Mandarin Essentials
I Forgot (that) (Beginner) 我忘了（初级）
HSK Preparation：我忘了 (Wǒ wàng le)
I Forgot (that)
(Beginner)
Example:
Bàba, nǐ gěi wǒ mǎi hànyǔ shuǐpíng kǎoshì ( HSK ) de cānkǎoshū le ma? A: 爸爸，你 给 我 买 汉语 水平 考试 （HSK）的 参考书 了 吗？
Dad, have you bought the HSK reference book …
Mini-test Answer: Skirt (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Correct answer: D
Analysis:
A. “衬衣 (chènyī)” are the daily Chinese words for “Shirt.”
The character “衬 (chèn)” means lining and “衣 (yī)” means clothes.
B. “鞋 (xié)” is the daily Chinese word for “Shoe.”
The character “鞋 (xié)” means shoe.…
Chinese Mini-test: 裙子 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
What does the the phrase “裙子 (qúnzi)” refer to? A. Shirt B. Shoe C. Trousers D. Skirt
Learn Practical Mandarin Words:
Learn the Mandarin word: 漂亮 beautiful (Beginner) Learn the Popular Mandarin Word: Bread (Beginner) Learn the Mandarin Phrase: …
爆冷门 (Bàolěngmén) To have an unexpected winner (Advanced)
爆冷门 (Bàolěngmén) To have an unexpected winner
Origin:
“爆冷门 (bàolěngmén)” appeared first in casinos. Most people put their stakes on the popular side, and the opposite of the popular side got little attention by gamblers. This unpopular side was called “冷门 (lěngmén).” “爆 (bào)” means …
What’s wrong (Beginner) 怎么了（初级）
HSK Preparation: 怎么了 (Zěnme le)
What’s wrong
(Beginner)
Example:
Bǎobèi, zěnme le? Kū de nàme shāngxīn? A: 宝贝， 怎么 了？ 哭 得 那么 伤心？ Honey, what’s wrong? Why are you crying so sadly?
Māma, wǒ hànyǔ shuǐpíng kǎoshì (HSK) méi kǎo hǎo. B: 妈妈，我 …
Take Care (Beginner) 保重（初级）
Chinese lessons: 保重 (bǎozhòng) Take Care (Beginner) Example:
Sūshān, jīntiān de hànyǔ kè jiù dào zhèlǐ, wǒ gāi zǒu le. A: 苏 珊，今天的汉语课就到这里，我该走了。 Susan, that’s all for today’s Chinese lessons, I should leave.
Hǎo de, bǎozhòng. B: 好的，保重。 OK, take care, please.
Know …
Quote of the week (Jun. 18, 2010)
Xībānyá zuì dà de dírén bú shì biérén, jiù shì zìjǐ. 西班牙 最 大 的 敌人 不 是 别人， 就 是 自己。
The biggest enemy of (the soccer team of) Spain is not its opponent, but is itself. —From “黄健翔 (Huáng Jiànxiáng) Huang Jianxiang,” a …
乌龙球 (wūlóngqiú) Own Goal (Intermediate)
乌龙球 (wūlóngqiú) Own Goal (Intermediate)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
乌龙球 (wūlóngqiú): n own goal
龙 (lóng): n dragon
On June 14, Simon Poulsen, defender of Denmark’s soccer team, scored an own goal, resulting in Denmark’s loss to Netherlands in 2010 World Cup. Do you know …
Thank You for Waiting (Beginner) 久等了（初级）
Chinese Lessons：久等了 (jiǔ děng le) Thank You for Waiting (Beginner) Example:
Bù hǎo yìsi, tuō ni, jiǔ děng le. A: 不 好 意思，托尼，久 等 了。 Excuse me, Tony, thank you for waiting. Méi guānxi. B: 没 关系。 Not at all. Hǎo, nà wǒmen jìxù …
May I have your name? (Beginner) 您贵姓?（初级）
Business Chinese: 您贵姓 (Nín guìxìng)? May I have your name? (Beginner) This phrase is often used in formal context (for instance, in business Chinese).
The Chinese character “您 (nín)” shows more respect than “你 (nĭ).”
It is often used in business Chinese to …
Mini-test Answer: 教师 (jiàoshī) (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Correct answer: C
Analysis:
A. “工人 (gōngrén)” is the Chinese characters for “Worker.”
The character “工 (gōng)” means worker or labor and “人 (rén)” means person.
B. “儿童 (értóng)” are the Chinese characters for “Child.”
Both the characters “儿 (ér)” and …
Chinese Mini-test: 教师 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
What does the Chinese characters “教师 (jiàoshī)” refer to? A. Worker B. Child C. Teacher D. Mother
…
Quote of the week (Jun. 12, 2010)
Xiě de bú shì zuòwén, shì qínghuái. 写 的 不 是 作文， 是 情怀。
What the high school students who took the “Chinese Subject Test” in the National University Entrance Exam in June 2010 wrote were not compositions but feelings. —From ” 海岩 (Hǎi Yán) …
Please Pardon Me (Beginner) 请原谅（初级）
Business Chinese: 请原谅 (qǐng yuánliàng) Please Pardon Me (Beginner)
Example:
Qǐng yuánliàng, wǒ děi shīpéi yíxià, wǒ de shāngwù hànyǔ gùwèn zhǎo wǒ. 请 原谅， 我 得 失陪 一下, 我 的 商务 汉语 顾问 找 我。
Please pardon me, I have to leave for a …
Sorry (Beginner) 抱歉 (初级)
Learn Chinese: 抱歉 (bàoqiàn) Sorry (Beginner)
Example:
Āi yo, nǐ yā dào wǒ de shǒu le! A: 哎哟！你 压 到 我 的 手 了！
Ouch! You are pressing on my hand!
Ō, bào qiàn, wǒ zhǐ shì xiǎng kànkan nǐ de hànyǔ yǔfǎ zuòyè. B: …
I Don’t Know (Beginner) 我不知道（初级）
Study Chinese Online: 我不知道 (Wǒ bù zhīdào) I don’t know (Beginner) Example (Chinese conversation):
Nǐ zhīdào zánmen xuéxiào yǒu hànyǔ fǔdǎobān ma? A: 你 知道 咱们 学校 有 汉语 辅导班 吗？ Do you know whether there is a Chinese tutorial class in our school?…
You’re Welcome (Beginner) 不用谢（初级）
Learn Chinese: 不用谢 (Bú yòng xiè)You’re welcome (Beginner) Example:
Xièxie nǐ jiāo wǒ zěnyàng xué hànyǔ. A: 谢谢 你 教 我 怎样 学 汉语。 Thanks for teaching me how to learn Chinese.
Bú yòng xiè, wǒ hěn lèyì hé nǐ fēnxiǎng hànyǔ xuéxí jīngyàn. …
心急吃不了热豆腐 (xīn jí chī bù liǎo rè dòufu ) Haste Makes Waste (Advanced)
Learn Mandarin: 心急吃不了热豆腐 (xīn jí chī bù liǎo rè dòufu ) Haste Makes Waste (Advanced)
Example:
Bié zháojí, xué hànyǔ xūyào yǒu nàixīn, yǒu héngxīn, xīn jí chī bù liǎo rè dòufu. A: 别 着急，学 汉语 需要 有 耐心、有 恒心， 心 急 吃 不 了 …
Popular Daily Chinese Word “赞 (zàn) Marvelous” (Intermediate)
流行词语 (liúxíng cíyǔ) Popular Chinese Word (Intermediate)
赞 (zàn) Marvelous
“赞 (zàn)” originally means “to praise.” For instance, “赞美” and “称赞” both mean to praise. We also have a popular Chinese expression starting with “赞,” that is “赞不绝口 (zànbùjuékǒu) to praise profusely.” For example: 他对你赞不绝口 …