The term “铁公鸡(tiěgōngjī)” comes from the Chinese idiom “铁公鸡,一毛不拔(tiěgōngjī, yìmáo bùbá) You can’t pluck a feather from an iron rooster.”
Here, “铁(tiě)” means “iron” and “公鸡(gōngjī)” means “rooster,” but what the term “铁公鸡(tiěgōngjī)” is really used to refer to is a mean, stingy person who …
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blank. Linda: Qǐngwèn xiànzài jǐ diǎn zhōng? Linda：请问 现在 几 点 钟？ Linda: Excuse me, what time is it? Zhāng Míng:___. 张 明： ____。 Zhang Ming:___. A. 八点三十二分(Bā diăn sānshí’èr fēn)
B. 八点三十二分钟(Bā diăn sānshí’èr fēnzhōng)…
Correct Answer: A In the Chinese language, there are many ways to talk about the time, but actually, their meanings and usages are quite different. The words “点(diăn)” and “点钟(diănzhōng),” which have the same meaning of “o’clock,” are not interchangeable. Similarly, “分(fēn)” and “分钟(fēnzhōng)” both …
Answer: A In Chinese, “爱(ài)” means “love” and “人(rén)” means “person/people,” so “爱人(àiren)” literally means “the person you love.” However, the term can’t be used to refer to every person that you love: not your girlfriend, not your boyfriend, and not your lover. The term …
You may have found that it’s not always easy to tell the true meanings of many Chinese expressions from their literal meanings. How about the one in the question below? Do you know what it really means? When you hear a Chinese person mention “我的爱人(wǒde …
Answer: B
Actually, “你吃了吗(Nǐ chī le ma) Have you eaten yet?” is a traditional way of greeting others. Sometimes the speaker may not really care whether or not you have had your lunch or dinner, instead, the phrase will just be used to start a …
There is a saying (Learn a popular Chinese saying!)among Chinese people that goes “民以食为天(mín yǐ shí wéi tiān).” This means “people regard food as their heaven,” which shows that they view eating to be of utmost importance. Along these same lines, many Chinese people …
Zhè shì shénme? 这 是 什么？ What is this?
Well, summer is here, the hottest time of the year. Do you feel burned by the sun? We do! But we always try to use sun protection. In Chinese, “晒 (shài)” means “to sun” or “to shine.” “晒太阳 (shài tàiyang)” means “to bask in the …
Beginner Level/初级(chūjí)
Joey: Zuìjìn tiānqì búcuò, zánmen qù páshān ba! Joey: 最近 天气 不错， 咱们 去 爬山 吧！ Joey: The weather is fine recently. Let’s go hiking!
Amy: Kěshì wǒ juéde tài rè le, háishì gǎitiān qù ba! Amy: 可是 我 觉得 太 热 了，还是 …
Nǐhǎo, hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ. 你好， 很 高兴 认识 你。 Hello, nice to meet you.
Here, “高兴(gāoxìng)” means “happy” and “认识(rènshi)” is “ to meet”. This sentence is always used when first meeting new friends or acquaintances.
Lǐ Yuè: Nǐhǎo, wǒ shì Lǐ …
Correct Answers:
1. A 2. B
Hǎojiǔ bújiàn, zuìjìn zǎ yàng? 好久 不见，最近 咋 样？ Long time no see. How are you doing these days?
Nǐ jīntiān zhōngwǔ chī le shá? 你 今天 中午 吃 了 啥？ What did you eat for lunch today?
If …
In Chinese, “怎么(zěnme)” usually means “how” or “why” and “什么(shénme)” means “what,” but do you know any colloquial expressions for these two words? Take the follow test first to see if you know the answer. Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks. …
In this issue we will learn a useful Chinese proverb —“墙头草, 随风倒(qiángtóucǎo, suífēngdǎo) The grass on top of the wall sways whichever way the wind blows”.
Here, “墙头草(qiángtóucǎo)” refers to people who don’t have a mind of their own, who can’t form their own opinions.…
Answer: B
“吨(dūn), ton” “斤(jīn), half kilogram or catty” and “克(kè), gram” are all units of weight.
“吨(dūn) is equivalent to 1,000 kilograms, which is usually used to measure the weight of heavy objects or large quantities of objects. Such as measuring the amount of …
