Mandarin Weekly #139

 

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This is Mandarin Weekly #139, a free newsletter read by more than 20,000 students of Chinese around the world.

Customize Mandarin Weekly for your interests and learning level, and support the creation of each issue, by subscribing to Mandarin Weekly Plus. It costs less than $1/week, and less than 50¢/week for students. Click here to subscribe!

If you enjoy Mandarin Weekly, please share it with others. And don’t forget to take advantage of our list of discounts for students of Chinese.

To receive Mandarin Weekly every Monday, sign up MandarinWeekly.com. Every Tuesday, we go up on Facebook, at http://facebook.com/MandarinWeekly, Medium, at http://medium.com/@mandarinweekly, and Twitter, at @MandarinWeekly.  Please like, share, and retweet us!

If you offer products or services aimed at students of Chinese, and want to sponsor one or more issues, then please contact Reuven at reuven@lerner.co.il.

Step by Step, by MayDay Intermediate Culture Video

May Day is a popular Taiwanese band. Follow and learn one of their most popular songs, to get a better sense of Chinese culture — and of course, to learn some new words and phrases. And if nothing else, the video has some amazing pictures of an elephant:

https://www.tutormandarin.net/en/learn-chinese-song/

Twitter: @MyTutorMandarin

Sad words Beginner Vocabulary Video

Feeling down? Express it in Chinese with the words introduced in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjAQIXh2QV8

Twitter: @chineseclass101

App roundup All Reviews

Which apps should you use to learn Chinese? Here is a list of the best and best-known ones:

https://www.chinasmack.com/5-best-mandarin-chinese-learning-apps

Improve your speech All Reviews

Chinese is hard to pronounce for many foreigners — and yet, pronunciation is key if you’re going to gain fluency. Here is a review of Speechling, which tries to help you improve your pronounciation:

https://www.alllanguageresources.com/speechling-review/

Invented in China All Culture

Lots of everyday objects were invented in China. What things? Here’s a list that is almost guaranteed to surprise you:

https://www.writtenchinese.com/10-things-you-didnt-know-were-invented-in-china/

Twitter: @WrittenChinese

Vocabulary lists All Learning

Many blogs offer long lists of related vocabulary for you to study. Is that a good way to go? Here are some thoughts:

http://www.hackingchinese.com/should-you-learn-chinese-vocabulary-from-lists/

Twitter: @HackingChinese

So sorry! Intermediate Vocabulary Video

Are you sorry about something? You can express your remorse in a few ways, as described in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR8JUUs3wVM

Twitter: @ECLSchool

Chinese covers Intermediate Culture Video

Have you ever dreamed of listening to Western hits, translated into Chinese, sung by Chinese artists? Of course you have! Here are five Chinese versions of hits you might know, but sounding oh-so-slightly different:

http://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/2017/09/14/learn-chinese-with-music/

Twitter: @FluentU

The “Gao Kao” entrance exam All Culture

Chinese students who want to attend a university take the 高考 (gāo kǎo) exam, which can have a huge affect on their future. Here is a summary of what’s on the exam, how students take it, and how they prepare:

http://www.saporedicina.com/english/school-gao-kao/

Early success Intermediate Vocabulary Learning

How can you learn Chinese successfully? One way is to wake up early. But 早 (zǎo) has multiple meanings, as we see here:

https://themandarincornerblog.com/2017/09/11/is-this-the-key-to-langauge-learning-success/

Buying tickets Beginner Story

Planning to travel? This short story about airline tickets will get you in the mood:

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/14-2009-12-02-23-37-05/2943-2017-09-14-06-51-03

Twitter: @imandarinpod

Different kinds of “late” Intermediate Grammar

Both 迟 (chí) and. 晚 (wǎn) can mean “late,” but in different ways:

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/26511/%e9%81%b2-vs-%e6%99%9a-in-mandarin-when-to-use-which-one

Recognizing vs. knowing Intermediate Grammar

The word 认识 (rèn shì) means to recognize, and 知道 (zhī dào) means to know. But are there times when it’s not obvious which to use, or when they have subtly different (but overlapping) meanings?

https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/%E8%AE%A4%E8%AF%86-%E7%9F%A5%E9%81%93.3367207/

Talking vs. reporting Intermediate Grammar

Using 报告 (bào gào) or 演讲 (yǎn jiǎng) to describe a speech:

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/26508/when-should-one-use-%e6%8a%a5%e5%91%8a-b%c3%a0og%c3%a0o-or-%e6%bc%94%e8%ae%b2-y%c7%8enji%c7%8eng-when-saying-to-give-a-talk

Mandarin Weekly #138

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This is Mandarin Weekly #138, a free newsletter read by more than 20,000 students of Chinese around the world.

If you enjoy Mandarin Weekly, please share it with others. And don’t forget to take advantage of our list of discounts for students of Chinese.

To receive Mandarin Weekly every Monday, sign up MandarinWeekly.com. Every Tuesday, we go up on Facebook, at http://facebook.com/MandarinWeekly, Medium, at http://medium.com/@mandarinweekly, and Twitter, at @MandarinWeekly.  Please like, share, and retweet us!

If you offer products or services aimed at students of Chinese, and want to sponsor one or more issues, then please contact Reuven at reuven@lerner.co.il.

Giveaway: Free lessons with LaoShi.co.uk

ImageGet yourself a Fun, Qualified and Hand-Picked online Chinese Teacher with LaoShi.co.uk.
To celebrate the beginning of LaoShi.co.uk we are running a competition with Mandarin Weekly! Yay.
Two lucky folks will win 5 classes each! That is 5 private classes with your very own LaoShi.

Just click here: https://mandarinweekly.com/giveaways/542/ and sign up (for free!) for a chance to win five free Chinese classes.  Share with your friends on social media to get even more chances to win!
Well, we think we are onto something great and we could do with a little support so, the first 5 of you to schedule a class over at LaoShi.co.uk using Coupon Code SMILE will get a free class too. We will contact you after your class to ask a few questions, we hope you don’t mind :).
Want to find out more? take a look at our delicious new site www.LaoShi.co.uk/Welcome


Again, the giveaway is here, at https://mandarinweekly.com/giveaways/542/ !

Read faster All Characters

How can you become a faster, more fluent reader of Chinese? Lots of practice, of course — but here are some more concrete tips regarding how to structure your reading for optimal improvement:

http://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-reading-speed-revisited/

Twitter: @HackingChinese

Intro to Chinese Beginner Learning

Are you completely new to learning Chinese? Then this article, which introduces the language and what you’ll have to learn in a very structured way, should be very useful to you:

http://www.iwillteachyoualanguage.com/learn-chinese/

Learning progression Intermediate Learning

Learning Chinese takes time, effort, and some help. But given limited time (which is always an issue), what are some of the best ways that you can improve your Chinese? This “minimum effort” guide describes some of the things you can do for Chinese fluency to come more easily:

https://www.tutormandarin.net/en/learn-chinese-minimum-effort/

Twitter: @MyTutorMandarin

Time for school Beginner Vocabulary

School is back in season in China, and in many other countries, as well. Here is a list of supplies you (and/or your children) will need, in Chinese:

https://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/chinese-school-vocabulary/

Twitter: @ChineseLanguage

School subjects Beginner Vocabulary

And if you’re in school, then what are you studying? Here is a list of the different subjects you (or your children) might want to take — or might have to take, even if you don’t want to:

https://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/school-subjects-in-chinese/

Twitter: @ChineseLanguage

Writing a resume (CV) All Culture

Creating a resume (CV) to apply for jobs in China? Here’s a guide to how to write one like a native, including lots of great job-search-related vocabulary:

https://www.digmandarin.com/chinese-resume-cv-sample-template-download.html

Twitter: @DigMandarin

Truth in advertising Beginner Story

It’s not quite a new episode of Mad Men, but this story does talk about advertising:

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/14-2009-12-02-23-37-05/2940-2017-09-09-08-54-48

Twitter: @imandarinpod

二 (èr) or 两 (liǎng)? Beginner Grammar Video

There are two ways to say “two” in Chinese, 二 and 两. Why are there two, and when do you use each one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU5BOCdXbyk

Twitter: @chineseclass101

Missing America Intermediate Vocabulary Video

What do you miss about America when in China? In this video, we’ll learn some useful vocabulary for describing American products:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp1VFu27l8o

Twitter: @ChineseWithEmma

Let’s do it! Beginner Grammar Video

How do you say to your friends, “Let’s do it!” The 吧 (ba) particle is what you need:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2BySQPZPaQ

Twitter: @ECLSchool

Fluenz review Beginner Reviews

Fluenz offers you the chance to learn Chinese. How does it stack up against other Chinese-learning options?

https://www.alllanguageresources.com/fluenz-review/

Have you eaten? Beginner Grammar Video

A common Chinese greeting is “Have you eaten?” How do you respond?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG4Z4BKTvV0

Twitter: @ECLSchool

Traditional music All Culture

Chinese music has a long history, with songs and instruments that are quite foreign to Western eyes and ears. This article introduces many aspects of Chinese music:

https://www.writtenchinese.com/what-need-know-zhong-guo-feng-music/

Twitter: @WrittenChinese

Hey, everybody! Intermediate Grammar

What is the difference between 各位 (gè wèi) and 大家 (dà jiā)?

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/26411/what-distinguishes-%e5%90%84%e4%bd%8d-g%c3%a8w%c3%a8i-from-%e5%a4%a7%e5%ae%b6-d%c3%a0ji%c4%81

Your majesty! Intermediate Vocabulary

There is no longer an emperor, but knowing how to address one (as well as what he is called) can still come in handy:

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/26368/the-difference-between-%e7%9a%87%e5%b8%9d-and-%e7%9a%87%e4%b8%8a

Mandarin Weekly #137

 

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Hi! This is Mandarin Weekly #137, a free newsletter read by more than 20,000 students of Chinese around the world.

Sorry about the delay in getting this out, but I just returned from a (great, relaxing, fun-with-family) vacation.  We should be back on a normal schedule starting next week (i.e., September 11th).

Customize Mandarin Weekly for your interests and learning level, and support the creation of each issue, by subscribing to Mandarin Weekly Plus. It costs less than $1/week, and less than 50¢/week for students. Click here to subscribe!

If you enjoy Mandarin Weekly, please share it with others. And don’t forget to take advantage of our list of discounts for students of Chinese.

To receive Mandarin Weekly every Monday, sign up MandarinWeekly.com. Every Tuesday, we go up on Facebook, at http://facebook.com/MandarinWeekly, Medium, at http://medium.com/@mandarinweekly, and Twitter, at @MandarinWeekly.  Please like, share, and retweet us!

If you offer products or services aimed at students of Chinese, and want to sponsor one or more issues, then please contact Reuven at reuven@lerner.co.il.

Word order Beginner Grammar Video

How different is word order in Chinese from English? This video provides a useful perspective, with simple but effective examples:

http://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2017/08/30/chinese-word-order-and-english-word-order-how-similar

Types of characters All Characters

There are many different Chinese characters, but there are only a few types of characters, distinct patterns into which the characters can be organized. Here is an introduction to these patterns, and how to use them to read more easily:

https://www.writtenchinese.com/lowdown-6-types-of-chinese-characters/

Twitter: @WrittenChinese

Emotions Beginner Grammar Video

Want to express emotions and feelings in Chinese? These cute videos demonstrate a variety of them, with some catchy music, to boot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glbjvNh0Iv8

Twitter: @ChineseBuddy

Question words Beginner Grammar

How do you ask questions in Chinese? You use a question word, of coursze, just like in English and many other languages. Here is an introduction to the various question words in Chinese:

http://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/2017/09/04/chinese-question-words/

Twitter: @FluentU

Flirt in Chinese Intermediate Vocabulary Expressions

Love is in the air! Lots of Chinese-learning blogs have recently posted about how to flirt in Chinese. In case you missed the other posts, or just want to try a few new and different ways to say you find someone attractive, here’s the latest way to flirt in Chinese:

http://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/2017/08/28/flirt-in-chinese/

Twitter: @FluentU

Let’s get dressed! Beginner Vocabulary

Want to get dressed in Chinese? Here are some essential vocabulary words you’ll need to do so:

http://allaboutchinese.tumblr.com/post/164718394088/allaboutchinese-%E6%89%93%E6%89%AE-dress-up

Verbling review All Reviews

Want to improve your Chinese speaking (and listening) ability? Verbling is another company offering paid, online instructors with whom you can practice in real time:

https://www.alllanguageresources.com/verbling-review-an-alternative-to-italki/

Basic travel expressions Beginner Travel

Planning to travel in China? Knowing some Chinese, even if you’re totally new to the language, will help a great deal. Here are some basic phrases that you should learn before your first trip:

https://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/4-must-know-expressions-for-chinese-beginners-traveling-in-china/

Twitter: @ChineseLanguage

Organic in China Intermediate Food

Want to buy organic produce in China, or eat at restaurants that only use organic products? You’ll find yourself challenged to do so, but after reading this article, at least you’ll know how to ask the right questions (and even understand the answers):

https://chinesepod.com/blog/2017/08/30/going-organic/

Twitter: @ChinesePod

Ghost month! All Culture

This is “ghost month” in China, during which certain traditions (or even “superstitions”) come out of the wordwork. Here are some things to know about ghost month:

https://www.digmandarin.com/chinese-ghost-month.html

Twitter: @DigMandarin

Animal expressions Intermediate Expressions

Chinese is full of sayings and expressions. These often mention animals, as we can see here:

https://www.digmandarin.com/chinese-idioms-chengyu-animals.html

Twitter: @DigMandarin

Listen better Intermediate Listening

Learning to hear the sounds of Chinese is important not just for comprehension, but also for speaking correctly. Here are some suggestions for improving your listening, and a new course that can help you to do so:

http://www.hackingchinese.com/training-and-testing-your-ability-to-hear-mandarin-sounds/

Twitter: @HackingChinese

Mandarin vs. Cantonese All Culture

Mandarin Weekly is about, well, Mandarin Chinese. But there are other forms, or “dialects,” of Chinese. One of the most common is Cantonese. How are Mandarin and Cantonese similar, and how are they different?

https://www.tutormandarin.net/en/similarities-differences-cantonese-vs-mandarin/

Twitter: @MyTutorMandarin

Numbers in Chinese Beginner Grammar

Counting is very easy in Chinese, once you get the hang of the number system:

http://www.saporedicina.com/english/chinese-numeric-system/

Different ways to travel Intermediate Vocabulary

There are different words for “travel” in Chinese, but is there any difference between them? For example, we can say either 旅游 (lǚ yóu) or 旅行 (lǚ xíng), as described here:

https://themandarincornerblog.com/2017/08/25/whats-the-difference-between-lu-you-%e6%97%85%e6%b8%b8-and-lu-xing%e6%97%85%e8%a1%8c/

Eclipse fever All Vocabulary

Much of the United States was gripped by eclipse excitement in August, with a total solar eclipse. How can you describe it in Chinese? Here’s a nice article on the subject:

https://teachmechinese.wordpress.com/2017/08/29/learn-the-chinese-word-for-a-total-solar-eclipse/

Measuring meals Advanced Grammar

顿 (dùn) and 道 (dào) can both be used as measure word for meals and eating. How are they different?

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/26331/whats-the-difference-between-%e9%a1%bf-and-%e9%81%93-as-a-measure-word-for-meals