Archive for 'Vocabulary'
Talking about Income Inequality Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 8, 2010
The income gap in China is a topic of frequent discussion, and below are some relevant terms that can help you understand news reports as well as participate in discussions of your own. Numerous reports of the Foxconn employees leaving their 宿舍 (su4she4 – dormitories) to 跳楼 (tiao4lou2 – jump [from a] building) has raised…
Comparing Ideas or Actions Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 3, 2010
Earlier I discussed how to compare people, places, and things. What about comparing ideas? Take a look at the first example, which follows from the previous illustrations of how to make comparisons using 比 (bi3). Swimming’s more fun than dancing. 游泳比跳舞好玩 (you2yong3 bi3 tiao4wu3 hao3wan2 – lit. swimming [compare] dancing fun) To form a negative…
Easy Characters to Mix Up Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 1, 2010
Every time you learn a new character, you may feel like you’ve met a new person or a new friend. At the same time, just like meeting real people, make sure you don’t mistake your new friend for any lookalikes! Below are some characters which I’ve found easy to mix up. 部 (bu4 – department)…
Simple Comparisons Posted by Transparent Language on May 27, 2010
When speaking Mandarin, there are several ways to make comparisons between people, places, and things. Positive Comparisons 1. He is taller than she. 他比她高 -ta1bi3ta1gao1 2. He is taller than she. 他高过她 -ta1gao1guo4ta1 I have always found that the second structure is more comfortable, albeit more of a vernacular formation which I have encountered more…
North-South Variations Posted by Transparent Language on May 25, 2010
After moving from Beijing to Shenzhen last year, I noticed numerous differences between the spoken Mandarin that I was accustomed to up north and the Mandarin spoken in this new city full of 外地人 (wai4di4ren2 – out-of-towners) from all over China. As Shenzhen is located in Guangdong province and next to Hong Kong and Macau…
What about 呢? Posted by Transparent Language on May 15, 2010
You may hear a lot of sentences ending with the particle “呢 (ne),” but what is it and what does it mean? 呢 can be used at the end of statements and questions to different effects, see below: Form: 我才不/没有呢 wo3cai2 bu4/mei2you3 ne Example: 我才不是呢! wo3cai2bu4shi4 ne! – “I’m sure not the one!”/”It sure wasn’t…
When Being Strict Is Good Posted by Transparent Language on Apr 30, 2010
If someone in China asks you 老师严不严? (lao3shi1 yan2bu4yan2 – is the teacher strict?), what kind of answer answer is the “good” or “better” answer? If you answer that the teacher is not strict, you might think you’re emphasizing that the teacher is very down to earth and doesn’t use authority to assert control. In…