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Chinese Character Bites – #49 –小
Our character for today is 小 Simplified Chinese character: 小 Traditional Chinese character: 小 (The simplified character and the traditional character are the same) Pronunciation: This character is...
View ArticleThe Basics of Chinese Grammar Explained in Under 10 Minutes
Some people say that Chinese doesn’t have grammar, but in fact, although there is greater flexibility in Chinese grammar than in the grammar in other languages, there is still often a clear difference...
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Chinese Character Bites – #50 –么
Our character for today is 么 Simplified Chinese character: 么 Traditional Chinese character: 麼 Pronunciation: This character is pronounced me in a neutral tone, and you’ll always see it as the last...
View ArticleLearn Chinese Through Songs #13 – Nothing To My Name
Nothing To My Name (一无所有) by Cui Jian (崔健). Cui is often referred to as the ‘father’ of Chinese rock and roll, and this is one of his most celebrated songs. It was once something of an anthem of the...
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How to Address People Politely in Chinese
Addressing people in Chinese is something that isn’t really taught properly in textbooks. You are often taught that 你好 (nǐhǎo) is ‘hello’ and 您好 (nínhǎo) is a polite way of saying hello, and that’s it,...
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Chinese Character Bites – #51 –心
Our character for today is 心 Simplified Chinese character: 心 Traditional Chinese character: 心 (The simplified character and the traditional character are the same) Pronunciation: This character is...
View ArticleLearn Chinese Through Songs #14 – The Moon Represents My Heart
The Moon Represents My Heart (月亮代表我的心) by Teresa Teng (邓丽君). This is the second song I have featured by Teresa Teng, following Sweet Honey Honey, which is another of her classics. This song is another...
View ArticleHow Do You Say ‘And’ in Chinese?
One common mistake that a lot of beginner Chinese learners make is how to say ‘and’ in Chinese. It’s natural, when you’re trying to speak Chinese, to use your native language as a point of comparison...
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Chinese Character Bites – #52 –多
Our character for today is 多 Simplified Chinese character: 多 Traditional Chinese character: 多 (The simplified character and the traditional character are the same) Pronunciation: This character is...
View ArticleLearn Chinese Through Songs #15 – Bubble
Bubble (泡沫) by G.E.M (邓紫棋). G.E.M is the stage name for the Hong Kong singer Deng Ziqi. She had previously been very popular in Hong Kong, but her appearance on the show ‘I am a Singer’ (我是歌手) really...
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Please, Thank You, Sorry and Excuse Me in Chinese
In this post I want to explain how you say please, thank you, sorry and excuse me in Chinese. These may seem like very simple words that should have simple equivalents, but there are a few things you...
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Chinese Character Bites – #53 –天
Our character for today is 天 Simplified Chinese character: 天 Traditional Chinese character: 天 (The simplified character and the traditional character are the same) Pronunciation: This character is...
View ArticleLearn Chinese Through Songs #16 – Wolf
Wolf (狼) by Chyi Chin (齐秦). Chyi Chin, or Qi Qin is a Taiwanese singer famous for his love songs and soft rock ballads. This song is another oldie (it’s from the 80s), but it’s also a classic! A lot...
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Chinese Character Bites – #54 –而
Our character for today is 而 Simplified Chinese character: 而 Traditional Chinese character: 而 (The simplified character and the traditional character are the same) Pronunciation: This character is...
View ArticleHow to Say the Basic Greetings in Chinese
Key Chinese phrases from the video: 你 好 nǐ hǎo Hello 您 好 nín hǎo Hello (polite form) 你们 好 nǐmen hǎo Hello (to more than one person) 大家 好 dàjiā hǎo Hello everybody 早上 好 zǎoshang hǎo Good morning 晚上 好...
View ArticleWays to Say Goodbye in Chinese
Key Chinese words and phrases from the video: 再 见 zài jiàn Goodbye 一会儿见 yī huì (er) jiàn (or yī huǐer jiàn) See you soon 回头见 huítóu jiàn See you around / later 明天见 míngtiān jiàn See you tomorrow...
View ArticleDo You Speak English? – Survival Chinese Bites
Key Chinese words and phrases from the video: 你会说英文吗? nǐ huì shuō yīngwén ma? Can you speak English? 我的中文不好 wǒde zhōngwén bù hǎo My Chinese is not good. 你的英文说得很好 nǐde yīngwén shuō de hěn hǎo...
View ArticleWhat Job Do You Do? – Survival Chinese Bites
Key Chinese words and phrases from the video: 你是做什么的? nǐ shì zuò shénme de? What do you do? 你做什么工作？ nǐ zuò shénme gōngzuò? What job do you do? 你是从事什么行业的? nǐ shì cóngshì shénme hángyè de? (another more...
View ArticleIs Mr Zhang There? – Survival Chinese Bites
Key Chinese words and phrases from the video: 请问 张 先生 在 吗? qǐngwèn zhāng xiānsheng zài ma? Excuse me, is Mr Zhang there? 请问 张 女士 在 吗? qǐngwèn zhāng nǚ shì zài ma? Excuse me, is Mrs/Miss Zhang there?...
View ArticleWhere Are You From? – Survival Chinese Bites
Key Chinese words and phrases from the video: 你 是 哪个 国家 的？ nǐ shì nǎgè guójiā de? Where are you from? (which country are you from?) 你 是 哪里 人？ nǐ shì nǎlǐ rén ? Where are you from? 我 是 英国 人 wǒ shì...
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