Learn a little Chinese every day
Grammar Point:Chinese measure words are used to quantify nouns and indicate the number or frequency of an action or event. When it comes to the concept of “times” or occurrences, there are several measure words that can be used in Chinese, including 遍 biàn, 次 cì, 場场 chǎng, 回 huí, and 下 xià. 遍 biàn:…
Grammar Point:The Chinese adverb 一直 yìzhí is used to express the idea of “continuously” or “all along” in a sentence. It indicates that an action or state has been ongoing or persistent from a certain point in time up to the present or a specified point in the future. Structure S + 一直 yìzhí +…
The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is a wonderful traditional Chinese celebration that happens on the fifth day of the fifth month according to the lunar calendar. It’s a time of joy and excitement, and people eagerly celebrate it in various parts of East Asia, including China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and…
Grammar Point:In Chinese, 一共 yígòng (total) is primarily used for expressing the total quantity or sum, while 全 quán (all) emphasizes the completeness or entirety of something. Structure 一共 yígòng + (V) + Numbers It is used to indicate the total or overall quantity of something. 明天míngtiān一共yígòng5 個ge人rén要yào來lái明天míngtiān一共yígòng5 个ge人rén要yào来láiTomorrow, a total of five people are…
Grammar Point:In Chinese, the word for “only” is 只 zhǐ. Unlike in English, you can place it in any part of the sentence to emphasize different parts. However, it always comes before verbs in Chinese. Structure 只 + Verb 卡kǎ裡lǐ只zhǐ有yǒu兩百liǎngbǎi塊kuài錢qián卡kǎ里lǐ只zhǐ有yǒu两百liǎngbǎi块kuài钱qiánI only have 200 dollars in my card. 我wǒ今天jīntiān只zhǐ喝hē了le一杯yìbēi咖啡kāfēi我wǒ今天jīntiān只zhǐ喝hē了le一杯yìbēi咖啡kāfēiI only had one cup of coffee today….
Grammar Point:In most situations, Chinese adjectives typically require an adverb. Here are the adverbs we are going to look at in this article: Examples 他tā多麼duōme聰明cōngmíng！ 他tā多么duōyāo聪明cōngming！ How smart he is! 這zhè個ge菜cài好hǎo好吃hǎochī这zhè个ge菜cài好hǎo好吃hǎochīThis dish is quite delicious. 這zhè件jiàn衣服yīfú有一點yǒuyìdiǎn小xiǎo这zhè件jiàn衣服yīfu有一点yǒuyìdiǎn小xiǎoThis piece of clothing is a bit too small. 你的nǐde腳jiǎo有點yǒudiǎn臭chòu你的nǐde脚jiǎo有点儿yǒudiǎnr臭chòuYour feet a bit too stink. FYIDo you know that in…
Grammar Point:In Chinese, “how” can be translated as 怎么样 zěnme yàng or simply 怎么 zěnme, depending on the context. As for “how long,” it can be translated as 多久 duō jiǔ. How – 怎麼/怎么 zěnme Depending on the context, 怎麼怎么 zěnme can be translated as “how” or “what”. It is used to indicate the manner…
Grammar Point:In Chinese, the word 可能 kěnéng is used to express the concept of “possibility” or “may.” It is commonly used in sentences to indicate that something is likely or potentially true. Structure S + 可能 + V or SV 明天míngtiān可能kěnéng會huì下雨xiàyǔ明天míngtiān可能kěnéng会huì下雨xiàyǔIt may rain tomorrow. 我wǒ可能kěnéng感冒gǎnmào了le， 身體shēntǐ不太bútài舒服shūfú我wǒ可能kěnéng感冒gǎnmào了le， 身体shēntǐ不太bútài舒服shūfuI may have caught a cold, I’m not feeling…
Grammar Point:In Chinese grammar, the term 應該应该 yīnggāi is used to express “should” or “ought to” in a general sense. It indicates what is considered the proper or expected course of action. Structure S + 應該应该 + V + O The term 應該应该 yīnggāi can be shortened to just 該该 gāi while still conveying a…
Why Are Chinese Separable Verbs Important? One of the key reasons is that among the 1,000 commonly used verbs in Modern Chinese, a whopping 685 of them are separable verbs. You’ll frequently come across them, especially in basic words like 睡覺觉 (to sleep), 吃飯饭 (to eat), and 看書书 (to read), when learning Chinese. Knowing which…