新 (xīn) New (Beginner)
新 (xīn) New (Beginner)
Example：
A: Zhè shì wǒmen bān de xīn tóngxué, tā láizì měiguó. 这 是 我们 班 的 新 同学， 他 来自 美国。 This is our new classmate. He comes from America.
B: Nà tā huì jiǎng hànyǔ ma? 那 他 会 …
Mandarin Essentials
一问三不知 (yí wèn sān bù zhī) To Be Entirely Ignorant (Advanced)
一问三不知 (yí wèn sān bù zhī) To be entirely ignorant (Advanced)
This Chinese saying originates from the famous Chinese works 《左传》 (Zuǒ Zhuàn) Tso Chuan, a commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals. “问 (wèn)” means to ask and “知 (zhī)” means to know. The …
运动鞋 (yùndòngxié) Sneakers (Intermediate)
运动鞋 (yùndòngxié) Sneakers (Intermediate)
In this Chinese phrase, “运动 (yùndòng)” means sports and “鞋 (xié)” means shoes. Example:
Hāi, bùmáng ba? Péi wǒ qù mǎi shuāng xié ba. A: 嗨， 不 忙 吧？陪 我 去 买 双 鞋 吧。
Hi, are you free? How about …
牛仔裤 (niúzǎikù) Jeans (Intermediate)
牛仔裤 (niúzǎikù) Jeans (Intermediate)
In this Chinese phrase, the Chinese character “裤 (kù)” means trousers. But in Chinese, we always use “裤子 (kùzi)” instead of “裤 (kù).”
Example:
Nǐ zhè tiáo niúzǎikù kàn qǐlái hěn bú cuò ma. A: 你 这 条 牛仔裤 看 起来 …
海宝 (hǎibǎo) Haibao (Intermediate)
海宝 (hǎibǎo) Haibao (Intermediate)
Example:
Zhè shì shénme ya, hǎo kě’ài ya A: 这 是 什么 呀， 好 可爱呀。
What’s this? It’s so lovely.
Nǐ bù zhīdào ya, zhè shì Shànghǎi shìbóhuì de jíxiángwù hǎibǎo ya. B: 你 不 知道 呀， 这 是 上海 世博会 …
中国馆 (Zhōngguó guǎn) China Pavilion (Beginner)
中国馆 (Zhōngguó guǎn) China Pavilion (Beginner) Example: Nǐ qù Shànghǎi kàn shìbóhuì ma? A: 你 去 上海 看 世博会 吗？
Will you go to Shanghai for the Expo? Dāngrán le, wǒ yào qīnyǎn xīnshǎng qìshìhuīhóng de Zhōngguó guǎn. B: 当然 了， 我 要 亲眼 欣赏 …
Stand up in Mandarin (Intermediate)
站起来 (zhànqǐlái) stand up. In this phrase, 站 (zhàn) is a verb and means to stand and “起来 (qǐlái)” means up. Other similar phrases are: “拿起来 (náqǐlái) pick up and “坐下去 (zuòxià qu) sit down.” In formal occasions, people can also say “起立 (qǐlì) stand …
Mini-test Answers: 早上好 (Beginner)
Correct Answer: D
Analysis:
A. “你好吗 (nǐhǎoma)” is the Chinese phrase for “how are you.”
B. “晚上好 (wǎnshànghǎo)” is the Chinese expression for “good evening.”
C. “你是谁 (nǐshìshéi)” is the Chinese phrase for “who are you.”
D. “早上好 (zǎoshànghǎo)” is the Chinese phrase for “good …
Mini-test Answer: To Treat (Intermediate)
Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)
Correct Answer: A Analysis: A. “Qǐngkè” is the Chinese pinyin for “请客 to treat.” B. “Qínfèn” is the Chinese pinyin for “勤奋 hardworking.”
For example: 玛丽是一个勤奋的学生，这几天一直在认真地准备HSK考试。(Mǎlì shì yí gè qínfèn de xuésheng, zhè jǐ tiān yì zhí zài rènzhēn de zhǔnbèi …
Mini-test Answer: To poke one’s nose into other people’s business (Advanced)
Advanced Level 高级 (gāojí)
Correct Answer: D Analysis: A. “好的” are the Chinese characters for “all right.”
For example: 我相信一切都会好的。(Wǒ xiāngxìn yí qiè dū huì hǎo de.) I’m sure everything will be all right.
B. “没关系” are the Chinese characters for “never mind.”
For example: …
Chinese Mini-test: Good morning (Beginner)
A: Good morning. Where are you going?
B: Morning, I’m going to enroll in a HSK test preparation classes.
Do you know how to say
“good morning” in Chinese
?
A. 你好吗 (nǐ hǎo ma)
B. 晚上好 (wǎnshànghǎo)
C. 你是谁 (nǐ shì shéi)
D. 早上好 Chinese Mini-test: To Treat (Intermediate)
Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)
Jìrán nǐ dōu tōngguò HSK kǎoshì le, yīnggāi qǐngkè qìngzhù yí xià ba? A: 既然 你 都 通过 HSK 考试了， 应该 请客 庆祝 一 下吧？ Since you have passed the HSK test, would you treat us to dinner to celebrate it? …
Chinese Mini-test: 多管闲事 (Advanced)
Advanced Level 高级 (gāojí)
Wǒ hǎoxīn tíxǐng tā gǎnkuài zhǔnbèi SAT kǎoshì, tā què shuō wǒ duōguǎnxiánshì. 我 好心 提醒 他 赶快 准备 SAT 考试， 他 却 说 我 多管闲事。 I kindly reminded him of preparing for the
test, but he said that I …
Quote of the week (May. 4, 2010)
Míngcì hé róngyù, jiù xiàng tiānshàng de yún, bùnéng tǎng jìnqù, tǎng jìnqù jiù diē xiàlái le. 名次 和 荣誉，就 像 天 上 的 云， 不能 躺 进去，躺 进去 就 跌 下来了。
Rank and honor are just like the clouds in the sky. You’ll fall …
看病挂号 Registration in a Hospital (Intermediate)
看病挂号 (kànbìng guàhào) Registration in a Hospital (Intermediate) Key Learning Points (Preview):
舒服 (shūfu): adj comfortable
挂号 (guàhào): n/v registration / to register
There is a well-known Chinese saying “身体是革命的本钱 (Shēntǐ shì gémìng de běnqián) Health is the foundation for conducting revolutionary work.” You should …
洗手 (xǐshǒu) Wash Hands (Beginner)
洗手 (xǐshǒu) Wash Hands (Beginner) Example:
Jīngcháng xǐshǒu yǒu zhù yú jiànkāng. 经常 洗手 有 助 于 健康。 Washing your hands often is good for your health.
General Chinese (Beginner Level) General Chinese (Intermediate Level) // // …
康乃馨 (kāngnǎixīn) Carnation (Advanced)
康乃馨 (kāngnǎixīn) Carnation (Advanced)
Example:
Wǒ zhǔnbèi zài Mǔqīnjié nà tiān gěi māma mǎi yí shù kāngnǎixīn. 我 准备 在 母亲节 那 天 给 妈妈 买 一 束 康乃馨。 I will give a bouquet of carnations to my mother on Mother’s Day.…
母亲节 (Mǔqīnjié) Mother’s Day (Intermediate)
母亲节 (Mǔqīnjié) Mother’s Day (Intermediate)
Example:
A: Mǔqīnjié kuài dào le, nǐ zhǔnbèi gěi māma sòng shénme lǐwù ne? 母亲节 快 到 了，你 准备 给 妈妈 送 什么 礼物 呢？
Mother’s Day is coming. What present will you give your mom? B: Bú gàosu nǐ, …