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Interjections are commonly used in our daily life which are also known as “叹词 (tàncí)” or “感叹词 (gǎntàncí)” in Mandarin Chinese. These kinds of expressions are used in our daily lives to express exclamations or make various kinds of emotional responses.
It happens every day! We use interjections or exclamations to express our emotional responses to ...
Have you ever hear the Chinese term 爆表 (bàobiǎo)? Currently this term is extremely popular among young Chinese people and its all over the internet! This fun term originally referred to when a meter “explodes,” or the reader is higher than what the instrument can read, for example, there is an AQI over 500 but ...
“Your Chinese is probably the worst in the class.” A classmate said jokingly to my close friend in a study abroad program. Although her Chinese was not the best, it definitely wasn’t the worse. Yet, she took his teasing very personally and I am pretty sure even cried about it later!
Afterwards, my Chinese roommate taught ...
After looking at the photo above are your eyes feeling spicy? What I mean is, does it feel like a pepper has been squirted in your eye? In Chinese, there is a fabulous internet phrase to describe when you are looking at something awful: 辣眼睛 (làyǎnjīng) or “spicy eyes.” It is a way of commenting ...
Recently, a humorous video titled “Obama hilariously mocks own retirement in skit” gained attention in the US and also in China. What was the occasion for the humorous video and what exactly did Obama do in it? He did something that we call “自黑 (zìhēi) self-mockery” in Chinese.
Each year, at the Washington Hilton, the White ...
Jack: Eric, néng jiè diǎnr qián gěi wǒ ma?
Jack: Eric, 能 借 点儿 钱 给 我 吗？
Jack: Eric, can you lend me some money?
Eric: Nǐ yòu méi qián le?
Eric: 你 又 没 钱 了？
Eric: You ran out of money again?
Jack: Shì a, wǒ xiànzài qióng de zhǐnéng chītǔ le.
Jack: 是啊，我 现在 穷 得 只能 吃土 了。
Jack: Yeah, I’m _____.
What can we learn from the dialogue?
A. Jack wants to ...
Well, summer is here, the hottest time of the year. Do you feel burned by the sun? We do! But we always try to use sun protection. In Chinese, "晒 (shài)" means "to sun" or "to shine." "晒太阳 (shài tàiyang)" means "to bask in the sun." Most people who bask in the sun this year ...
我的神啊 (wŏ de shén a)
Where does it originate?
“我的神啊”(wŏ de shén a) first became popular from a hot Chinese TV series 武林外传(wŭ lín wài zhuàn “My Own Swordsman”)as a pet phrase of Tong Xiangyu, the owner of Tongfu tavern. Then it has been widely spread on the internet. Actually,“我的神啊”(wŏ de shén a) is the assonance ...
During the financial crisis (金融危机 jīn róng wēi jī), millions of people are suffering from the psychological problems caused by losing jobs (失业shī yè), and bankrupcy (破产pò chăn) .Ever since the financial crisis, we have seen an increasing amount of unemployment (失业人员shī yè rén yuán). These people suddenly suffered the fear of job loss ...
猪流感 (Zhūliúgǎn)
In the past few months, the H1N1 virus has made news headlines around the world. The virus was originally referred as 猪流感(zhūliúgǎn) “swine flu.” To help you learn these three Chinese characters, we’ll introduce 猪流感(zhūliúgǎn) word by word.
With the basic meaning of “pig,” “boar” or “swine,” 猪(zhū) conveys a deep cultural connotation in Chinese. ...
秀(xiù) Show
Origin and Meaning
The word 秀(xiù) comes from the transliteration of the English word “show.” Literally, it means handsome and elegant. But now it is more commonly used as the verb “to show.”
Usage of the Phrase
Tā yòu zài xiù zìjĭ de xīn fāmíng.
他 又 在 秀 自己的 新 发明。
He shows his new invention ...
“靠谱(kào pǔ)” is a slang term used daily by Chinese people. The meaning of “靠谱(kàopǔ)” is “to be reliable” or “ to be worthy of trust.” It is used as an adjective to describe a person or thing.
If you trust a person and you rely on him to help solve problems. ( Ask Jennifer!) Then to you, this person is very “靠谱(kàopǔ).”
Examples
Tā hěn ...
In China, you will often hear the word "淡定(dàndìng)" used in daily life, on TV and see it a lot on the Internet. The word "淡定(dàndìng)" means “to calm down or to be at ease about something.” In a romantic comedy called “十全九美 (shí quán jiǔ měi, Almost Perfect), "淡定(dàndìng)" is a pet phrase of ...
Soy sauce is a traditional Chinese condiment which is used almost every day by Chinese people. Before supermarkets appeared in China, Chinese people brought their empty soy sauce bottles to shops in order to refill them. We call this traditional activity 打酱油 (dǎ jiàngyóu), or, "buying soy sauce.” Currently in China, this old expression has ...
“感冒(gǎnmào)” literally means “catch a cold.” But it can also mean “have an interest for something or somebody.”
The famous Chinese singer, Jay Chou, is throwing a concert in Jack’s hometown. Jack wants to invite his girlfriend Lily, but will she go? Let's take a look.
Conversation 1:
Wǒmen míngtiān qù kàn Zhōu Jiélún de yǎnchànghuì ba!
Jack：我们 ...
Recently the Chinese people have been enthralled by the 30th Olympic Games in London, with many people staying up late into the night to watch the representatives from their country compete. China has had some big wins in 2012, as well as some losses, each stirring up the Chinese people’s hearts. They feel pride for ...
Conversation:
Nǐ kàn Lady Gaga Xiānggǎng yǎnchànghuì le ma?
Jen: 你看 Lady Gaga 香港 演唱会 了 吗？
Have you seen the Lady Gaga Live concert in Hong Kong?
Dāngrán le, nà kě zhēn shì shízú de Lady Gaga fànr a.
Lily: 当然 了，那可 真 是 十足 的 Lady Gaga 范儿啊。
Of course, it was the epitome of LADY GAGA's style.
The phrase ...
During the Euro 2012 games, time and time again fans cheered the fantastic goals made by Cristiano Ronaldo. His impeccable performance, combined with his good looks, attracted the attention of many girls' eyes in China. Ronaldo was dubbed the top "高富帅 (gāo fù shuài)" of Euro 2012.
So what does "高富帅 (gāo fù shuài)" means? It is ...
"(那是)必须的! ((Nà shì) bìxū de!)" is now a very popular word in the daily life of Chinese that is used to show confirmation. "那 (nà)" means that; "是 (shì)" means is; "必须 (bìxū)" means must; "的 (de)" is a particle. It gained popularity from a catch phrase in Northeast China and was first known in ...
Amy and her friend Linda meet at a cafe to chat.
Amy: Look at you! You're so slim!
Linda: Thanks!
Amy: I wish I were you! I really admire those who keep a good figure.
Linda: If you eat a healthy diet, you'll…
Amy: I know, I know. It makes sense, but I'm sorry, ice-cream is too delicious!!
Linda: Yeah…
The right ...
