Mandarin Essentials
Answer to the Exercise on Similar but Not the Same: “没错(méicuò)” and “不错(búcuò)”
Correct Answer: A In the Chinese language, both “没(méi)” and “不(bù)” can be used as negative adverbs meaning “not” or “no.”
However, if they used in conjunction with the same word, “错(cuò) wrong,” as in “没错(méicuò)” and “不错(búcuò),” their actual meanings are quite different from …
How Good Really Is Mark Zuckerberg’s Mandarin?
Are you a Facebook user? If so, you must know of Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Facebook. However, you may not be aware that he is also a good Chinese speaker. His wife is American-born Chinese, so he has been learning Chinese for …
Similar but Not the Same: “没错(méicuò)” and “不错(búcuò)”
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks. Lǐ Lì: Nǐ dàizi lǐ shì shénme dōngxi? Shì xīn mǎi de màozi ma? 李 丽：你 袋子 里 是 什么 东西？ 是 新 买 的 帽子 吗？ Li Li: What is in your bag? Is …
Answer to the Exercise on Singles’ Day on November 11th in China
Correct Answer: B Chinese people tend to put a lot of importance on numbers and they like to associate different numbers with various meanings. For example, Chinese people have come up with an interesting holiday associated with the day November 11th (11.11). This holiday is …
Answer to the Exercise on When Is It A Good Time to Use “时候(shíhou)” and “时间(shíjiān)”?
Correct Answer: B
1. 时候(shíhou)
“时候(shíhou)” refers to a specific time when something takes place.
Example
Chīfàn de shíhou búyào shuōhuà. 吃饭 的 时候 不要 说话。 Don’t talk when you’re eating.
When asking “什么时候 (shénme shíhou),” the question is asking about a particular time.
Example
… When Is It A Good Time to Use “时候(shíhou)” and “时间(shíjiān)”?
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks. Lǐ Méi: Wǒ mínɡtiān yào qù Běijīng chūchāi. 李 梅：我 明 天 要 去 北京 出差。 Li Mei: I will go to Beijing on business tomorrow. Zhào Liàng: Nǐ yào qù duō chánɡ ___? Shénme …
What’s Hot & What’s Not: “人气(rénqì)”
Xiǎolóngxiā shì Zhōngguó de rénqì měishí. 小龙虾 是 中国 的 人气 美食。
What can we know from the above sentence? A. Crawfish is very popular in China. B. Crawfish can improve Chinese people’s breathing. C. Crawfish is unpopular with Chinese people. Not sure about the …
The Right Sequence: “以后(yǐhòu)” and “然后(ránhòu)”
Please fill in the blanks with the correct answer. Nancy: Nǐ xiàbān ___zuò shénme? Nancy：你 下班 ___ 做 什么？ Zhāng Míng: Wǒ xiān mǎicài, ___ zuò wǎnfàn. 张 明： 我 先 买菜，___ 做 晚饭。 A. 然后 (ránhòu); 以后 (yǐhòu)
B. 以后(yǐhòu); 然后(ránhòu)
C. 然后(ránhòu); 然后(ránhòu)…
Answer to the Exercise on Bargain Shopping with “淘(táo)”!
Correct Answer: B
Translation of the Dialogue:
Zhè jiā diàn zhènɡzài dǎzhé, wǒmen qù táo diǎn hǎo dōnɡxi ba. 这 家 店 正在 打折，我们 去 淘 点 好 东西 吧。 This shop is having a discount. Let’s go buy something. <<Back to “Bargain Shopping with …
Answer to the Exercise on“以后(yǐhòu)” or “然后(ránhòu)”?
Correct Answer: B
Translation of the Dialogue:
Nancy: Nǐ xiàbān yǐhòu zuò shénme? Nancy：你 下班 以后 做 什么？ Nancy: What will you do after you get off work? Zhānɡ Mínɡ: Wǒ xiān mǎicài, ránhòu zuò wǎnfàn. 张 明： 我 先 买菜， 然后 做 晚饭。 Zhang …
Answer to the Exercise on “人气(rénqì)”
Correct Answer: A
Translation of the Dialogue:
Xiǎolónɡxiā shì Zhōnɡɡuó de rénqì měishí. 小龙虾 是 中国 的 人气 美食。 Crawfish is a very popular food for Chinese people. <<Back to “What’s Hot & What’s Not: ‘人气(rénqì)'”
Bargain Shopping with “淘(táo)”!
Please fill in the blank with the correct answer. Zhè jiā diàn zhènɡzài dǎzhé, wǒmen qù ___ diǎn hǎo dōnɡxi ba. 这 家 店 正在 打折，我们 去 ___ 点 好 东西 吧。 A. 拿(ná)
B. 淘(táo)
C. 拍(pāi)
Not sure about the answer? Not to …
Answer to the Exercise on Are You a “大人(dàrén)” or “小人(xiǎorén)”?
Correct Answer: A
Translation of the Dialogue:
Lǎopo dàrén zhè ɡè yuè línɡhuāqián kěyǐ duō ɡěi diǎn ma? 老婆 大人， 这 个 月 零花钱 可以 多 给 点 吗？ Darling, can you spare a little extra pocket money this month? Back to “Show Your Respect …
Show Your Respect by Using “大人(dàrén)”!
Please fill in the blank with the correct answer. Lǎopo ___ zhè ɡè yuè línɡhuāqián kěyǐ duō ɡěi diǎn ma? 老婆 ___，这 个 月 零花钱 可以 多 给 点 吗？ A. 大人(dàrén)
B. 小人(xiǎorén)
C. 夫人(fūrén)
Not sure about the answer? Not to worry, just …
Answers to the Exercises on Can you Speak Chinese?
Correct Answers: 1. 会(huì) 2. 能(nénɡ) In the Chinese language, both “能(nénɡ)” and “会(huì)” mean “can.” However, they are not always interchangeable, as they each convey different instances of the word. “会(huì)” is used to show that someone has mastered a skill or has the …
Can you Speak Chinese?
Please choose the correct words to fill in the blanks. 能(néng) 会(huì) Wǒ bú __ shuō hànyǔ. Nǐ kěyǐ jiāo wǒ ma? 我 不 __ 说 汉语。 你 可以 教 我 吗？ I can’t speak Chinese. Can you teach me? Bob de wèi bùhǎo, bù …
“没门儿(Méi ménr)” – No Way!
“门(mén)” is a very common Chinese word, but it has more meanings than its basic meaning of “door.” For example, we use phrases like “有门(yǒu mén),” “没门(méi mén),” and “走后门(zǒu hòumén)” which are typically used in their erhua form, as “有门儿(yǒu ménr),” “没门儿(méi ménr),” and …