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Best Posts for Chinese Learning Posted by Ayana on Dec 28, 2020
Keep calm, 2020 is almost over. 2021 is just around the corner, and it’s time to make New Year’s resolutions. If one of your resolutions is to improve your Chinese during the coming year, I advise you to devote more time, as much as possible, and use many resources, as many as available, in your…
All About the Chinese Word for heart (心 xīn) Posted by Ayana on Dec 14, 2020
One of my biggest concerns when using a foreign language is to be misunderstood. Especially when talking about feelings and emotions. In this kind of conversation, the Chinese word for heart (心 xīn) is very useful. 心 is a short of 心脏 (xīn zàng), which means heart, and refers to the physical organ. As in…
5 Chinese Daily Useful Phrases Posted by Ayana on Nov 23, 2020
Learning Chinese is a complex task. The tones, the sounds, the characters, the syntax, are all new for most learners. But Chinese wording is sometimes very simple, and provides us great ways to express ourselves. Here are five of my favorite short phrases for different situations in daily life. There are many ways to express…
Chinese Vocabulary for Language Learning Posted by Ayana on Nov 3, 2020
When learning a language, any language, some basic related vocabulary is necessary. Learners need vocabulary that can help them approach the process of learning the new language. I, for example, found myself using the words 词典 (cí diǎn dictionary), 汉字 (hàn zì character), and 意思 (yì si meaning), on a daily basis as early as…
The Chinese Verb to Wash 洗 Posted by Ayana on Oct 19, 2020
洗 (xǐ) is one of Chinese basic verbs. The character’s radical is the Three Drops of Water radical. Many Chinese radicals hold information about the character’s meaning. The Three Drops of Water radical usually implies the character is somehow related to water or liquid. The verb 洗 can mean several things: to wash, to rinse, to clean…
Chinese Measure Words Posted by Ayana on Oct 6, 2020
Measure words (量词liàng cí) indicate an amount of something. They denote a unit or measurement, and are used with count nouns and non-count nouns (such as sugar, or water). Measure words are very common in many languages. In English measure words are usually attached to nouns of food, liquid, stationery, and personal items. For example…
Learning Chinese through Songs Posted by Ayana on Sep 21, 2020
I love Chinese food, I adore Chinese characters, and I savor Chinese music. Chinese songs are not only pleasant to the ears, they are also a good way to learn the language. One of my favorite Chinese song is 其实你不懂我的心 (qí shí nǐ bù dǒng wǒ de xīn). Recorded in 1989 by the Taiwanese singer…