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Chinese New Year — OneDotDot Chinese (Part 1) Chinese Festivals · 中國節日中国节日 Chinese New Year 過年过年 guònián 過年过年 guònián is the most important traditional festival in China, celebrated by Chinese communities worldwide — a season of reunion dinners, red envelopes, firecrackers, and fresh beginnings that stretches five to nine days depending on the year. People…
Story · HSK 3+ · Part 2 鼠 The Mouse Marries His Daughter — Part 2 老鼠嫁女兒（下) 老鼠嫁女儿（下） Posted Feb 2, 2025 Author Tiffany Reading time 8 mins “The Mouse Marries His Daughter” is a story for HSK3+ learners. Some stories I share are Chinese folk tales, and some are my own creations. According to…
Story · HSK 3+ 鼠 The Mouse Marries His Daughter 老鼠嫁女兒 (上)老鼠嫁女儿 (上) Posted Feb 2, 2025 Author Tiffany Reading time 8 mins “The Mouse Marries His Daughter” is a story for HSK3+ learners. Some stories I share are Chinese folk tales, and some are my own creations. According to an old Chinese legend, mice…
OneDotDot Chinese Grammar · HSK 5 Grammar Point · HSK 5 從而从而 cóng’ér — “Thus” 從而从而 cóng’ér is a formal conjunction used to indicate a cause-and-effect or means-and-result relationship between two clauses. It can be translated as “thus,” “thereby,” or “consequently” in English. 從而从而 cóng’ér is mainly used in formal writing — essays, reports, news…
Grammar Point:The particle 過过 guò is used to talk about something you have or haven’t experienced in the past. It always goes right after the verb. Structure S + V + 過过 guò + O 我wǒ去qù過guò中國Zhōngguó我wǒ去qù过guò中国ZhōngguóI have been to China. 你nǐ看kàn過guò這zhè部bù電影diànyǐng嗎ma？ 你nǐ看kàn过guò这zhè部bù电影diànyǐng吗ma？ Have you seen this movie before? 我wǒ見jiàn過guò他tā我wǒ见jiàn过guò他tāI have met him before. 我wǒ說shuō過guò嗎ma？？我wǒ说shuō过guò吗ma？？Have I said that before?…
Grammar Point:差不多 chābùduōchàbuduō expresses the idea of “not much difference” or “almost the same.” It is often used to describe a situation where two things or situations are very similar or nearly identical. Structure S1 + (and + S2) + 差不多 Verb – It general means “about the same” in English. 我們wǒmen的de年紀niánjì差不多chābùduō我们wǒmen的de年纪niánjì差不多chàbuduōOur ages are about…
OneDotDot Chinese Grammar · HSK 4 Grammar Point · HSK 4 將 jiāng将 jiāng — Using 將 jiāng将 jiāng to Express 把 bǎ把 bǎ 將 jiāng将 jiāng can do the same job as 把 bǎ把 bǎ — moving the object to emphasize the handling or disposition of it. The difference is register:將 jiāng将 jiāng is…
Grammar Point:The key difference is that 部 bù refers to an entire section or region, while 邊边 biānbian refers to a side or direction. 部 bù 部 bù is more formal and typically used to refer to regions in a directional sense, such as 東东部 dōngbù (the East), 南部 nánbù (the South), 西部 xībù (the West),…
Grammar Point:In Chinese, 才 cái is used to indicate that something is less than expected or insufficient, often reflecting the speaker’s surprise or dissatisfaction. It can also suggest that something happened later or more slowly than anticipated, similar to “not until” or “as late as” in English. Structure S + 才 cái + V + O This…
OneDotDot Chinese Grammar · HSK 4 Grammar Point · HSK 4 Adj + 了點(兒) le diǎn(r)了点(儿) le diǎn(r) — “A Bit Too” Adding 了點(兒) le diǎn(r)了点(儿) le diǎn(r) after an adjective expresses that something is slightly excessive or beyond ideal. It often carries a tone of mild dissatisfaction, criticism, or concern — but stays polite…