Learn a little Chinese every day
Grammar Point:In Chinese, 然而 rán’ér is a conjunction used to express contrast or a turning point, similar to “however” or “yet” in English. It’s often used in written or formal contexts to introduce a statement that contrasts with the previous one. Structure Statement 1 + 然而 rán’ér + Statement 2 Statement 2 presents information that contrasts with…
Grammar Point:In Chinese grammar, 既 jì… 又 yòu… and 既 jì… 也 yě… are used to express two qualities, actions, or conditions that exist simultaneously. Both structures are similar and function like “both… and…” in English. Structure 既 jì + Adj + 又 yòu + Adj 這zhè件jiàn衣服yīfú既jì好看hǎokàn又yòu暖和nuǎnhuo这zhè件jiàn衣服yīfu既jì好看hǎokàn又yòu暖和nuǎnhuoThis outfit is not only stylish but also warm. 林lín老師lǎoshī的de中文zhōngwén課kè既jì嚴格yángé又yòu無趣wúqù林lín老师lǎoshī的de中文zhōngwén课kè既jì严格yángé又yòu无趣wúqùMr. Lin’s Chinese class…
There are four different ways to talk about change in Chinese, each with its own nuance: 變变 biàn, 改變变 gǎibiàn, 變变化 biànhuà, and 變变成 biànchéng. Each of these terms has its own unique nuance, and understanding these subtleties can help you use them more accurately. Let’s have a small quiz. Do you know which one is correct? A – 最近zuìjìn的de生活shēnghuó有yǒu很hěn大dà的de變化biànhuà最近zuìjìn的de生活shēnghuó有yǒu很hěn大dà的de变化biànhuà…
Grammar Point:The Chinese conjunction 於于是 yúshì is used to indicate a sequence of events, where the second event is a direct result or natural consequence of the first one. It is similar to “and then,” “therefore,” or “as a result” in English. Structure Event A + 於是/于是 yúshì + Event B It shows a cause-and-effect relationship without…
Grammar Point:This structure is often used to express that each item in a series or set is increasingly more or less of something. It highlights a trend or progression in comparison. Structure 一 MW + 比 + 一 MW + adj 我wǒ希望xīwàng我wǒ賺zhuàn的de錢qián一年yìnián比bǐ一年yìnián多duō我wǒ希望xīwàng我wǒ赚zhuàn的de钱qián一年yìnián比bǐ一年yìnián多duōI hope that the money I earn increases year by year. 最近zuìjìn的de天氣tiānqì真zhēn是shì一天yìtiān比bǐ一天yìtiān熱rè最近zuìjìn的de天气tiānqì真zhēn是shì一天yìtiān比bǐ一天yìtiān热rèThe weather lately is…
Grammar Point:In Chinese, the phrases “在 zài… 方面 fāngmiàn”, “在 zài… 上 shàng”, “在 zài… 中 zhōng”, and “在 zài… 下 xià” are often used to introduce topics or specify aspects of a discussion. Structure 在 zài… 方面 fāngmiàn This phrase is used to talk about specific aspects or fields. It can be translated as…
Grammar Point:“Generally speaking” in Chinese can be expressed as 一般來說来说 yìbānláishuō. Examples 一般來說yìbānláishuō， 早餐zǎocān吃chī雞蛋jīdàn會huì讓ràng你nǐ一yì整天zhěngtiān都dōu有yǒu精神jīngshén一般来说yìbānláishuō， 早餐zǎocān吃chī鸡蛋jīdàn会huì让ràng你nǐ一yì整天zhěngtiān都dōu有yǒu精神jīngshénGenerally speaking, eating eggs for breakfast will keep you energized all day. 一般來說yìbānláishuō， 貓咪māomī比bǐ狗狗gǒugǒu更gèng喜歡xǐhuān獨處dúchù， 但dàn我wǒ的de狗gǒu不bú太tài一樣yíyàng一般来说yìbānláishuō， 猫梦māomèng比bǐ狗狗gǒugǒu更gèng喜欢xǐhuan独处dúchù， 但dàn我wǒ的de狗gǒu不bú太tài一样yíyàngGenerally speaking, cats prefer to be alone more than dogs do, but my dog is different. 一般來說yìbānláishuō， 我wǒ會huì在zài網站wǎngzhàn上shàng更新gèngxīn一些yìxiē中文zhōngwén練習liànxí材料cáiliào， 幫助bāngzhù學生xuéshēng準備zhǔnbèiHSK 考試kǎoshì一般来说yìbānláishuō， 我wǒ会huì在zài网站wǎngzhàn上shàng更新gèngxīn一些yìxiē中文zhōngwén练习liànxí材料cáiliào， 帮助bāngzhù学生xuéshēng准备zhǔnbèiHSK 考试kǎoshìGenerally speaking, I…
Grammar Point:In Chinese, the term 人家 rénjiā is a versatile pronoun that can be used in various contexts to refer to different people. Referring to Someone Else 人家rénjiā都dōu說shuō沒關係méiguānxī了le， 你nǐ就jiù別bié難過nánguò了le人家rénjiā都dōu说shuō没关系méiguānxi了le， 你nǐ就jiù别bié难过nánguò了lePeople are saying it’s okay, so don’t be upset. 你nǐ看kàn人家rénjiā的de男朋友nánpéngyǒu都dōu會huì送sòng禮物lǐwù， 你nǐ都dōu不會búhuì你nǐ看kàn人家rénjiā的de男朋友nánpéngyou都dōu会huì送sòng礼物lǐwù， 你nǐ都dōu不会búhuìLook, everyone else’s boyfriends give them gifts, but you never do. 人家rénjiā愛ài怎麼zěnme想xiǎng就jiù怎麼zěnme想xiǎng， 你nǐ不用búyòng在意zàiyì人家rénjiā爱ài怎么zěnme想xiǎng就jiù怎么zěnme想xiǎng， 你nǐ不用búyòng在意zàiyìPeople will…
Grammar Point:The Chinese grammar structure 自 zì… 以來来 yǐlái is used to express “ever since” in English. This structure indicates that something has been happening continuously from a certain point in the past up to the present. Structure Zì + Time or Event + yǐlái Compared with just using 自 zì, 從从 cóng, or 自從从…
Grammar Point:In Chinese, 以及 yǐjí and 並并 bìng can be translated as “and,” but they link to slightly different elements. 以及 yǐjí This is a more formal way to express “and,” often used in written or formal contexts. It is used to connect two or more noun phrases. It is also possible to drop 以…