Answer to “东风(dōngfēng)” and “耳边风(ěrbiānfēng)”
Correct Answers: 1. C 2. B 3. B <<Back to “‘东风(dōngfēng)’ and ‘耳边风(ěrbiānfēng)’﹣They are Different Kinds of Wind”
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Mandarin Essentials
“东风(dōngfēng)” and “耳边风(ěrbiānfēng)”﹣They are Different Kinds of Wind
In last week’s test, we learned about the idiom “喝西北风(hē xīběifēng)”, which means getting nothing to eat or having to live on air. Now in this issue we will get to know about two other kinds of “风(fēng)”: “东风(dōngfēng)” and “耳边风(ěrbiānfēng).”
“东风(dōngfēng)”
“东风(dōngfēng)” …
Answers to The Difference between “给 (gěi)” “跟 (gēn)” and “和(hé)”
Correct Answer: B “给(gěi)” In the Chinese language, “给(gěi)” is most frequently used as the verb “to give.” Example Gěi wǒ yìbēi chá. 给 我 一杯 茶。 Please give me a cup of tea. But in phrases such as, “给你打电话 (gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà) give …
The Difference between “给 (gěi)” “跟 (gēn)” and “和(hé)”
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks.
Nǐ míngtiān ___ wǒ dǎ diànhuà. Wǒ yào ___ nǐ yìqǐ qù chāoshì. 你 明天 ___ 我 打 电话。 我 要 ___ 你 一起 去 超市。 Please call me tomorrow. I want to go to …
Answer to the Exercise on Must-know Difference between “过(guò)” and “了(le)”
Correct Answer: B In the Chinese language, both “过(guò)” and “了(le)” can be used following verbs to show that something has happened.
They are both usually used in the same structure: Subject + Verb + “过(guò)” / “了(le).”
However, their precise meanings differ from one …
Must-know Difference between “过(guò)” and “了(le)”
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks.
Zhāng Wěi: Wǒ zuì xǐhuan chī de Zhōng’guó cài shì Běijīng kǎoyā. Nǐ chī __ ma? 张 伟：我 最 喜欢 吃 的 中国 菜 是 北京 烤鸭。 你 吃 __ 吗？ Zhang Wei: My favorite …
Answer to Living on Nothing but Air – “喝西北风(hēxīběifēng)”
Answer: B The translation of “喝西北风(hēxīběifēng)” is “to drink the northwest wind.” It is a Chinese idiom which means getting nothing to eat or, essentially, having to live on air. The idiom comes from the philosophy of Taoism — “吸风(xīfēng) to absorb the air,” which …
Living on Nothing but Air – “喝西北风(hēxīběifēng)”
In the Chinese language there are many interesting idioms, or turns of phrase. How many do you know? How about the following one? What is the implied meaning of the Chinese idiom – “喝西北风(hēxīběifēng)”? A. to predict the weather B. to have nothing to eat …
Answer to Do “牛奶(niúnǎi)” and “奶牛(nǎiniú)” mean the Same Thing?
Answer: B In option A, “蜜蜂(mìfēng)” means “bee” and “蜂蜜(fēngmì)” means “honey.” In B, “苹果(píngguǒ)” is “apple” but the character combination “果苹(guǒpíng)” doesn’t hold any meaning in Chinese. In option C, “国王(guówáng)” refers to “a king” and “王国(wángguó)” is his “kingdom.” Finally, in D, “白雪(báixuě)” …
Do “牛奶(niúnǎi)” and “奶牛(nǎiniú)” mean the Same Thing?
In Chinese, some two-character words or phrases will take on new meanings if the order of the two characters is swapped. For example, “牛奶(niúnǎi)” means “milk” but “奶牛(nǎiniú)” means “cow”, “喜欢(xǐhuān)” is “to like” but “欢喜(huānxǐ)” is “happy”, and “刷牙(shuāyá)” means “to brush one’s teeth” …
Watch Your Tone! Different Meanings of “扫”
Try this test to check your mastery of the pinyin of “扫地” and “扫把”. Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks. Zhāng Yáng zhèngzài yòng ( ) ( ). 张 阳 正在 用 扫把 扫地。 Zhang Yang is sweeping the floor with …
Answer to Watch Your Tone! Different Meanings of “扫”
Answer: C In Chinese there are a few polyphones, or characters with multiple pronunciations, “扫(sǎo/sào)” in the test is one of them. The two pronunciations of “扫(sǎo/sào)” express different meanings. “扫(sǎo)” means “sweep” in English, as in to clean the dust and rubbish away, like …
Answer to Measure Word Mix-Up: “对(duì)” and “双(shuāng)”
Answer: B “对(duì)” and “双(shuāng)” are two Chinese measure words. They can both be translated as “a pair of” in English, and there are only a few differences between them. In the Chinese language, “双(shuāng)” is used to describe things that often come in pairs …
Measure Word Mix-Up: “对(duì)” and “双(shuāng)”
Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks. Wǒ xīn mǎi le _____ yùndòngxié hé _____ ěrhuán. 我 新 买 了 _____ 运动鞋 和 _____ 耳环。 I bought a new _____ sneakers and _____ earrings. A. 一对(yíduì), 一双(yìshuāng)
B. 一双(yìshuāng), 一对(yíduì)
Answer to Frequency Words: “经常(jīngcháng)” vs. “通常(tōngcháng)”
Answer: A In Chinese, “经常(jīngcháng)” and “通常(tōngcháng)” are both used as adverbials. “经常(jīngcháng)” means “often or frequently”, which is a time adverbial emphasizing that the action happens many times, and that the time between each occurrence is very short. On the other hand, “通常(tōngcháng)” means …
Frequency Words: “经常(jīngcháng)” vs. “通常(tōngcháng)”
In Chinese, we use “经常(jīngcháng)” or “通常(tōngcháng)” to express frequency. Do you know the differences between the two? Take the following test to have a try! Wǒ zuìjìn _____ jiābān. 我 最近 _____ 加班。 I _____ work overtime these days. A. 经常(jīngcháng)
B. 通常(tōngcháng)
“热点 (rèdiǎn)”, “热词 (rècí)”, “汉语热 (hànyǔrè)” and “健身热 (jiànshēnrè)”
Yesterday, May 6, 2015, was a special day called 立夏(Lì xià),” the seventh solar term of the 24 Chinese Solar Terms This is the day that marks the beginning of the hot summer in China. These days, the maximum air temperatures of most cities in …
Answer to Expressing “Not Even One” in Chinese
Answer: C To express “not even one” in Chinese, we usually use the following structure: “Subjective + 一 + Measure Word + (Noun) + 也/都 + Verb.” “一(yī)” means “one” and it is followed by a measure word. You can use either “也(yě)” or “都(dōu),” …
Expressing “Not Even One” in Chinese
There may be times when you want to emphasize how little of something you have or how seldom you have done something, like “none at all” or “not even once” in English. Do you know how to express this in Chinese? Take the following test …