Chinese Vocabulary · 中文詞彙中文词汇 Technology, Media and Art Words in Chinese 科技與媒體藝術詞彙科技与媒体艺术词汇 kējì yǔ méitǐ yìshù cíhuì In mainland China, a QR code is called 二維碼二维码 (èrwéimǎ). In Taiwan, though, people rarely say it: in daily life most of us just say “QR code” in English, as in “please scan the QR code.” In Taiwan,…
Author: tiffany
HSK5 – Study and Thinking Words
Chinese Vocabulary · 中文詞彙中文词汇 Study and Thinking Words in Chinese 學習與思維詞彙学习与思维词汇 xuéxí yǔ sīwéi cíhuì In ancient times, the big list was not for university admission but for government posts. After the imperial examinations (科舉科举 (kējǔ)), the names of those who passed were posted on a big list called a 榜 (bǎng), and being 錄取录取…
HSK5 – Workplace and Law Words
Chinese Vocabulary · 中文詞彙中文词汇 Workplace and Law Words in Chinese 職場與法律詞彙职场与法律词汇 zhíchǎng yǔ fǎlǜ cíhuì Here’s a word that works way beyond the office: 老闆老板 (lǎobǎn, “boss”). In Chinese-speaking places, people call the owner of a shop, a restaurant or a breakfast stand 老闆老板 (lǎobǎn) even when they are only buying a drink, as in…
HSK5 – Finance and Business Words
Chinese Vocabulary · 中文詞彙中文词汇 Finance and Business Words in Chinese 金融與商業詞彙金融与商业词汇 jīnróng yǔ shāngyè cíhuì Shopping in Chinese-speaking places comes with a surprise: discounts are written the opposite way from English. In English, “25% off” tells you how much you save. In Chinese, a 折扣 (zhékòu) sign (“discount”) tells you how much of the original…
HSK5 – Nature and Transportation Words
Chinese Vocabulary · 中文詞彙中文词汇 Nature and Transportation Words in Chinese 自然與交通詞彙自然与交通词汇 zìrán yǔ jiāotōng cíhuì Taiwan is famous for its scooters, and rainy days are when you see a sea of colorful raincoats on the road. That is why weather words and traffic words belong together in this lesson: when the sky turns dark and…
HSK5 – Food, Animal and Plant
Chinese Vocabulary · 中文詞彙中文词汇 Food, Animal and Plant Words in Chinese 飲食與動植物詞彙饮食与动植物词汇 yǐnshí yǔ dòngzhíwù cíhuì Breakfast is a whole culture in Chinese-speaking places. A classic Taiwanese breakfast is 燒餅烧饼 (shāobǐng) (a baked sesame flatbread), a 油條油条 (yóutiáo) (fried dough stick) and a cup of hot 豆漿豆浆 (dòujiāng) (soy milk), and many people dip the…
HSK5 – Medical and Body Words
Chinese Vocabulary · 中文詞彙中文词汇 Medical and Body Words in Chinese 醫療與身體詞彙医疗与身体词汇 yīliáo yǔ shēntǐ cíhuì Here’s one set of words you hope you never need, but should definitely know: if someone needs an 救護車救护车 (jiùhùchē, “ambulance”), the number to dial in Taiwan is 119, while in mainland China it is 120. Knowing the words for…
HSK5 – Family and Feelings Words
Chinese Vocabulary · 中文詞彙中文词汇 Family and Feelings Words in Chinese 家庭與情感詞彙家庭与情感词汇 jiātíng yǔ qínggǎn cíhuì In English, “grandma” is just “grandma.” In Chinese, you have to say which side of the family she is on: your mother’s mother is 外婆 (wàipó), while your father’s mother is 奶奶 (nǎinai). The same goes for grandpa, aunts, uncles…
Taiwan Zhuyin Guide
注音符號 注音符号 · Zhuyin (Bopomofo) Guide — OneDotDot Chinese ㄅ OneDotDot Chinese · Pronunciation 注音符號注音符号Zhuyin Guide Zhuyin (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ), also called Bopomofo, is the phonetic alphabet children in Taiwan use to learn Mandarin. It has just 37 symbols and 5 tone marks. This is a listening-first guide to what each symbol sounds like, how symbols stack…
HSK4 – Action and Change Words 2
Chinese Vocabulary · 中文詞彙中文词汇 Action and Change Words in Chinese (Part 2) 動作與變化詞彙（二）动作与变化词汇（二） dòngzuò yǔ biànhuà cíhuì Next time you walk up to a door in a Chinese-speaking place, look for two tiny signs: 推 (tuī, “push”) and 拉 (lā, “pull”). Getting them wrong is a classic beginner moment, and a good reminder that Chinese…