Archive for 'Vocabulary'
How to Sing Jingle Bells in Chinese Posted by sasha on Dec 15, 2016
It’s December, and Christmas is in the air – even in China. While a very small percentage of people in China identify as Christians, many celebrate the holiday anyways. They might not celebrate the religious aspect, but they sure go for the commercial one. Shopping malls all over the country are decked out in Christmas…
A Chinese December Posted by sasha on Dec 1, 2016
Can you believe it’s December already? Before you know it, we’ll be in the year 2017. The last month is a great time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the next. I’m sure that studying more Chinese is a New Year’s resolution for all of our readers. There’s no time like…
Jobs and Workplaces in Chinese Posted by sasha on Nov 29, 2016
Love it or hate it, work (工作 – gōng zuò) is an important part of life. Most people have to go to a job, whether you’re a part-time employee or the CEO. Since it’s such a time-consuming and important aspect of our lives, work is a topic that often comes up in conversation. This post will…
Chinese Vocabulary – International Cuisine Posted by sasha on Nov 14, 2016
While Chinese food is amazing, chances are you won’t want to eat it three times a day every day if you’re traveling or living there. Once in a while, you just need to eat something different. Last month we reviewed some Chinese vocabulary for standard Western food. This month we’re going international. Here are some common…
Chinese Vocabulary – Western Food Posted by sasha on Oct 27, 2016
We all know that Chinese food is amazing. After all, it’s one of the most varied and famous cuisines worldwide. From dim sum in the south, to Beijing roast duck in the north, and everything in between, you’ve got some incredible options for eating your way across China. We’ve already covered real Chinese food in…
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…
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…