打的 (dǎdī) Take a Taxi (Beginner)
打的 (dǎdī) Take a Taxi
“打 (dǎ)” means to take or to hire; “的 (dī)” means taxi.
Example：
Wǒ jīntiān zǎoshang shì dǎdī qù shàngbān de. 我今天早上是打的去上班的。 I took a taxi to work this morning.
type=”audio/mpeg”>
Got questions?
Mandarin Essentials
Quote of the week (Jan.12,2010)
Rén zhǎng de piàoliang bùrú huó de piàoliang. 人长得漂亮不如活得漂亮。
A beautiful life is better than a beautiful face. —From Leorowi, the author of Leaving Mother Lake.…
Mini-test Answer: 手机 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Correct answer: A
Analysis:
A. “手机 (shǒujī)” is the Chinese phrase for “cell phone.”
The Chinese character “手 (shǒu)” refers to hand and “机 (jī)” refers to machine.
B. “手套 (shǒutào)” is the Chinese phrase for “glove.”
The Chinese character “手 …
Mini-test Answer: 做饭 (Intermediate)
Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)
Correct answer: C
Analysis:
A. “Chīfàn” is the Chinese pinyin for “吃饭 to have a meal.” “吃 (chī)” means to eat or have and “饭 (fàn)” means meal.
B. “Zuòkè” is the Chinese pinyin for “做客 to be a guest or …
Mini-test Answer: 乱七八糟 (Advanced)
Advanced Level 高级 (gāojí)
Correct answer: B
Analysis:
A. “七上八下 (qīshàngbāxià)” means an unsettled state of mind. The Chinese character “七 (qī)” refers to seven; “上 (shàng)” refers to up; “八 (bā)” refers to eight and “下 (xià)” refers to down.
B. “乱七八糟 (luànqībāzāo)” means …
“说曹操，曹操到(shuō Cáo Cāo, Cáo Cāo dào) Speak of the Devil and He Appears”
“说曹操，曹操到 (shuō Cáo Cāo, Cáo Cāo dào) Speak of the Devil and He Appears”
Origin
The story about “说曹操，曹操到 (shuō Cáo Cāo, Cáo Cāo dào) speak of the devil and he appears” was from《三国演义(sānguó yǎnyì)》The Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
汉献帝 (Hàn Xiàndì) Han Xiandi …
去网吧 (Qù wăngbā) Go to an Internet Cafe
去网吧 (Qù wăngbā) Go to an Internet Cafe
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Dărăo yí xià, qĭngwèn “Internet Cafe” yòng hànyŭ zěnme shuō? A：打扰 一下，请问 “Internet Cafe” 用 汉语 怎么 说？ Excuse me, how to say “Internet Cafe” in Chinese? Ò, zhège ya, wŏmen jiào wăngbā. …
寒假 (hánjià) Winter Vacation (Beginner)
寒假 (hánjià) Winter Vacation
The character “寒 (hán)” means cold and “假 (jià)” means vacation or holiday.
Example:
Wǒ dǎsuan lìyòng hánjià zài wǎngshàng xuéxiào xuéxí zhōngwén. 我打算利用寒假在网上学校学习中文。 I plan to learn Chinese through online Chinese school during winter vacation.
期末 (qīmò) End of Semester/ End of Term (Beginner)
期末 (qīmò) End of Semester/ End of Term
The character “期 (qī)” means semester and “末 (mò)” means end.
Example:
Qīmò jiùyào dào le, wǒ děi kāishǐ zhǔnbèi HSK kǎoshì le. 期末就要到了，我得开始准备HSK考试了。
The end of the semester is coming up soon, so I will be …
开窍 (kāiqiào) Be enlightened/ Begin to understand (Advanced)
开窍 (kāiqiào) Be enlightened/
Begin to understand
The character “开 (kāi)” means to open and “窍 (qiào)” means aperture.
Example： Wǒ gěi tā jiěshìle hěnduō biàn, tā zhōngyú kāiqiào le. 我给他解释了很多遍，他终于开窍了。
I explained it to him many times. Finally, he became to understand it.
Got …
没戏 (méixì) Hopeless (Advanced)
没戏 (méixì) Hopeless
The character “没 (méi)” means not and “戏 (xì)” means play or show.
Example:
Wǒ hái méiyǒu jiēdào lùyòng tōngzhī, gūjì méixì le. 我还没有接到录用通知，估计没戏了。
I have not received an offer yet and I guess it is hopeless.…
无所谓 (wúsuǒwèi) Don’t care (Intermediate)
无所谓 (wúsuǒwèi) Don’t care
The character “无 (wú)” means not; “所 (suǒ)” means that and “谓 (wèi)”
means to say. Example:
Zhōumò shuí qù cānjiā jùhuì duì wǒ dōu wúsuǒwèi, yīnwéi wǒ xiǎng huíjiā. 周末谁去参加聚会对我都无所谓，因为我想回家。
I don’t care who will go to the party over …
Popular Daily Chinese Word: “雷 (léi)” & “山寨 (shānzhài)”
“雷 (léi)” & “山寨 (shānzhài)”
“雷 (léi)”
What does this word mean?
It has been one of the most popular Internet words since 2008. With the original meaning of thunder, the word “雷 (léi)” has been given another meaning on the web. Now it means …
辞旧迎新 (cíjiùyíngxīn) Ring out the Old Year and Ring in the New (Intermediate)
辞旧迎新 (cíjiùyíngxīn) Ring out the Old Year and Ring in the New
The character “辞 (cí)” means to bid farewell; “旧 (jiù)” means old or
former; “迎 (yíng)” means to welcome and “新 (xīn)” means new. Example: Háizimen fàng biānpào lái cíjiùyíngxīn. 孩子们放鞭炮来辞旧迎新。
The children …
Mini-test Answer: 上网 (Intermediate)
Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōngjí)
Correct answer: C Analysis: A. “Go to school” is the phrase for “上学 (shàngxué).” “上 (shàng)” means to go to and “学 (xué)” means school.
B. “Attend classes” is the phrase for “上课 (shàngkè).” “上 (shàng)” means to go to and …
Mini-test Answer: 冷 (Beginner)
Beginner Level 初级 (chūjí)
Correct answer: A Analysis: A. “冷 (lěng)” is the Chinese character for “cold.” B. “凉 (liáng)” is the Chinese character for “cool.” C. “热 (rè)” is the Chinese character for “hot.” D. “暖 (nuǎn)” is the Chinese character for “warm.”
<<Back …
Mini-test Answer: 马马虎虎 (Advanced)
Advanced Level 高级 (gāojí)
Correct answer: B Analysis: A. “Kuàikuàilèlè” is the Chinese pinyin for “快快乐乐cheerful.”
“快 (kuài)” means quick and “乐 (lè)” means cheerful.
B. “Mǎmǎhūhū” is the Chinese pinyin for “马马虎虎careless.” “马 (mǎ)” means horse and “虎 (hǔ)” means tiger.
C. “Tuántuányuányuán” is …
Quotes of the week (Jan.6,2010)
Rúguǒ wǒmen bù chénggōng, yídìng yǒurén chénggōng; rúguǒ wǒmen bù chénggōng, hòuhuǐ de yídìng shì wǒmen zìjǐ.b 如果我们不成功，一定有人成功；如果我们不成功，后悔的一定是我们自己。 If we fail, there must be someone who will succeed; if we fail, it will be us who will regret. —from Ma Yun, CEO of Alibaba, one …
蜗居(wōjū) Dwelling Narrowness
蜗居(wōjū) Dwelling Narrowness
Key Learning Points (Preview):
房价(fángjià) n. housing price
房奴(fángnú) n. mortgage slave
“蜗居(wōjū) Dwelling Narrownes” is probably the most popular TV series in 2009. It is about a new couple struggling for buying their first “房子(fángzi) house.” The script expresses a confusion …
赠送 (zèngsòng) Present as a Gift/ Give as a Gift (Intermediate)
赠送 (zèngsòng) Present as a Gift/ Give as a Gift
The character “赠 (zèng)” means to present and “送 (sòng)” means to send
or to give.
Example:
Jiàoshòu xiàng xuéyuàn zèngsòng le yìfú mínghuà. 教授向学院赠送了一幅名画。
The professor gave a famous painting to the university as …