25 Chinese Words and Phrases for Valentine’s Day Posted by sasha on Feb 12, 2015
Western holidays are becoming more and more popular in China with each passing year. In October, English schools, restaurants, and bars in big cities throw Halloween parties. Come December, “Jingle Bells” can be heard around every corner, and you may even see hundreds of Santas parading around Beijing. Even though China has its own holiday…
Chinese Names for 50 Famous Foreign Companies Posted by sasha on Feb 10, 2015
Whenever I introduce myself to Chinese people, I usually get a nice laugh for my silly name – it literally translates as “Happy Field” (田乐 – tián lè). This is fine for a goofy English-teaching, blogging, backpacking hippie such as myself, but for foreign companies looking to do business in China, you probably don’t want…
Understanding Chinese Names Posted by sasha on Feb 9, 2015
Choosing a Chinese name is tough, even for Chinese people. Just read this article about a young couple’s struggle to choose a proper name for their baby girl. Many things must be taken into consideration when naming a child and it can get quite complicated. This is why plenty of people are happy to pay…
Go Take a (Beijing) Hike Posted by sasha on Feb 4, 2015
While Chinese mega-cities are known for their air pollution, ridiculous traffic jams, and crowded streets, there’s a whole other world awaiting you outside in the far reaches of huge municipalities such as Beijing. Nature lovers will be happy to hear that it’s not all concrete jungle and smoggy skies in the Chinese capital; there are…
Fujian Tulou Video Tour – Part Three Posted by sasha on Feb 2, 2015
On the last day of our tulou adventure, we visit the amazing Chuxi group. Hike to a scenic lookout and ponder how the CIA once confused these clan dwellings for missile silos. Then visit three stunning tulou structures, one of which has been converted to a museum. 最后一天 – zuì hòu yì tiān last day…
Taking a Chinese Taxi Posted by sasha on Jan 29, 2015
In the last post, I introduced some useful vocabulary for taking a taxi in China. As I mentioned, cab drivers are one of your best resources for practicing Chinese, and they can also give you great insights into Chinese culture and daily life. I’ve had many a conversation with Chinese cabbies over the year, and…
Chinese Taxi Cab Confessionals Posted by sasha on Jan 26, 2015
When people ask me where and how I learned to speak Chinese, I often reply by saying, “In Beijing taxis” (在北京出租车里面 – zài běi jīng chū zū chē lǐ miàn). Although I say it jokingly and it’s usually followed by laughter from the Chinese person, I’m actually quite serious. When I first started taking Chinese…