Mandarin Weekly #131

 

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Hi, there! This is Mandarin Weekly #131, a free newsletter read by more than 20,000 students of Chinese around the world.

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Useful sentence patterns Intermediate Grammar

Chinese sentence patterns are usually quite standard. Here are some unusual and more advanced patterns you can use:

https://www.writtenchinese.com/18-intermediate-chinese-sentence-patterns-you-need-to-learn/

Twitter: @WrittenChinese

The three de’s Intermediate Grammar

Three characters (的, 得, and 地) are all pronounced “de,” but have different meanings and uses:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggPbyZN96ss

Twitter: @ChinesePod

Characters with multiple sounds Intermediate Characters

Every character has a sound and a meaning, right? Well, sort of — many characters have multiple meanings, and many also have multiple sounds! Here are some common examples to keep in mind:

https://medium.com/@TutorMing/chinese-characters-with-multiple-pronunciations-9e9b189c0925

Wild phrases Intermediate Expressions

Here are some useful, if edgy and weird, phrases you can use in Chinese:

http://www.digmandarin.com/wild-chinese-phrases.html

Twitter: @DigMandarin

Is it? Beginner Grammar Video

Want to ask if something XYZ or not? Here’s the grammar pattern you will need:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoKQAVcQk9c

Twitter: @ECLSchool

Podcasts for learning All Reviews

There are lots of podcasts out there, and some of them exist to help you improve your Chinese. Here is a roundup (and review) of a number of good podcasts:

http://www.alllanguageresources.com/learn-mandarin-podcasts/

Overcome your fear All Learning

Learning Chinese is hard, and can take time. How can you overcome your fears, and push ahead so as to improve?

http://justlearnchinese.com/how-to-overcome-your-fear-of-speaking-chinese/

Twitter: @graceJLC

Job interview Intermediate Expressions Video

Going for an interview? Here are words and phrases you really should know:

https://chelseabubbly.com/2017/07/11/how-to-handle-an-interview-in-chinese/

Twitter: @Chelsea_bubbly

Directions in Chinese Beginner Grammar

How do you give (or receive) directions in Chinese? Here are some useful vocabulary words and grammar patterns for getting where you need to go:

http://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/directions-and-locations-in-chinese-part-one/

Twitter: @ChineseLanguage

Directions in Chinese Beginner Grammar

How do you give (or receive) directions in Chinese?

http://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/directions-and-locations-in-chinese-part-two/

Twitter: @ChineseLanguage

What’s the weather? Beginner Vocabulary Video

How is today’s weather? In this video, we can learn some basic weather expressions:

https://chelseabubbly.com/2017/07/09/lets-talk-about-todays-weather/

Twitter: @Chelsea_bubbly

Bad Chinese song All Video

Do you mispronounce words, perhaps saying 睡觉 (shuì jiào) instead of 水饺 (shuǐ jiǎo)? Here’s a cute song by some English singers who have made lots of mistakes:

https://www.misspandachinese.com/songs-to-learn-chinese/

Twitter: @MissPandaChines

Taking the HSK All Learning

Want to prove that you know Chinese? You can take the HSK examinations, levels 1-6, given by the Confucius Institute. Here is some background on the tests:

http://www.saporedicina.com/english/confucius-institute/

Stood up? Intermediate Expressions Video

Here’s a great expression that really means, “You’ve been stood up”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Pa_mUxtxvI

Twitter: @MyTutorMandarin

Ninchanese review All Reviews

How good is Nichanese for learning and improving your Chinese reading, speaking, and listening? Surprisingly good, it turns out:

http://www.alllanguageresources.com/ninchanese-review/

Chinese hip-hop Intermediate Video

Enjoy hip-hop music? Perhaps, but have you ever heard it in Chinese? Here’s a song called “Purple soul,” with characters + pinyin + translation, if you don’t quite know what’s going on:

http://www.alllanguageresources.com/practice-materials-music-purple-soul/

Dialects Advanced Story

Chinese has many different dialects, as described in this story:

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/13-2009-12-02-23-35-40/2889-2017-07-12-05-43-45

Twitter: @imandarinpod

Your kind of animal Beginner Story

What kind of animal do you resemble?

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/14-2009-12-02-23-37-05/2888-2017-07-12-05-09-18

Twitter: @imandarinpod

Basic travel phrases Beginner Expressions

Traveling to a Chinese-speaking country for the first time? These phrases can come in handy:

http://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/chinese-for-travelers/

Twitter: @ChineseLanguage

Learning strategies All Learning

You want to learn a new language. That’s great! What can you do in order to speed up your language learning?

http://www.iwillteachyoualanguage.com/embrace-mistakes/

Losing your house Intermediate Vocabulary

The word 拆迁 (chāi qiān) refers to destroying a building and forcing the residents to move elsehwere. Surprisingly, it’s not seen as a bad thing. Here’s some background on this word, and why it’s so common in today’s Chinese cities:

https://themandarincornerblog.com/2017/07/10/why-do-many-chinese-want-their-homes-demolished/

Interjections show excitement Beginner Grammar Video

Wow! Oops! How do you say those in Chinese? Here are some examples of interjections you can use in your conversations:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzrj8MD95qk

Twitter: @ECLSchool

Sentence structure Beginner Grammar

Chinese sentences have a set structure, and the earlier you can learn it, the better you’ll be able to express yourself. Here are some hints and ideas regarding that structure, and some variations on it:

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/25435/should-the-object-always-be-placed-after-the-verb-and-is-a-target-and-an-object

Vulgar expressions Intermediate Expressions

Every language has expressions that are considered rude; a simple question leads to an introduction to several of these:

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/25508/what-does-the-phrase-%e6%88%91%e7%9a%84%e5%a6%88%e6%9d%a5-mean-when-it-is-used-to-express-shock-or-surprise

Dusk, evening, nighttime Intermediate Grammar

Different terms for “night” or “evening” in Chinese refer to specific periods of time:

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/25501/difference-between-%e5%82%8d%e6%99%9a-and-%e6%99%9a%e4%b8%8a-and-their-etymology

Referring to people Intermediate Grammar

Is there a difference between calling someone a 中国人 (zhōng guó rén) and a 华人 (huá rén)?

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/25480/%e4%b8%ad%e5%9b%bd%e4%ba%ba-vs-%e5%8d%8e%e4%ba%ba-which-should-i-use


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