Mandarin Essentials
打电话 (dǎdiànhuà) Make a Call (Beginner)
打电话 (dǎdiànhuà) Make a Call
“打 (dǎ)” means to beat or to strike; “电 (diàn)” means electricity and “话
(huà)” means word or talk.
Wǒ gěi wǒ mā dǎ gè diànhuà, gàosu tā jīnwǎn wǒ wándiǎnr huíqù. 我给我妈打个电话,告诉她今晚我晚点儿回去。
I call my mother to tell …
麻烦 (máfan) Trouble (Intermediate)
麻烦 (máfan) Trouble
The character “麻 (má)” means to bother; The character “烦 (fán)” means
upset or trouble.
Máfan nǐ bāng wǒ kànkan zhè dào tí zěnme zuò? 麻烦你帮我看看这道题怎么做?
Can I trouble you to teach me how to solve this question?
// …
稍等 (shāoděng) Wait a Bit (Beginner)
稍等 (shāoděng) Wait a Bit
The character “稍 (shāo)” means a bit or a little and “等 (děng)” means to wait. Example:
Shāoděng yíhuìr, wǒ mǎshàng jiù lái. 稍等一会儿,我马上就来。
Wait a bit, I’ ll be right there.
// // …
没事儿 (méishìr) It doesn’t Matter / Nothing (Beginner)
没事儿 (méishìr) It doesn’t Matter /Nothing
The character “没 (méi)” means not or be without; “事 (shì)” means matter
and “儿 (ér)” here is a suffix.
A: Bùhǎoyìsi, wǒ bùxiǎoxīn bǎ nǐ de bǐ nònghuài le. 不好意思,我不小心把你的笔弄坏了。
I’ m sorry; I broke your pen …
上班 (shàngbān) Go to Work (Beginner)
上班 (shàngbān) Go to Work
“上 (shàng)” means on or above; “班 (bān)” means a work shift. Example:
Míngtiān bú shàngbān, wǒmen qù guàngjiē ba.
明天 不 上班, 我们 去 逛街 吧。
Know something about Chinese business etiquette HSK Test General Chinese (Beginner
Quote of the week (Jan.20,2010)
人生有时就像电脑,说死机就死机,没有商量的余地。
Rénshēng yǒushí jiù xiàng diànnǎo, shuō sǐjī jiù sǐjī, méiyǒu shāngliang de yúdì.
Life is like a computer sometimes, when it shuts down, it does. There is no compromise.
—From a computer user who often loses information because of sudden shut-down of computers.…
Mini-test Answer: 春天 (Beginner)
Correct Answer: A Analysis:
A. “春天 (chūntiān)” is the word for “Spring.”
The character “春 (chūn)” means spring and “天 (tiān)” means sky.
B. “夏天 (xiàtiān)” is the word for “Summer.”
The character “夏 (xià)” means summer and “天 (tiān)” means …
Mini-test Answer: 损坏 (Intermediate)
Correct Answer: B
Analysis: A. “珍惜 (zhēnxī)” is the word for “Cherish.”
The characters “珍 (zhēn)” and “惜 (xī)” both mean to cherish.
B. “损坏 (sŭnhuài)” is the word for “Damage.”
The character “损 (sŭn)” means to damage and “坏 (huài)” …
Mini-test Answer: 卖关子 (Advanced)
Correct Answer: C Analysis:
A. “忍受 (rěnshòu)” is the phrase for “Put up with.”
The characters “忍 (rěn)” and “受 (shòu)” both mean to endure.
B. “开玩笑 (kāi wánxiào)” is the phrase for “Play a joke.”
The character “开 (kāi)” means …
新月 (xīnyuè) New Moon and 聊斋志异 (Liáozhāizhìyì) Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio
新月 (Xīnyuè) New Moon and 聊斋志异 (Liáozhāizhìyì) Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio Key Learning Points (Preview):
电影(diànyǐng): n. movie
The release of the new movie “新月 (Xīnyuè) New Moon” “刷新 (shuāxīn) broke a lot of records.” It left Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Harry …
你的属相是虎吗?(Nǐ de shǔxiàng shì hǔ ma?) Is Tiger Your Animal?
你的属相是虎吗?(Nǐ de shǔxiàng shì hǔ ma?) Is Tiger Your Animal?
Tiger symbolizes courage, confidence and energy, so this year is supposed to be full of hope and success. Years of Birth for Tigers: 1914 1926 1938 1950 1962 1974 1986 1998 2010 Possessing the strength …
Video Lesson: 购物 (gòuwù) Shopping (Beginner)
In this lesson, eChineseLearning’s professional Chinese teacher will teach you shopping related Chinese words, expressions and grammar. Specifically, you will learn numbers, measure words, pronouns, verbs, and dialogues, etc.
Key Learning Points:
A:Nǐ yào (măi) shénme? 你要(买)什么? What do you want to buy
B:Wŏ yào …
搞笑 (ɡǎoxiào) Funny/ Provoke laughter (Advanced)
搞笑 (gǎoxiào) Funny/Provoke laughter
The character “搞 (gǎo)” means to make or to cause; the character “笑 (xiào)” means laugh.
Zhè bù xǐjùpiān fēicháng gǎoxiào. 这部喜剧片非常搞笑。 This comedy is funny.…
兼职 (jiānzhí) Part-time Job (Beginner)
兼职 (jiānzhí) Part-time Job
The character “兼 (jiān)” means to do more than one thing concurrently;
the character “职 (zhí)” means job or work.
Nǐ hánjià dǎsuan zhǎo fèn jiānzhí háishì qù lǚyóu? 你寒假打算找份兼职还是去旅游?
Will you find a part-time job or travel around China …
逛街 (guàngjiē) Go Window-shopping/ Go Shopping (Beginner)
逛街 (guàngjiē) Go Window-shopping/ Go Shopping
The character “逛 (guàng)” means to stroll around or to roam; “街 (jiē)” means street.
Wǒ zuótiān wǎnshàng qù guàngjiē le. 我昨天晚上去逛街了。
I went window-shopping last night. Got questions? // // HSK Test General Chinese (Beginner Level) …



