Archive for 'Uncategorized'
The Gaokao – The Most Important Exam in Chinese College Admissions Posted by Ayana on May 20, 2019
Next month, millions of high school seniors will take the most important exam (考试 kǎo shì) of their lives – the Chinese National Higher Education Entrance Examination. Shortly known as the 高考 (gāokǎo, higher education exam). The gaokao is the sole criteria for determining university (大学 dà xué) admissions in China. Failure in the gaokao, a…
Chinese Cinderella Story: The Story Behind Lao Gan Ma Chili Sauce Posted by Ayana on Apr 1, 2019
老干妈 (lǎo gàn mā) is a famous Chinese chili sauce. It is one of the most favored chili sauces in China, a must-have (必备bì bèi) in every house. In recent years, it has seen growing popularity overseas, too. New York Magazine ranked the spicy sauce in first place. On the Facebook page of The Lao…
Wedding Photos in China Posted by Ayana on Mar 4, 2019
Wedding photos in China during Mao’s regime, especially during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), were simple. So was the wedding ceremony itself. The couple wore their everyday clothes, the gifts included copies of Mao’s Little Red Book, and the celebration consisted of a simple meal and revolutionary songs. But, things have changed. Weddings are devoid of…
Xi Jinping’s Thought: A New Ideology for the Chinese Communist Party Posted by Ayana on Jan 7, 2019
The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党第十九次全国代表达会) was opened last year (on October 2017), with a speech by Xi Jinping (习近平). Xi, who then started his second five-year term (任期rèn qí) as the president of the People’s Republic of China, spoke for about three and a half hours. He announced the beginning of a…
“The Pity of Zhongyong”: The Story about a Child Prodigy Posted by Ayana on Dec 17, 2018
Wang Anshi was a Song Dynasty (960–1279 AC) scholar, who advocated for education. He wrote an article about a child prodigy from his hometown to display the importance of education. His essay – 《伤仲永》 (Shāng Zhòngyǒng, “The Pity of Zhongyong”) – tells the story of a boy named 方仲永 (Fāng Zhòngyǒng). Born to a family…
China Singles’ Day Posted by Ayana on Nov 5, 2018
China Singles’ Day is celebrated every year in November 11th. China Singles’ Day 光棍节 (Guāng gùn jié) is not an old Chinese tradition or an adopted western holiday. It’s a unique Chinese holiday generated in the 90’s by single students of Nanjing University. From Nanjing University, it spread to other campuses and gradually outside of…
Talking About Eggs in Chinese Posted by Ayana on Oct 15, 2018
Useful vocabulary for breakfast. 蛋类 (dàn lèi) is a general word for eggs of any kind. It is used when referring to eggs in general, and not from a specific kind. My Chinese friend, for example, who consistently exhorts me to eat healthier food, believes in the benefits of eggs: 你应该多吃些有营养的东西，比如蔬菜，蛋类，水果等等 (nǐ yīnggāi duō chī…