Learn a little Chinese every day
Grammar Point:In Chinese, “給给 gěi” isn’t just used to mean “to give.” It also works like a bridge between the action and the person who receives that action. We call this person the indirect object. When 给 gěi is used this way, it’s called an Indirect Object Marker — it shows who you’re doing something for or to. Structure S + V + 給给 gěi + Recipient + Direct…
Grammar Point:In Chinese, when you want to tell someone where to put something or where something ends up after an action, you use the pattern “Verb + 在 zài.” This is called a Resultant Location structure. It shows the final location of an object after an action is done. Structure Knowing Object + V + 在 zài + Location This structure…
Grammar Point:There are 3 functions of 把 bǎ in Chinese. Determination, command, and doing a movement on something that makes a change to it. And since 把 bǎ cannot be translated into English, many English speakers feel awkward using it. But it is a piece of grammar that Chinese native speakers use a lot in…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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，…