Mandarin Essentials
Answer keys to Chinese Crossword Puzzle
Horizontal: (1) 客人 (kèrén) (2) 天气 (tiānqì)
(1) 不客气 (bú kèqi) (2) 天 (tiān) <<Back to the crossword puzzle…
Quote of the week (Mar. 5, 2010)
Rénshēng xiàng fēijī, shēng duō gāo wúsuǒwèi, yào jiàngluò de piàoliang. 人 生 像 飞机, 升 多 高 无所谓, 要 降落 的 漂亮。
Life is like an airplane; it matters little whether you fly high or not, but it matters a lot whether you land …
账户 (zhànghù) Account (Intermediate)
账户 (zhànghù) Account (Intermediate)
The character “帐 (zhàng)” means account; “户 (hù)” means window or door.
Wǒ zuótiān zài zhōngguó yínháng kāile yígè zhànghù. 我 昨天 在 中国 银行 开了 一个 账户。
I opened an account in the Bank of China.
// // …
银行 (yínháng) Bank (Beginner)
银行 (yínháng) Bank (Beginner)
The character “银 (yín)” means silver; “行 (háng)” means row.
Wǒjiā fùjìn yǒu hǎo jǐjiā yínháng. 我家 附近 有 好 几家 银行。
There are many banks around my home.
// // …
休息 (xiūxi) To Have a Rest (Beginner)
休息 (xiūxi) To Have a Rest (Beginner)
The character “休 (xiū)” means to rest; “息 (xī)” means to rest or breath.
Tā lìyòng xiūxi shíjiān xuéxí hànyǔ. 他 利用 休息 时间 学习 汉语。
He made use of his spare time to learn Chinese.
// …
可爱 (kěài) Lovely/ Cute (Beginner)
可爱 (kěài) Lovely/ Cute (Beginner)
The character “可 (kě)” means can; “爱 (ài)” means love.
Zhè zhī xiǎo tùzi zhēn kěài! 这 只 小 兔子 真 可爱!
This little rabbit is so cute!
// // …
Warren Buffett Bullish on China’s BYD
The “Sage of Omaha” Warren Buffett has invested in “比亚迪 (bǐyàdí) BYD-Build Your Dreams” CO Ltd, which is a Chinese manufacturer of batteries, “手机 (shǒujī) cellphones,” and electric vehicles founded by Wang Chuanfu. Buffett “看好 (kànhǎo)” apparently is bullish on the rise of “技术 (jìshù) …
Quote of the week (Mar. 1, 2010)
Liǎng zhī lǎohǔ xiāngróng zhǐyǒu yì zhǒng kěnéng, yì gōng yì mǔ! 两 只 老虎 相容 只有 一 种 可能, 一 公 一 母!
The only way possible for two tigers to be tolerant with each other is when one is a male and the …
火车票 (huǒchēpiào) Train Ticket (Beginner)
火车票 (huǒchēpiào) Train Ticket (Beginner)
The character “火 (huǒ)” means fire; “车 (chē)” means vehicle; “票 (piào)” means ticket.
Chūnjié qījiān, huǒchēpiào hěn nán mǎi. 春节 期间, 火车票 很 难 买。
It is difficult to buy a train ticket during the Spring Festival.
// …
幸亏 (xìngkuī) Fortunately/ Thanks to (Advanced)
幸亏 (xìnɡkuī) Fortunately/ Thanks to
The character “幸 (xìng)” means lucky and “亏 (kuī)” originally means loss.
Xìngkuī huǒchē wǎndiǎn le, wǒmen cái gǎnshàng le chē. 幸亏 火车 晚点 了, 我们 才 赶上 了 车。
Fortunately, the train came late so we did not …
合同 (hétong) Contract (Intermediate)
合同 (hétong) Contract (Intermediate)
The character “合 (hé)” refers to combine and “同 (tóng)” means together or agree.
Hétong shì yìzhǒng héfǎ de xiédìng. 合同 是 一种 合法 的 协定。
A contract is a formal agreement.…
做生意 (zuòshēngyi) Do business (Intermediate)
做生意 (zuòshēngyi) Do Business (Intermediate)
The character “做 (zuò)” means to do; “生 (shēng)” means life and “意
(yì)” means ideas. “生意 (shēngyi)” means business.
Wǒ hěn lèyì hé tā zuòshēngyi. 我 很 乐意 和 他 做生意。
I am glad to do business with …
When Hip-Hop Meets Chinese Stilts (Beginner)
What would it be like when hip-hop meets Chinese stilts? See this video below.
“街舞 (jiēwǔ) Hip-hop” was first introduced into China in 1980s, and is
becoming more and more popular among Chinese youth. “高跷 (gāoqiāo)
stilts”, which is also called “拐子 (guǎizi) cane”, originated …
Chinese Mini-test: 春暖花开 (Advanced)
If you learn Mandarin, you may have heard of a famous poet named Haizi in China. One of his most famous poem is “面朝大海, 春暖花开.” Do you know the meaning of “春暖花开 (chūnnuǎnhuākāi)?” A. Flushed with success.
B. Beaming with Satisfaction…
Chinese Mini-Test: Student (Beginner)
A: Mastering a new language can be helpful for personal growth, so I am choosing Chinese as my second language. How about you? B: I’m not sure now, but I heard that many students in my class chose to learn Chinese. …
Mini-test Answer: 学生 (Beginner)
Correct answer: B
Analysis:
A. “学习 (xuéxí)” are the Chinese characters for study.
“学 (xué)” means to learn, “习 (xí)” means to study or to practice.
B.“学生 (xuéshēng)” are the Chinese characters for student. “学 (xué)” means to learn and “生 …
Mini-test Answer: Kāixué (Intermediate)
The Chinese Pinyin for “开学” is C (Kāixué)
Analysis:
A.“Kāixīn” is the Chinese Pinyin for “开心 to feel happy.”
“开 (kāi)” means open and “心 (xīn)” means heart.
B.“Kāikuò” is the Chinese Pinyin for “开阔 open or wide.”
“开 (kāi)” means …
Mini-test Answer: During the Warmth of Spring, All the Flowers Bloom (Anvanced)
Correct answer: D
Analysis:
A. “春风得意 (chūnfēngdéyì)” is the phrase for “Flushed with success.”
“春(chūn)” means spring and “风 (fēng)” refers to wind. “得 (dé)” means to gain and “意 (yì)” refers to meaning.
B. “春风满面 (chūnfēngmǎnmiàn)” is the phrase for …
国家 (guójiā) Country/ Nation (Beginner)
国家 (guójiā) Country/ Nation (Beginner)
The character “国 (guó)” means nation or country and “家 (jiā)” means
family or home.
Zhōngguó shì yígè yǒu zhe yōujiǔ lìshǐ de dōngfāng guójiā. 中国 是 一个 有 着 悠久 历史 的 东方 国家。
China is an oriental …



