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48 Hours in Xi’an (Part Two) Posted by sasha on Oct 12, 2016
After checking out the City Wall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and Muslim Quarter in Xi’an, it’s time to head out to the most famous site here – the Terracotta Warriors. On the way out there, you might as well stop at another historical site. Huaqing Hot Springs (华清池 – huá qīng chí) Along the way to…
Xi’an Video Tour Part One Posted by sasha on Oct 10, 2016
With 48 hours in Xi’an, you can spend a day exploring the city and use the other to take a trip out to the Huaqing Hot Springs and Terracotta Warriors. On the first day, try the city’s local specialty – a lamb stew with chopped bread (羊肉泡馍 – yáng ròu pào mó). Then take a…
48 Hours in Xi’an (Part One) Posted by sasha on Oct 6, 2016
From one ancient capital to another, we move from Luoyang to Xi’an (西安 – xī’ān). Thanks to the ever expanding high-speed rail network in China, this journey can now be made in less than two hours. This is one of the most popular places to visit in China for domestic and foreign tourists alike, and…
How to Use the 把 Structure Posted by sasha on Oct 3, 2016
If you’ve been studying Chinese for a while, chances are you’ve encountered the dreaded 把 (bǎ) structure by now. This has no equivalent in English, but it’s extremely common in Chinese and thus critical to learn. To help clear the air, here’s a short, basic guide to this important structure in Chinese grammar. What is the 把…
Get Ready for National Day Posted by sasha on Sep 29, 2016
Just like the 4th of July in the United States, the 1st of October is a very important holiday in China. National Day (国庆节 – guó qìng jié) celebrates the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. To get you in the patriotic spirit for this big day, check out some of our past…
5 Awesome Chinese Idioms Posted by sasha on Sep 27, 2016
Just like English, Chinese is a language with countless idioms (成语 – chéng yǔ). While it can be tricky to actually get to a level where you can use idioms in your everyday life in China, it’s still interesting and useful to learn them. Studying Chinese idioms not only helps you improve your language skills, but…
Chinese Conjunctions Video (Part Two) Posted by sasha on Sep 26, 2016
After mastering the four basic conjunctions covered in Part One, it’s time to practice some more advanced, compound conjunctions. Improve your Chinese fluency by following this video and learning these compound conjunctions. Then, try to make your own examples at home.