Learn a little Chinese every day
Before we look up the family and pronoun words in Chinese, let me explain something to you. The traditional Chinese culture tends to put great emphasis on maintaining respect and positive relationships amongst family members. Much of this behavior relates to Confucian concepts. But nowadays, the younger generation is becoming less family orientated. Nevertheless, children…
Before we look up the nature and animal words in Chinese, let me tell you a story. According to Chinese legend, there are so many stories related to nature and animals. One of them is about a weather family in the sky: 雷公 (léigōng, thunder father),电母 (diàn mǔ, lightning mother), 风伯 (fēngbó, uncle wind), 云童(yúntóng, cloud child)…
我wǒ要yào把bǎ__A__ 換huàn成chéng__B__ 我wǒ要yào把bǎ__A__ 换huàn成chéng__B__ I’d like to exchange some ____A____ to ____B____ Dialogue 我wǒ： 你好nǐhǎo， 我wǒ要yào把bǎ美金měijīn換huàn成chéng台幣táibì我wǒ： 你好nǐhǎo， 我wǒ要yào把bǎ美金měijīn换huàn成chéng台币táibìI: Hi! I’d like to exchange some US Dollars to Taiwan Dollars. 銀行yínháng員yuán： 好的hǎode， 請qǐng給gěi我wǒ你的nǐde護照hùzhào银行yínháng员yuán： 请qǐng出示chūshì您的nínde护照hùzhàoBank Clerk: Sure. Can I see your passport, please? 我wǒ： 這個zhège請qǐng幫bāng我wǒ換huàn成chéng零錢língqián我wǒ： 这个zhèige请qǐng帮bāng我wǒ换huàn成chéng零钱língqiánI: I’d like to get some change for this. 銀行yínháng員yuán： 好的hǎode， 請qǐng在zài這裡zhèlǐ簽名qiānmíng银行yínháng员yuán： 好的hǎode， 请qǐng在zài这儿zhèr签名qiānmíngBank Clerk: Ok, please sign your name here. Simplified (China) Traditional (Taiwan)…
Before we look up the Chinese words for life at school, let me tell you a terrible fact. In both Taiwan and China, students need to wear uniforms at school. Back in my high school life, we even have a hair ban which should be below your ear less than 3 cm. Every morning teachers…
Before we look up the numbers and time words in Chinese, let me tell you a fun fact. Chinese people love the number 8! Because 八(bā, eight) has a similar pronunciation to 发 (Fa, wealth), this number is very popular among Chinese people. When people choose phone numbers, addresses, license plates, and important dates, 8 is usually the…
Before we look up the date and season words in Chinese, let me introduce you to a little bit about Taiwan. In terms of weather, the three spring months (Mar.-May) in Taiwan are a gradual transition between dry and rainy seasons. The average daytime temperature in March is 23 °C (73 °F). It’s still too…
Before we look up the country, language and transportation words in Chinese, I want to share a video with you. If you like to ride a bicycle, you will fall in love with Taiwan. Taiwan has Ubike which is a Taipei Bike Sharing System. Most bicycle parking stations are located around the city, many of which…
Before we look up the body part and sports words in Chinese, let me tell you a fact. Taiwan is definitely not a sporting country. Not many people are crazy about the Olympics or World Cup. The reason possibly is because we can not join these international games as a country. The most popular sport in Taiwan…
Before we look up the food words in Chinese, let me explain something to you. In China, rice is usually the main food for people living in the south of China, while food made of wheat flour like dumplings, noodles, and steam buns is the main food for people living in the north. If you want to…