Archive for 'Uncategorized'
Chinese Idioms Vol. 3 Posted by sasha on Jul 1, 2011
It’s time for another installment of Chinese idioms! 痴人说梦 – chī rén shuō mèng – “A fool tells about his dreams” Basically, this idiom means to talk complete nonsense. The story behind it talks of a rich family who had a very foolish son. One day, he awoke to see the maid in his room…
Getting Gramatical: Who, What, When, Where (语法) Posted by Stephen on Jun 27, 2011
Many followers of this Blog have requested some basic grammar or 语法 (yǔ fǎ) rules with explanation, so today lets focus on the basics of a sentence: Who (谁 shéi) What (什么 shénme) When (什么时候 shénme shíhou) Where (在哪儿 zàinǎr) Let’s start with a basic sentence in English. Someone asks you what you’ve been up…
Confucius says… pt. 2: Analects and Golden Rule (子曰) Posted by Stephen on Jun 24, 2011
Confucius or 孔子 (Kǒng Zǐ) is China’s most famous philosopher, poet and scholar who lived from 551 BC – 479 BC, and is best known for his writings and teachings on Chinese society, culture and everyday life. His impact on Chinese culture has been so profound that some 2,500 years later his teachings are still well…
Sanlitun (三里屯) Posted by sasha on Jun 22, 2011
Perhaps the most popular spot for entertainment in all of Beijing, the Sanlitun area is a great place to go for summer fun. By day, you can stroll around The Village shopping center, where you’ll find plenty of stores and restaurants. In the evening, relax with a foot massage and a pedicure before hitting Happy…
The Art of Bargaining (谈判技能) Posted by Stephen on Jun 20, 2011
Bargaining or 谈判 (tán pàn), while not very common-place in western society, is a staple of Chinese shopping. While super markets, malls and mega-shopping stores are becoming more common-place in China, street markets, bazaars, expos and old fashion mom and pop stores are still the places to shop when looking for a discounted price or just…
Stackin’ that Kuai! Posted by sasha on Jun 16, 2011
In China, the official name for currency is RMB (人民币 – rén mín bì), meaning “the people’s currency.” However, in daily dealings it is often referred to as yuan (元 – yuán) or the slang term kuai (块 – kuài), kind of like how we say “bucks” in the US sometimes. While American dollars…
Dunhuang, Gobi Desert (戈壁滩) Posted by Stephen on Jun 10, 2011
The Gobi desert or 戈壁滩 (gēbìtān) is the largest desert in Asia, spanning some 1,600 kilometers across northern China and central Mongolia. Known for its extreme temperatures, blistering winds and historical location along the Silk Road, the Gobi desert is truly a sight to behold. The following photos were taken in and outside of the greater Dunhuang (敦煌) area, including the…