Mini-Test Answer: 倒是
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The answer to the test is B.
Nǐ dǎsuàn zěnme guò Qíngrénjié ya? Tom: 你打算 怎么 过 情人节 呀？
How will you spend your Valentine’s Day?
Wǒ dàoshì xiǎng guò ne, kě méi rén gēn wǒ guò a. Mike: 我倒是 想 …
Mandarin Essentials
Mini-Test Answer: To go out and have a great time
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The answer to the test is C.
Translation: Yuánxiāojié wǒmen yìqǐ chūqu wán ba! Anne: 元宵节 我们 一起 出去 玩 吧？
We should go out and enjoy the Lantern Festival!
Hǎo a. Lisa: 好 啊。
Nice, sounds good to me!
Analysis:…
你懂的 (nǐ dǒng de) You know.
The expression “你懂的 (nǐ dǒng de)” was translated from the English expression “you know.” Its popularization is due to a video Old Boy, made by the Chopsticks Brothers. It’s a story about two middle-aged friends who combine their talents they learned in middle school to …
Chinese Test: What Does “玩 (wán)” Mean in Chinese?
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Yuánxiāojié wǒmen yìqǐ chūqù wán ba! Anne: 元宵节 我们 一起 出去 玩 吧？
Hǎo a. Lisa: 好 啊。
What does “玩 (wán)” mean here?
A. To play games
B. To go to a party
C. To go out and have a …
Chinese Test: Will Mary buy an iPhone 4s?
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Tīngshuō iPhone 4s yào chūshòu le. Ivy: 听说 iPhone 4s 要 出售 了。 Shì a, yàoshì wǒ néng mǎi yí bù jiù hǎo le. Mary: 是啊，要是 我 能 买 一部 就 好 了。
What does Mary mean?
A. She can buy …
Mini-Test Answer: She can’t buy an iPhone 4s.
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The answer to the test is B.
Translation: Tīngshuō iPhone 4s yào chūshòu le. Ivy: 听说 iPhone 4s 要 出售 了。 I heard the iPhone 4s hit the shelves.
Shì a, yàoshì wǒ néng mǎi yí bù jiù hǎo le. Mary: …
Chinese Test: Pay a New Year’s Visit during Spring Festival
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Lily: Happy Chinese New Year, Mary. Mary: Happy Chinese New Year, Lily. Lily: You want to go to our class’s reunion tomorrow? Mary: I’m so sorry, I can’t. Tomorrow I have to pay a New Year’s visit to my grandparents.
Which …
Mini-Test Answer: 拜年 (Bàinián)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The answer to the test is A.
Analysis:
A: “拜年 (bàinián)” means “paying a New Year’s visit.”
For example: Míngtiān wǒ qù gěi péngyou bàinián. 明天 我 去 给 朋友 拜年。
Tomorrow I’ll be paying a New Year’s visit to my …
Chinese Test: How to respond to “你好吗 (Nǐ hǎo ma)” in Chinese?
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
One day, Lily came across her old classmate Lucy. They were very surprised and excited to meet each other.
Yìnián méi jiàn le, nǐ hǎo ma? Lily: 一年 没 见 了，你好 吗？ Lucy: _______。
Choose the correct sentence to fill in …
Mini-Test Answer: 我很好。 (Wǒ hěn hǎo.)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct answer to this test is B.
Translation:
Lily: Yìnián méi jiàn le. Nǐ hǎo ma? Lily: 一年没见了。你好吗？
We haven’t seen each other for one year. How are you doing?
Lucy: Wǒ hěn hǎo. Lucy: 我很好。
I am fine.
(Learn …
Chinese Test: I have been in China for three years.
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Conversation:
Dan, jīnnián shì nǐ zài Zhōngguó de dì yī ge Xīnnián ma? Jim: Dan，今年 是 你 在 中国 的 第一个 新年 吗？
Bú shì, wǒ lái Zhōngguó yǐjīng sān ___ nián le. Dan: 不 是，我 来 中国 已经 三 ___ …
Mini-Test Answer: 我来中国已经三年了。
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct answer to this test is B.
Translation:
Dan, jīnnián shì nǐ zài Zhōngguó de dì yī ge Xīnnián ma? Jim: Dan，今年 是 你在 中国 的第一 个 新年 吗？ Dan, is this the first New Year that you have spent …
hold住 (hold zhù) I got this under control./Hang in there!
“hold住 (hold zhù)” originated from the Sino-British, mixed language in Hong Kong. Its sudden popularization was sparked by internet sensation, Miss Lin, who during an appearance on a Taiwanese variety show, demonstrated fashion ideals to college students by enlisting exaggerated styles, pretentious English and sexual …
Chinese Test: I plan to travel to China this year.
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Conversation: Wǒ dǎsuàn jīnnián qù Zhōngguó lǚyóu. Mike: 我 打算 今年 去 中国 旅游。 I plan to travel to China this year.
Yì qǐ ba, wǒ yě __ qùguo Zhōngguó ne. Dan: 一起吧, 我 也 __ 去过 中国 呢。 What about …
Mini-Test Answer: 没 (méi)
Beginner Level 初级 (chū jí)
The correct answer to this test is A.
Analysis:
“没 (méi)” and “不 (bù)” are both negative words. “没 (méi)” refers to the objective negation while “不 (bù)” refers to the subjective negation.
For example:
我不吃饭。(Wǒ bù chīfàn.) means “I …
Mini-Test Answer: 等等 (děngděng)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The answer to the test is A. Translation: Hāi, xīnnián nǐ dōu zhǔnbèi shénme le? Dan: 嗨， 新年 你 都 准备 什么 了？
Hi, what do you prepare for “New Year’s Day?”
Wǒ mǎile hěnduō dōngxi, shuǐguǒ ya, ròu ya, shūcài …
Chinese Test: What did you prepare for “New Year’s Day?”
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The New Year is coming. Dan sees Alice at work.
Dan: Hi, what did you prepare for “New Year’s Day?” Alice: I bought many things; fruits, meat, vegetables and so on. Question: How to say “…and so on” in Chinese?
A: …
Mini-Test Answer: 特意 (tèyì) especially.
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The answer to this test is A.
Translation: Yuádàn kuàile! Zhèxiē dōushì wǒ tèyì wèi nǐ zhǔnbèi de. Husband: 元旦 快乐！ 这些 都是 我 特意为 你 准备 的。 Happy New Year! I prepared this meal especially for you. I hope you …
Chinese Test: I Prepared a Big Meal for You on New Year’s Day.
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Conversation:
It was New Year’s Day. The husband wanted to give his wife a surprise, so he prepared a big meal for her.
Yuádàn kuàile! Zhèxiē dōushì wǒ tèyì wèi nǐ zhǔnbèi de. Husband: 元旦 快乐！ 这些 都是 我 特意为 你 …
A Chinese Christmas Feast: 火锅 (huǒguō) hot pot
Key Learning Points (Preview):
聚 (jù): v. to get together
大餐 (dàcān): n. feast
Stockings and presents are just around the corner and westerners everywhere are busy wrapping, caroling and bustling about. Since its more widespread publicity in China since the 1990s, Christmas has slowly, …