Search Results
Better Know a… Province (Shanxi) Posted by sasha on Jul 14, 2014
It’s been a while since our last post in this ongoing series that’s taking us around China one province at a time. Last time, we visited Shandong province – home of Confucius and Tsingtao beer. From there it only makes sense for us to head next to the province that is “West of the Mountains”…
What’s in a Chinese Character? (Vol. 3) Posted by sasha on Aug 23, 2012
It’s been a while since we’ve taken a closer look at the complexity of Chinese characters. To get you up to speed, here are the links to Volume 1 and Volume 2. So far, we’ve examined quite a few characters dealing with people. Today, we’ll focus more on nature, as we look at the history…
Modern Kung Fu and Commercialization (现代功夫） Posted by Stephen on Nov 13, 2011
On the surface (在表面上), modern Shaolin Kung fu seems little altered from its ancient and austere roots. Monks still dress the same way, perform the same dazzling feats and train at the same place. The Shaolin temple has been rebuilt in keeping with traditional architecture and the “Shaolin Way” has been exported throughout the globe…
The Beautiful Bones: Bone-Stretching (骨拉伸) Posted by Stephen on Jul 12, 2011
Bone-stretching or 骨拉伸 (Gǔ lā shēn) has become quite popular in China, with over a million people partaking in the excruciating (and unnecessary) surgery. Why? The never-ending quest for beauty and success, which by the Chinese standards, means you must be taller. Here’s an in-depth National Geographic documentary on bone stretching in China and Asia: Now…
Measure Words (量词) Posted by Stephen on Jun 30, 2011
When I taught English in China, one of the easiest lectures was on English articles–simply because there are only three of them (a, an and the). However, when discussing the use of “this” 这 and “that” 那, some problems would arise. Some students would say things like: “this the ball is red” or “that a…
Understanding Measure Words (量词) Posted by Stephen on Jan 1, 2011
When I taught English in China, one of the easiest lectures was on English articles, i.e. the, a and an. However, when discussing the use of “this” 这 and “that” 那， some problems would arise. Some students would say things like: “this the ball is red” or “that a school is where I study”. At…
Importing the World Cup Posted by Stephen on Jun 14, 2010
While there is no doubt that basketball is the most popular sport in China, football/soccer 足球, zú qiú (literally foot + ball) is a distant second, especially among younger audiences. While played less frequently than basketball among amateurs, football is a massive spectator sport in China. Like basketball, football is a basic sport requiring only…