OneDotDot Chinese · Tone Pairs When two tones meet Every Mandarin word is a small collision of pitches. Listen to how each tone bends and adjusts once it’s sitting next to another — then try saying the pair yourself. tap ▶ next to any word to hear it Full Chart Columns = the first syllable’s…
Author: tiffany
Japanese Food
Food Vocabulary 日本美食日本美食 Japanese Food in Chinese There is so much delicious Japanese food in 台灣台湾 (Taiwan) and 中國中国 (China). Do you know how to read their names in Chinese? Let’s learn the vocabulary for Japanese staples — from ramen and sushi to izakaya classics! 🏮 Taiwan’s “Little Japan” Did you know? Zhongshan District (中山區中山区),…
Synonyms of “Always” in Chinese
差不多 · 幾乎 · 左右 · 大概 — 近義詞辨析 Similar words 差不多差不多 chàbuduō · 幾乎几乎 jīhū · 左右 zuǒyòu · 大概 dàgài Four ways to say “almost” or “about” in Mandarin — and how each one handles numbers, adjectives, and probability differently. English uses “almost” and “about” loosely, but Mandarin splits this idea across four…
No wonder in Chinese – nánguài & guàibude
Grammar point: Both 難难怪 nánguài and 怪不得 guàibùdébude mean “no wonder” or “it’s no surprise.” It is used to express realization or understanding of why something happens, often after discovering new information or reasoning behind it. It can also convey agreement with a logical conclusion. Structure 難难怪 nánguài + Observation + 原來来 yuánlái (是 shì) + The…
Synonym of Often in Chinese
常 · 經常 · 往往 · 平常 — 近義詞辨析 Similar words 常 cháng · 經常经常 jīngcháng · 往往 wǎngwǎng · 平常 píngcháng Four ways to say “often” in Mandarin — and the grammar that keeps each one in its lane. 常常 chángcháng, 經常经常 jīngcháng, 往往 wǎngwǎng, and 平常 píngcháng share a similar meaning of “often”…
“Often” in Chinese – 往往 wǎngwǎng
OneDotDot Chinese Grammar · HSK 4 Grammar Point · HSK 4 往往 wǎngwǎng — “Often” / “Usually” 往往 wǎngwǎng describes what usually happens based on experience or observation — a general tendency, not a specific count of how many times something occurs. 往往 wǎngwǎng sits before the verb or adjective and points out a natural…
10 Drinks in Taiwan and China
Food Vocabulary 10 Drinks in Taiwan & China Here are 10 unique and popular drinks in 台灣台湾 (Taiwan) and 中國中国 (China). Some of them might taste a little unusual at first, but I highly recommend you try them at least once to experience authentic local culture! 01 — 珍珠奶茶珍珠奶茶 Bubble Milk Tea (zhēnzhū nǎichá) Bubble…
Chinese Measure Words 3
OneDotDot Chinese Grammar · HSK 3 Grammar Point · HSK 3 7 Measure Words — 把把 bǎ, 雙双 shuāng, 張张 zhāng, 種种 zhǒng, 層层 céng, 封封 fēng, 頁页 yè Every noun in Chinese needs a measure word before it when you count it. This set covers seven common ones you’ll run into constantly: for handled…
Chinese Noun
A field guide for learners Chinese Noun In this article, we’re going to look at how Chinese nouns actually behave — and how differently that is from English. What is the difference between Chinese nouns and English nouns? How do you express plural in Chinese nouns? Are Chinese nouns countable? Word formation Syllables of a…
10 Popular Breakfasts in Taiwan and China
Food Vocabulary 10 Popular Breakfasts in Taiwan & China There are so many kinds of breakfasts in 台灣台湾 (Taiwan) and 中國中国 (China). From savory soy milk to crispy scallion pancakes, the morning food scene is incredibly diverse and delicious. Let’s explore the vocabulary for 10 of the most popular traditional breakfast categories! 🍳 The Breakfast…