Key Learning Points (Preview): 赏月 (shǎngyuè):
to admire the full moon
月饼 (yuèbǐng): n. moon cake
On Mid-autumn Festival, the custom of “赏月 (shǎngyuè) admiring the full moon” began with people in ancient China, and is still maintained. In the Zhou Dynasty, on the …
You are probably very familiar with the fairytale Cinderella, but did you know there was a custom in ancient China much like this story? The bridegroom in China would actually use a shoe to tell if it’s his bride! Much like in the children’s story, …
Another Olympic season has passed, and the same as the past few Olympics since 2008 in Beijing, swimming dominated the headlines. Particularly, the swimmers themselves made headlines from Rio to around the world. The most famous swimmer, 25-time gold medal winner Michael Phelps drew attention …
Correct Answers 1. B 2. D The “七夕 (qīxī)” festival is commonly known as “Chinese Valentine’s Day.” The characters “七夕 (qīxī),” when taken apart, actually mean the “七 (qī) seventh,” “夕 (xī) night.” Indeed, this romantic holiday always falls on the 7th night of the …
1. What day is the “七夕节(qīxījié) Chinese Valentine’s Day (lunar calendar)?” A. July 1st B. July 7th C. June 1st D. June 7th 2. All of the following are traditional activities on “七夕节(qīxījié)” EXCEPT: A. 表白 (biǎobái) B. 求婚 (qiúhūn) C. 烛光晚餐 (zhúguāng wǎncān) D. …
Everybody wants to be an Internet star —maybe not everybody—but a lot of people try! (Do you know the famous NBA star?) And with the multitude of accessible media platforms—Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, etc.—many make it. Before, you had to act in a …
Are you a “吃货(chīhuò) foodie? ” In every Chinese city there are fast, affordable and delicious restaurants available on the street or at traditional markets. In English we call this: street food, hawker fare, stall food, or food vendors. You can sit on a small …
Correct Answers 1. C 2. C <<Back to “Enjoy China’s street food-大排档 (dàpáidàng)
Seen regularly near low ceilings and doorways, many foreigners would be confused by a sign asking them to “carefully bang head.” This is just one of the many wonderful ways “小心碰头 (xiǎoxīn pèng tóu)” has been mistranslated – others include “carefulness bump head,” “carefully hits …
At last, graduation day has finally arrived, and for students all across the world, the years of hard work have finally reached a culmination. On this day, students will celebrate in many different ways , depending on where they come from. The procedures and traditions …
What does “Chinese food” look like in your hometown? Chinese food in foreign countries such as the UK and USA is popular, but the dishes are often different from what is actually served in China! Do you know what these “authentic” dishes are? Recently, a …
At some point every foreigner must face the Chinese toilet. Try as you might, you’ll one day find yourself hearing nature’s call with no ritzy Western restaurant in sight. And then it’ll happen again, and again, and then again. But never fear! Those public restrooms …
Love is in the air, and if you’re like many people, that means you’ve got one or two wedding invitations headed straight for your mailbox. As if deciding what to gift newlyweds isn’t hard enough, in China there are some culture-specific taboos. You’ll want to …
