Mandarin Essentials
10 Essential Chinese Sentences for Traveling in China (Part 1)
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.
Example:
Lǐ Yuè: Nǐhǎo, wǒ shì Lǐ …
Answer to Two Chinese Words to Talk Like a Local: “咋(zǎ)” & “啥(shá)”
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 …
Two Chinese Words to Talk Like a Local: “咋(zǎ)” & “啥(shá)”
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. …
Jump on the Bandwagon with this Chinese Phrase: “墙头草(qiángtóucǎo)”
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.…
Answers to the Exercise on A Trip to the Market: How to Talk about Weights in Mandarin
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 …
A Trip to the Market: How to Talk about Weights in Mandarin
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blank. Gùkè: Lǎobǎn, píngguǒ duōshao qián yì ___? 顾客：老板， 苹果 多少 钱 一 ___？ Customer: How much are the apples? Lǎobǎn: Wǔkuài. 老板： 5块。 Storekeeper: Five Yuan. Please choose the correct answer to fill in the …
When You Feel Crushed, Use “心塞(xīnsāi)” in Mandarin
Zhāng Qíng: Xiàzhōu jiùyào qīmòkǎoshì le! 张晴： 下周 就要 期末考试 了！ Zhang Qing: We will have the final exam next week!
Lǐ Chéng: Shìya. Nǐ fùxí de zěnmeyàng le? 李成： 是呀。你复习得 怎么样 了？ Li Cheng: Yeah. How’s your preparation going?
Zhāng Qíng: Hái méi kāishǐ …
Learn the Difference between “次(cì)” and “遍(biàn)”
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks.
Bìngrén: Yīsheng, zhèzhǒng yào zěnme chī? 病人: 医生， 这种 药 怎么 吃？ Patient: Doctor, how is this medicine to be taken? Yīsheng: Yìtiān chī sān___, yí __chī liǎngpiàn. 医生: 一天 吃 三 ___，一__吃 两片。 Doctor: …
Answer to the Exercise on the Difference between “次(cì)” and “遍(biàn)”
In Chinese, a classifier is special and some classifiers are easily confused in meaning and usage, like “次(cì)” and “遍(biàn).” “次(cì)” and “遍(biàn)” both can be used to describe frequency or how many times you have done something. However, “次(cì)” emphasizes the frequency of a …
Answer to “东风(dōngfēng)” and “耳边风(ěrbiānfēng)”
Correct Answers: 1. C 2. B 3. B <<Back to “‘东风(dōngfēng)’ and ‘耳边风(ěrbiānfēng)’﹣They are Different Kinds of Wind”
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“东风(dōngfēng)” and “耳边风(ěrbiānfēng)”﹣They are Different Kinds of Wind
In last week’s test, we learned about the idiom “喝西北风(hē xīběifēng)”, which means getting nothing to eat or having to live on air. Now in this issue we will get to know about two other kinds of “风(fēng)”: “东风(dōngfēng)” and “耳边风(ěrbiānfēng).”
“东风(dōngfēng)”
“东风(dōngfēng)” …
Answers to The Difference between “给 (gěi)” “跟 (gēn)” and “和(hé)”
Correct Answer: B “给(gěi)” In the Chinese language, “给(gěi)” is most frequently used as the verb “to give.” Example Gěi wǒ yìbēi chá. 给 我 一杯 茶。 Please give me a cup of tea. But in phrases such as, “给你打电话 (gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà) give …
The Difference between “给 (gěi)” “跟 (gēn)” and “和(hé)”
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks.
Nǐ míngtiān ___ wǒ dǎ diànhuà. Wǒ yào ___ nǐ yìqǐ qù chāoshì. 你 明天 ___ 我 打 电话。 我 要 ___ 你 一起 去 超市。 Please call me tomorrow. I want to go to …
Answer to the Exercise on Must-know Difference between “过(guò)” and “了(le)”
Correct Answer: B In the Chinese language, both “过(guò)” and “了(le)” can be used following verbs to show that something has happened.
They are both usually used in the same structure: Subject + Verb + “过(guò)” / “了(le).”
However, their precise meanings differ from one …
Must-know Difference between “过(guò)” and “了(le)”
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks.
Zhāng Wěi: Wǒ zuì xǐhuan chī de Zhōng’guó cài shì Běijīng kǎoyā. Nǐ chī __ ma? 张 伟：我 最 喜欢 吃 的 中国 菜 是 北京 烤鸭。 你 吃 __ 吗？ Zhang Wei: My favorite …