Archive for 'Vocabulary'
Resource Alert: You’ll Want to “Wolf Swallow Tiger Gulp” These Common Chinese Idioms Posted by Transparent Language on Aug 13, 2013
Wait, what? Did I just tell you to “wolf swallow tiger gulp” something? Yes I did. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you should watch this quick clip: Does it make sense now? The Chinese idiom “wolf swallow tiger gulp” is similar in meaning to the English expression “to wolf something down”…
How to Buy Train Tickets in China Posted by sasha on Aug 12, 2013
Traveling around China by train (火车 – huǒ chē) is a great way to travel like a local and see the country. With a highly developed rail system that connects all points of this massive country, riding that train in China is much better and cheaper than flying. While taking the train sounds like a…
At the Market – Vegetables Posted by sasha on Aug 8, 2013
An important part of your daily life is going to the market (市场 – shì chǎng) to buy groceries. Of course, doing this in China can be difficult if you’re not a native speaker – you can’t understand the labels, you don’t know to ask for what you want, and you find things you’ve never…
20 Questions in Chinese Posted by sasha on Aug 6, 2013
Here are 20 very common questions that you may be asked while traveling or living in China. Practice your Chinese by answering them, and then ask a friend! 1. 你叫什么名字? (nǐ jiào shén me míng zì) – What’s your (first) name? 2. 你姓什么? (nǐ xìng shén me) – What’s your last name/surname? It should be…
Beijing Streets, Beats & Eats – SLT and LSD Posted by sasha on Jul 31, 2013
Explore one of Beijing’s coolest areas for shopping, eating, drinking, and partying with this short video tour of Sanlitun. Check out the huge markets, wander down the Chinese Shakedown Street, sample a few awesome Happy Hours, try a variety of delicious food, rage a few bars, and then top it all off with an awesome…
A Day in the (Chinese) Life Posted by sasha on Jul 18, 2013
Learn how to talk about your daily activities in Chinese with this educational video that has Chinese characters and English subtitles. 我早上八点起床，然后我吃早餐. wǒ zǎo shàng bā diǎn qǐ chuáng, rán hòu wǒ chī zǎo cān I get up at 8 o’clock in the morning. Then I eat breakfast. 我喜欢吃鸡蛋, 培根, 和面包。 wǒ xǐ huan chī…
In a Chinese Restaurant Posted by sasha on Jul 17, 2013
For anyone planning a trip to China, perhaps the most important language related topic to study is “in the restaurant.” China is home to a vast array of different cuisines, and it would be a shame if you came all the way here and ended up eating McDonald’s and KFC simply because you cannot communicate…