tiffany，作者 OneDotDot Chinese

Absolutely in Chinese – juéduì

Posted on September 15, 2023September 16, 2023 by tiffany

Grammar Point:The Chinese word 絕對绝对 juéduì is commonly translated to “absolute” or “absolutely” in English. It is used to describe something that is completely certain, or without any doubt. Structure As an Adjective 這zhè場chǎng比賽bǐsài韓國hánguó有yǒu絕對juéduì的de優勢yōushì这zhè场chǎng比赛bǐsài韩国hánguó有yǒu绝对juéduì的de优势yōushìIn this game, South Korea has an absolute advantage. 太太tàitai在zài家裡jiālǐ是shì絕對juéduì的de權威quánwēi太太tàitai在zài家里jiālǐ是shì绝对juéduì的de权威quánwēiMy wife is an absolute authority at home. 狗gǒu對duì人rén有yǒu著zhe絕對juéduì的de忠誠zhōngchéng狗gǒu对duì人rén有yǒu着zhe绝对juéduì的de忠诚zhōngchéngDogs have absolute loyalty to…

Ways to Ask and Answer Questions

Posted on September 14, 2023March 28, 2025 by tiffany

In Chinese, there are several ways to ask and answer questions, and we’ll discuss the two most basic ones in this article. Question Structure S + V + O + 嗎/吗 ma This is the most simple and common yes-no question asking whether the person does it. 你nǐ吃chī飯fàn嗎ma？你nǐ吃chī饭fàn吗ma？ Do you eat? (This not a…

Fruits in Chinese

Posted on September 13, 2023October 9, 2023 by tiffany

Fruits and Chinese Medicine In traditional Chinese medicine literature, fruits are classified into five different natures or properties: cold, cool, warm, hot, and neutral. The terms “cold” and “cool” as well as “hot” and “warm” share common characteristics in their effects, but they differ in their intensity, with “cold” being more extreme than “cool.” Fruits…

Chinese Adjectives and 很 hěn

Posted on September 12, 2023March 28, 2025 by tiffany

Grammar Point:In Chinese, adjectives are often used differently than in English, and one of the notable features is the use of the word 很 hěn when describing nouns with adjectives. Let me explain how this works: What is Chinese Adjectives? Chinese adjectives (also known as stative verbs, or state verbs) are used to describe the…

不 bù and its tone changes

Posted on September 11, 2023March 28, 2025 by tiffany

Grammar Point:The phrase 不 bù in Chinese is typically used to negate a statement, similar to how “not” is used in English. Structure 不 + Adjective 加拿大jiānádà的de夏天xiàtiān不bú熱rè加拿大jiānádà的de夏天xiàtiān不bú热rèThe summers in Canada are not hot. 我wǒ家jiā不bú大dà我wǒ家jiā不bú大dàMy house is not big. 我wǒ不bù矮ǎi、不bú胖pàng、不bú笨bèn也yě不bù醜chǒu我wǒ不bù矮ǎi、不bú胖pàng、不bú笨bèn也yě不bù丑chǒuI am not short, not fat, not stupid, and also not ugly. 小貓xiǎomāo不bù開心kāixīn小猫xiǎomāo不bù开心kāixīnThe…

Chinese Grammar – 嗎/吗 ma and 呢 ne

Posted on September 10, 2023March 28, 2025 by tiffany

Grammar Point:In Chinese grammar, 嗎吗 ma and 呢 ne are both sentence-ending particles used to ask questions and seek information or clarification, but they serve different purposes: Final Particles 嗎/吗 ma This is a question marker that is added to the end of a statement to turn it into a yes-no question. It is used…

“Has no choice but to” – zhǐhǎo

Posted on September 10, 2023September 10, 2023 by tiffany

Grammar Point:In Chinese, the expression 只好 zhǐhǎo is used to convey the idea that someone has no choice but to do something because it’s the only viable option or the best available solution in a given situation. Structure (S) + 只好 zhǐhǎo + V 大家dàjiā都dōu不想bùxiǎng當dāng班代bāndài，只好zhǐhǎo抽籤chōuqiān決定juédìng大家dàjiā都dōu不想bùxiǎng当dāng班代bāndài，只好zhǐhǎo抽签chōuqiān决定juédìngNo one wants to be the class representative, so…

Expressing “urgency” in Chinese

Posted on September 9, 2023September 10, 2023 by tiffany

Grammar Point:In Chinese grammar, there are several words and phrases that can be used to express a sense of urgency or the need to do something quickly. Here are some commonly used expressions: 趕緊赶紧 gǎnjǐn, 趕赶快 gǎnkuài, 連连忙 liánmáng, and 立刻 lìkè. 趕緊/赶紧 gǎnjǐn It is often used in imperative sentences or statements to urge…

“Simply” in Chinese 1 – jiǎnzhí

Posted on September 7, 2023January 2, 2025 by tiffany

Grammar Point:The word 簡简直 jiǎnzhí is a Chinese adverb often used to express exaggeration and convey a sense of something being untrue and hypothetical. It is similar in meaning to English words such as ‘simply,’ ‘absolutely,’ ‘completely,’ ‘literally,’ or ‘downright.’ Structure 簡简直 jiǎnzhí + Adj or V 那nà房子fángzi又yòu髒zāng又yòu暗àn簡直jiǎnzhí像xiàng鬼屋guǐwū，你nǐ還是háishì找zhǎo別的biéde房子fángzi吧ba那nà房子fángzi又yòu脏zāng又yòu暗àn简直jiǎnzhí像xiàng鬼屋guǐwū，你nǐ还是háishì找zhǎo别的biéde房子fángzi吧baThat house is dirty and dark;…

Emphasize a negation 2 – gēnběn

Posted on September 6, 2023September 7, 2023 by tiffany

Grammar Point:根本 gēnběn is a Chinese adverb that the speaker uses to emphasize a negative view or a sense of impossibility. It often conveys a strong sense of negation or skepticism in sentences, highlighting that something is fundamentally lacking or impossible. Structure S + gēnběn + V 加州jiāzhōu房價fángjià那麼nàme高gāo，年輕人niánqīngrén根本gēnběn買不起mǎibùqǐ房子fángzi加州jiāzhōu房价fángjià那么nàme高gāo，年轻人niánqīngrén根本gēnběn买不起mǎibuqǐ房子fángziThe housing prices in California are…