As an experienced Mandarin teacher specializing in non-Chinese children, I’m always searching for creative ways to ignite kids’ curiosity about Mandarin. One of my favorite methods? Sharing the fascinating stories behind Chinese idioms (Chengyu).
Chinese idioms are four-character phrases packed with meaning, each with its …
In Chinese business culture, idioms (成语, chéng yǔ) are not only commonly used but also serve as powerful tools for conveying ideas, principles, and even strategies. Understanding these idioms can give you insight into Chinese business practices and help you communicate more effectively in …
As a foreigner learning Chinese, diving into the language also means exploring the rich cultural context behind idioms, proverbs, and expressions. One such phrase that offers profound insight into Chinese culture is “君子之交淡如水” (jūn zǐ zhī jiāo dàn rú shuǐ), which translates to “A …
Many Chinese learners have experienced this: you’ve studied for years, but when you hear native speakers chat, their conversations seem so much more fluent, lively, and natural. What’s the secret? It’s often those colorful and powerful Chinese idioms, or 成语 (chéng yǔ). These short …
In Chinese culture, numbers are imbued with deep meanings and often symbolize good fortune and auspiciousness. In this article, we delve into nine popular Chinese idioms that feature the numbers 1 to 9. Each idiom not only conveys a powerful message but also reflects the …
Almost 3 weeks have passed since 2022 began, so we thought we’d check in on how everybody’s New Year’s resolutions are going! This is usually when we start slacking in our goals – the “新年 xīn nián ” (new year) is not so “ 新 …
Chinese proverbs and idioms distribute old knowledge that has stood the test of time. Many consider them to be absolute truths, or at the very least very compelling words of wisdom, and they are frequently employed to establish a point or used as grounds to …
Answer: 1. A
Xiǎomíng: Zhè shì nǐ de Gǎn’ēn jié lǐwù, zhù nǐ jiérì kuàilè. 小明：这是你的感恩节礼物，祝你节日快乐。 Xiaoming: This is your Thanksgiving gift. Happy holidays!
Xiǎohóng: Xièxie nǐ, nà wǒ yě děi
, zhège shì nǐ de lǐwù. 小红：谢谢你，那我也得
， 这个是你的礼物。 Xiaohong: Thank …
Thanksgiving Day (感恩节 Gǎn’ēn jié) is approaching fast and you know what that means? Everyone is taking the time to think about what they are truly grateful for in their lives. It’s becoming more and more popular to practice the art of expressing and reflecting …
Answer: 1. A
Xiǎo Lǐ: Wèishénme Xiǎo Hóng kànqǐlái bù gāoxìng ？ 小李：为什么小红看起来不高兴？ Xiao Li: Why does Xiao Hong look unhappy?
Xiǎo Míng: Tā hé Xiǎo Zhāng yīnwèi jiè dōngxi de shìqing chǎojià le, tāmen zǒngshì wèile jīmáosuànpí de xiǎoshì zhēngchǎo. 小明：她和小张因为借东西的事情吵架了，他们总是为了鸡毛蒜皮的小事争吵。 Xiao Ming: …
We’ve all been in circumstances where minuscule things were blown way out of proportion. According to many people in cities all around the world, wasting time on trivial things is a laughing matter, and basically has little to no place in the fast-paced and modern …
Answer: 1. C
Wénzhāng zuìhòu yí duàn shífēn jīngcǎi, zài wén zhōng qǐ dào le huàlóngdiǎnjīng de zuòyòng. 文章最后一段十分精彩，在文中起到了画龙点睛的作用。 The last paragraph of the article is very wonderful, so much so that it serves as the article’s finishing touch.
As we learned, the meaning …
画龙点睛 (Huàlóngdiǎnjīng)
“画龙点睛 (Huàlóngdiǎnjīng)” is a Chinese idiom that translates literally as “dotting the eyeball when painting a dragon.” It’s used to describe adding that finishing touch that brings a work of art to life, or adding a word or two to clinch the point.…
Answer: A Analysis: “狼心狗肺 (Lángxīngǒufèi)” describes a kind of person who is lacking empathy or kindness as someone who has the heart of a wolf and the lung of a dog. Frank is obviously lacking in these qualities. So, the answer is A.
There are words that we use in Chinese mostly on dramas or TV shows because their meaning is pretty negative for daily life.
This Chinese idiom phrase is one of those that I have never actually used when talking to a person, but I hear …
It was a lovely summer’s day where I just couldn’t say inside.
The beautiful riverside park near my home was calling me. In an unexpected twist that caused the perfect day, I ran into some of my old students playing badminton on the courts.
There …
Answer: D The Chinese idiom “瞎猫碰上了死耗子 (Xiāmāo pèng shàng le sǐ hàozi)” means “blind luck.” So, the answer D is correct as a person winning unexpectedly is a kind of blind luck.
Listen to the whole story:
Chūnqiū shí, wèiguó yǒu gè jiào Kǒng Yǔ de dàfu. 春秋 时，卫 国 有 个 叫 孔 圉 的 大夫。 In the Spring and Autumn …
