Quote of the week (Jul. 6, 2010)
Zhè zhǒng fànguī jiù xiāngdāngyú qìchē zhuīwěi, fù zérèn de zǒng shì hòumian de rén. 这 种 犯规 就 相当于 汽车 追尾， 负 责任 的 总 是 后面 的 人。
This kind of foul is like rear-end collision, and the one behind always has to …
Mandarin Essentials
Chinese Character: 山 (shān) Mountain (Beginner)
Chinese Character (Beginner)山 (shān) Mountain
Chinese Character: 山 (shān) Mountain 拼音 (pīnyīn) pinyin: shān 笔画 (bĭhuà) number of strokes: 3 含义 (hányì) meaning: mountain 笔顺 (bǐshùn) stroke order:词源 (cíyuán)Etymology: “Mountain” in Chinese is a pictograph character which has its origin in the shape of …
I See (Beginner) 我明白了 (初级)
strong>我明白了 (wǒ míngbai le) I See (Beginner)
strong>Example:
Wǒ fāxiàn nǐ zuìjìn hànyǔ jìnbù hǎo kuài a！ A: 我 发现 你最近 汉语 进步 好 快 啊！ I find you have made so much progress in your Chinese learning.
Dāngrán le, wǒ zuìjìn yì zhí zài …
Have You Watched the World Cup Last Night? (Advanced)
Have You Watched the World Cup Last Night?
Nǐ zuówǎn kàn Shìjièbēi le mā? A: 你 昨晚 看 世界杯 了 吗？
Did you watch the World Cup last night? Wǒ xiǎng kàn, dànshì wǒ děi shàng hànyǔ kè. Sàikuàng rúhé? B: 我 想 看， 但是 …
I Forgot (that) (Beginner) 我忘了（初级）
HSK Preparation：我忘了 (Wǒ wàng le)
I Forgot (that)
(Beginner)
Example:
Bàba, nǐ gěi wǒ mǎi hànyǔ shuǐpíng kǎoshì ( HSK ) de cānkǎoshū le ma? A: 爸爸，你 给 我 买 汉语 水平 考试 （HSK）的 参考书 了 吗？
Dad, have you bought the HSK reference book …
Mini-test Answer: Skirt (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Correct answer: D
Analysis:
A. “衬衣 (chènyī)” are the daily Chinese words for “Shirt.”
The character “衬 (chèn)” means lining and “衣 (yī)” means clothes.
B. “鞋 (xié)” is the daily Chinese word for “Shoe.”
The character “鞋 (xié)” means shoe.…
Chinese Mini-test: 裙子 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
What does the the phrase “裙子 (qúnzi)” refer to? A. Shirt B. Shoe C. Trousers D. Skirt
Learn Practical Mandarin Words:
Learn the Mandarin word: 漂亮 beautiful (Beginner) Learn the Popular Mandarin Word: Bread (Beginner) Learn the Mandarin Phrase: …
爆冷门 (Bàolěngmén) To have an unexpected winner (Advanced)
爆冷门 (Bàolěngmén) To have an unexpected winner
Origin:
“爆冷门 (bàolěngmén)” appeared first in casinos. Most people put their stakes on the popular side, and the opposite of the popular side got little attention by gamblers. This unpopular side was called “冷门 (lěngmén).” “爆 (bào)” means …
What’s wrong (Beginner) 怎么了（初级）
HSK Preparation: 怎么了 (Zěnme le)
What’s wrong
(Beginner)
Example:
Bǎobèi, zěnme le? Kū de nàme shāngxīn? A: 宝贝， 怎么 了？ 哭 得 那么 伤心？ Honey, what’s wrong? Why are you crying so sadly?
Māma, wǒ hànyǔ shuǐpíng kǎoshì (HSK) méi kǎo hǎo. B: 妈妈，我 …
Take Care (Beginner) 保重（初级）
Chinese lessons: 保重 (bǎozhòng) Take Care (Beginner) Example:
Sūshān, jīntiān de hànyǔ kè jiù dào zhèlǐ, wǒ gāi zǒu le. A: 苏 珊，今天的汉语课就到这里，我该走了。 Susan, that’s all for today’s Chinese lessons, I should leave.
Hǎo de, bǎozhòng. B: 好的，保重。 OK, take care, please.
Know …
Quote of the week (Jun. 18, 2010)
Xībānyá zuì dà de dírén bú shì biérén, jiù shì zìjǐ. 西班牙 最 大 的 敌人 不 是 别人， 就 是 自己。
The biggest enemy of (the soccer team of) Spain is not its opponent, but is itself. —From “黄健翔 (Huáng Jiànxiáng) Huang Jianxiang,” a …
乌龙球 (wūlóngqiú) Own Goal (Intermediate)
乌龙球 (wūlóngqiú) Own Goal (Intermediate)
Key Learning Points (Preview):
乌龙球 (wūlóngqiú): n own goal
龙 (lóng): n dragon
On June 14, Simon Poulsen, defender of Denmark’s soccer team, scored an own goal, resulting in Denmark’s loss to Netherlands in 2010 World Cup. Do you know …
Thank You for Waiting (Beginner) 久等了（初级）
Chinese Lessons：久等了 (jiǔ děng le) Thank You for Waiting (Beginner) Example:
Bù hǎo yìsi, tuō ni, jiǔ děng le. A: 不 好 意思，托尼，久 等 了。 Excuse me, Tony, thank you for waiting. Méi guānxi. B: 没 关系。 Not at all. Hǎo, nà wǒmen jìxù …
May I have your name? (Beginner) 您贵姓?（初级）
Business Chinese: 您贵姓 (Nín guìxìng)? May I have your name? (Beginner) This phrase is often used in formal context (for instance, in business Chinese).
The Chinese character “您 (nín)” shows more respect than “你 (nĭ).”
It is often used in business Chinese to …
Mini-test Answer: 教师 (jiàoshī) (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Correct answer: C
Analysis:
A. “工人 (gōngrén)” is the Chinese characters for “Worker.”
The character “工 (gōng)” means worker or labor and “人 (rén)” means person.
B. “儿童 (értóng)” are the Chinese characters for “Child.”
Both the characters “儿 (ér)” and …
Chinese Mini-test: 教师 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
What does the Chinese characters “教师 (jiàoshī)” refer to? A. Worker B. Child C. Teacher D. Mother
…
Quote of the week (Jun. 12, 2010)
Xiě de bú shì zuòwén, shì qínghuái. 写 的 不 是 作文， 是 情怀。
What the high school students who took the “Chinese Subject Test” in the National University Entrance Exam in June 2010 wrote were not compositions but feelings. —From ” 海岩 (Hǎi Yán) …
Please Pardon Me (Beginner) 请原谅（初级）
Business Chinese: 请原谅 (qǐng yuánliàng) Please Pardon Me (Beginner)
Example:
Qǐng yuánliàng, wǒ děi shīpéi yíxià, wǒ de shāngwù hànyǔ gùwèn zhǎo wǒ. 请 原谅， 我 得 失陪 一下, 我 的 商务 汉语 顾问 找 我。
Please pardon me, I have to leave for a …
Sorry (Beginner) 抱歉 (初级)
Learn Chinese: 抱歉 (bàoqiàn) Sorry (Beginner)
Example:
Āi yo, nǐ yā dào wǒ de shǒu le! A: 哎哟！你 压 到 我 的 手 了！
Ouch! You are pressing on my hand!
Ō, bào qiàn, wǒ zhǐ shì xiǎng kànkan nǐ de hànyǔ yǔfǎ zuòyè. B: …