HSK 4 彙整 - OneDotDot Chinese

智商税 zhìshāng shuì

Posted on April 16, 2025April 16, 2025 by tiffany

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…

Synonym of Serious in Chinese

Posted on March 20, 2025March 20, 2025 by tiffany

Grammar Point:The words 嚴严格 yángé, 嚴肅严肃 yánsù, and 嚴严重 yánzhòng all relate to the idea of “strictness” or “seriousness,” but they have different meanings and usage contexts. 嚴严格 yángé – Strict, Rigorous Emphasizes strictness in rules, standards, or requirements. It is often used to describe regulations, discipline, or people’s approach to rules. 他tā對duì自己zìjǐ的de要求yāoqiú非常fēicháng嚴格yángé他tā对duì自己zìjǐ的de要求yāoqiú非常fēicháng严格yángéHe has strict standards for himself. 老師lǎoshī總是zǒngshì很hěn嚴格yángé地de檢查jiǎnchá我wǒ的de作業zuòyè老师lǎoshī总是zǒngshì很hěn严格yángé地de检查jiǎnchá我wǒ的de作业zuòyèThe…

著着 zhe grammar Ongoing action Aspect Particle

“Verbing away” with 著着 zhe

Posted on March 16, 2025March 16, 2025 by tiffany

Grammar Point:A repeated verb followed by the particle 著着 zhe indicates that an action has been ongoing for a period of time, leading to a new situation that the speaker wants to comment on. Verb1 + 著着 zhe + Verb2 It is used to indicate two actions happening at the same time, with the first action being…

“A bit too” in Chinese – Adj le diǎn

Posted on January 26, 2025January 26, 2025 by tiffany

Grammar Point:The structure Adj + 了點点 le diǎn is used in Chinese to express that something is “a bit too” or “slightly excessive” in terms of a particular quality or condition. It often conveys mild dissatisfaction, criticism, or concern. Structure Adj + 了點点(儿) le diǎndiǎn(r) It implies that the adjective describes something slightly beyond what is ideal…

“Even” in Chinese 2 – lián… yě…

Posted on November 16, 2024November 20, 2024 by tiffany

Grammar Point:In Chinese, the structure 連连 lián …也 yě/ 都 dōu… is used to emphasize “even,” highlighting something unexpected or extreme. Structure 連连 lián + N + 也 yě/ 都 dōu + V 連lián小孩xiǎohái也yě知道zhīdào连lián小孩xiǎohái也yě知道zhīdàoEven children know. 連lián一yì杯bēi水shuǐ也yě沒有méiyǒu连lián一yì杯bēi水shuǐ也yě没有méiyǒuThere isn’t even a glass of water. 他tā連lián早餐zǎocān都dōu沒méi吃chī就jiù去qù上班shàngbān了le他tā连lián早餐zǎocān都dōu没méi吃chī就jiù去qù上班shàngbān了leHe went to work without even having breakfast. 這zhè部bù電影diànyǐng連lián我wǒ奶奶nǎinǎi也yě喜歡xǐhuān看kàn这zhè部bù电影diànyǐng连lián我wǒ奶奶nǎinǎi也yě喜欢xǐhuan看kànEven my grandmother likes this…

“Even If” in Chinese 2 – 不 bù… 也 yě…

Posted on November 14, 2024November 20, 2024 by tiffany

Grammar Point:The 不 bù…也 yě… structure in Chinese is used to express that even if something is not happening, another action or behavior is still being carried out. It highlights persistence or priority given to a certain action despite not doing something else. Structure 不 bù + Verb + 也 yě + Verb It’s also common to…

Expressing Purpose With 好 hǎo

Posted on November 13, 2024 by tiffany

Grammar Point:In Chinese, the character 好 hǎo can be used to express purpose or intention when it’s placed before a verb or verb phrase, often translating to “in order to” or “so that.” This usage of 好 hǎo shows that an action is done for a specific reason or goal. Structure Action + 好 hǎo + Purpose 我wǒ把bǎ鬧鐘nàozhōng調tiáo早zǎo一點yìdiǎn，好hǎo有yǒu時間shíjiān吃chī早餐zǎocān我wǒ把bǎ闹钟nàozhōng调tiáo早zǎo一点yìdiǎn，…

Chinese Recipe – Snowflake Cake

Posted on November 9, 2024January 17, 2025 by tiffany

雪花糕 xuěhuāgāo Snowflake Cake is a delicate Chinese dessert known for its soft, snow-like appearance. Popular in Southern China and Hong Kong, it dates back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), when it first appeared in Guangdong’s teahouses as a dim sum treat. With its light texture and simple ingredients, Snowflake Cake offers a refreshing contrast…

“Even If” in Chinese 1 – 哪怕 nǎpà

Posted on November 7, 2024February 14, 2025 by tiffany

Grammar Point:The Chinese phrase 哪怕 nǎpà is used to mean “even if” or “even though” and often expresses that something will happen or be true despite a particular condition. It’s commonly used to emphasize determination or resilience, regardless of difficult or unfavorable circumstances. Structure 哪怕 nǎpà + condition，也 yě/還还 hái + outcome or result…

“if… then…” in Chinese – jiǎrú and wànyī

Posted on November 3, 2024November 5, 2024 by tiffany

Grammar Point:In Chinese, 假如 jiǎrú and 萬万一 wànyī are both used to express conditional or hypothetical situations, similar to “if” in English, but they serve slightly different purposes and tones. Structure 假如 jiǎrú + condition + (就 jiù) + result 假如 jiǎrú is used for hypothetical or imagined scenarios, similar to saying “if” or “in case” in English….