Mandarin Essentials

中国工人入选时代周刊 Chinese Worker Selected as Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year”

中国工人入选时代周刊 (Zhōngguó gōngrén rùxuǎn shídài zhōukān) Chinese Worker Selected as Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year”

On Dec.16, 2009, “the Chinese worker” ended up ranking second in the selection of Time magazine’s prestigious “Person of the Year 2009.” They were the only group selected. Time …

Quote of the week (Dec.29,2009)

Fángzi jiàgé tàigāo, lǎopo yāoqiú tàigāo, liǎngzhě wǒ dōu zhuī bú shàng! wú fáng de wǒ, bùxiǎng bèi bōduó jiéhūn de quánlì! 房子价格太高,老婆要求太高,两者我都追不上!无房的我,不想被剥夺结婚的权利!

The price of houses is too high, my wife asks for too much, I can’t satisfy them both! I have no house, …

圣诞老人 (shèngdàn lǎorén) Santa Claus (Beginner)

圣诞老人 (shèngdàn lǎorén) Santa Claus  “圣诞老人 (shèngdàn lǎorén)” are the Chinese characters for “Santa Claus.” The character “圣 (shèng)” means saint; “诞 (dàn)” means birth; “老 (lǎo)” means old, and “人 (rén)” means person.

Example:

Nǐ zhīdào shèngdàn lǎorén xiànzài duō dà niánlíng ma? 你知道圣诞老人现在多大年龄吗? …

糖果 (tángguǒ) Candy (Beginner)

糖果 (tángguǒ) Candy 

“糖果 (tángguǒ)” are the Chinese characters for “Candy.” The character

“糖 (táng)” means sugar or sweets and the character “果 (guǒ)” means

fruit.

Example: Měi nián shèngdànjié de shíhou, tángguǒ de xiāoliàng dōu hěn hǎo. 每年圣诞节的时候,糖果的销量都很好。

Candy sells well at every Christmas. …

狂欢 (kuánghuān) Binge or Revelry (Intermediate)

狂欢 (kuánghuān) Binge or Revelry 

“狂欢 (kuánghuān)” are the Chinese character for “Revelry.” The

character “狂 (kuáng)” means unrestrained and the character “欢 (huān)”

means happy.

Example:
Shèngdànjié dàjiā yìqǐ qù kuánghuān ba!

圣诞节大家一起去狂欢吧!

We are going to revel at Christmas.

Got questions?

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圣诞节 (shèngdànjié) Christmas (Beginner)

圣诞节 (shèngdànjié) Christmas 

“圣诞节 (shèngdànjié)” are the Chinese characters for “Christmas.” The character “圣 (shèng)” means saint; “诞 (dàn)” means birth, and “节

(jié)”  means festival.

Example: Yuèláiyuèduō de zhōngguórén yě kāishǐ guò shèngdànjié. 越来越多的中国人也开始过圣诞节。

More and more Chinese people have begun to celebrate Christmas.…

平安夜 (píng’ān yè) Christmas Eve (Beginner)

平安夜 (píng’ān yè) Christmas Eve 

“平安夜 (píng’ānyè)” are the Chinese characters for “Christmas Eve.”

The character “平 (píng)” means flat; “安 (ān)” means peace or safe, and “夜 (yè)” means night.

Example:

Xiàn zài hěnduō niánqīngrén xuǎnzé hé fùmǔ yìqǐ guò píng ān yè. 现在很多年轻人选择和父母一起过平安夜。 …

随便 (suíbiàn) Casual/ Informal (Intermediate)

随便 (suíbiàn) Casual/Informal

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The character “随 (suí)” means to comply with and “便 (biàn)” means convenience. Example: Tā píngshí zhuózhuāng hěn suíbiàn, cóngbù jiǎngjiu. 他平时着装很随便,从不讲究。 He usually dresses casually and never pays much attention to the way he dresses.

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Got questions? // // …

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