Mandarin Essentials
厕所 (cèsuǒ) Toilet (Beginner)
厕所
(cèsuǒ) Toilet (Beginner)
The character “厕 (cè)” means toilet and “所 (suǒ)” means place.
Example:
A: Dǎrǎo yí xià, qǐngwèn fùjìn nǎlǐ yǒu cèsuǒ? A: 打扰 一 下，请问 附近 哪里 有 厕所？
A: Excuse me, could you tell me if there is a toilet …
Quote of the week (Mar. 23, 2010)
Ài búshì xiù de, xìngfú búshì shài de. 爱 不是 秀 的，幸福 不是 晒 的。
Love is not for showing off and happiness is not for display. Culture Note: Many famous stars in China like to show that they are satisfied with their personal lives …
I Meant Chinese Style (Not Chinese Food)! (Beginner)
I Meant Chinese Style (Not Chinese Food)! With a slight change in pronunciation, foreigners can often be misunderstood when speaking Chinese. One of the ways this happens is when a foreigner refers to something having a “Chinese style”, but ends up getting mistaken for having …
医院 (yīyuàn) Hospital (Beginner)
医院 (yīyuàn) Hospital (Beginner)
The character “医 (yī)” means to cure and “院 (yuàn)” means courtyard
literally, but here it means hospital.
Example: Xījīng yīyuàn shì shǎnxīshěng zuì dà de yīyuàn. 西京 医院 是 陕西省 最 大 的 医院。 Xijing Hospital is the largest hospital …
跑题 (pǎotí) Digress into a Different Subject (Advanced)
跑题 (pǎotí) Digress into a Different Subject (Advanced)
The character “跑 (pǎo)” means to run; “题 (tí)” means topic or subject.
Example:
Zhècì zuòwén wǒ hǎoxiàng xiě pǎotí le. 这次 作文 我 好像 写 跑题了。 I seem to digress from the subject in this essay …
户外 (hùwài) Outdoor (Intermediate)
户外 (hùwài) Outdoor (Intermediate)
The character “户 (hù)” means door; “外 (wài)” means outside.
Example:
A: Zhège zhōumò zhǔnbèi zěnme guò yɑ? 这个 周末 准备 怎么 过 呀？ Do you have any plans for this weekend?
B: Wǒ xiǎng qù hùwài yùndòng yí xià. 我 …
Mini-test Answer: 堵车 (Advanced)
Advanced Level 高级 (gāojí)
Correct answer: B
Analysis: A. “堵塞 (dǔsè)” are the Chinese characters for “to block.”
Both “堵 (dǔ)” and “塞 (sè)” mean to stop up.
B. “堵车 (dǔchē)” are the Chinese characters for “traffic jam.”
“堵 (dǔ)” means to stop up, and …
Mini-test Answer: 想念 (Intermediate)
Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)
Correct answer: C
Analysis: A. “想法 (xiǎngfǎ)” are the Chinese characters for “idea.” “想 (xiǎng)” means to think, and “法 (fǎ)” literally means law.
B. “纪念 (jìniàn)” are the Chinese characters for “to commemorate.” “纪 (jì)” literally means period, and “念(niàn)” …
Mini-test Answer: Gōngyù (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Correct answer: A
Analysis:
A. “Gōngyù” is the Chinese Pinyin for “公寓 apartment.” “公 (gōng)” literally means public, and “寓 (yù)” means residence in this word.
B. “Gōngyuán” is the Chinese Pinyin for “公园 park.” “公 (gōng)” means public, and “园 …
Chinese Mini-test: Traffic Jam (Advanced)
Advanced Level 高级 (gāojí)
“Such bad luck! Today I was stuck in a traffic jam on the way to take my
Chinese tests
, and I was almost too late.” Do you know how to write the
Chinese characters
for “traffic jam” in this sentence? …
Chinese Mini-test: To Miss (Intermediate)
Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)
A: Thanks to our Chinese teacher we have aced our
Chinese tests
. B: Yes, our teacher is the best one. Now I’ve even started to miss him. Have you learned the
Chinese characters
for “miss” in this dialogue? A. 想法 …
Chinese Mini-test: 公寓 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
“我在公司附近租了一间公寓。I rent an apartment near the company where I work.” Do you know the
Chinese Pinyin
for “公寓 apartment” in this sentence? A. gōngyù B. gōngyuán C. yùyán D. gōngzhǔ
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行李 (xíngli) Luggage/ Baggage (Intermediate)
行李 (xíngli) Luggage/Baggage (Intermediate)
The character “行 (xíng)” means to walk; “李 (lǐ)” means plum or a surname. Example:
Wàichū shí wèi fāngbiàn qǐjiàn jìnliàng shǎo dài xíngli. 外出 时 为 方便 起见 尽量 少 带 行李。
Considering the problem of convenience, you should bring …
太极拳 (tàijíquán) Tai-Chi (Intermediate)
太极拳 (tàijíquán) Tai-Chi (Intermediate)
The character “太 (tài)” means too or over; “极 (jí)” means pole or top and “拳 (quán)” means fist. Example:
Tàijíquán liúchuán zhìjīn yǎnhuà chūle bùtóng de liúpài. 太极拳 流传 至今 演化 出了 不同 的 流派。
Tai Chi has spread until …
咖啡 (kāfēi) Coffee (Beginner)
咖啡 (kāfēi) Coffee (Beginner)
Both the characters “咖 (kā)” and “啡 (fēi)” mean coffee.
Example:
Yǒu rén rènwéi hē kāfēi kěyǐ tíshén ne. 有 人 认为 喝 咖啡 可以 提神 呢。 Some people think that drinking coffee can refresh oneself. // // …
Steamed Stuffed Bun Plays Rock & Roll (Intermediate)
Steamed Stuffed Bun Plays Rock & Roll
“包子 (bāozi) stuffed bun,” which is coated with flat dough and stuffed with vegetables, meat, or fine bean mash, is a kind of traditional Chinese food. In this video, “包子 (bāozi) stuffed buns” held a “摇滚演唱会 (yáogǔn yǎnchànghuì)…温暖 (wēnnuǎn) Warm (Beginner)
温暖 (wēnnuǎn) Warm (Beginner) Both the characters “温 (wēn)” and “暖 (nuǎn)” mean warm.
Example:
Chūntiān dào le, wēnnuǎn de yángguāng zhào zài shēn shàng, shūfu jí le! 春天 到 了，温暖 的 阳光 照 在 身 上， 舒服 极 了！ Spring is coming; it’s so …
Quote of the week (Mar. 12, 2010)
Gǔshì zěnme kěnéng yǒu zhuānjiā ne? Gǔshì bù kěnéng yǒu zhuānjiā ma! Gǔshì 股市 怎么 可能 有 专家 呢？股市 不 可能 有 专家 嘛！股市 zhyǒu shūjiā hé yíngjiā. 只有 输家 和 赢家。
How can it be possible to have experts in the stock market? No …
眼镜 (yǎnjìng) Spectacles/Glasses (Beginner)
眼镜 (yǎnjìng) Spectacles/Glasses (Beginner)
The character “眼 (yǎn)” means eye and “镜 (jìng)” means glass. Example:
Xiànzài hěnduō xuéshēng dōu dàishàng le jìnshì yǎnjìng. 现在 很多 学生 都 戴上 了 近视 眼镜。 Now many students wear glasses.
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