Learn a little Chinese every day
Grammar Point:This Chinese structure is used to make a contrast, similar to saying “It’s not… but rather…” in English. The pattern is used when you want to correct or clarify something by presenting an alternative or more accurate statement. Structure 不是 + situation A + 而是 + situation B 我wǒ不是búshì不bù同意tóngyì而是érshì聽tīng不bú太tài懂dǒng我wǒ不是búshì不bù同意tóngyì而是érshì听tīng不bú太tài懂dǒngIt’s not that I disagree; I…
Grammar Point:In Chinese, we use 有 yǒu to talk about the existence of something without specifying what it is. After 有 yǒu we describe what the thing does or is like. Structure 有 + (Number + MW) + N 有yǒu一天yìtiān有yǒu一天yìtiānOne day 有yǒu三sān隻zhī狗gǒu有yǒu三sān只zhī狗gǒuThere are three dogs. 有yǒu一個人yígerén來lái找zhǎo你nǐ有yǒu一个人yígerén来lái找zhǎo你nǐSomeone is coming to see you. 有yǒu天tiān你nǐ會huì知道zhīdào我的wǒde好hǎo有yǒu天tiān你nǐ会huì知道zhīdao我的wǒde好hǎoOne day you will…
Food Delivery in Chinese — OneDotDot Chinese (Redesign) 外外送送 · Chinese Vocabulary Food Delivery in Chinese 外外送送 Ordering in has its own app ecosystem in Taiwan and China — different platforms, and a specific set of words you’ll need once you get past picking a restaurant: delivery windows, contactless options, minimum orders, and the checkout…
HSK2 Reading Practice Remember to use the menu at the top right of the article to switch between Traditional and Simplified Chinese. Vocabulary 玩wán球qiú玩wán球qiúto play ball 他tā每天měitiān都dōu和hé朋友péngyǒu玩wán球qiú他tā每天měitiān都dōu和hé朋友péngyou玩wán球qiúHe plays ball with his friends every day. 滾gǔn滚gǔnto roll 球qiú從cóng地上dìshàng滾gǔn到dào我wǒ的de腳jiǎo邊biān球qiú从cóng地上dìshang滚gǔn到dào我wǒ的de脚jiǎo边bianThe ball rolled to my feet from the ground. 公園gōngyuán公园gōngyuánpark 我wǒ喜歡xǐhuān週末zhōumò去qù公園gōngyuán散步sànbù我wǒ喜欢xǐhuan周末zhōumò去qù公园gōngyuán散步sànbùI like to take a walk in the park…
Reading Practice Remember to use the menu at the top right of the article to switch between Traditional and Simplified Chinese. Vocabulary 旅行lǚxíng旅行lǚxíngtravel 我wǒ想xiǎng去qù中國Zhōngguó旅行lǚxíng我wǒ想xiǎng去qù中国Zhōngguó旅行lǚxíngI want to travel to China. 年輕人niánqīngrén年轻人niánqīngrényoung person 那些nàxiē年輕人niánqīngrén在zài公園gōngyuán裡lǐ唱歌chànggē那些nàxiē年轻人niánqīngrén在zài公园gōngyuán里lǐ唱歌chànggēThose young people are singing in the park. 打算dǎsuàn打算dǎsuànplan, intend 我wǒ打算dǎsuàn明年míngnián學習xuéxí日文rìwén我wǒ打算dǎsuàn明年míngnián学习xuéxí日文rìwénI plan to study Japanese next year. 禮物lǐwù礼物lǐwùgift, present 我wǒ準備zhǔnbèi了le一個yíge禮物lǐwù給gěi你nǐ我wǒ准备zhǔnbèi了le一个yíge礼物lǐwù给gěi你nǐI prepared a gift for…
HSK2 Reading Practice Remember to use the menu at the top right of the article to switch between Traditional and Simplified Chinese. Vocabulary 動物園dòngwùyuán动物园dòngwùyuánzoo 昨天zuótiān我們wǒmen去qù動物園dòngwùyuán看kàn熊貓xióngmāo昨天zuótiān我们wǒmen去qù动物园dòngwùyuán看kàn熊猫xióngmāoYesterday we went to the zoo to see pandas. 期待qídài期待qīdàito look forward to 他tā很hěn期待qídài明天míngtiān的de生日shēngrì派對pàiduì他tā很hěn期待qīdài明天míngtiān的de生日shēngrì派对pàiduìHe is looking forward to tomorrow’s birthday party. 背包bēibāo背包bēibāobackpack 她tā每天měitiān背bēi著zhe背包bēibāo去qù上學shàngxué她tā每天měitiān背bēi着zhe背包bēibāo去qù上学shàngxuéShe carries a backpack to school every day. 褲子kùzi裤子kùzipants…
Menus in Chinese — OneDotDot Chinese (Redesign) 菜菜單单詞词彙汇 · Chinese Vocabulary Menus in Chinese 菜菜單单 Sit down at a restaurant in Taiwan or China and the menu works differently than you might expect — there’s no fixed “main course,” side dishes come on their own little plates, and dessert usually means fruit or a warm…
Spices & Herbs in Chinese — OneDotDot Chinese (Redesign) 香香草草與与香香料料 · Chinese Vocabulary Spices & Herbs in Chinese 香香草草與与香香料料 The numbing tingle of Sichuan peppercorns, the warm sweetness of star anise, the sharp bite of raw scallion — this guide covers the herbs and spices behind those flavors, with the dishes and stories that go…
Feelings in Chinese — OneDotDot Chinese (Redesign) 心心情情與与情情緒绪 · Chinese Vocabulary Feelings in Chinese 心心情情 Twenty-five words for how you might be feeling — plus a look at why, in Chinese-speaking culture, actually saying most of them out loud is rarer than you’d think. Before the list 心心情情與与情情緒绪 xīnqíng yǔ qíngxù — Mood & Emotion…
Taste and Texture in Chinese — OneDotDot Chinese (Redesign) 味味覺觉與与口口感感 · Chinese Vocabulary Taste and Texture in Chinese 味味道道與与口口感感 Talking about flavor and texture can get dry fast — so this guide pairs the vocabulary with five real traditional Chinese snacks along the way, so you taste each word instead of just memorizing it. The…