Mandarin Essentials
Stinky Tofu: Smells Awful, Tastes Great!
Last week we talked about the weird-looking, and tasting, “皮蛋(pídàn) preserved egg.” Have you rolled up your sleeves and given it a taste? If not, here comes another choice you might want to try! This week we will introduce another strange Chinese delicacy …
What on earth can we “晒(shài)”? (Elementary)
David and Wang Ming are good friends. One day, Wang Ming asked David to help him 晒(shài) his bed sheets. Wang Ming explained that 晒(shài) is a verb, and when you 晒(shài) something you put it in the sunshine. David really enjoyed learning new words …
Answer to What does the phrase “晚会(wǎnhuì)” mean?
Correct Answer: C
Analysis:
A. 庆祝(qìngzhù) is the word for “Celebration.”
The character 庆(qìng) means to celebrate or congratulate and 祝(zhù) means to express good wishes.
B. 会议(huìyì) is the word for “Meeting.”
The character 会(huì) means meeting or conference and 议(yì) means to discuss.…
What does the phrase “晚会(wǎnhuì)” mean?
Beginner Level 初级(chūjí)
What does the phrase “晚会(wǎnhuì)” mean?
A. Celebration B. Meeting C. Evening party D. TV program
Is “Pidan” the Most Disgusting Food in the World? Chinese People Would Say No!
While the Chinese consider “皮蛋 (pídàn),” commonly known as “preserved egg,” “century egg,” “hundred-year egg,” “thousand-year-old egg,” and “millennium egg” in English, a special delicacy, many foreigners find its taste unappealing.
Let’s see how some foreigners respond to their first taste of “皮蛋(pídàn)!”
The video …
“驴友(lǘyŏu)” – What It Means and Why They Are Popular
“驴友(lǘyŏu)” literally means “donkey friend,” but translates as “backpackers” or “travel buddies.” It is a homophone of “旅游(lǚyóu),” the Chinese word for tour. “驴友(lǘyŏu)” refers to people who like off-the-beaten-path travel or outdoor sports, especially those who enjoy adventures, climbing, hiking, etc. “驴友(lǘyŏu)” are people …
Mandarin Buzzword-“正能量(zhèngnéngliàng)”
Are you the kind of person who is desperately overcommitted and suffering from exhaustion? Are you still upset about your most recent failure? Are you living with terrible pressure? If so, you’re the victim of negative emotions. To resolve these problems, you need some “正能量(zhèngnéngliàng),” …
What type of man is “暖男(nuǎnnán)?”
Lately, discussions on social networking sites have turned their attention to, what some argue to be, a new type of ideal boyfriend called “暖男 (nuǎnnán).”
So, what is it about this type of men that makes them so sought after?
Do you or your man …
秀(xiù)”-He likes to show off!
At the recently concluded 2014 Inchon Asian Games, Ning Zetao won the gold medal in the Men’s 100m Freestyle Final and set a new Asian Games record. Now he is called “泳坛新秀(yǒngtán xīnxiù)” by the media. Here, “泳坛新秀(yǒngtán xīnxiù)” means a new swimming star.
“秀(xiù)” …
Things You Must Know about “大牌(dàpái)”
In theaters in ancient China, when there was a show, some wooden tablets bearing the names of the actors would be hung at the door of the theater. The tablet placed at the very front was called the “头牌(tóupái),” referring to the lead actor in …
Die trying? It’s “拼命(pīn mìng)” in Mandarin
“拼(pīn)” means “to put together” or “piece together.” When you see someone spare no effort to do something, you can remark that he is very “拼(pīn).” When used for this meaning, “拼(pīn)” is used as an adjective or a verb, meaning to strive or struggle …
“裸婚(luǒhūn)”-Getting Married Without A Wedding
If one day, one of your friends tells you that he or she is going to “裸婚(luǒhūn),” don’t be tricked by the phrase’s literal meaning of “naked wedding.” There’s no need to worry if you don’t know what the term actually means, because today we …
Are They China’s Baby Boomers-“80后(bālínghòu)” and “90后 (jiǔlínghòu)”
One basic meaning of “后(hòu)” is “after or later”, such as “一周后(yìzhōuhòu) after a week” and “三天后(sāntiānhòu) three days later.” Example Wǒ sāntiān hòu qù běijīng. 我 三天 后 去 北京。 I will leave for Beijing in three days.
At some point you will come …
“打(dǎ) hit” doesn’t always mean “violent” in Mandarin (and find out why)
When you first come to China, you will hear Chinese people say things like “打电话(dǎdiànhuà),” “打车(dǎchē),” “打球(dǎqiú),” etc. As you may know, “打(dǎ)” basically means “hit,” “beat,” “break,” or “attack.” With so many meanings, it’s not surprising if you start to get confused. So the …
“学霸(xué bà)”-Curve Wrecker at School
Literally, “霸(bà)” means “to dominate, lord over, tyrannize over or rule by force.”
xué bà 学 霸
“学霸(xué bà)” is a new buzzword that has recently been spread widely on the Internet, but we also use it in our daily lives. If we call someone …
Is 2015 the Year of the Ram, Sheep or Goat?
“羊(yáng)” is zodiac animal of this Chinese Lunar New Year, but it has caused a good deal of confusion in the English-speaking world, because its translation results in at least three candidates: ram, sheep and goat. Unlike China, other countries in Asia are more settled …
Top 3 Activities for the Upcoming Chinese Lantern Festival
The “元宵节 (yuánxiāojié) Lantern Festival” is several days after the Spring Festival. The Lantern Festival, which falls on January 15th of the lunar calendar, is another important traditional festival in China. In the evening of that day, streets are decorated with lanterns and festoons and …
八卦 （bāguà）Gossip & 美眉 （měiméi）Beautiful Girl
八卦(bāguà) gossip
Origin of the Phrase
Yi Jing, also named The Book of Changes, says: “Yin and Yang form Tai Chi; Tai Chi forms two-stage; two-stage forms four-quadrant and four-quadrant forms Eight Diagrams.” A founder of a gossip magazine in Hong Kong thinks that various …
Desserts
CHINESE / MANDARIN VOCABULARY – DESSERTS/ 甜品/tián pǐn
(Click in the arrow to listen how to pronounce the word in Mandarin)…