Mandarin Essentials
When the British Pound Falls, Know 暴跌 to Describe It
Last month, the British pound fell 6% to $1.18 against the US dollar in Asian markets. This dramatic drop of the British currency was based on fears regarding the future of trade in Britain following the June 2016 voter decision for the UK to leave …
4 things you must ask when renting an apartment in China
If you are soon moving to China or already living there, it is possible that you will need to rent an apartment. For some people, such as English teachers, an apartment might be included in their contract. Students may live in dorms, which is prepared …
Bigger is better? Discuss China with this Quiz
Zhōngguó shì shìjiè shàng ______ zuì duō de guójiā. 中国 是 世界 上 ______ 最 多 的 国家。 China has the world’s biggest ______ . A. 人口 (rénkǒu) B. 民族 (mínzú) C. 土地面积 (tǔdì miànjī)
Answer to Bigger is better? Discuss China with this Quiz
Correct Answer: A
Answer analysis:
A. 人口 (rénkǒu) population China has the world’s largest population, with almost 1.4 billion people living there. Example: Měiguó xiànzài yǒu duōshǎo rénkǒu? 美国 现在 有 多少 人口？ How large is America’s population now?
B. 民族 (mínzú) nationality Nigeria has …
Are you Naughty or Nice? See if Your Behavior is 捣蛋 (dǎodàn)
Recently, a video of some misbehaving children in Henan Province, China went viral throughout the Chinese cyberworld. Some kids on a public bus were recorded on CCTV video footage dancing and swinging from the hanging straps. It all seemed like innocent “horse play” until one …
Get Ready for a 对决(duìjué): Trump vs. Clinton in November!
On Tuesday, November 8th 2016, the United States will elect a new president to begin serving in January of 2017. The two candidates this year are Donald Trump, representing the Republican Party and Hillary Clinton, representing the Democratic Party. These two candidates received more votes …
Know the Warning Signs of Being a 妻管严(qīguǎnyán) in China
A recent study named men in Shanghai as the most submissive, or “henpecked,” in China. The English term “henpecked” is often used to describe these males whose feathers have been “plucked” by their women (his hen). These “henpecked” husbands and boyfriends are controlled by their …
Discuss the new president of the United States with this Chinese quiz
The United States presidential election is nearly here and its time to put your Chinese to the test! There are many different words for different types of leaders in Chinese, let’s see if you know them. Choose the correct answer to fill in the blank: …
Answer to Discuss the new president of the United States with this Chinese quiz
Correct Answer: B
Answer Analysis:
1. 总统 (zǒngtǒng) President
In republican countries like the USA and France, the highest administrative official is called the “总统 (zǒngtǒng) president.”
Example:
Xiànzài qǐng zǒngtǒng jiǎnghuà. 现在 请 总统 讲话. I now invite the president to take the floor.…
Tickets are sold out? Better find a “黄牛党 (huángniúdǎng)” – (Beginner)
When British singer Adele announced her 2016 concert tour, more than 10 million fans swarmed the Ticketmaster.com website to buy tickets to see the megastar performer. Many of those 10 million ticket buyers were “scalpers,” or “黄牛党 (huángniúdǎng).” “黄牛党 (huángniúdǎng) ticket scalpers” are people who …
What does “打气 (dǎ qì) beat air” mean? – (Beginner)
Have you heard of the expression “打 气 (dǎ qì)?” The word “打 (dǎ)” means “hit/strike,” and “气 (qì)” means “air/gas.” As you might guess, this is the literal way of saying “pump up, inflate with air.” You might use it when speaking about inflating …
5 must-know basic expressions for driving in China (Beginner)
In western countries, especially in North America, “automobile culture” has been the way of life for decades. Teenagers often save up for their first car and many Americans have never been on a train or a public bus. Of course, there are exceptions, but for …