Let’s get real: You opened your Chinese textbook, full of motivation…
And it taught you how to say:
Nǐ hǎo! Wǒ xìng Lǐ, jiào Lǐ Míng. Wǒ shì Yīngguó rén. 你好！我姓李，叫李明。我是英国人。 Hello! My surname is Li. My name is Li Ming. I am British.
Cool. …
Quiz: What’s the real purpose of asking “吃了吗?” (Have you eaten?)?
A. Actual meal inquiry
B. Like saying “How are you?”
C. Restaurant promotion
The correct answer is: B. Like saying “How are you?”
In Chinese culture, “吃了吗?” (Have you eaten?) is a common greeting, …
Quiz: In Chinese culture, what does the number “8” symbolize?
A. Xìngyùn hé fánróng (幸运和繁荣) – Luck and prosperity
B. Chángshòu (长寿) – Longevity
C. Sǐwáng (死亡) – Death
D. Àiqíng (爱情) – Love
Answer: A. Xìngyùn hé fánróng (幸运和繁荣) – Luck and prosperity
Explanation: …
Question: Which festival is known as the “Chinese Valentine’s Day”?
A. Spring Festival（春节，Chūnjié）
B. Mid-Autumn Festival（中秋节，Zhōngqiū Jié）
C. Dragon Boat Festival（端午节，Duānwǔ Jié）
D. Qixi Festival（七夕节，Qīxī Jié）
The correct answer to this quiz is D.
Analysis:
Spring Festival (春节, Chūnjié)
Spring Festival, also known …
Learning Chinese is more than just memorizing textbook phrases—it’s about connecting with people, understanding culture, and staying relevant in today’s fast-paced world. While “你好” (Nǐ hǎo) is a great start, modern Chinese communication is filled with vibrant greetings, trendy slang, and online expressions that …
Are you often perplexed by Chinese measure words? Wondering why you need different ones for various things, even though they all seem to be used for counting? Why is it “一条鱼 (yì tiáo yú)” instead of “一个鱼 (yí gè yú)”? Why do we use …
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When you’re learning Chinese, there’s a big leap from the formal written Chinese you see in textbooks to the casual spoken Chinese you’ll use in everyday conversations. Written Chinese tends to be structured and formal, while spoken Chinese is more relaxed, flexible, and filled …
With China now offering visa-free policies to many countries, more and more tourists are visiting to explore its culture and, of course, enjoy some shopping. Shopping in China is not just about buying things—it’s an exciting and unique experience, especially when it comes to bargaining…
Moving to a new country can be both exciting and daunting, especially when it comes to language barriers. For expats in China, mastering a few essential Chinese phrases can significantly enhance your daily life and help you connect with locals. Whether you’re ordering food, …
Learning Chinese as an adult can feel like a daunting task, especially when it comes to understanding its sentence structure. Unlike English, Chinese follows a different word order and uses contextual markers that can confuse even the most dedicated learners. But what if you …
Traveling to China can be an exciting adventure, but navigating the country’s vast landscapes and bustling cities can seem like a daunting task for those unfamiliar with the local transportation systems. Whether you’re exploring the skyscrapers of Shanghai or the ancient sites of Xi’an, …
Do you want to enhance your international competitiveness in the medical field? Have you realized that learning Mandarin not only allows you to communicate with a larger population of Mandarin speakers, but also opens the door to global medical resources and opportunities?
Answer: D
Answers A, B, and C are typical and comfortable situations in dating and romance. You wouldn’t be imposing on another couple. However, answer D, in which you ask to join your sister and her fiancée’s romantic dinner would be a case …
Answer: 1. B Analysis: Wǒ jūrán yùdào gè pèng cí de! 我居然遇到个碰瓷的! I unexpectedly ran into someone who was pretending to be hit by my car in order to get money from me.
The quiz examines the familiarity with and understanding of Chinese sentences components. …
Listening to Chinese podcasts is an excellent way to improve your listening skills and expand your vocabulary. If you listen to podcasts regularly, combined with 1-on-1 online Chinese lessons, you get an immersive Chinese learning environment that will help you improve your Chinese faster. …
Chinese grammar can seem daunting for beginners, especially for those who are more familiar with the grammatical structures of Indo-European languages like English, Spanish, or French. However, with a solid understanding of the basics, you can demystify the complexities of Chinese and make significant progress …
狗屎运 (gǒushǐyùn), although sounds hilarious in English, is a slang to describe someone getting unexpected luck or good luck in bad days. The word “狗屎 (gǒushǐ)” means “dog shit” and “运 (yùn)” is from “运气 (yùnqi),” which means “fortune, luck.” This phrase comes from the …
