Answer to What Are You Doing? Using the Phrase “干吗?”
Correct Answers 1. B 2. C <<Back to “What Are You Doing? Using the Phrase 干吗?”
Mandarin Essentials
What Are You Doing? Using the Phrase “干吗?”
One of the hardest parts of learning the Chinese language is understanding the various meanings of the same word, and then knowing how and when to throw them into a conversation. Today we will take a look at a simple, yet versatile phrase: “干吗? (gànmá?)” …
What Do You Mean By “回头见(huítóujiàn)”?
You may often hear others say “回头见(huítóujiàn)”. What does it mean? How to use it? Now let’s have a look!
Mǎ Kè: Liùdiǎn le, Línglíng, yìqǐ xiàbān ba. 马 克：六点 了，玲玲， 一起 下班 吧。 Mark: It’s 6 o ’clock. Lingling, let’s go. Línglíng: Nǐ xiān …
The Breakfast Chinese People Are Crazy About!
It is common to see many carts like the one in the video set out along the street selling breakfast each morning. A traditional breakfast, 煎饼果子(jiānbǐng guǒzi), is made up mainly of a fried flour and egg batter, with chopped green onions, lettuce and soy …
Answer to What Do You Mean By “回头见(huítóujiàn)”?
Answer: 1. B 2. C “回头见(huítóujiàn)” is a common greeting in Chinese. “回头(huítóu)” means to turn one’s head or turn round. And “见(jiàn)” means to see or catch sight of something. However, “回头见(huítóujiàn)” doesn’t mean to turn around and see something. Actually, when someone says …
Why are Chinese Surnames So “贵(guì)” Expensive?
Chinese people have their own special ways to ask about someone’s name. How familiar are you with these customary phrases? Try the following test to find out! Which is NOT a proper reply? Zhāng Míng: Nín guì xìng? 张 明： 您 贵 姓？ Zhang Ming: …
Answer to Why are Chinese Surnames So “贵(guì)” Expensive?
In the test, “姓(xìng)” refers to one’s surname, or family name. When asking somebody’s “姓(xìng),” we usually add “贵(guì)” out of politeness and to show our respect. However, to answer the question, we shouldn’t add “贵(guì)” as a way of showing our humility. We can …
How to Buy Subway & Bus Tickets in Chinese (Part II)
In a recent newsletter, we introduced the key Chinese phrases you will need to buy “火车票(huǒchēpiào) train tickets” in China. With all the choices you have when it comes to type and class of travel, it can certainly get a little confusing. Now that you …
How to Buy Train Tickets in Chinese (Part I)
One of the best things about traveling in China is the country’s convenient transportation network. China’s cities are well connected by trains, which are generally quick, comfortable, and with regular departures to choose from. To enjoy your trip in China, you must learn some essential …
Answer to What Does It Mean When You Say “随便(suíbiàn)”?
Answer: C The key word in this test is “随便(suíbiàn).” Generally, the word is used in two ways: 1. We can use “随便(suíbiàn)” as a verb which means “ to do as one wishes” or as a conjunction which means “no matter,” indicating that one …
What Does It Mean When You Say “随便(suíbiàn)”?
Read the dialogue below and answer the question that follows. Mǎ Kè: Amy, wǒmen qù chīfàn ba. Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme? 马 克：Amy，我们 去 吃饭 吧。你 想 吃 什么？ Mark: Amy, let’s dine out, what do you wan to eat?
Amy: Suíbiàn. Wǒ chī shénme …
胸有成竹 To Have a Well-thought-out Plan
Sòngcháo de shíhou, yǒu yí gè jiào Wén Tóng de huàjiā, hěn shàncháng huà zhúzi. 宋朝 的 时候， 有 一 个 叫 文 同 的 画家， 很 擅长 画 竹子。 In the Song Dynasty, there was an artist whose name was Wen Tong; he was …
Are You a Smartphone Addict? 手机控(shǒujīkòng)/低头族(dītóuzú)
New technology is being developed every day, and the Chinese are always up-to-date on what’s hot, with the newest gadget in hand. People in China are especially obsessed with smartphones. Take a trip on a bus or the subway in any Chinese city and have …
Answer to Are You a Smartphone Addict? 手机控(shǒujīkòng)/低头族(dītóuzú)
Correct Answers
1. A 2. A Not sure about the answer? No problem! Have a look at the following article then come back to the quiz when you’re ready!
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Feeling Like a Mopey Cat or a Depressed Dog Today?
Recently, a Chinese cat named Luhu was deemed “the most depressed cat in the world” by many netizens, thanks to the permanently gloomy expression on the feline’s face.
Meanwhile, Grumpy Dog, a pooch from America with an annoyed look, went viral on the internet after …
Is there a difference between “意思 (yìsi)” and “有意思 (yǒu yìsi)?”
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blank.
Wǒ xǐhuan xué zhōngwén, yīnwèi zhōngwén hěn ___. 我 喜欢 学 中文， 因为 中文 很____。 I like learning Chinese, because Chinese is very interesting. A. 意思(yìsi) B. 有意思(yǒu yìsi)
Answer to is there a difference between “意思 (yìsi)” and “有意思 (yǒu yìsi)?”
Correct Answer: B In the Chinese language, it seems that many words have similar literal meanings, but in fact, they are quite different from each other. Let’s take a look at the two terms “意思(yìsi)” and “有意思(yǒu yìsi)” as examples. In Chinese, “意思(yìsi)” can be …