Hi, there! This is Mandarin Weekly #130, a free newsletter read by more than 20,000 students of Chinese around the world.
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de de de Beginner Grammar
What’s the difference between the three characters that sound identical and have similar uses? An introduction to 的, 得, and 地:
https://chelseabubbly.com/2017/07/06/grammar-points-on-%E7%9A%84-%E5%9C%B0-%E5%BE%97/
Twitter: @Chelsea_bubbly
Simple sentence structure Beginner Grammar
Constructing sentences in Chinese requires knowing some basic grammar patterns. Here are a number of sentences (and patterns) you can learn, emulate, and use:
http://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/2017/07/05/simple-chinese-words/
Twitter: @FluentU
Common questions Beginner Learning
Are you starting to learn Chinese? Do you have some burning questions about how you’ll learn the language, what you should concentrate on in these initial stages, and how you can possibly remember so many characters? These questions, and others, are answered here:
https://www.writtenchinese.com/10-genuine-questions-every-beginner-of-chinese-has/
Twitter: @WrittenChinese
Three myths Beginner Learning
Learning Chinese can seem scary at first, but you’ll soon find that it’s not that bad. Here are three myths that many newcomers to the language need to dispel:
http://www.digmandarin.com/start-speaking-mandarin-quickly.html
Twitter: @DigMandarin
No planning needed Beginner Grammar
How can you indicate that something is unplanned, but you’ll wing it?
https://chelseabubbly.com/2017/07/05/vocabulary-impromptu-%E5%8D%B3%E5%85%B4/
Twitter: @Chelsea_bubbly
Help! Beginner Vocabulary
How can you offer to help someone? Here’s a video (followed by a quiz) to help you out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-mOSEW9B6c
Twitter: @ECLSchool
Color with Elmer Beginner Story Characters
Elmer the elephant is a beloved children’s book character. Here are some stories about Elmer, as well as coloring sheets to practice your (or your child’s) reading of color names:
https://www.misspandachinese.com/elmer-the-elephant-activities-for-kids/
Twitter: @MissPandaChines
HSK1 characters Beginner Characters
If you have just started learning Chinese, then knowing the most basic (HSK1) characters is a probably on your agenda. Here is a complete and categorized list of HSK1 characters:
https://chinesefor.us/hsk1-character-list-hsk-test-level-1-characters/
Twitter: @chinese4us
Chinese table manners All Culture Food
Going out to eat in China? Have fun, but first review this list of table manners, to ensure you don’t embarrass yourself or your host:
http://www.tutormandarin.net/en/eat-chinese-table-manners/
Twitter: @MyTutorMandarin
Chinese surnames All History
What are the most common surnames in China, and what cultural dos and don’ts apply to Chinese names?
http://www.saporedicina.com/english/interesting-facts-about-chinese-names-and-surnames/
Wandering around Beginner Vocabulary
The word 逛 (guàng) means to wander or stroll, and is often used to describe walking around a major street, as described here:
https://themandarincornerblog.com/2017/07/03/you-really-want-to-visit-this-chinese-street/
Shopping festivals All Holidays
China has a growing number of “shopping festivals,” holidays decreed by online retailers whose interest is in selling more goods to you and your friends:
http://www.theworldofchinese.com/2017/07/the-twoc-guide-to-shopping-festivals/
Twitter: @WorldOfChinese
Chinese medicine All Culture
What do you know about Chinese medicine? Here’s a quick review of this ancient healing practice, still used in modern China:
http://www.tutormandarin.net/en/chinese-medicine-treatments-you-must-know/
Twitter: @MyTutorMandarin
Sci-fi movies Advanced Vocabulary
Like science fiction? Speak Chinese? If so, then watch one of these Chinese sci-fi movies:
http://www.theworldofchinese.com/2017/07/chinese-sci-fi-on-screen/
Twitter: @WorldOfChinese
Skeptoid Chinese Advanced Learning
Want to listen to interesting topics discussed at an advanced (adult, full-speed) level of Chinese? Skeptoid Chinese might be just what you’re looking for:
http://www.hackingchinese.com/advanced-listening-reading-skeptoid-chinese/
Twitter: @HackingChinese
Soft Lipa Intermediate Culture
Listen to this Chinese rap song, with characters and translation:
http://www.alllanguageresources.com/practice-materials-music-soft-lipa/
Nationalities Beginner Vocabulary
Here are some common expressions you can use to refer to Chinese residents, expats, and their foreigner friends (that’s us!):
http://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/discussing-nationalities-and-foreigners-in-chinese/
Twitter: @ChineseLanguage
The best horse Intermediate Story
A legend about finding a remarkable horse:
http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/15-2009-12-02-23-37-29/2882-2017-07-05-05-21-10
Twitter: @imandarinpod
All types of parents Beginner Story
A short story about different types of parents:
http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/14-2009-12-02-23-37-05/2885-2017-07-07-03-31-20
Twitter: @imandarinpod
Workplace expressions Intermediate Expressions
成语 (chéng yǔ) are four-character Chinese expressions. What are some expressions that you can use in your day-to-day work, with colleagues at the office? Here are some suggestions:
https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/24430/what-are-five-most-useful-or-common-chengyu-phrases-in-the-workplace
Why 大陸 (dà lù)? Intermediate Vocabulary
Why is mainland China known as 大陸 in so many Chinese-speaking places?
https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/24393/why-is-mainland-china-referred-to-as-%e5%a4%a7%e9%99%b8-%e5%a4%a7%e9%99%b8
All by myself Beginner Vocabulary
We use 自己 (zì jǐ)
https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/24386/what-is-the-difference-between-the-two-characters-of-%e8%87%aa%e5%b7%b1
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