Learn a little Chinese every day
Grammar Point:In Mandarin Chinese, dates are expressed in the order of year, month, and day, from big to small. This is the opposite order to how dates are expressed in English. Year In Mandarin Chinese, years are typically read as a series of individual digits. However, when referring to a year period, we would read…
Grammar Point:In Chinese, numbers are typically structured in a straightforward and consistent manner. Here are the basic elements and rules for constructing Chinese numbers: Basic numerals: Chinese has a set of basic numerals that are used to represent the digits from 0 to 9. They are: 0️⃣ 1️⃣ 2️⃣ 3️⃣ 4️⃣ 零líng零líng 🔊 一yī一yī 🔊…
Grammar Point:Mandarin Chinese has a relatively small number of pronouns, and unlike many European languages, there is no need to worry about subject-verb agreement. It 牠tā它tāit (for animal) 牠的tāde它的tādeits (for animal) 牠tā它tāit (for animal) 祂tā祂tāit (for God) 祂的tāde祂的tādeits (for God) 祂tā祂tāit (for God) 它們tāmen它们tāmenthey 它們的tāmende它们的tāmendetheir 它們tāmen它们tāmenthem 我wǒ家jiā有yǒu貓māo有yǒu狗gǒu， 牠們tuómen都dōu是shì我的wǒde好hǎo朋友péngyǒu我wǒ家jiā有yǒu猫māo有yǒu狗gǒu， 它们tāmen都dōu是shì我的wǒde好hǎo朋友péngyouI have both cats and dogs at…
Grammar Point:Mandarin Chinese has a relatively small number of pronouns, and unlike many European languages, there is no need to worry about subject-verb agreement. I and You 我wǒ我wǒI 我的wǒde我的wǒdemy 我wǒ我wǒme 你nǐ你nǐyou 你的nǐde你的nǐdeyour 你nǐ你nǐyou 我wǒ愛ài你nǐ我wǒ爱ài你nǐI love you. 我的wǒde狗gǒu我的wǒde狗gǒuMy dog. 我wǒ喜歡xǐhuān你的nǐde錢qián我wǒ喜欢xǐhuan你的nǐde钱qiánI like your money. Note: You may have noticed that there are two ways to say “you”…
Grammar Point:There are six different ways to ask yes-no questions in Chinese, and the choice of which one to use can depend on factors such as location, occasion, and the people being spoken to. Structure S + V + O + 嗎/吗 ma This is the most simple and common yes-no question asking whether the…
Grammar Point:The adverb 都 dōu in Chinese is typically used to indicate “all” or “both” and can be placed before the verb or before the subject. It is commonly used in sentences to indicate that multiple things or people are involved in an action or state. Structure S + 都 dōu + V or SV…
TouchHover over the end of the sentences to see the answers. Think about whether the following sentences need to use the word ‘把’ Rob, Sam, and Jonathan are all good friends of Tiffany. Today, Tiffany invited them to her house to experience making dumplings together. Rob said, “I brought some fruits!” 我wǒ帶dài了le一些yìxiē水果shuǐguǒ！ 我wǒ带dài了le一些yìxiē水果shuǐguǒ！ O我wǒ把bǎ一些yìxiē水果shuǐguǒ帶了dàile！ 我wǒ把bǎ一些yìxiē水果shuǐguǒ带了dàile！…
TouchHover over the space to see the answers. Fill in the correct Potential Complements or Result Complements 我wǒ去qù了le好hǎo幾jǐ家jiā店diàn， 就是jiùshì( 沒買到méimǎidào) 你nǐ喜歡xǐhuān的de那nà種zhǒng花huā我wǒ去qù了le好hǎo几jī家jiā店diàn， 就是jiùshì( 没买到méimǎidào) 你nǐ喜欢xǐhuan的de那nà种zhǒng花huāI went to several stores, but I couldn’t find the type of flower you like. 那nà種zhǒng花huā在zài台灣Táiwān( 買不到mǎibúdào) ， 要yào去qù國外guówài才cái有yǒu那nà种zhǒng花huā在zài台湾Táiwān( 买不到mǎibudào) ， 要yào去qù国外guówài才cái有yǒuThat kind of flower can’t be found in Taiwan, you have…
TouchHover over the space to see the answers. Fill in the correct Potential Complements and verbs 你的nǐde車chē很hěn小xiǎo， ( 坐不下zuòbúxià) 五wǔ個ge人rén你的nǐde车chē很hěn小xiǎo， ( 坐不下zuòbuxià) 五wǔ个ge人rénYour car is too small, it can’t seat five people. 我wǒ剛gāng到dào日本rìběn的時候deshíhòu， ( 吃不了chībùliǎo) 生魚片shēngyúpiàn， 現在xiànzài已經yǐjīng習慣xíguàn多duō了le我wǒ刚gāng到dào日本rìběn的时候deshíhou， ( 吃不了chībuliǎo) 生鱼片shēngyúpiàn， 现在xiànzài已经yǐjīng习惯xíguàn多duō了leWhen I first arrived in Japan, I couldn’t eat sashimi, but now I’m used to…
Grammar Points:The words “剛刚 gāng” and “剛剛刚刚 gānggāng” are used to indicate an action that has just happened a short while ago. However, there are some subtle differences in their meanings and usage: 剛/刚 gāng It is an adverb that can only be used before a verb or adjctive and after a subject. It emphasizes…