Mandarin Essentials
Answer to the Exercise on “以后(yǐhòu)” VS “然后(ránhòu)”
Correct Answer: C In the Chinese language, both “以后(yǐhòu)” and “然后(ránhòu)” can be used to express the meaning of “after a certain action” or “afterwards.” However, as is usually the case in Chinese, they are actually used to convey quite different meanings. “以后(yǐhòu)” means “later” …
“以后(yǐhòu)” vs “然后(ránhòu)”
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks. Xiàbān ___, wǒ xiān qù chāoshì, ___ huíjiā. 下班 ___，我 先 去 超市， ___ 回家。 After getting off work, I will first go to the supermarket, and then I will go home. A. 然后(ránhòu), 以后(yǐhòu)…
Answer to the Exercise on the Mid-Autumn Festival is Coming!
Correct Answer: D The annual Mid-Autumn Festival, which is the second most popular festival in China, is coming up soon! As those living and working away from their hometowns begin to miss their families, hoards of Chinese from every corner of the world head home …
High “人气(rénqì)” Means Popularity?
If you are not sure where to go on vacation, go check the Internet to find the most “人气(rénqì)” scenic spots. If it’s time to update your music selection but you are not sure what to listen to, just search for a list of “人气(rénqì)” …
Answer to the Exercise on Don’t Be Rude! Count People the Right Way Using “个(gè),” “位 (wèi)” and “口(kǒu)”
Correct Answer: B In the Chinese language, different measure words are used along with different nouns. Today, we will help you learn three measure words for counting people which are “个(gè),” “位(wèi),” and “口(kǒu).” All of them are used in the same format: numeral + …
Don’t Be Rude! Count People the Right Way Using “个(gè),” “位 (wèi)” and “口(kǒu)”
Linda: Nà shì Zhāng Hóng yìjiā sān ___ ma? Linda: 那 是 张 红 一 家 三 ___ 吗？ Linda: Is that Zhang Hong’s family of three? Liú Wěi: Shì de. Tā yǒu yí __ nǚ’ér. Tā de xiānsheng shì yí __ yīshēng. 刘 伟：是 …
“海量(hǎiliàng)”-Drink Like a Fish!
The sea, or “海(hǎi)” in Chinese, is one of the most majestic places on earth. Knowing the meaning of “海(hǎi),” can you understand the following phrases: “海吃海喝(hǎi chī hǎi hē),” “海量(hǎiliàng),” and “海选(hǎixuǎn)?” Does the character “海(hǎi)” still mean “sea” in these phrases?
Offering spectacular …
Answer to How to Express Your Opinion in Chinese
Correct Answer: A
Translation of the Dialogue:
Duì bù qǐ, wǒ chídào le, wǒ yǐwéi jīntiān shì xīngqī liù. 对 不 起，我 迟到 了，我 以为 今天 是 星期 六。 Sorry I’m late. I thought today was Saturday.
How to Express Your Opinion in Chinese
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blank. Duì bù qǐ, wǒ chídào le, wǒ ___ jīntiān shì xīnɡqī liù. 对 不 起，我 迟到 了，我___ 今天 是 星期 六。 A. 以为 (yǐwéi)
B. 认为 (rènwéi)
Not sure about the answer? Not …
Answer to “赞(zàn)!” – Use This Mandarin Word to Compliment Someone
Correct Answer: B
Translation of the Dialogue:
Zhè běn shū tài zàn le! 这 本 书 太 赞 了！ The book is really great!
<<Back to “’赞(zàn)!’- Use This Mandarin Word to Compliment Someone”
“赞(zàn)!” – Use This Mandarin Word to Compliment Someone
What’s the meaning of the following sentence? Zhè běn shū tài zàn le! 这 本 书 太 赞 了！ A. This book is so expensive! B. This book is really great! C. This book is very famous!
Not sure about the answer? No …
Answer to the Exercise on “一点儿 (yìdiǎnr)” or “有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr)”
Correct Answer: C
Translation of the Dialogue:
Qǐng màn yìdiǎnr, nǐ shuō de yǒudiǎnr kuài. 请 慢 一点儿，你 说 得 有点儿 快。 Please slow down a bit. You’re speaking a little fast.
“一点儿 (yìdiǎnr)” or “有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr)”
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks. Qǐng màn ___, nǐ shuō de ___ kuài. 请 慢___， 你 说 得___ 快。 A. 一点儿 (yìdiǎnr), 一点儿(yìdiǎnr)
B. 有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr), 有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr)
C. 一点儿 (yìdiǎnr), 有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr)
D. 有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr), 一点儿(yìdiǎnr)
Not …
Answer to “how much is it?”
Correct Answer: A
Translation of the Dialogue:
Wáng Lì: Linda, nǐ de qúnzi zhēn piàoliang! Duōshǎo qián? 王 丽：Linda，你的 裙子 真 漂亮！ 多少 钱？ Wang Li: Linda, your dress is so beautiful! How much was it?
Sān bǎi duō. Linda：三 百 多。 It was over …
How much is it?
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blank. Wáng Lì: Linda, nǐ de qúnzi zhēn piàoliang! Duōshǎo qián? 王 丽：Linda，你的 裙子 真 漂亮！ 多少 钱？ Sān bǎi ___. Linda：三 百___。 A. 多 (duō)
B. 少 (shǎo)
Not sure about the answer? …
Popular Chinese: 黑心(Hēixīn)- “Black Heart” or “Evil Heart”?
All kinds of colors (color words in Chinese)
make our world vivid and beautiful. Like in English, there are also many color words in Chinese, and “黑(hēi)” is one of them. “黑(hēi)” is an adjective that can be used to describe something that …
Answer to the Exercise on a Chinese Moment: The Difference between “一下(yíxià)” and “一会儿(yíhuìr)”
Correct Answer: A In the Chinese language, there are two sentence structures which are often used in people’s daily conversations. They are “verb + 一下(yíxià)” and “verb + 一会儿(yíhuìr).” In these sentence structures, both “一下(yíxià)” and “一会儿(yíhuìr)” have similar meanings indicating how long the action …