Grammar Point:The Chinese structure 說说 shuō A 就 jiù A means doing something immediately after saying it, often without any hesitation, planning, or discussion. It can also express surprise or admiration at someone’s quick action, or be used to criticize someone for acting too impulsively. Structure 說说 shuō + V + 就 jiù + V…
Author: tiffany
智商税 zhìshāng shuì
智商税 zhìshāng shuì N. (Literal meaning is “IQ tax”) 智商税 zhìshāng shuì is a slang term used online in Chinese to describe money people spend because they were gullible, uninformed, or tricked — basically, they “paid the price” for not being smart or skeptical enough. 買mǎi這zhè種zhǒng幾jǐ千qiān塊kuài的de保健bǎojiàn品pǐn根本gēnběn沒méi用yòng, 純粹chúncuì是shì在zài交jiāo智商稅zhìshāngshuì买mǎi这zhè种zhǒng几jī千qiān块kuài的de保健bǎojiàn品pǐn根本gēnběn没méi用yòng, 纯粹chúncuì是shì在zài交jiāo智商税zhìshāngshuìBuying this kind of expensive health supplement is totally useless — it’s…
There is A, and there is B too – 有 yǒu A 有 yǒu B
Grammar Point:The 有 yǒu A 有 yǒu B pattern is a concise and expressive grammatical structure in Chinese that uses parallel construction to indicate the presence of multiple elements or a comprehensive range. It’s important to note that this structure isn’t something you can just use with any words — it’s usually limited to a…
No A, no B – 沒 méi A 沒 méi B
Grammar Point:沒 méi A 沒 méi B, literally “no A, no B,” is used to emphasize a complete lack of certain things—usually two related nouns or qualities—and is often spoken in a casual, emotional, or disapproving tone. It’s important to note that this structure isn’t something you can just use with any words — it’s…
Destination Marker 到 dào
Grammar Point:In Chinese, the movement marker 到 dào is used to indicate the completion or arrival of an action or movement to a particular destination. Structure S + 到 dào + Place + (Do what) It’s often used with verbs of motion, such as 來来 lái (to come), 去 qù (to go), or other action…
Chinese Causative Verbs – jiào, ràng, shǐ and lìng
Grammar Point:In Chinese, if you want to say that someone makes another person do something, or that something causes a feeling or action, you can use special words called causative verbs. The most common ones are 叫 jiào, 讓让 ràng, 使 shǐ, and 令 lìng. They all mean something like “make,” “let,” or “cause,” but they are used in different…
Furthermore – 而且 érqiě
Grammar Point:In Chinese, “furthermore” can be expressed using the word 而且 érqiě. It’s a conjunction used to connect related information, often adding emphasis. Structure S + V/Adj +,而且 érqiě + V/Adj 台灣Táiwān的de水果shuǐguǒ甜tián而且érqiě便宜piányí台湾Táiwān的de水果shuǐguǒ甜tián而且érqiě便宜piányiTaiwanese fruits are sweet and inexpensive. 我wǒ每天měitiān都dōu有yǒu中文zhōngwén課kè, 而且érqiě我wǒ週末zhōumò的時候deshíhòu還hái做zuò語言yǔyán交換jiāohuàn我wǒ每天měitiān都dōu有yǒu中文zhōngwén课kè, 而且érqiě我wǒ周末zhōumò的时候deshíhòu还hái做zuò语言yǔyán交换jiāohuànI have Chinese classes every day, and during weekends, I also engage in language exchange. 我wǒ這幾天zhèjǐtiān一直yìzhí覺得juéde沒méi胃口wèikǒu,…
Without A, there is no B – 沒有 A 就沒有 B
Grammar Point:The Chinese pattern 沒有 méiyǒu A 就沒有 jiù méiyǒu B expresses a cause-and-effect relationship: A is the condition or foundation for B. It’s similar to the English expression “without A, there is no B. Structure 沒有 méiyǒu A + 就沒有 jiù méiyǒu B 沒有méiyǒu你nǐ就jiù沒有méiyǒu今天jīntiān的de我wǒ没有méiyǒu你nǐ就jiù没有méiyǒu今天jīntiān的de我wǒWithout you, then there’s no today’s me. 沒有méiyǒu努力nǔlì就jiù沒有méiyǒu成功chénggōng没有méiyǒu努力nǔlì就jiù没有méiyǒu成功chénggōngWithout hard work, there…
No matter how… still… – 再 zài… 也 yě…
Grammar Point:This structure 再 zài… 也 yě… emphasizes that B will not change, no matter how much or how many times A happens. It often shows determination, resistance, or a fact that doesn’t change. Structure S 再 zài A,(S) 也 yě B 他tā再zài努力nǔlì, 也yě考kǎo不bú上shàng那nà所suǒ大學dàxué他tā再zài努力nǔlì, 也yě考kǎo不bu上shang那nà所suǒ大学dàxuéNo matter how hard he tries, he still can’t get into that…
Legal Vocabulary in Chinese
Learn essential legal vocabulary in Chinese, including legal procedures, roles, status, and actions. Improve your Chinese with key legal terms. 法律fǎlǜ程序chéngxù词汇cíhuì法律fǎlǜ程序chéngxù词汇cíhuì Legal Procedure Vocabulary 法律fǎlǜ角色jiǎosè词汇cíhuì法律fǎlǜ角色juésè词汇cíhuì Legal Roles Vocabulary 法律fǎlǜ状态zhuàngtài词汇cíhuì法律fǎlǜ状态zhuàngtài词汇cíhuì Legal Status Vocabulary 法律fǎlǜ行为xíngwéi词汇cíhuì法律fǎlǜ行为xíngwéi词汇cíhuì Legal Actions Vocabulary