零钱 (língqián) Change (Beginner)
零钱 (língqián) Change (Beginner)
Example:
A: Wǒ méiyǒu língqián zuò gōngjiāochē le. Nǐ néng jiè wǒ diǎnr qián ma? 我 没有 零钱 坐 公交车 了。你 能 借 我 点儿 钱 吗？
I don’t have any change to take a bus. Can you lend me some?…
没问题 (méiwèntí) No Problem (Beginner)
没问题 (méiwèntí) No Problem (Beginner)
The character “没 (méi)” means no or not; “问题 (wèntí)” means problem.
Example:
A: Dǎrǎo yíxià, qǐngwèn néng gěi wǒ jiǎng yíxià zhèdào tímù ma? 打扰 一下，请问 能 给 我 讲 一下 这道 题目 吗？
Excuse me; can you help …
Quote of the week (Apr. 14, 2010)
Wǒ bú zàihu qǐdiǎn yǒu duō gāo, zuì zhòngyào de shì zhōngdiǎn. 我 不 在乎 起点 有 多 高， 最 重要 的 是 终点。 I don’t care how I started, but I do care where I end up. — From Yao Ming, a Chinese NBA …
Chinese Mini-test: 巧克力 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
What does the phrase “巧克力 (qiăokèlì)” refer to? A. Biscuit B. Orange C. Chocolate D. Coffee
// // …
Chinese Mini-Test: 明星 (Intermediate)
Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)
If the phrase “明星” appears in HSK, do you know which is the Chinese pinyin for “明星” in the following? A. Miánxiàn B. Míngxīng C. Míngxiăn D. Míngbai
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Chinese Mini-test: Gossip (Advanced)
Advanced Level 高级 (gāojí)
What does the phrase “gossip” refer to in
Chinese language
? A. 八卦 (bāguà) B. 新闻 (xīnwén) C. 夸奖 (kuājiăng) D. 微笑 (wēixiào)…
Mini-test Answer: 巧克力 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Correct answer: C
Analysis:
A. “饼干 (bĭnggān)”is the word for “biscuit.”
The character “饼 (bĭng)” means cookie or cake and “干 (gān)”means dry.
B. “橙子 (chéngzi)” is the word for “orange.”
The character “橙 (chéng)” means orange and “子 (zĭ)” is …
Chinese Mini-Test Answers: 明星 (Intermediate)
Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)
Correct answer: B Analysis: A. Miánxiàn is the Chinese pinyin for “棉线 cotton thread.”
The character “棉 (mián)” means cotton and “线 (xiàn)” means thread.
B. Míngxīng is the Chinese pinyin for “明星 star.” The character “明 (míng)” means bright or …
Mini-test Answer: Gossip (Advanced)
Advanced Level 高级 (gāojí)
Correct answer: A
Analysis:
A. “八卦 (bāguà)” is the word for “gossip.”
The character “八 (bā)” means eight and “卦 (guà)” means trigram.
B. “新闻 (xīnwén)” is the word for “news.”
The character “新 (xīn)” means new and “闻 (wén)” means …
啤酒 (píjiǔ) Beer (Beginner)
啤酒 (píjiǔ) Beer (Beginner)
Example: A: Zǎoshànghǎo, yǒu shénme kěyǐ bāng nín ma? A: 早上好， 有 什么 可以 帮 您 吗？ A: Good morning, can I help you?
B: Wǒ xiǎng yào yíguàn píjiǔ. B: 我 想 要 一罐 啤酒。 B: I want a can …
你是哪种风格？Which is Your Style? (Intermediate)
你是哪种风格？ (Nǐ shì nǎzhǒng fēnggé?) Which is Your Style? (Intermediate) Key Learning Points (Preview):
帅哥 (shuàigē): n handsome man or cute boy (Who Is the Most Popular “帅哥 (shuàigē)” in China?)
美女 (měinǚ): n beautiful girl
假小子 (jiǎxiǎozi): n tomboy
For teenagers in China, there …
好吃 (hǎochī) Delicious (Beginner)
好吃 (hǎochī) Delicious (Beginner)
Example:
A: Nǐ juéde gōngbǎo jīdīng zěnmeyàng? 你 觉得 宫保 鸡丁 怎么样？
How do you like Kung Pao Chicken?
B: Wǒ juéde hěn hǎochī. 我 觉得 很 好吃。
I think it’s very delicious.
流行词语 (liúxíng cíyŭ) Popular Daily Chinese Words
wŏ de shén a 我 的 神 啊 Where does it originate? “我的神啊 (wŏ de shén a)” first became popular from a hot Chinese TV series “武林外传 (wŭlín wàizhuàn ) My Own Swordsman” as a pet phrase of Tong Xiangyu, the owner of Tongfu tavern. …
可口可乐与中国计谋 Coca-Cola and Ancient Chinese Stratagems (Advanced)
可口可乐与中国计谋 (Kěkǒu kělè yǔ Zhōngguó jìmóu) Coca-Cola and Ancient Chinese Stratagems (Advanced) Key Learning Points (Preview):
三十六计 (sānshíliùjì): n thirty six stratagems
欲擒故纵 (yùqín gùzòng): n/v to catch something, first set it free
利润 (lìrùn): n profit
More than 20 years ago, “可口可乐 (kěkǒu kělè) …
兴高采烈 (xìnggāocǎiliè) In High Spirit/ Overjoyed (Advanced)
兴高采烈 (xìnggāocǎiliè) In High Spirit/ Overjoyed (Advanced)
When the character “兴 (xìng)” takes the falling tone, it means happy. But when it is pronounced as “xīng” it means to flourish. “高 (gāo)” means high. “采 (cǎi)” means to gather. “烈 (liè)” means violent.
Example: A: …
舞会 (wǔhuì) Prom/ Ball (Intermediate)
舞会 (wǔhuì) Prom/ Ball (Intermediate)
The character “舞 (wǔ)” means dance; “会 (huì)” here is used as a noun and it means a party or a meeting.
Example:
A: Nǐ yuànyì hé wǒ yìqǐ qù cānjiā wǔhuì ma? A: 你 愿意 和 我 一起 去 …
微波炉 (wēibōlú) Microwave Oven (Intermediate)
微波炉 (wēibōlú) Microwave Oven (Intermediate)
Example:
Wēibōlú shì yìzhǒng chángjiàn de jiāyòng diànqì. 微波炉 是 一种 常见 的 家用 电器。
You may be interested in more intermediate articles:
◆ iPhone vs. Google Android Phone
◆ Steamed Stuffed Bun Plays Rock & Roll // // HSK …
照相 (zhàoxiàng) Take a Photo (Beginner)
照相 (zhàoxiàng) Take a Photo (Beginner)
The character “照 (zhào)” means to illuminate and “相 (xiàng)” means photograph.
Example:
A: Dǎrǎo yíxià, qǐngwèn kěyǐ bāng wǒmen zhàoxiàng ma? 打扰 一下，请问 可以 帮 我们 照相 吗？ Excuse me, could you please take a photo for us?…
好主意 (hǎozhǔyi) Good Idea (Beginner)
好主意 (hǎozhǔyi) Good Idea (Beginner)
The character “好 (hǎo)” means good; “主 (zhǔ)” means main and “意 (yì)” means idea here.
Example: A: Wǒ xiǎng lìyòng jiàqī xuéxí yìxiē shāngwù hànyǔ. 我 想 利用 假期 学习 一些 商务 汉语。 I want to learn some business …
怎么样 (zěnmeyàng) How about/ What about (Beginner)
怎么样 (zěnmeyàng) How about/ What about (Beginner) “怎么 (zěnme)” mean how and “样 (yàng)” means shape or pattern.
Example:
A: Wǒ zǒngshì zài zhōngwén duìhuà zhōng tīngdào “zěnmeyàng” zhège cí, 我 总是 在 中文 对话 中 听到 “怎么样” 这个 词， tā shì shénme yìsi? 它 …