Mandarin Essentials
“No Zuo No Die”- Is this English or Mandarin?
“No zuo no die!” Chinese young netizens are always saying this on the internet these days. This phrase was even recorded in “The Urban Dictionary,” an American web-based dictionary of
, and more than 4,000 “thumbs” were given to it. However, …
Chinese Test: Chinese monetary measure word
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks. Mike: Qīngdǎo píjiǔ duōshaoqián yìpíng? Mike: 青岛 啤酒 多少钱 一瓶？ Steven: Sān __ wǔ___. Steven: 三 __ 五 ___。 A. 块钱 (kuài qián), 毛钱 (máo qián)
B. 块钱 (kuài qián), 毛 (máo)
C. 块 (kuài), …
Answers to the Exercise on Correct Ways to Say “A Little Bit” in Mandarin
Correct Answer: B “一点儿(yìdiǎnr)” is a Chinese measure word which means “a little.” “有一点儿(yǒu yìdiǎnr)” is an adverb which also means “a little.” These are two very simple Chinese words, however, Mandarin beginners often get confused by them because their English translations are identical. Can …
Chinese Test: Correct Ways to Say “A Little Bit” in Mandarin
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks. Anna: Jīntiān tiānqì zěnmeyàng? Anna: 今天 天气 怎么样？ John: Jīntiān_____ lěng. Nǐ duōchuān____yīfu. John: 今 天 _____ 冷。 你 多 穿 _____衣服。 A. 一点儿(yìdiǎnr), 一点儿(yìdiǎnr)
B. 有一点儿(yǒu yìdiǎnr), 一点儿(yìdiǎnr)
C. 一点儿(yìdiǎnr), 有一点儿(yǒu yìdiǎnr)
D. 有一点儿(yǒu …
The Good and the Bad about “事儿(shìr)”
Everyone’s life is made up of a variety of happenings and things. In Chinese, we call this matter or thing “事情(shìqing)” and its shorter form is “事(shì).” But in oral Chinese, we usually say “事儿(shìr)” instead of “事(shì).” Be sure to pay special attention to …
Learn The difference between “公园(gōngyuán)”and “员工(yuángōng)”
Correct Answer: A The pronunciations of “公园(gōngyuán)” and “员工(yuángōng)” are similar. However, their meanings are completely different. “公园(gōngyuán),” as a place word, means “park.” It can be used as a subject or an object and used with prepositions such as “在(zài), in or at.”
Examples:
… The difference between “公园(gōngyuán)” and “员工(yuángōng)”
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blank. Peter and Alan meet Mike when they are jogging through the park. Alan: Mike, zhè shì Peter, wǒ de hǎo péngyou. Alan: Mike，这是Peter，我的好朋友。 Peter, zhè shì Mike, wǒ men gōngsī de xīn_____. Peter，这是Mike，我们公司的新_____ 。 Peter: …
Answer to the Test about Distinguishing Two Ways to Say ‘we’ in Chinese.
Correct Answer: A In Chinese, both “我们(wǒmen)” and “咱们(zánmen)” can be used to indicate “we” or “us”. And they are similar in usage. Both of them can be used as a subject and an object.
Examples:
Wǒ men míngtiān qù běijīng. 我 们 明天 去 …
Distinguish two ways to say “we” in Chinese
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks. Tom: Míngtiān nǐ hé Jason qù zuò shénme? Tom: 明天 你 和 Jason 去 做 什么？ Jack: Míngtiān__ qù kàn diànyǐng. Nǐ hé Anna ne? Jack: 明天 ___去 看 电影。 你 和 Anna 呢？ Tom: …
Answer to I have finished it!
Correct Answer: C How do you express the completion of a certain action? In the Chinese language, you can use the following structure to show that something is finished: Subject+V+完(wán)+了(le). In this structure, “了(le)” itself is a quite flexible and subtle auxiliary word which is …
I have finished it!
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blank. Rose: Zhè běn shū shì shuí de? Rose：这 本 书 是 谁 的？ Zeo: Shì wǒ de. Zeo：是 我 的。 Rose: Nǐ kàn wán le ma? Rose：你看 完 了 吗？ Zoe: _____ Zoe：_____ A. 我完了。(Wǒ …
Are you suffering from “choosing disabilities?”
The fast pace of modern life, the heavy burden of urban people, and the endless goals of individuals….all these pressures that have been put upon modern people by the rapid development of cities have brought a lot of troubles for them as well. Insomnia, anxiety, …
Answer to Who is your ex?
Correct Answer: B
Translation of the Dialogue:
Zhāng Míng: Jim, nǐ hé Anna shénme shíhou jiéhūn? 张 明： Jim，你 和 Anna 什么 时候 结婚？
Zhang Ming: Jim, when will you get married with Anna? Jim: Wǒmen gānggāng fēnshǒu, tā xiànzài bú shì wǒ de nǚ …
Who is your ex?
We have published four issues of newsletter in April 2014. Have you read all of them? Let’s see how much you have learned from this month’s issues! Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blank. Zhāng Míng: Jim, nǐ hé Anna shénme shíhou …
Answer to The difference between “要(yào)” and “有(yǒu)”
Correct Answer: D
Translation of the Dialogue:
Betty: Lucy, nǐ zuìjìn hěn máng ma? Betty：Lucy，你 最近 很 忙 吗？
Betty: Lucy, are you very busy recently? Lucy: Shìde, wǒ yǒu sān ge háizi, wǒ yào zhàogù tāmen. Lucy：是的，我 有 三 个 孩子，我 要 照顾 他们。…
The difference between “要(yào)” and “有(yǒu)”
We have published four issues of newsletter in April 2014. Have you read all of them? Let’s see how much you have learned from this month’s issues! Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blank. Betty: Lucy, nǐ zuìjìn hěn máng ma? Betty：Lucy，你 …