Mandarin Essentials
Answer to the Exercise on “就(jiù)” vs “才(cái)”: Sooner or Later?
Correct Answer: C In the Chinese language, the two Chinese words “就(jiù)” and “才(cái)” have a lot of similarities when it comes to usage. For example, both “就(jiù)” and “才(cái)” can be used as adverbs and they can be placed before verbs to express a …
“就(jiù)” vs “才(cái)”: Sooner or Later?
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks. Lucy: Nǐ zěnme xiànzài ___ lái? Lucy：你 怎么 现在 ___ 来？ Lucy: Why are you coming so late? Lǐ Míng: Duìbuqǐ, wǒ wǔdiǎn ___ chūmén le, kěshì lùshàng dǔchē. 李 明： 对不起， 我 5点 ___ …
Common Mistakes When Using “几(jǐ)” and “多少(duōshao)”
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blank.
Rose: Nǐmen xuéxiào zhēn dà! Yǒu ___ xuéshēng? Rose：你们 学校 真 大！有 ___ 学生？ Rose: Your school is so big! How many students are there?
Wáng Jié: Wǔqiān duō gè. 王 杰：5000 多 个。 Wang
Answer to the Exercise on Similar but Not the Same: “没错(méicuò)” and “不错(búcuò)”
Correct Answer: A In the Chinese language, both “没(méi)” and “不(bù)” can be used as negative adverbs meaning “not” or “no.”
However, if they used in conjunction with the same word, “错(cuò) wrong,” as in “没错(méicuò)” and “不错(búcuò),” their actual meanings are quite different from …
How Good Really Is Mark Zuckerberg’s Mandarin?
Are you a Facebook user? If so, you must know of Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Facebook. However, you may not be aware that he is also a good Chinese speaker. His wife is American-born Chinese, so he has been learning Chinese for …
Similar but Not the Same: “没错(méicuò)” and “不错(búcuò)”
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks. Lǐ Lì: Nǐ dàizi lǐ shì shénme dōngxi? Shì xīn mǎi de màozi ma? 李 丽：你 袋子 里 是 什么 东西？ 是 新 买 的 帽子 吗？ Li Li: What is in your bag? Is …
Answer to the Exercise on Singles’ Day on November 11th in China
Correct Answer: B Chinese people tend to put a lot of importance on numbers and they like to associate different numbers with various meanings. For example, Chinese people have come up with an interesting holiday associated with the day November 11th (11.11). This holiday is …
Answer to the Exercise on When Is It A Good Time to Use “时候(shíhou)” and “时间(shíjiān)”?
Correct Answer: B
1. 时候(shíhou)
“时候(shíhou)” refers to a specific time when something takes place.
Example
Chīfàn de shíhou búyào shuōhuà. 吃饭 的 时候 不要 说话。 Don’t talk when you’re eating.
When asking “什么时候 (shénme shíhou),” the question is asking about a particular time.
Example
… When Is It A Good Time to Use “时候(shíhou)” and “时间(shíjiān)”?
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks. Lǐ Méi: Wǒ mínɡtiān yào qù Běijīng chūchāi. 李 梅：我 明 天 要 去 北京 出差。 Li Mei: I will go to Beijing on business tomorrow. Zhào Liàng: Nǐ yào qù duō chánɡ ___? Shénme …
What’s Hot & What’s Not: “人气(rénqì)”
Xiǎolóngxiā shì Zhōngguó de rénqì měishí. 小龙虾 是 中国 的 人气 美食。
What can we know from the above sentence? A. Crawfish is very popular in China. B. Crawfish can improve Chinese people’s breathing. C. Crawfish is unpopular with Chinese people. Not sure about the …
The Right Sequence: “以后(yǐhòu)” and “然后(ránhòu)”
Please fill in the blanks with the correct answer. Nancy: Nǐ xiàbān ___zuò shénme? Nancy：你 下班 ___ 做 什么？ Zhāng Míng: Wǒ xiān mǎicài, ___ zuò wǎnfàn. 张 明： 我 先 买菜，___ 做 晚饭。 A. 然后 (ránhòu); 以后 (yǐhòu)
B. 以后(yǐhòu); 然后(ránhòu)
C. 然后(ránhòu); 然后(ránhòu)…
Answer to the Exercise on Bargain Shopping with “淘(táo)”!
Correct Answer: B
Translation of the Dialogue:
Zhè jiā diàn zhènɡzài dǎzhé, wǒmen qù táo diǎn hǎo dōnɡxi ba. 这 家 店 正在 打折，我们 去 淘 点 好 东西 吧。 This shop is having a discount. Let’s go buy something. <<Back to “Bargain Shopping with …
Answer to the Exercise on“以后(yǐhòu)” or “然后(ránhòu)”?
Correct Answer: B
Translation of the Dialogue:
Nancy: Nǐ xiàbān yǐhòu zuò shénme? Nancy：你 下班 以后 做 什么？ Nancy: What will you do after you get off work? Zhānɡ Mínɡ: Wǒ xiān mǎicài, ránhòu zuò wǎnfàn. 张 明： 我 先 买菜， 然后 做 晚饭。 Zhang …
Answer to the Exercise on “人气(rénqì)”
Correct Answer: A
Translation of the Dialogue:
Xiǎolónɡxiā shì Zhōnɡɡuó de rénqì měishí. 小龙虾 是 中国 的 人气 美食。 Crawfish is a very popular food for Chinese people. <<Back to “What’s Hot & What’s Not: ‘人气(rénqì)'”
Bargain Shopping with “淘(táo)”!
Please fill in the blank with the correct answer. Zhè jiā diàn zhènɡzài dǎzhé, wǒmen qù ___ diǎn hǎo dōnɡxi ba. 这 家 店 正在 打折，我们 去 ___ 点 好 东西 吧。 A. 拿(ná)
B. 淘(táo)
C. 拍(pāi)
Not sure about the answer? Not to …
Answer to the Exercise on Are You a “大人(dàrén)” or “小人(xiǎorén)”?
Correct Answer: A
Translation of the Dialogue:
Lǎopo dàrén zhè ɡè yuè línɡhuāqián kěyǐ duō ɡěi diǎn ma? 老婆 大人， 这 个 月 零花钱 可以 多 给 点 吗？ Darling, can you spare a little extra pocket money this month? Back to “Show Your Respect …