Ài búshì xiù de, xìngfú búshì shài de. 爱 不是 秀 的，幸福 不是 晒 的。
Love is not for showing off and happiness is not for display. Culture Note: Many famous stars in China like to show that they are satisfied with their personal lives …
I Meant Chinese Style (Not Chinese Food)! With a slight change in pronunciation, foreigners can often be misunderstood when speaking Chinese. One of the ways this happens is when a foreigner refers to something having a “Chinese style”, but ends up getting mistaken for having …
医院 (yīyuàn) Hospital (Beginner)
The character “医 (yī)” means to cure and “院 (yuàn)” means courtyard
literally, but here it means hospital.
Example: Xījīng yīyuàn shì shǎnxīshěng zuì dà de yīyuàn. 西京 医院 是 陕西省 最 大 的 医院。 Xijing Hospital is the largest hospital …
跑题 (pǎotí) Digress into a Different Subject (Advanced)
The character “跑 (pǎo)” means to run; “题 (tí)” means topic or subject.
Example:
Zhècì zuòwén wǒ hǎoxiàng xiě pǎotí le. 这次 作文 我 好像 写 跑题了。 I seem to digress from the subject in this essay …
户外 (hùwài) Outdoor (Intermediate)
The character “户 (hù)” means door; “外 (wài)” means outside.
Example:
A: Zhège zhōumò zhǔnbèi zěnme guò yɑ? 这个 周末 准备 怎么 过 呀？ Do you have any plans for this weekend?
B: Wǒ xiǎng qù hùwài yùndòng yí xià. 我 …
Correct answer: B
Analysis: A. “堵塞 (dǔsè)” are the Chinese characters for “to block.”
Both “堵 (dǔ)” and “塞 (sè)” mean to stop up.
B. “堵车 (dǔchē)” are the Chinese characters for “traffic jam.”
“堵 (dǔ)” means to stop up, and …
Correct answer: C
Analysis: A. “想法 (xiǎngfǎ)” are the Chinese characters for “idea.” “想 (xiǎng)” means to think, and “法 (fǎ)” literally means law.
B. “纪念 (jìniàn)” are the Chinese characters for “to commemorate.” “纪 (jì)” literally means period, and “念(niàn)” …
Correct answer: A
Analysis:
A. “Gōngyù” is the Chinese Pinyin for “公寓 apartment.” “公 (gōng)” literally means public, and “寓 (yù)” means residence in this word.
B. “Gōngyuán” is the Chinese Pinyin for “公园 park.” “公 (gōng)” means public, and “园 …
“Such bad luck! Today I was stuck in a traffic jam on the way to take my
, and I was almost too late.” Do you know how to write the
for “traffic jam” in this sentence? …
A: Thanks to our Chinese teacher we have aced our
. B: Yes, our teacher is the best one. Now I’ve even started to miss him. Have you learned the
for “miss” in this dialogue? A. 想法 …
“我在公司附近租了一间公寓。I rent an apartment near the company where I work.” Do you know the
for “公寓 apartment” in this sentence? A. gōngyù B. gōngyuán C. yùyán D. gōngzhǔ
// // …
行李 (xíngli) Luggage/Baggage (Intermediate)
The character “行 (xíng)” means to walk; “李 (lǐ)” means plum or a surname. Example:
Wàichū shí wèi fāngbiàn qǐjiàn jìnliàng shǎo dài xíngli. 外出 时 为 方便 起见 尽量 少 带 行李。
Considering the problem of convenience, you should bring …
太极拳 (tàijíquán) Tai-Chi (Intermediate)
The character “太 (tài)” means too or over; “极 (jí)” means pole or top and “拳 (quán)” means fist. Example:
Tàijíquán liúchuán zhìjīn yǎnhuà chūle bùtóng de liúpài. 太极拳 流传 至今 演化 出了 不同 的 流派。
Tai Chi has spread until …
咖啡 (kāfēi) Coffee (Beginner)
Both the characters “咖 (kā)” and “啡 (fēi)” mean coffee.
Example:
Yǒu rén rènwéi hē kāfēi kěyǐ tíshén ne. 有 人 认为 喝 咖啡 可以 提神 呢。 Some people think that drinking coffee can refresh oneself. // // …
温暖 (wēnnuǎn) Warm (Beginner) Both the characters “温 (wēn)” and “暖 (nuǎn)” mean warm.
Example:
Chūntiān dào le, wēnnuǎn de yángguāng zhào zài shēn shàng, shūfu jí le! 春天 到 了，温暖 的 阳光 照 在 身 上， 舒服 极 了！ Spring is coming; it’s so …
Gǔshì zěnme kěnéng yǒu zhuānjiā ne? Gǔshì bù kěnéng yǒu zhuānjiā ma! Gǔshì 股市 怎么 可能 有 专家 呢？股市 不 可能 有 专家 嘛！股市 zhyǒu shūjiā hé yíngjiā. 只有 输家 和 赢家。
How can it be possible to have experts in the stock market? No …
眼镜 (yǎnjìng) Spectacles/Glasses (Beginner)
The character “眼 (yǎn)” means eye and “镜 (jìng)” means glass. Example:
Xiànzài hěnduō xuéshēng dōu dàishàng le jìnshì yǎnjìng. 现在 很多 学生 都 戴上 了 近视 眼镜。 Now many students wear glasses.
// // …
乐观 (lèguān) Optimistic (advanced)
The character “乐 (lè)” means happy; “观 (guān)” means view.
Tā jíshǐ zài zuì zāogāo de shíhou yě zǒngshì fēicháng lèguān. 她 即使 在 最 糟糕 的 时候 也 总是 非常 乐观。 She was always optimistic, even when things were …
股票 (gǔpiào) Stock/ Share (Intermediate) The character “股 (gǔ)” means share; “票 (piào)” means ticket or bank note.
Example:
A: Nín hǎo, wǒ xiǎng zīxún yí xià jǐzhǒng gǔpiào de zuì xīn jiàgé. 您 好， 我 想 咨询 一下 几种 股票 的 最 新 价格。 …
