Mandarin Essentials
Can you Speak Chinese?
Please choose the correct words to fill in the blanks. 能(néng) 会(huì) Wǒ bú __ shuō hànyǔ. Nǐ kěyǐ jiāo wǒ ma? 我 不 __ 说 汉语。 你 可以 教 我 吗？ I can’t speak Chinese. Can you teach me? Bob de wèi bùhǎo, bù …
“没门儿(Méi ménr)” – No Way!
“门(mén)” is a very common Chinese word, but it has more meanings than its basic meaning of “door.” For example, we use phrases like “有门(yǒu mén),” “没门(méi mén),” and “走后门(zǒu hòumén)” which are typically used in their erhua form, as “有门儿(yǒu ménr),” “没门儿(méi ménr),” and …
Answer to the Exercise on How do I Express Strong Feelings in Mandarin?
Correct Answer: B In our daily lives, there are many things and situations which can make us feel deeply moved, surprised, excited, angry, frustrated, and so on. To express our feelings, we can employ an exclamatory sentence. However, how exactly can we express such feelings …
How do I Express Strong Feelings in Mandarin?
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blank.
Liú Xīn: Tīnɡshuō nǐ qù àiqínhǎi dù mìyuè le? 刘 心：听说 你 去 爱琴海 度 蜜月 了？ Liu Xin: I heard that you went to the Aegean Sea for your honeymoon? Nancy: Shì a, nàr …
“校花(xiàohuā)”-The Most Beautiful Girl in a School
Think back to your school days and the classmates you went to school with, or are currently going to school with.
Each of us can probably think of at least one boy and girl who were extremely attractive and well-liked.
They may have also been …
Answer to the Exercise on Ask Question in Chinese Using “吗(ma)” and “呢(ne)”
Correct Answer: C Asking questions is a common part of our day to day communication. Therefore, it is absolutely essential to know some Chinese question words. With that in mind, let’s learn how to ask questions using “吗(ma)” and “呢(ne).” “吗(ma)” is a question particle …
Ask Question in Chinese Using “吗(ma)” and “呢(ne)”
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks. Wánɡ Lì: Xiàbān yǐhòu, wǒ qù chāoshì, nǐ qù___? 王 丽： 下班 以后， 我 去 超市，你 去___？ Wang Li: I’ll go to the supermarket after work. Would you like to join me? Liú Xīnɡ: Wǒ …
“有兴趣(yǒu xìnɡqù)” vs “有意思(yǒu yìsi)” – Which One is Interesting?
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blank. Zhānɡ Liànɡ: Zhè bù xīn shànɡyìnɡ de diànyǐnɡ hěn ___, nǐ ___ yìqǐ qù kàn ma? 张 亮： 这 部 新 上映 的 电影 很 ___，你____一起 去 看 吗？ Zhang Liang: This newly-released film is …
Answer to the Exercise on “有兴趣(yǒu xìnɡqù)” vs “有意思(yǒu yìsi)” – Which One is Interesting?
Correct Answer: B The Chinese language tends to get confusing when two words that are both related to the same word in English actually have very unrelated meanings in Chinese. An example of this is “有兴趣(yǒu xìngqù)” and “有意思(yǒu yìsi).” Although both “有兴趣(yǒu xìngqù)” and …
“哥们儿(gēmenr)”- Not Brothers but Just Like Brothers
If you have been to northern cities in China such as Beijing and Tianjin, you must be familiar with the following oral expressions: “爷们儿(yémenr),” “姐们儿(jiěmenr),” and “哥们儿(gēmenr).” Actually, these expressions have nothing to do with grandpa, sister or brother as the names might suggest. Rather, …
Keep the Change: 给(gěi) or 找(zhǎo)?
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks. Chūzūchē sījī: Yígòng jiǔ kuài qián. 出租车 司机：一共 9 块 钱。 Taxi driver: That’s a total of 9 Yuan. Gùkè: ___ nǐ shí kuài qián. Búyòng ___ qián le. 顾客：___ 你10 块 钱。 不用 ___ …
Answer to the Exercise on Keep the Change: 给(gěi) or 找(zhǎo)?
Correct Answer: C Although both “给(gěi)” and “找(zhǎo)” can mean “to give,” there are some differences between them.
给(gěi) Literally, “给(gěi)” means “to give.” The sentence structure for its usage is: “给(gěi)” + somebody + something. Such as “给我一本书(gěi wǒ yì běn shū) give me …
Answer to the Exercise on “婆婆妈妈(pópomāmā)”-Neither Mother-in-law Nor Mother (Elementary)
Correct Answer: B
Translation of the Dialogue:
Nǐ shì gè nánzǐhàn, bié pópomāmā! 你 是 个 男子汉， 别 婆婆妈妈！ You are a man, don’t act like a sissy! Back to “’婆婆妈妈(pópomāmā)’-Neither Mother-in-law Nor Mother (Elementary)”
Answer to the exercise Where Does Your Father Work?
Correct Answer: B
Translation of the Dialogue:
Wáng Lì: Nǐ bàba zài nǎlǐ gōngzuò? 王 丽：你 爸爸 在 哪里 工作？ Wang Li: Where does your father work? Linda: Wǒ bàba zài Shànghǎi gōngzuò. Linda: 我 爸爸 在 上海 工作。 Linda: My father works in Shanghai. …
“婆婆妈妈(pópomāmā)”-Neither Mother-in-law Nor Mother (Elementary)
Which answer best matches the meaning of the following sentence? Nǐ shì gè nánzǐhàn, bié pópomāmā! 你 是 个 男子汉， 别 婆婆妈妈！
A.You are a man, don’t act like a mother-in-law. B.You are a man, don’t act like a sissy. C.You are a man, don’t …
Where Does Your Father Work? (Elementary)
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blank. Wáng Lì: Nǐ bàba zài nǎlǐ gōngzuò? 王 丽：你 爸爸 在 哪里 工作？ Linda: __________. Wǒ bàba gōngzuò zài Shànghǎi. A. 我 爸爸 工作 在 上海。
Wǒ bàba zài Shànghǎi gōngzuò. B. 我 爸爸 在 …
Answer to the Exercise on Measure Words for Counting People – “个(gè),” “位 (wèi),” and “口(kǒu)”
Correct Answer: D
Translation of the Dialogue:
Jim shì yíwèi lǜshī, tā yǒu liǎng gè háizi, jiālǐ yígòng sì kǒu rén. Jim 是 一位 律师，他 有 两 个 孩子， 家里 一共 四 口 人。 Jim is a lawyer. He has two children, and there are …