 2010)
Bù chī bǎo nǎ yǒu lìqi jiǎnféi a. 不吃饱哪有力气减肥啊。
If you are not full, how could you have the strength to lose weight?
—From the TV series 我的青春谁做主 (Wŏ de qīngchūn shuí zuòzhŭ) Who is the Master of My Own Youth?
生词 (shēngcí) Vocabulary
吃 …
Mini-test Answer: 怎么办 (Intermediate)
Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)
Correct answer: B Analysis:
A. “为什么 (wèishénme)” are the Chinese characters for “Why.” “为 (wèi)” means for. “什么 (shénme)” means what.
B. “怎么办 (zěnmebàn)” are the Chinese characters for “What shall I do.” “怎么 (zěnme)” equals what in English. “办 (bàn)” …
Mini-test Answer: 差不多 (Advanced)
Advanced Level 高级 (gāojí)
Correct answer: C Analysis:
A. “要不然 (yàobùrán)” are the Chinese characters for “Or else” or “Otherwise.” “要 (yào)” means demand; “不 (bù)” means not and “然 (rán)” means so or thus.
B. “是不是 (shìbushì)” are the Chinese characters for “If.” “是 …
Mini-test Answer: 妈妈 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Correct answer: D Analysis: A. “Nǎinai” is the Chinese Pinyin for “奶奶 grandmother.” B. “Bàba” is the Chinese Pinyin for “爸爸 father.” C. “Yéye” is the Chinese Pinyin for “爷爷 grandfather.” D. “Māma” is the Chinese Pinyin for “妈妈 mother.”
<<Back …
Chinese Characters (Beginner)
三 (sān) Three, 六 (liù) Six
Chinese Character: 三, Sān
“三” contains the horizontal stroke 拼音 (pīnyīn) pin yin: sān 含义 (hányì) meaning: three 笔画 (bĭhuà) number of strokes: 3 笔顺 (bĭshun) stroke order
Chinese Character: 六, Liù
“六” contains the dot stroke 拼音 (pīnyīn)…
中国茶 Chinese Tea
中国茶 (Zhōngguóchá) Chinese Tea
Key Learning Points (Preview): 减肥 (jiănféi): v to lose weight
美容 (měiróng): v to beautify the features/beauty
Chinese tea has a history of over 5000 years in China, and it has been a daily beverage for most Chinese. There is a …
发短信 (fāduǎnxìn) Send a Text Message (Intermediate)
发短信 (fāduǎnxìn) Send a Text Message
“发 (fā)” means to send; “短 (duǎn)” means short and “信 (xìn)” means message.
Example:
Míngtiān shì wǒ hǎopéngyou de shēngrì; gěi tā fāduǎnxìn sòng shàng wǒ de shēngrì zhùfú. 明天是我好朋友的生日，给她发短信送上我的生日祝福。
Tomorrow is my friend’s birthday; I’ ll send …
打电话 (dǎdiànhuà) Make a Call (Beginner)
打电话 (dǎdiànhuà) Make a Call
“打 (dǎ)” means to beat or to strike; “电 (diàn)” means electricity and “话
(huà)” means word or talk.
Example:
Wǒ gěi wǒ mā dǎ gè diànhuà, gàosu tā jīnwǎn wǒ wándiǎnr huíqù. 我给我妈打个电话，告诉她今晚我晚点儿回去。
I call my mother to tell …
麻烦 (máfan) Trouble (Intermediate)
麻烦 (máfan) Trouble
The character “麻 (má)” means to bother; The character “烦 (fán)” means
upset or trouble.
Example:
Máfan nǐ bāng wǒ kànkan zhè dào tí zěnme zuò？ 麻烦你帮我看看这道题怎么做?
Can I trouble you to teach me how to solve this question?
// …
稍等 (shāoděng) Wait a Bit (Beginner)
稍等 (shāoděng) Wait a Bit
The character “稍 (shāo)” means a bit or a little and “等 (děng)” means to wait. Example:
Shāoděng yíhuìr, wǒ mǎshàng jiù lái. 稍等一会儿，我马上就来。
Wait a bit, I’ ll be right there.
// // …
没事儿 (méishìr) It doesn’t Matter / Nothing (Beginner)
没事儿 (méishìr) It doesn’t Matter /Nothing
The character “没 (méi)” means not or be without; “事 (shì)” means matter
and “儿 (ér)” here is a suffix.
Example:
A: Bùhǎoyìsi, wǒ bùxiǎoxīn bǎ nǐ de bǐ nònghuài le. 不好意思，我不小心把你的笔弄坏了。
I’ m sorry; I broke your pen …
上班 (shàngbān) Go to Work (Beginner)
上班 (shàngbān) Go to Work
“上 (shàng)” means on or above; “班 (bān)” means a work shift. Example：
Míngtiān bú shàngbān, wǒmen qù guàngjiē ba.
明天 不 上班， 我们 去 逛街 吧。
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Know something about Chinese business etiquette HSK Test General Chinese (Beginner
Quote of the week (Jan.20,2010)
人生有时就像电脑，说死机就死机，没有商量的余地。
Rénshēng yǒushí jiù xiàng diànnǎo, shuō sǐjī jiù sǐjī, méiyǒu shāngliang de yúdì.
Life is like a computer sometimes, when it shuts down, it does. There is no compromise.
—From a computer user who often loses information because of sudden shut-down of computers.…
Mini-test Answer: 春天 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Correct Answer: A Analysis:
A. “春天 (chūntiān)” is the word for “Spring.”
The character “春 (chūn)” means spring and “天 (tiān)” means sky.
B. “夏天 (xiàtiān)” is the word for “Summer.”
The character “夏 (xià)” means summer and “天 (tiān)” means …