Mini-Test Answer: Cooking is Mike’s specialty.

Intermediate Level 中级 (zhōng)

The correct answer for this test is A.

Translation:

         Nǐ zuò de cài zhēn hǎo chī.
Tom: 你做  的 菜   真     好  吃。
         The dishes you cooked are really delicious.

         Nà dāngrán le, zuòcài kě shì wǒ de náshǒuhǎoxì.
Mike: 那   当然      了,做菜  可  是  我 的   拿手好戏。     
         Of course, cooking is my specialty.

Analysis:

The Chinese phrase “拿手好戏 (náshǒuhǎoxì)” once was used to describe the play in which an actor would have his/her best performance. Nowadays it generally means something that someone is really good at, or someone’s forte. It usually can be shortened to “拿手戏 (náshǒuxì)” to mean the same thing. You can also just say “拿手 (náshǒu)” to mean someone’s forte as well.

Examples:
Bāo jiǎozi shì bàba de náshǒuhǎoxì.
包    饺子  是  爸爸 的     拿手好戏。
Making dumplings is father’s specialty.

Jiǎng xiàohua kěshì wǒ de náshǒuhǎoxì.
讲       笑话      可是  我 的    拿手好戏。
Telling jokes is my specialty.

Gāngqín shì wǒ zuì náshǒu de yuèqì.
钢琴        是   我  最    拿手   的   乐器。
Playing piano is my specialty.

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3 thoughts on “Mini-Test Answer: Cooking is Mike’s specialty.”

  1. 請問:
    做菜 可 是 我 的 拿手好戏 的可是 是什麽意思?I just only know “可是”is mean “but”, right?

  2. Jennifer Zhu

    You’re correct that “可是” can mean “but” as a disjunctive conjunction. However, in this sentence it means “certain” or “sure.” You can always hear it used in spoken language, and it is translated as “be.”

  3. Hello, I like what you do. Somehow I have intermediate leve. I think Beginner would be better for me. Can you – or I – change this, please.
    Thanks

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