Mandarin Weekly (每周中文)

This is Mandarin Weekly #159, a free newsletter read by more than 21,000 students of Chinese around the world.

Please 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!

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About Mandarin Weekly All Learning

Ever wonder about Reuven, the publisher of Mandarin Weekly? Here’s an interview that can help to shed some light on the person typing what you’re reading right now:

https://www.saporedicina.com/english/mandarin-weekly-interview/

Special constructs Intermediate Grammar

Like all languages, Chinese has some special constructs that you can and should use. Here are a few of them:

https://www.saporedicina.com/english/special-constructions-chinese/

All about Spring Festival All Culture

Spring Festival (aka Chinese New Year) is approaching! With it, there are lots of greetings, foods, and (if you’re in China) travel to enjoy. (Or not, in the case of travel.) Here are some primers on Chinese New Year:

https://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/10-posts-for-spring-festival/

Twitter: @ChineseLanguage

How’s the weather? Beginner Vocabulary

What is the weather like today? (And how about tomorrow?) Here are some phrases and words you can use to discuss the weather:

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/2018/01/31/chinese-weather-words/

Twitter: @FluentU

A moment Intermediate Grammar

Are you going to look at something quickly? Wait for someone for just a bit? Then you probably want to use the 一下 (yí xià) grammar pattern:

https://www.mandarinblueprint.com/blog/2017/6/14/chinese-briefly-yixia-for-a-moment

Twitter: @MandarinBP

Untranslateable words Intermediate Vocabulary Video

Some words are hard or impossible to translate directly from Chinese into English. Here are some examples, and how you can use them in your Chinese:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4hUe1ep7yo

Twitter: @YoYoChinese

Get 10% off for Yoyo Chinese with coupon code “mweekly”

Making dumplings All Food

Dumplings are always a popular Chinese staple, but they’re particularly popular around Chinese New Year. Here are some things to know about dumplings, as well as a recipe to make them on your own:

https://www.misspandachinese.com/chinese-lucky-dumplings-symbolic-meaning-names-recipe/

Twitter: @MissPandaChines

Saying “or,” with some help from Hamlet Beginner Grammar Video

How do you say “To be or not to be” in Chinese? More specifically, how can you say “or” in a question context?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLt9cNn5rYs

Twitter: @ECLSchool

Sign up for ECL, and get one free week by mentioning “Reuven Lerner”

Taking the metro Beginner Travel

The Beijing subway (metro) is a popular, quick, and relatively cheap way to get around town. Here are some useful tips and vocabulary words for using it:

https://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/taking-the-beijing-subway/

Twitter: @ChineseLanguage

Get it over with! Intermediate Story

Sometimes, it’s worth getting through a short pain now, than to prolong it. Here’s a story that teaches this lesson (and a Chinese idiom):

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/14-2009-12-02-23-37-05/3064-2018-02-02-02-33-11

Twitter: @imandarinpod

Not feeling well? Intermediate Vocabulary

If you’re not feeling well in China, you’ll need to describe body parts, as as well as your feelings. Here is a (listening) lesson that can tell you what to say:

https://radiolingua.com/2018/01/cbc-1-22-parts-of-the-body-and-dealing-with-illnesses-in-chinese/

Duolingo review All Reviews

Duolingo is a famous app for learning languages on your phone or tablet. How does its Chinese-learning app stack up? It’s not too bad, according to this review:

https://www.livethelanguage.cn/duolingo-review/

Twitter: @Ltlmandarin

Learning resources All Learning Reviews

What apps and sites can you use to learn Chinese better? There are a lot of them out there; here are some mentions and reviews of the most popular and effective:

https://blog.hutong-school.com/chinese-words-vocabulary/

Twitter: @hutongschool

Buying online Beginner Story

Want to buy online? Of course! Everyone’s doing it, especially in China. Here’s a short story about e-commerce:

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/14-2009-12-02-23-37-05/3058-2018-01-28-03-58-46

Twitter: @imandarinpod

Singalong children’s song Beginner Video

Learn some new vocabulary in this cute children’s song that has become a hit among Chinese children. (And don’t be embarrassed if you’re an adult; we won’t tell):

https://www.echineselearning.com/blog/boost-your-vocab-with-this-catchy-childrens-song

Twitter: @ECLSchool

Sign up for ECL, and get one free week by mentioning “Reuven Lerner”

Making plans Intermediate Vocabulary

Making plans? Then you can talk about it formally (as you’ve probably learned in class), or casually with slang, as we learn here:

https://www.chineseclass101.com/lesson/mustknow-chinese-slang-words-phrases-16-chinese-slang-expressions-for-making-plans/

Twitter: @chineseclass101

Click here to sign up for ChineseClass101

Character changes Advanced Characters Story

Chinese characters have evolved over time, as this story describes:

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/13-2009-12-02-23-35-40/3062-2018-01-31-14-09-34

Twitter: @imandarinpod

A bit too late… Intermediate Expressions Story

You’re too late — you’ve closing the barn door after the horses have left the stable! Here’s a story demonstrating this in Chinese:

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/15-2009-12-02-23-37-29/3060-2018-01-30-02-58-27

Twitter: @imandarinpod

See you! Beginner Grammar Video

How do you say “goodbye” in Chinese? Here are a few options:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCLe5HJ9Wi8

Twitter: @chineseclass101

Click here to sign up for ChineseClass101

When *that* happened Beginner Grammar Video

How do you say, “when” something happened, or at a particular time? Here’s a full explanation of the phrase 的时候 (de shí hòu):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFrTcs54E3c

Twitter: @Mandarin_Monkey

The “metal” radical Intermediate Characters

One of the most important parts of learning to read Chinese characters is the identification of “radicals,” the small part on the side of a character that helps with its classification. Here’s an introduction to the “metal” radical, used in such things as gold and silver, but also in money:

https://www.writtenchinese.com/jin-zi-pang-the-metal-radical/

Twitter: @WrittenChinese

Fork in the road Advanced Vocabulary

What Chinese character should be used to describe a “fork” in the road, 叉 (chā) or 岔 (chà)?

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/28650/when-should-%e5%8f%89-or-%e5%b2%94-be-used-when-talking-about-a-forked-road

Give it a try Advanced Grammar

There are a number of ways to say that you want to “try” to do something, but what are the differences between them:

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/28625/what-is-the-difference-between-%e5%98%97%e8%a9%a6-%e8%a9%a6%e5%9c%96-and-%e4%bc%81%e5%9c%96

This is Mandarin Weekly #158, a free newsletter read by more than 21,000 students of Chinese around the world.

Please 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!

Old links from previous issues of Mandarin Weekly are sent regularly to our Facebook and Twitter pages. Follow, share, and like these links that’ll boost your Chinese learning even further.

Do you sell products or services for students of Chinese? Sponsor an issue, or insert a sponsored link into an upcoming edition. More information is here, on the MandarinWeekly.com “advertising” page.

No meat? No problem! All Food Culture

Are you a vegetarian or vegan? Then China might seem like a hard place to eat. But it turns out (as I can attest from personal experience) that it’s not too hard to find excellent food that fits your diet:

https://www.livethelanguage.cn/vegetarian-vegan-china/

Twitter: @Ltlmandarin

Snacking on…chicken feet? All Food Culture

A popular Chinese snack is, believe it or not, chicken feet. Here is some vocabulary and background about this snack that sounds less than appetizing to many Western ears:

https://www.writtenchinese.com/chinese-snacks-101-let-them-eat-chicken-feet/

Twitter: @WrittenChinese

Forums for Chinese learners All Learning Reviews

Interactions are one of the keys to learning, and interacting with other students of Chinese is a great way to improve your learning — as well as answer questions and find teachers. Here is a list of some online forums for Chinese learners, and comments about them:

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/2018/01/24/chinese-language-forum/

Twitter: @FluentU

Bonus time! All Culture

Between January 1st and Chinese New Year, Chinese companies often give bonuses. Here’s some backgroung on this practice, and vocabulary to help you ask and answer bonus-related questions:

https://www.echineselearning.com/blog/wanna-know-about-chinas-year-end-bonus

Twitter: @ECLSchool

Sign up for ECL, and get one free week by mentioning “Reuven Lerner”

Understanding and using 就 (jiù) and 才 (cái) Intermediate Grammar Video

The characters 就 and 才 are used frequently in Chinese, and can help to make your speech more natural sounding. However, they are often confused. Here is an introduction to their use:

http://www.fluentinmandarin.com/content/difficult-chinese-characters-explained-simply-jiu-and-cai/

Twitter: @Fluent_Mandarin

Year of the Dog All Culture

Chinese New Year is soon upon us, and with it will be the Year of the Dog. What are the animals of the Chinese zodiac, and why are these animals in this order? A full explanation is here:

https://www.digmandarin.com/chinese-year-of-dog.html

Twitter: @DigMandarin

Winter Olympics vocabulary Intermediate Vocabulary

Planning to watch the Winter Olympics? Now you can discuss the various events in Chinese, thanks to this handy guide:

https://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/chinese-vocabulary-for-the-winter-olympics/

Twitter: @ChineseLanguage

Tips for beginners Beginner Learning

If you’re just starting to learn Chinese, where do you go? What should you concentrate on doing?

http://www.chinese-breeze.com/absolute-beginners-guide-to-learning-chinese/

Sentence connectors Intermediate Grammar

In the middle of speaking, and need to pause for a bit? Or just need to connect one sentence to the other? Here are some useful phrases you can throw into your conversation:

https://www.mandarinblueprint.com/blog/2017/6/15/chinese-transition-phrases

Twitter: @MandarinBP

Registering with Taobao All Culture

Taobao is the be-all and end-all of e-commerce in China. You can, it is known, get just about anything for a good price, and also get it delivered quickly. But if your Chinese is weak, then how can you use it? Here’s a step-by-step guide:

https://www.saporedicina.com/english/shopping-taobao-app/

China visa rules All Culture Travel

Want to visit China? Then you should know how to apply for and get a visa. It’s a bit complex, but with this guide, it’ll be far easier:

https://www.saporedicina.com/english/chinese-visa-application/

Answering wh- questions Intermediate Grammar

If you’re trying to answer a question that someone has asked, you can usually use a standard grammar pattern. Here are some useful ones that you can probably start to use right away:

https://www.saporedicina.com/english/interrogative-substitutions-structure-yi-wei/

Ten phrases for dating Intermediate Culture Video

Going on a date? Want to impress the other party with your Chinese? Here are 10 useful phrases to know before going out. (Note: Free registration required.)

https://www.chineseclass101.com/lesson/absolute-beginner-chinese-for-every-day-29-top-10-phrases-youll-need-for-a-date/

Twitter: @chineseclass101

Click here to sign up for ChineseClass101

Selling cuteness Beginner Vocabulary

If someone thinks that you’re cute, they might say you’re “selling cuteness,” or 卖萌 (mài méng), a phrase that’s described here:

https://themandarincornerblog.com/2018/01/26/can-you-sell-cute/

Listening challenge All Learning

It’s time for another Hacking Chinese challenge, this time for listening. Can you listen to lots of Chinese, and thus improve your comprehension? More information is here:

http://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-learning-challenges-february-2018-listening-open/

Twitter: @HackingChinese

Chinese movies Advanced Story

An introduction to and review of a well known Chinese movie that you might want to watch, also:

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/16-2009-12-02-23-37-52/3056-2018-01-24-07-59-16

Twitter: @imandarinpod

Laba Festival All Culture Video

What is 腊八节 (làbā jié)? A traditional Chinese festival that comes before Chinese New Year. Learn about this festival, its traditional foods, and how to celebrate it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw75zJl_pQk

Twitter: @ECLSchool

Sign up for ECL, and get one free week by mentioning “Reuven Lerner”

How are sales? Beginner Story

How are sales of our new products? The boss wants to know; don’t disappoint him!

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/14-2009-12-02-23-37-05/3054-2018-01-23-03-55-37

Twitter: @imandarinpod

Making plans Intermediate Vocabulary

Is there a difference between 打算 (dǎ suàn) and 计划 (jì huà)?

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/28516/what-is-the-difference-between-%e6%89%93%e7%ae%97-d%c7%8e-su%c3%a0n-and-%e8%ae%a1%e5%88%92-j%c3%ac-hu%c3%a0

Hey dude(s) Intermediate Vocabulary

The term 哥们 (gē men) means “dude” or “bro,” and is used in colloquial speech. Why is it plural?

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/28558/plural-marker-%e4%bb%ac-in-%e5%93%a5%e4%bb%ac-%e5%84%bf

兆 (zhào) and numbers Advanced Vocabulary

How do you use 兆 as part of a number? Or is it merely used on its own?

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/28569/%e5%85%86-as-part-of-a-number

This is Mandarin Weekly #157, a free newsletter read by more than 21,000 students of Chinese around the world.

Do you enjoy receiving Mandarin Weekly? Then please tell your friends about us! They can sign up at https://mandarinweekly.com/.

Please 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!

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Shanghai used book market All Culture Travel

Want to get some good deals on used books? If you’re in Shanghai, then the used book market is a great place to start:

https://www.saporedicina.com/english/book-market-shanghai/

Working together Beginner Grammar

When you do an activity with someone else, Chinese has specific grammar patterns that let you express it:

https://www.saporedicina.com/english/complements-company-means-tools-topics-directions/

It’s getting cold All Culture Vocabulary

It’s cold outside, which leads us to an explanation of this period in the Chinese calendar, known as 大寒 (dà hán):

http://teresarainsegna.blogspot.com/2018/01/grande-freddo-great-cold.html

How many characters? Beginner Characters Learning

How many characters do you need to know, in order to read Chinese fluently? Here’s an explanation, or multiple explanations:

https://www.writtenchinese.com/how-many-chinese-characters-do-i-need-to-know/

Twitter: @WrittenChinese

Originally… Intermediate Grammar

How can we say “originally” or “obviously” in Chinese? Here are some explanations, especially for those learning for HSK4:

https://medium.com/@alexzitowolf/chinese-hsk4-grammar-points-ca7c51ff35e9

Sending flowers Intermediate Vocabulary Culture

Want to get flowers for someone? If you’re in China, then realize that what and how you give can mean different things:

https://www.digmandarin.com/sending-flowers-china-dos-donts.html

Twitter: @DigMandarin

Work-Chinese balance All Learning

How do you balance learning Chinese with the rest of your life? Here are some thoughts on how to include Chinese with your work and school, from someone who has taught many people:

http://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2018/01/17/work-chinese-balance

Year of the Dog All Culture

We’re about to start the Year of the Dog. What does this mean, and how does it describe people born in this year?

http://www.chinasimplified.com/2018/01/20/chinese-new-year-2018-lucky-dogs/

My treat! Beginner Grammar Video

Are things going well? Celebrate with others, by treating them. Here’s how you can talk about being so nice to your friends:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWafCzKiCA4

Twitter: @ECLSchool

Pay on time Intermediate Grammar Video

Don’t forget to pay the credit card bill (and other bills, for that matter) on time. Here’s how you can discuss it in Chinese:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B12f14ttOKg

Twitter: @ECLSchool

The three “de”s in Chiense Beginner Grammar Characters Video

The three characters 的，得 and 地 are all pronounced “de”, and have similar meanings — but they aren’t the same, as described here:

http://www.fluentinmandarin.com/content/difficult-chinese-characters-explained-simply-three-des/

Twitter: @Fluent_Mandarin

Chinese talk shows Advanced Video

You can improve your Chinese by watching talk shows. Where do you start? Here are five good ones:

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/2018/01/18/chinese-talk-show/

Twitter: @FluentU

For the kids Beginner Learning

If your children are learning Chinese, what resources can help them to advance? Here are some suggestions:

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/2018/01/18/learn-chinese-for-kids/

Twitter: @FluentU

Whom do you trust? All Learning

How can you decide whom to trust when it comes to learning Chinese? How can you find a good teacher and other resources? Here are some suggestions:

http://www.hackingchinese.com/whom-should-you-trust-for-advice-about-learning-chinese/

Twitter: @HackingChinese

The mouse and the cat Intermediate Story

Are you really upset, or are you just pretending? Here’s a story describing this sentiment in Chinese:

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/14-2009-12-02-23-37-05/3052-2018-01-19-04-06-24

Twitter: @imandarinpod

Wolves and sheep Intermediate Story

Is there really a wolf? This short story will tell you not only that, but how to behave with others:

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/15-2009-12-02-23-37-29/3051-2018-01-19-04-02-39

Twitter: @imandarinpod

Tone helpers All Reviews Pronunciation

How can you improve your tones in Chinese? Here are some resources you can use that are especially helpful:

https://blog.hutong-school.com/chinese-listening-tones/

Twitter: @hutongschool

Saying thanks Beginner Grammar Culture

How can you thank someone for what they’ve said or done? Here are a few ways people in China do it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFi_CNbxj8E

Twitter: @ChinesePod

AM and PM in Chinese Beginner Grammar

How do we describe AM and PM time in Chinese?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hCnI0cBj54

Twitter: @chineseclass101

Using 又 (yòu) with two things Intermediate Grammar

How can we use 又 to describe multiple properties?

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/28488/can-i-use-%e5%8f%88-to-give-more-than-two-properties-of-something

Last year Beginner Grammar

Why don’t we say “last year” in Chinese using the same pattern as “last week” and “last month”?

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/28476/we-say-%e4%b8%8a%e4%b8%aa%e6%98%9f%e6%9c%9f-%e4%b8%8a%e4%b8%aa%e6%9c%88-and-%e5%8e%bb%e5%b9%b4-why-not-%e4%b8%8a%e4%b8%aa%e5%b9%b4

This is Mandarin Weekly #156, a free newsletter read by more than 21,000 students of Chinese around the world.

Please 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!

Do you sell products or services for students of Chinese? Sponsor an issue, or insert a sponsored link into an upcoming edition. More information is here, on the MandarinWeekly.com “advertising” page.

Just a bit Intermediate Grammar

Several adverbs allow you to specify that you’re working with small quantities. Here is how to use them:

https://www.saporedicina.com/english/adverbs-zhi-jiu-cai-chinese/

Character stroke order Intermediate Characters

When you write characters, it’s not enough to know what to write. You also need to know how to write, and in which order to draw the strokes, as explained here:

http://teresarainsegna.blogspot.co.il/2018/01/ordine-dei-tratti-nella-scrittura.html

Reading in Chinese on your Kindle All Learning

It’s good to read for better comprehension. But did you know that you can read in Chinese on an Amazon Kindle? Here’s how, and where, to find books:

https://themandarincornerblog.com/2018/01/11/learn-with-a-kindle/

Road rage! Intermediate Culture Video

Do you get angry with other drivers? Of course you do, but how do you express your feelings in Chinese?

https://chinesepod.com/blog/2018/01/13/say-road-rage-mandarin/

Twitter: @ChinesePod

Different types of thinking Intermediate Grammar

In English, we use the verb “to think” to describe a number of different types of activities involving cognition, emotion, and opinion. In Chinese, we can use different verbs to describe these actions:

https://www.digmandarin.com/i-think-in-chinese.html

Twitter: @DigMandarin

Chinese compound words Beginner Learning

How can you pick apart, and understand, compound words in Chinese? Here are some ideas and hints to help you:

https://www.digmandarin.com/unlocking-chinese-compound-words.html

Twitter: @DigMandarin

Songs to improve your Chinese All Video Vocabulary

A good way to improve not only your vocabulary but your knowledge of Chinese culture is via songs. Here are some good songs (and videos) that you can use to improve and also impress your friends:

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/2018/01/10/learn-chinese-with-songs/

Twitter: @FluentU

Ebooks vs. paper books Beginner Story

A short story about the progress of time, and the growing use of ebook readers:

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/14-2009-12-02-23-37-05/3046-2018-01-12-04-02-48

Twitter: @imandarinpod

Can’t sleep Intermediate Story

Can’t sleep? Read this story on that very topic, and maybe you’ll doze off…

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/14-2009-12-02-23-37-05/3042-2018-01-08-05-48-14

Twitter: @imandarinpod

Talking about money Beginner Vocabulary Video

When we discuss money in Chinese, what noun should we use — 元 (yuán) or 块 (kuài)?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5Q_PFYyEUE

Twitter: @chineseclass101

How many characters? Beginner Learning Characters

One of the most common questions I get about learning Chinese is: How many characters do you need to know? This post tries to answer this question:

https://www.mandarinblueprint.com/blog/2017/6/15/how-many-chinese-characters-do-i-need-to-learn

Twitter: @MandarinBP

HelloChinese review All Reviews

HelloChinese is an app that aims to teach you Chinese? How well does it do? Here’s a reivew:

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

Dramas for business Advanced Culture Vocabulary

Want to use Chinese in your work? Watching TV might help, if the show is a Chinese drama about the business world:

https://www.asianlanguageschool.com/6-television-dramas-to-learn-chinese-for-business/

Twitter: @AlsSydney

Country names Beginner Vocabulary Video

Can you say your country’s name in Chinese? How about some of the world’s major countries? Here is a cute song that teaches some basic country names:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCXNiX30H-E

Twitter: @ChineseBuddy

Learning tones Beginner Pronunciation Video

Tones are a crucial part of Chinese pronunciation. Here is a roundup of resources and videos to teach you the tones, and how to pronounce them like a native:

https://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/learn-the-chinese-tones/

Twitter: @ChineseLanguage

2018 holidays All Culture

China has lots of holidays. What are they, and when will they take place? Here’s a list of Chinese holidays in 2018, along with dates and some cultural notes:

https://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/chinese-holidays-for-2018/

Twitter: @ChineseLanguage

Bargaining Beginner Vocabulary Video

If you have ever gone shopping in China, you know that you can (and should) bargain. But how can you do it in Chinese?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgLxv8fD-F0

Twitter: @ChinesePod

Tigers! Intermediate Listening Story

Here’s a short story you can listen to about two tigers:

https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/lulaoshichinese/episodes/2018-01-14T05_40_42-08_00

Not just for past tense All Grammar Video

We often think that 了 is used for past tense in Chinese. But that’s not quite true, as we learn here:

http://www.fluentinmandarin.com/content/le-past-tense-how-to-use-le-chinese/

Twitter: @Fluent_Mandarin

Measure words All Grammar Video

Measure words are a crucial part of Chinese grammar; here is a good introduction to them, and when to use each one:

http://www.fluentinmandarin.com/content/understand-chinese-measure-words-one-video/

Twitter: @Fluent_Mandarin

A short holiday Beginner Grammar Video

How short was the recent holiday? Before you answer, make sure you know which version of “short” to use:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHh6n86xC28

Twitter: @ECLSchool

Hi!  This is Mandarin Weekly #155, a free newsletter read by more than 21,000 students of Chinese around the world.

Please take advantage of our list of discounts for students of Chinese.

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Topic-comment structure Intermediate Grammar

Normally, Chinese is SVO (subject-verb-object). But in the “topic-comment” structure, you mention a subject, and then discuss it:

https://www.saporedicina.com/english/topic-comment-structure-chinese/

The story of Nian Beginner Culture Video

Chinese New Year is coming up. Here is a video version of the legend behind this holiday, along with some introductory greetings you can use:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPYE4zRRJzE

Again! Intermediate Grammar Video

How can you say that you want to do something again? This video explains the use of 在 (zài) in this way:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x75u5BKnw4

Twitter: @ECLSchool

There are, aren’t there? Beginner Grammar Video

In Chinese, we can use the verb 有 (yǒu) to indicate that a place has a certain quality, or contains a certain item:

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

Twitter: @ECLSchool

That pesky 3rd tone Beginner Pronunciation

Tones are tough for many to understand when learning Chinese. The 3rd tone can be particularly tricky. Here are some tips for pronouncing it correctly:

https://www.mandarinblueprint.com/blog/sandhi-third-tone-rule

Twitter: @MandarinBP

Happy New Year! Beginner Vocabulary Video

How can we discuss the new (Gregorian) year, 2018? Here are some useful words you can use:

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

Twitter: @ChinesePod

Happy 2018! Beginner Vocabulary Video

How do people in China celebrate the New Year’s holiday? And how do they discuss it? Here are some details, as well as useful words to talk about it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nj3Xnch_wk

Twitter: @chineseclass101

Visiting Guangdong All Travel

Guangdong province is large and varied, and contains lots of interesting cuisine, culture, and history, as shown here:

https://www.livethelanguage.cn/learn-china-guangdong/

Moving translations All Culture

How are your favorite movies’ names translated into Chinese? Here are some examples of some famous films from 2017, along with how people in China refer to them:

http://www.theworldofchinese.com/2018/01/chinese-movie-translations-spring-2018/

Twitter: @WorldOfChinese

Common characters in Chinatown Intermediate Characters

If you go to Chinatown — a Chinese neighborhood in your city — then you’ll likely see a few particular characters. Here is your guide to identifying and understanding them:

https://www.writtenchinese.com/common-chinese-symbols-and-meanings/

Twitter: @WrittenChinese

New Year’s resolutions Beginner Vocabulary

Planning to make New Year’s resolutions? It’s not too late:

https://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/chinese-new-years-resolution/

Twitter: @ChineseLanguage

Thanks so much! Beginner Vocabulary

How can you thank someone in Chinese? As usual, there are multiple words and phrases you can sprinkle into your conversations:

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/2018/01/03/thank-you-in-chinese/

Twitter: @FluentU

Day trips from Kunming All Travel

Kunming itself is a lovely city — but if you go out of town, you can see some spectacular sights, as described here:

https://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/5-awesome-kunming-day-trips/

Twitter: @ChineseLanguage

Ice cream All Vocabulary

Do you enjoy eating ice cream? Of course you do! Here is how you can discuss ice cream in Chinese:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsxcY4RiiE8

Twitter: @ECLSchool

Little pony Intermediate Story

A pony needs to cross the river. Will he make it? The story might not be so exciting, but it’s good practice:

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/15-2009-12-02-23-37-29/3036-2018-01-02-04-07-30

Twitter: @imandarinpod

Patience Intermediate Story

A short story introducing the idea of being patient, of not trying to do everything at once:

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/14-2009-12-02-23-37-05/3040-2018-01-05-02-21-46

Twitter: @imandarinpod

When do they grow up? Beginner Grammar

When do we stop using the term 孩子 (hái zi) to talk about people in China. In other words, how big are “children”?

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/28314/at-what-age-one-stops-calling-a-person-%e5%ad%a9%e5%ad%90

Making comparisons Intermediate Grammar

How do we use 比一比 (bǐ yi bǐ) in a comparison?

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/28312/what-is-the-meaning-of-%e6%af%94%e4%b8%80%e6%af%94-in-this-sentence

Hi! This is Mandarin Weekly #154, a free newsletter read by more than 21,000 students of Chinese around the world.

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Chinese films of the year Advanced Culture

What Chinese films were most worth watching last year? Here is a rundown of the best of 2017:

http://www.theworldofchinese.com/2017/12/twocs-films-of-the-year/

Twitter: @WorldOfChinese

Internet slang of 2017 Intermediate Culture Vocabulary

What Internet slang words were hottest in 2017? Look at this list, and see if you’re up to date with the latest phrases:

http://www.theworldofchinese.com/2017/12/chinese-pandians-top-keywords-of-2017/

Twitter: @WorldOfChinese

What are you doing? Beginner Grammar

What are you doing? That’s a pretty simple question, but the answers can be complex, as shown here:

https://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/what-are-you-doing-in-chinese/

Twitter: @ChineseLanguage

Using question words Beginner Grammar Video

How do you use question words in Chinese? This video should help to set you straight:

http://www.fluentinmandarin.com/content/question-words-mandarin-chinese/

Twitter: @Fluent_Mandarin

How to type in Chinese All Characters

Typing in Chinese is crticial if you use a computer or a phone — which, given that you’re reading this newsletter, seems like a reasonable bet. How can you write Chinese? Here are some tips:

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/2017/12/27/how-to-type-in-chinese/

Twitter: @FluentU

Writing Chinese characters Beginner Characters

Of course, characters are traditionally written in ink, not on a computer. How can you get started with writing characters, and also practicing them?

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/2017/12/26/chinese-writing-practice/

Twitter: @FluentU

Internet slang of 2017 Intermediate Culture Vocabulary

It’s the end of the year, and thus lists of “the ___ of 2017” are appearing all over. Here’s another list of hot Internet slang:

https://www.writtenchinese.com/chinese-slang-2017/

Twitter: @WrittenChinese

Colorful language Intermediate Expressions

Every language has expressions that include colors , and Chinese is no exception. Here are some colorful expressions you can use in your own speech:

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

Twitter: @ECLSchool

Sleep more, learn more All Learning

Does getting more sleep help you to learn Chinese better?

https://www.mandarinblueprint.com/blog/2017/6/15/how-does-getting-enough-sleep-help-learning-chinese

Twitter: @MandarinBP

Sharing bicycles All Travel

Chinese cities have tons of for-rent bicycles. How can you rent and use them, and what are some tips for doing so?

https://www.saporedicina.com/english/bike-sharing-china/

Yes, but… Intermediate Grammar

What are some conjunctions (and, or, but, etc.) you can use in your Chinese? Here’s a complete list and guide:

https://www.saporedicina.com/english/conjunctions-chinese/

Happy New Year! Beginner Expressions

How can you wish someone a Happy New Year in Chinese? Here are a bunch of ways to do so:

https://www.livethelanguage.cn/happynewyearinchinese/

Beginner vs. Advanced methods All Learning

How should you study Chinese? And do these techniques change over time? This article discusses how beginning and advanced Chinese students should adjust their learning techniques over time:

https://www.digmandarin.com/learning-methods-beginner-advanced-chinese-learner.html

Twitter: @DigMandarin

Visiting Zhāngjiākǒu Advanced Story Travel

Want to visit Zhāngjiākǒu? What, you haven’t heard of it? Here’s a short story telling you about this city:

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/16-2009-12-02-23-37-52/3032-2017-12-28-05-37-36

Twitter: @imandarinpod

Quitting time Beginner Story

Thinking of quitting from your job? Here’s a story on the subject:

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/14-2009-12-02-23-37-05/3030-2017-12-26-05-25-12

Twitter: @imandarinpod

Happy New Year! Beginner Story

2018 has started, and here’s a story about celebrating the new year:

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/14-2009-12-02-23-37-05/3033-2017-12-30-06-33-02

Twitter: @imandarinpod

The “most” words Intermediate Grammar

How can you say “the most,” given that there are several Chinese words that express this idea?

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/28237/%e8%87%b3%e5%a4%9a-%e6%9c%80%e5%a4%9a-%e9%a1%b6%e5%a4%9a-whats-the-difference

In the future Advanced Grammar

How can you express the “future perfect” tense in Chinese?

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/28201/future-perfect-tense-sentences-in-chinese-eg-next-month-i-will-have-been-marr

Hi! This is Mandarin Weekly #153, a free newsletter read by more than 21,000 students of Chinese around the world.

Please 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!

Do you sell products or services for students of Chinese? Sponsor an issue, or insert a sponsored link into an upcoming edition. More information is here, on the MandarinWeekly.com “advertising” page.

Connective phrases Intermediate Grammar

Connecting ideas together can be done in a number of ways in Chinese; here are some phrases to do this more easily:

https://www.mandarinblueprint.com/blog/2017/6/15/conversation-connectors-

Twitter: @MandarinBP

How to form questions Beginner Grammar Video

How do you form questions in Chinese? You can use question words, but that’s not always enough:

http://www.fluentinmandarin.com/content/how-to-form-questions-in-chinese/

Twitter: @Fluent_Mandarin

Mandarin MOOCs Beginner Learning

Want to learn Chinese, but save some money? A MOOC (massive open, online course) might be just the ticket:

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/2017/12/20/mandarin-mooc/

Twitter: @FluentU

Remembering tones Beginner Pronunciation

Tones are one of the hardest things for many people to grasp in Chinese, but getting them right will make you far more understandable. Here are some suggestions for remembering them:

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/2017/12/20/how-to-remember-chinese-tones/

Twitter: @FluentU

Tips for listening practice All Learning

How can you improve your listening comprehension when learning a new language? By investing the time actually listening, as described here:

https://medium.com/@peterrettig/6-listening-practice-tips-for-my-seventh-language-128b987449bc

Chinese holiday terms Intermediate Culture Video

Here’s a roundup of Chinese festivals, the traditional activities done on each one, and the foods eaten on each one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpeVtQh4KGI

Twitter: @chineseclass101

Christmas in China All Culture Video

How do people celebrate Christmas in China? Like in the West, but with some additional twists:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6ssLHuG2XM

Twitter: @chineseclass101

Swearing in Chinese All Culture

People who start to learn a language often want to learn the swear (i.e., curse or rude) worse first. Regardless of where you are in learning Chinese, here are some terms to avoid saying in polite company:

https://www.livethelanguage.cn/chinese-swear-words/

Podcast review Intermediate Reviews

Podcasts are a great way to learn any subject, and Chinese is no exception. Here’s a review of a relatively new podcast aimed at upper-intermediate level Chinese learners:

https://mandarinwithmanu.wordpress.com/2017/12/23/podcast-review-%e7%8b%97%e7%86%8a%e6%9c%89%e8%af%9d%e8%af%b4-%e7%ac%ac260%e6%9c%9f/

Twitter: @MandarinWManu

Overcoming the learning plateau Intermediate Learning

Have you reached a plateau in your Chinese learning, such that you aren’t advancing quickly? Here’s what one person did to ensure that he kept improving:

https://mandarinwithmanu.wordpress.com/2017/12/21/breaking-through-a-plateau/

Twitter: @MandarinWManu

Christmas songs Intermediate Culture

Want to sing Christmas songs in Chinese?

https://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/christmas-songs-in-chinese/

Twitter: @ChineseLanguage

Winter solstice Beginner Culture Video

Winter solstice is a traditional festival in China, and there are special ways to celebrate it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MteUpOV0JMU

Twitter: @ECLSchool

Winter solstics foods Beginner Culture

If it’s the winter solstice (or thereabouts), then people in China are celebrating with special foods:

https://speakmandarin1.wordpress.com/2017/12/19/%e5%86%ac%e8%87%b3/

About the winter solstice Beginner Culture

It’s cold outside, and also dark — here’s a description of this period of the year according to traditional Chinese custom:

http://teresarainsegna.blogspot.com/2017/12/solstizio-dinverno-winter-solstice.html

Christmas vocabulary, part 1 Beginner Culture Video

How do you say “Christmas,” and the words associated with it? Here are the basics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNOi9O5dyxM&t=23s

Twitter: @ECLSchool

Christmas vocabulary, part 2 Beginner Culture Video

Here are some more Christmas words in Chinese:

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

Twitter: @ECLSchool

New thinking Intermediate Story

Get rid of the old, in order to make room for the new:

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/14-2009-12-02-23-37-05/3027-2017-12-22-02-32-17

Twitter: @imandarinpod

Little figurines Advanced Story

Learn about Anna and her figurines:

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/13-2009-12-02-23-35-40/3026-2017-12-21-02-13-48

Twitter: @imandarinpod

Directional complements Intermediate Grammar

You can add a directional complement to many verbs in Chinese, allowing you to indicate more than just the action:

https://www.saporedicina.com/english/directional-complements-verbs-prepositions-chinese/

Learning from one another All Reviews

Want to improve your Chinese? Consider HelloTalk, which lets people help to improve one another’s vocabulary:

https://www.digmandarin.com/hellotalk-review-helping-people-learn-languages.html

Twitter: @DigMandarin

在 (zài) or 者 (zhe)? Advanced Grammar

What’s the difference between these verb forms? They seem very similar, but play different roles:

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/28130/effect-of-%e5%9c%a8-and-%e7%9d%80-on-verbs-what-are-the-best-single-word-translations

Lots of things Intermediate Grammar

How do you say “more than 500” of something?

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/28132/what-does-500%e5%a4%9a%e4%b8%aa-mean

Hi! This is Mandarin Weekly #152, a free newsletter read by more than 21,000 students of Chinese around the world.

Please 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!

Do you sell products or services for students of Chinese? Sponsor an issue, or insert a sponsored link into an upcoming edition. More information is here, on the MandarinWeekly.com “advertising” page.

Warm up with hot pot! All Food

Hot pot is a classic winter dish in China. But to say that it’s “a dish” doesn’t do it justice. Here’s an introduction to hot pot, in some of its (almost infinite) varieties:

https://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/warm-up-with-chinese-hot-pot/

Twitter: @ChineseLanguage

Pronouncing 一 Beginner Pronunciation

One of the simplest characters, 一, means “one.” But its pronunciation (i.e., its tone) changes:

http://www.mandarinblueprint.com/blog/2017/6/15/how-to-properly-pronounce-in-different-contexts

Twitter: @MandarinBP

Reading strategy Intermediate Characters

How do you improve your reading fluency in Chinese? Sure, you can practice lots of characters, but perhaps there’s a specific way to think about it. Here is some advice from a non-native Chinese speaker who has improved her reading, and wants to share her techniques:

http://panda-toes.com/

How to study All Learning Video

How should you learn Chinese, and then improve on what you’ve learned? Here is an interview with someone whose Chinese is now fluent, but who knows what he did in order to get to this level:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzgxlCy5ys8

Twitter: @ChinesePod

Body gunk Intermediate Vocabulary Video

How do you describe all of your body’s … gunk? You know, like ear wax? This video is here to prepare you for conversations with your doctor or children:

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

Twitter: @ECLSchool

Those noisy neighbors Beginner Story

The neighbors are making quite a lot of noise! Learn why, and how to talk about it, in this story:

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/14-2009-12-02-23-37-05/3020-2017-12-16-06-32-43

Twitter: @imandarinpod

Chinese Christmas greetings All Culture

Most Chinese aren’t Christian, but they increasingly celebrate Christmas — or if nothing else, shop, exchange gifts, and enjoy the seasonal decorations. Here are some greetings and customs to know and use for Chinese-style Christmas:

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/2017/12/13/chinese-christmas-greetings/

Twitter: @FluentU

A tale about winter Intermediate Story

What happens when you mix a farmer, a snake, and thick ice? A short story:

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/15-2009-12-02-23-37-29/3017-2017-12-13-06-07-33

Twitter: @imandarinpod

Where to listen All Learning

Podcasts are wonderful, and they’re especially wonderful if you’re learning Chinese: You can listen to stories, news, and all sorts of other content. But what should you listen to if you’re learning Chinese? Here are some suggestions:

https://blog.hutong-school.com/podcasts-supercharge-chinese-listening/

Twitter: @hutongschool

Learning through .. Beating? All Characters

The origins of the character 教 (jiāo) might be more violent than you expected:

https://chinachannel.org/2017/12/12/sticks-no-carrots/

Twitter: @larbchina

How old are you? Beginner Video

How old are you? Now you can ask others that question, with this song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l65ZPilqrQA

Twitter: @ChineseBuddy

Saying “yes” Intermediate Vocabulary

Chinese might not have words for “yes” and “no,” but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to say “yes” altogether. Here are some ways to agree or indicate assent:

https://www.writtenchinese.com/try-different-ways-say-yes-in-chinese/

Twitter: @WrittenChinese

Resources to try All Learning

Learning Chinese? There’s no shortage of resources out there. Here’s one learner’s set of recommendations for what you should try first:

https://medium.com/@HarleyAmit/my-chinese-learning-journey-top-5-insights-tools-resources-b6e36fd8f1b2

Transportation words Intermediate Vocabulary

Getting around in China can be easy or hard — I’ve generally found it to be fairly easy — but the language adds another dimension. Here are some transportation-related words that can help you out:

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

Twitter: @ChineseLanguage

Bowed string instruments Intermediate Culture Vocabulary

Chinese instruments come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and styles. In this post, we learn about bowed string instruments:

https://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/chinese-bowed-string-instruments/

Twitter: @ChineseLanguage

New learner roadmap Beginner Learning

Are you just at the start of your journey learning Chinese? Then you might need a plan to get you through the next few stages. Here are some suggestions to keep in mind when creating such a plan:

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/2017/12/13/learn-chinese-step-by-step/

Twitter: @FluentU

In the future… Intermediate Vocabulary

How can we talk about the future in Chinese? There are a few terms:

https://www.digmandarin.com/chinese-words-future.html

Twitter: @DigMandarin

My child, the genius Intermediate Grammar Video

If someone approaches you in China and says something about your child, how do you react? This video has advice about cultural norms and useful vocabulary/grammar:

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

Twitter: @ChinesePod

Craft beer Advanced Vocabulary Video

Do you love beer? So do people in China! Do you love craft beer? Once again, so do people in China. But can you talk about craft beer with them? Watch this video, and then you will be able to do:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5_PSPHjwFs

Twitter: @ChinesePod

How do you pronounce 行? Intermediate Pronunciation

The character 行 can be pronounced in two completely different ways. How can you know which pronounciation (and meaning) to use?

https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/pronunciation-%E8%A1%8C.2525469/

Chinese terms in same-sex relationships Intermediate Culture Vocabulary

Chinese uses very specific terms for older and brother relatives, also making it clear whether the relative is on the mother’s side or the father’s side. What happens to these terms in same-sex relationships?

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/28089/what-kinship-terms-to-use-for-spouses-of-aunts-and-uncles-in-same-sex-relationsh

Looking up characters All Learning

If you see a word you don’t know in a language that uses Latin characters, you can easily look it up in a dictionary. But how do you search for characters you don’t know?

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/28095/how-can-i-search-for-a-chinese-character-when-i-see-it-on-a-picture

Calling all curators Intermediate Vocabulary

How do you say “museum curator” in Chinese, and do you need to repeat the character 馆 (guǎn) in the resulting term?

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/28085/whats-the-difference-between-%e5%8d%9a%e7%89%a9%e9%a6%86%e9%95%bf-and-%e5%8d%9a%e7%89%a9%e9%a6%86%e9%a6%86%e9%95%bf

Hi, {{! This is Mandarin Weekly #151, a free newsletter read by more than 20,000 students of Chinese around the world.

Please 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!

Do you sell products or services for students of Chinese? Sponsor an issue, or insert a sponsored link into an upcoming edition. More information is here, on the MandarinWeekly.com “advertising” page.

Stone lions Intermediate Story

Have you ever seen stone lions in China? This story talks about their cultural significance:

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/13-2009-12-02-23-35-40/3015-2017-12-09-13-41-01

Twitter: @imandarinpod

Chinese gestures All Culture

So much is different in China; among them are hand gestures, which are different from those we know in the West:

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/2017/12/04/chinese-gestures/

Twitter: @FluentU

Peking opera All Culture

Peking Opera is a traditional form of entertainment that combines music, dance, costumes, story, and music. Here is some background on Peking Opera, as well as some useful vocabulary and linguistic tips:

https://www.writtenchinese.com/conventions-peking-opera/

Twitter: @WrittenChinese

I’m a big fan Beginner Story

Are there some celebrities you follow and like? Here is a short story about fans of a famous singer:

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/14-2009-12-02-23-37-05/3012-2017-12-06-07-21-18

Twitter: @imandarinpod

Online music Intermediate Story

Do you like listening to online music? You’re not alone; here is a story about listening on your computer:

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/16-2009-12-02-23-37-52/3010-2017-12-04-03-43-33

Twitter: @imandarinpod

Harbin’s ice festival All Travel Culture

Harbin is the coldest city in China, and celebrates that fact with an annual snow and ice festival:

https://blog.hutong-school.com/experience-the-winter-wonders-of-harbin/

Twitter: @hutongschool

Restaurant vocabulary Beginner Food Video

Ordering at a restaurant can seem a bit daunting, but here are some useful vocabulary words to use when you first give it a go:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPANzaNLcT0

Twitter: @chineseclass101

Does Chinese have a future tense? Beginner Grammar Video

If Chinese verbs don’t have tenses, then how do we express the future?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erwAjRvimj8

Twitter: @chineseclass101

Chinese music on Alexa All Culture

Do you have an Amazon Echo (“Alexa”)? If so, then you can listen to Chinese music, by following these instructions:

https://www.misspandachinese.com/amazon-echo-listen-chinese-songs-home-classroom/

Twitter: @MissPandaChines

Chinese movies on Netflix Advanced Culture

Want to improve your Chinese by watching movies? It turns out that Netflix has a very large selection. Here are some recommendations, good for improving your language and your cultural understanding:

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/2017/12/06/chinese-movies-netflix-2/

Twitter: @FluentU

Chinese foods to try Intermediate Video

What foods should you try when you’re in China? This short dialog will give you language practice and introduce you to some of these unusual foods:

http://www.fluentinmandarin.com/content/chinese-conversation-clips-culture-food-try/

Twitter: @Fluent_Mandarin

Oh, it’s you! Advanced Video Grammar

Meeting someone you’ve heard about, or seeing someone you know for the first time in a while? Here are some useful phrases and grammar patterns to employ:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyqRAbLE9vA

Twitter: @ECLSchool

Big numbers! Intermediate Video Grammar

We can talk about large numbers in Chinese using 万 (wàn). Here are some ways to do it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdE7qc8t7q4

Twitter: @ECLSchool

McDonald’s in China Beginner Food

You see McDonald’s in many places around the world, and that includes China. Here is some history of the local version, as well as vocabulary you’ll want to order and eat there:

https://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/the-history-of-mcdonalds-in-china/

Twitter: @ChineseLanguage

Traditional Chinese string instruments All Culture

if you have ever walked through a park in China, then you’ve likely seen people playing traditional Chinese instruments. Here is some background on traditional string instruments, as well as some vocabulary you can use to describe them and the music they make:

https://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/chinese-plucked-stringed-instruments/

Twitter: @ChineseLanguage

What would you like to drink? All Food

There’s lots to drink in China, from tea to juice to alcohol. Here’s a roundup of useful vocabulary for when you’re thirsty:

https://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/drinking-in-china/

Twitter: @ChineseLanguage

More about 过 (guò) Intermediate Grammar

The word 过 is useful in many ways. Here are some examples of how it can describe a past event, or one that you have already experienced:

http://www.mandarinblueprint.com/blog/power-of-chinese-characters-guo-2

Twitter: @MandarinBP

Chinese drivers Beginner Grammar

Are Chinese drivers really that bad? Maybe, thanks to a loophole in Chinese law, as explained here:

https://themandarincornerblog.com/2017/12/05/are-chinese-people-bad-drivers/

Pluralizing people words Intermediate Grammar

Chinese words typically don’t distinguish between singular and plural. Which ones do?

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/27922/the-phrase-%e6%9c%8b%e5%8f%8b-vs-%e6%9c%8b%e5%8f%8b%e4%bb%ac

Well, maybe Intermediate Grammar

How do you say “probably” vs. “possibly” in Chinese?

https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/%E5%8F%AF%E8%83%BD-%E6%9C%89%E5%8F%AF%E8%83%BD.3400119/

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Do you have any? Beginner Video Grammar

Do you have something? Here’s a cute video (from Chinese Buddy) indicating how you can indicate that you do (or don’t) have something in Chinese:

http://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2017/11/28/this-song-is-not-about-mayo

Are you? Beginner Video Grammar

The verb “to be” can be a bit tricky at the start in Chinese. Here is a short song that shows you how to use it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x22JqELUvbw

Twitter: @ChineseBuddy

Oh, waiter! Beginner Food Culture

If you go to a restaurant in China, the chances are good that they won’t know English. That’s fine; it’ll give you a chance to practice your Chinese! Here are some useful vocabulary words to use when you go and eat in China for the first time:

https://blogs.transparent.com/chinese/chinese-restaurant-cheat-sheet/

Twitter: @ChineseLanguage

Sayings for life Intermediate Expressions

Want some inspiration for a successful life? Here are some good ones to remember — and use:

https://www.digmandarin.com/chinese-chengyu-life-success.html

Twitter: @DigMandarin

Eating inedibles Intermediate Vocabulary

Chinese has a number of expressions that involve “eating” something that cannot be eaten — such as vinegar and money. Here’s an introduction to these expressions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-drulRALVKY

Twitter: @ECLSchool

Free Chinese books Advanced Learning

You probably want to read more in Chinese, including Chinese-language books. But if you’re on a budget, maybe you’re looking for free books to read. Here is a list of where you can obtain such free books:

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/chinese/2017/11/29/free-chinese-ebooks/

Twitter: @FluentU

Speaking challenge All Learning

Hacking Chinese is back with another challenge, this time for speaking. How much Chinese can you speak this month, and can you improve your ability during this time? More details, including how to sign up and join the community, are here:

http://www.hackingchinese.com/chinese-speaking-challenge-december-2017/

Twitter: @HackingChinese

All about discounts Intermediate Grammar Video

When you go to China, you might well have to (or just want to) bargain at stores. How do you bargain? What phrases will help you in your negotiations? This video will show you how to negotiate:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx61b5LQPVM

Twitter: @YoYoChinese

Bad student expressions Intermediate Grammar Video

Are you a good student? Then don’t worry about it — but if you’re not, you’re going to need to discuss your badness! Here are some good expressions to use when thinking up excuses:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjuQFIO9088

Twitter: @chineseclass101

Using 过 (guò) Beginner Grammar

The character 过 is used in a number of ways. In this post, we learn how it can be used to describe crossing the street or celebrating a birthday:

http://www.mandarinblueprint.com/blog/chinese-characters-guo-1

Twitter: @MandarinBP

Ultimate grammar guide All Grammar

If you’re learning Chinese, then you’re also learning Chinese grammar. Here is one of the longest and most complete one-page guides you’re likely to find:

http://www.saporedicina.com/english/chinese-grammar-guide/

Sex and relationships Intermediate Vocabulary

Sex and relationships are part of life in China as much as everywhere else. How can (or should) you discuss it, and what informal terms are used?

http://www.theworldofchinese.com/2017/11/lets-talk-about-sex/

Twitter: @WorldOfChinese

Power of attorney Intermediate Vocabulary

Can you trust your landlord in China? Moreover, can or should you give him power of attorney? Here’s a short story, and some useful vocabulary, on the subject:

https://themandarincornerblog.com/2017/11/27/should-you-trust-your-chinese-landlord/

Pickup lines Advanced Vocabulary Video

In this video, we see someone (who calls himself the “pickup king”) try his lines on strangers. Do they work? Maybe not, but at least you can learn some Chinese as you follow along. Translations and explanations follow the video, if it’s too hard/fast for you:

https://www.tutormandarin.net/en/advanced-chinese-pickup-lines-video-and-translation/

Twitter: @MyTutorMandarin

Folktales (part 2) All Culture

Last week, we looked at some Chinese folktales. But as you might expect or know, there are lots of additional stories to tell:

https://www.tutormandarin.net/en/chinese-folktales/

Twitter: @MyTutorMandarin

Improve your memory All Learning

Part of language learning involves memory. How can you improve your memory, and thus your language learning? Here are some tips:

https://www.iwillteachyoualanguage.com/improve-your-memory/

Giving up Intermediate Story

You can’t give up midway through something, as this story teaches:

http://www.imandarinpod.com/hoola/index.php/podcasts/15-2009-12-02-23-37-29/3009-2017-12-03-06-43-24

Twitter: @imandarinpod

Every other week Advanced Grammar

How can you express the idea of “every n days” or “every x weeks”? The answers here shed a great deal of light on this subject:

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/27910/what-does-%e6%af%8f%e9%9a%94-mean

Talking about God Intermediate Vocabulary

How can we talk about “God,” or even multiple “gods,” in Chinese?

https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/27820/what-is-god-in-chinese