Chinese Vocabulary · 中文詞彙中文词汇 Direction Words in Chinese 方向詞彙方向词汇 fāngxiàng cíhuì Before we get into the vocab, a tip: don’t bother asking most people in Taiwan for directions using east, west, north, or south — it just isn’t how directions get given day to day. Locals tend to rely on left, right, straight ahead, and…
Category: HSK 2
Occupation and Time Words in Chinese
Chinese Vocabulary · 中文詞彙中文词汇 Occupation and Time Words in Chinese 職業與時間詞彙职业与时间词汇 zhíyè yǔ shíjiān cíhuì Before we get into the vocab, here’s a question: do you know why so many foreigners end up working as English teachers in China? Foreign teachers are in high demand, from kindergartens all the way up to universities and private…
Time Expression – de shíhou
Grammar Point:The time expression grammar “…的時候的时候 de shíhòudeshíhou” is similar to the English phrase “when something happens.” It can be used to talk about things that happen at a particular time. To use it, simply attach it to the word or phrase indicating the time. Sentence structure Time Word or description + 的時候/的时候 我wǒ工作gōngzuò的de時候shíhòu常常chángcháng喝hē咖啡kāfēi我wǒ工作gōngzuò的de时候shíhou常常chángcháng喝hē咖啡kāfēiI usually…
Express Distance – 离 lí
OneDotDot Chinese Grammar · HSK 2 Grammar Point · HSK 2 離离 lí — expressing distance 離离 lí shows the distance between two points, in space or in time. It’s often translated as “away from” or “from” in English. The basic pattern is A 離离 lí B + how far. “How far” can be 近近…
School Words in Chinese
Chinese Vocabulary · 中文詞彙中文词汇 School Words in Chinese 學校詞彙学校词汇 xuéxiào cíhuì Before we get into the vocab, here’s a question: do you know how many 漢字汉字 (hànzì, “Chinese characters”) exist? The answer is more than 80,000. Sounds like a lot, but there’s no need to panic — even native speakers don’t recognize anywhere close to…
Life Words in Chinese
Chinese Vocabulary · 中文詞彙中文词汇 Life Words in Chinese 生活詞彙生活词汇 shēnghuó cíhuì Before we get into the vocab, here’s a fun fact. In Taiwan, cash is still very important — many small local vendors don’t accept credit cards, so it’s worth carrying some with you. No need to worry about safety, either: Taiwan has consistently ranked…
Family and clothing words in Chinese
Chinese Vocabulary · 中文詞彙中文词汇 Family and Clothing Words in Chinese 家庭與服裝詞彙家庭与服装词汇 jiātíng yǔ fúzhuāng cíhuì Before we get into the family vocab, here’s some background. In a traditional Chinese family, everyone has a role: elders are respected and consulted first on major decisions, working-age adults are expected to provide for the household and look after…
Mobile Phone Related Words
Mobile Phone Related Words — A Foreigner’s Vocabulary Guide OneDotDot Chinese · Vocabulary Guide Mobile Phone Related Words門號與網路门号与网络 Buying a SIM, picking a carrier, and getting through the paperwork — in Taiwan and in mainland China, with the vocabulary for both. Prepaid SIM cards are sold at every telecom counter in the airport, and at…
一 yī… 就 jiù… Grammar
OneDotDot Chinese Grammar · HSK 2 Grammar Point · HSK 2 一 yī… 就 jiù就 jiù… — “As Soon As” 一…就… yī…jiù…一…就… yī…jiù… links two actions together: the moment the first one happens, the second follows right away. When one thing triggers another right away — you get home and instantly want to sleep, it…
Taste Re-chao
這zhè很hěn__(鹹)__xián这zhè很hěn__(咸)__xián This one is quite ___(salty)___ Dialogue 店diàn員yuán： 請問qǐngwèn味道wèidào還hái可以kěyǐ嗎ma？店diàn员yuán： 请问qǐngwèn味道wèidao还hái行xíng吗ma？Waiter: How is today’s meal? 我wǒ： 這個zhège很hěn鹹xián！ 我wǒ： 这个zhèige很hěn咸xián！ I: This one is quite salty. 店diàn員yuán： 真是zhēnshì不好意思bùhǎoyìsi， 馬上mǎshàng幫bāng您nín重做chóngzuò一份yífèn店diàn员yuán： 真是zhēnshì不好意思bùhǎoyìsi， 马上mǎshàng帮bāng您nín重做chóngzuò一份yífènWaiter: I’m sorry about that. I will prepare another one for you. 我wǒ： 不用búyòng了le， 沒關係méiguānxī! 我wǒ： 不用búyòng了le， 沒事儿méishìr! I: Nah, it’s fine. No worries! Simplified (China) Traditional (Taiwan) Vocabulary 鹹xián咸xián🔊 Salty 酸suān酸suān🔊 Sour 甜tián甜tián🔊 Sweet 苦kǔ苦kǔ🔊…