What’s Your Style? (Beginner)
Conversation:
Nǐ kàn Lady Gaga Xiānggǎng yǎnchànghuì le ma? Jen: 你看 Lady Gaga 香港 演唱会 了 吗？ Have you seen the Lady Gaga Live concert in Hong Kong?
Dāngrán le, nà kě zhēn shì shízú de Lady Gaga fànr a. Lily: 当然 了，那可 真 是 …
Mandarin Essentials
Hey, have you eaten yet? (Beginner)
Jack, a foreign friend who has studied Chinese for almost half a year, was excited about finally coming to China and putting his new knowledge to use.
One thing Jack learned was that people in China greet each other with the sentence “你吃了吗？ (Nǐ chīle …
Chinese Test: Tom Cruise divorced!
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Conversation:
Tīngshuō Tom Cruise líhūn le. Jenny: 听说 Tom Cruise 离婚了。
Zhēn de jiǎ de? Anna: 真 的 假 的？
What does Anna mean?
A. Anna shows doubts about the news of Tom Cruise being divorced.
B. Anna already heard the …
Mini-Test Answer: A.
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The right answer for this test is A. Translation:
Tīngshuō Tom Cruise líhūn le. Jenny: 听说 Tom Cruise 离婚了。
I heard that Tom Cruise is divorced.
Zhēn de jiǎ de? Anna: 真 的 假 的？
Really?
Analysis:
In the above conversation, …
Chinese Test: Why is she crying? (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Conversation:
Scene: Lucy sees Ellie walking down the street in tears.
Ellie, nǐ zěnme le? Lucy: Ellie，你怎么 了？
Wǒmen fēnshǒu le. Ellie: 我们 分手 了。
Which of the following is true according to the dialogue?
A. Ellie had a fight with …
Mini-Test Answer: B. Ellie broke up with her boyfriend.
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct answer to this test is B.
Translation: Ellie, nǐ zěnme le? Lucy: Ellie，你怎么 了？ Ellie, what’s wrong?
Wǒmen fēnshǒu le. Ellie: 我们 分手 了。 We broke up.
Analysis:
The word “分手 (fēnshǒu)” means for two people to part or …
高富帅 (gāo fù shuài) Tall, Rich and Handsome (Beginner)
During the Euro 2012 games, time and time again fans cheered the fantastic goals made by Cristiano Ronaldo.
His impeccable performance, combined with his good looks, attracted the attention of many girls’ eyes in China. Ronaldo was dubbed the top “高富帅 (gāo fù shuài)” …
Happy to Death (Elementary)
Have you ever been “bored to death,” or were so hungry that you said you were “starving?” If yes, you were most likely not actually near death, but were using exaggeration to intensify a situation.
In Chinese, the word “死 (sǐ)” refers to death and …
Chinese Test: Which dress should I wear on a date? (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Conversation:
Scene: It is Jen’s first date with Tom. Jen is asking her friend Mary which dress she should wear on the date.
Wǒ chuān ___ jiàn yīfu qù yuēhuì ne? Jen: 我 穿 ___ 件 衣服去 约会 呢？
Zhèi jiàn …
Mini-Test Answer: 哪 (něi)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The right answer for this test is A. Translation: Wǒ chuān něi jiàn yīfu qù yuēhuì ne? Jen: 我 穿 哪 件 衣服去 约会 呢？
Dear, what dress should I wear for this date?
Zhèi jiàn hóngsè de ba. Mary: 这 …
Chinese Test: He’s so handsome. (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Conversation:
Nǐ kàn Justin Bieter de yǎnchànghuì le ma? Amy: 你看 Justin Bieber的 演唱会 了 吗？
Dāngrán le, tā zhēn shì ____ shuài le！ Tina: 当然 了，他真 是____ 帅 了！
Choose the correct answer to fill in the blank.
A. 很 …
Mini-Test Answer: 太 (tài)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct answer to this test is B.
Translation: Nǐ kàn Justin Bieter de yǎnchànghuì le ma? Amy: 你看 Justin Bieber的 演唱会 了 吗？ Did you see Justin Bieber’s concert?
Dāngrán le, tā zhēn shì tài shuài le. Tina: 当然 了，他 …
(那是)必须的！((Nà shì) bìxū de!) Absolutely! (Beginner)
“(那是)必须的! ((Nà shì) bìxū de!)” is now a very popular word in the daily life of Chinese that is used to show confirmation. “那 (nà)” means that; “是 (shì)” means is; “必须 (bìxū)” means must; “的 (de)” is a particle. It gained popularity from a …
Victory for the Miami Heat…Right? (Intermediate)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
胜 (shèng) to win
败 (bài) to lose
On June 22nd, the NBA had its fifth and final championship game; the result being that the Miami Heat “大胜 (dà shèng)” beat the Oklahoma City Thunder by a margin of 121–106 and …
Chinese Test: I want to eat ice cream.
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Conversation:
Scene: Jenny and Emily are going shopping.
Hǎo rè a, wǒ xiǎng chī bīngqílín. Jenny: 好 热啊，我 想 吃 冰淇淋。
Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme wèi de? Lily: 你想 吃 什么 味 的？
Qiǎokèlì wèi de. Jenny: 巧克力 味的。
Which of …
Mini-Test Answer: B
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The right answer for this test is B. Translation: Hǎo rè a, wǒ xiǎng chī bīngqílín. Jenny: 好 热啊，我想 吃 冰淇淋。
Such a hot day! I want some ice cream.
Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme wèi de? Lily: 你想 吃 什么 味 …
Chinese Test: How long is the Great Wall?
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Conversation:
Scene: Eric’s accompanying Jack to the Great Wall. As they’re arriving, Jack asks:
Chángchéng ___ cháng a? Jack: 长城 ___ 长 啊？
Bāqiān duō gōnglǐ. Eric: 八千 多 公里。
A. 多 (duō)
B. 少 (shǎo)
C. 很 (hěn)
Mini-Test Answer: 多 (duō)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
The correct answer to this test is A.
Translation: Chángchéng duō cháng a? Jack: 长城 多 长 啊？ How long is the Great Wall?
Bāqiān duō gōnglǐ. Eric: 八千 多 公里。 More than 8000 kilometers.
Analysis: In the above sentence, the …
Ladies, which body type are you? (Elementary)
Amy and her friend Linda meet at a cafe to chat. Amy: Look at you! You’re so slim! Linda: Thanks! Amy: I wish I were you! I really admire those who keep a good figure. Linda: If you eat a healthy diet, you’ll… Amy: I …
Who will pay for the bill? (Elementary)
When I was in Beijing for school, I went to a restaurant and correctly ordered “麻婆豆腐 (Mápódòufu) Mapo Tofu” and “宫保鸡丁 (Gōngbǎojīdīng) Kung-Pao Chicken.” I can’t express how excited I was at the time. Back in Europe, I recited common Chinese menus endlessly to invisible …