We’d like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Elise for her achievement and for finishing Integrated Chinese 3, equivalent to Hanyshuiping Kaoshi HSK 3 (Chinese proficiency test)! 
If you want to know more about the Chinese proficiency test or sign up for a free Chinese trial class,
We’d like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Robin for his achievement and for finishing Integrated Chinese 3, equivalent to Hanyshuiping Kaoshi HSK 3 (Chinese proficiency test)!
If you want to know more about the Chinese proficiency test or sign up for a free Chinese trial class,
Throughout this article, you will be introduced to some of the most famous Chinese instruments. You’ll pick up helpful vocabulary and learn more about traditional Chinese culture.
In ancient China, a wide variety of musical instruments were employed. There are more than 3,000 years behind many of these instruments. Of the most popular instruments, you find gǔ zhēng 古筝 – zither. the dí zi 笛子 – bamboo flute, pí pá 琵琶 – a plucked stringed instrument with a fretted fingerboard, the èr hú 二胡 – Southern Fiddle and the gǔqín 古琴.
The gǔ zhēng 古筝 is a large zither with 13 to 25 strings. The instrument was developed from gǔqín 古琴 during the Tang and Song dynasties.
During the Qing dynasty, it remained popular both in the Imperial court and among the general populace, and it is still played today in China.
Chinese opera and concert performances frequently feature the gǔ zhēng 古筝.
According to tradition, this instrument is played by a female musician. The players always wear fingerpicks made of plastic, resin, or other materials. The gǔ zhēng 古筝 players frequently perform on their own. Pinching the strings is a standard method of playing heptatonic notes and chords on the instrument.
古筝是中国古老而独特的民族乐器之一。
Gǔzhēng shì Zhōngguó gǔlǎo ér dútè de mínzú yuèqì zhī yī.
The gǔ zhēng 古筝 is one of the ancient and unique national musical instruments in China.
我想学古筝，你可以教我吗？
Wǒ xiǎng xué gǔzhēng, nǐ kěyǐ jiāo wǒ ma?
I want to learn to play the gǔ zhēng 古筝, can you teach me?
古筝曾在秦国（今陕西）盛行，至今已有2000多年的历史Gǔzhēng céng zài qín guó (jīn Shǎnxī) shèngxíng, zhìjīn yǐ yǒu 2000 duōnián de lìshǐ.The gǔ zhēng 古筝 was already very popular in the Qin State (now Shaanxi), and up until now, it has had a history of more than 2,000 years.
The dí zi 笛子 is a Chinese style flute, usually made of bamboo. The instrument usually has six holes and is held horizontally.
The dí zi 笛子 is a popular instrument in China because it is a relatively simple instrument to learn to play. It is often used in various Chinese folk music and opera genres.
Because the dí zi 笛子 is simple to make and transport, it is popular among Chinese students and fans of traditional folk music. There are several different types of dí zi 笛子 flutes, distinguished primarily by their length. The longer ones allow for deeper tones to be produced.
笛子是中国最古老的乐器，有3000多年的历史。
Dízi shì zhōngguó zuì gǔlǎo de yuèqì, yǒu 3000 duōnián de lìshǐ.
The dízi 笛子 is the oldest musical instrument in China, with a history of more than 3,000 years.
The pí pá 琵琶 is a traditional Chinese instrument with a 2000-year history, making it one of the oldest instruments in China. The pí pá 琵琶, also known as a “Chinese Lute” in English, is a four-stringed instrument with 16 frets.
Because of the wide dynamic range of notes, the pí pá 琵琶 is frequently used to create expressive and dramatic pieces of music.
The pí pá 琵琶 is also known as the “king of plucked string instruments” in China.
In recent years, the pí pá 琵琶 has been re-engineered to be more compatible with Western-style music. Players now use finger plectra instead of traditional strings because steel strings are being used. In most cases, pí pá 琵琶 musicians can perform on stage or provide entertainment at special events or restaurants
.我妈妈弹得一手好琵琶。Wǒ māmā tán de yīshǒu hào pípá.My mother plays the pí pá 琵琶 very well.
You will almost certainly come across the èr hú 二胡 during your China travels. In public places, subway stations, and streets in China, you’ll frequently see amateurs and street musicians practising their craft.
The èr hú 二胡 is a type of Chinese-style violin with two strings that dates back to the Tang Dynasty (the 7th to 10th centuries).
Compared to other traditional Chinese instruments, it is a relatively low-cost option. In the past, the èr hú 二胡 was only used in opera and orchestral performances, but it has become increasingly popular as a solo instrument.
The èr hú 二胡 generally maintains its traditional tuning system, which allows for a high level of virtuosity. The instrument has a three-octave range and can be played to imitate Chinese singing sounds, birds and horses, among other things. It emits a melancholy tone when played.
二胡拥有一千多年的历史，是中国独特的弦乐器。
Èrhú yǒngyǒu yīqiān duō nián de lìshǐ, shì zhōngguó dútè de xiányuèqì.The èr hú 二胡 has a history of more than a thousand years and is a unique stringed instrument in China.
The gǔqín 古琴 is a plucked instrument with seven strings, similar to the zither in appearance. The gǔqín 古琴 is believed to have been used for 3000 years, making it one of the oldest instruments in China. It is frequently referred to as “The Father of Chinese Music”.
Many great scholars and musicians favour the gǔqín 古琴 because it is capable of producing sounds of great subtlety and refinement. The gǔqín 古琴 is said to have been one of Confucius’ – Kǒngzǐ 孔子 favourite instruments to use when teaching his students. By the Chinese, the gǔqín 古琴 is regarded as an “Instrument of the Sages” and a representative of traditional Chinese musical culture.
古琴是中国传统的弹拨乐器，已有3000多年的历史。
Gǔqín shì zhōngguó chuántǒng de tánbō yuèqì, yǐ yǒu 3000 duōnián de lìshǐ.The gǔqín 古琴 is a traditional Chinese plucked stringed instrument with a history of more than 3,000 years.
古琴是汉族最早的弦乐器，是汉文化中的瑰宝
Gǔqín shì hànzú zuìzǎo de xiányuèqì, shì hàn wénhuà zhōng de guībǎo.
The gǔqín 古琴 is the earliest stringed instrument of the Han people and a treasure in the Han culture.
We hope you enjoyed this article. Learning new Chinese vocabulary is essential whether you study Chinese in Canada, study Chinese in Shenzhen or study Chinese at Tsinghua University. As China is a country, it is helpful to know the history and traditional culture of Chinese to communicate well with Chinese people.
If you want to learn Mandarin Chinese, feel free to REGISTER FOR A FREE TRIAL CLASS HERE or send me an email (Chen Huimin): huimin@laerkinesisk.no.
We offer private lessons and group classes at all levels, HSK 1-6, children, adults, business. All Mandarin Chinese classes are offered in classrooms or online.
Do you know anyone who wants to learn Chinese? We will give you 500 US dollars as a bonus as a part of our program “Refer a friend – get $ 500” if your friend or others you introduce to us start taking Chinese classes at our school. Register here if this is interesting for you!
We’d like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Frederik for his achievement and for finishing Integrated Chinese 3, equivalent to Hanyshuiping Kaoshi HSK 3 (Chinese proficiency test)!
If you want to know more about the Chinese proficiency test or sign up for a free Chinese trial class,
Every year Chinese people celebrate Qīng míng jié 清明节 Tomb Sweeping Festival. This is a day on which Chinese people pay respect to their ancestors. Following the Lunar calendar, the festival is celebrated every year on the 1st day of the 5th solar term. This is usually on the 4th, 5th or 6th of April. It is a national holiday in China. This year Qīngmíng jié 清明节 is celebrated on April 5th.
The festival has been going on for more than 2,500 years. And on Qīng míng jié 清明节 Chinese people visit cemeteries to pay tribute to, remember, and celebrate deceased relatives and ancestors.
It is said that Qīng míng jié 清明节 is held to commemorate Jiè zǐ tuī 介子推 (?–636 BC), a loyal defender of Jìn Wén Gōng 晉文公 (697–628 BC) Duke Wen of Jin, who was born Chóng ěr 重耳 (literally “Double Ears”) before he became a Duke.
One day in 655 BC, when Prince Chóng ěr 重耳 was about to starve to death, Jiè zǐ tuī 介子推 secretly cut a piece of flesh from his thigh and cooked it into a meat soup, which saved the prince. Chóng ěr 重耳 wondered where Jiè zǐ tuī 介子推 had obtained the soup. When he found out what Jiè zǐ tuī 介子推 had done, the prince was so moved that he promised to reward him one day.
Nineteen years later, in 636 BC, Prince Chóng ěr 重耳 returned to his kingdom and took power as Jìn Wén Gōng 晉文公 Duke Wen of Jin, one of the five dominant figures of the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 BC), was a Chinese emperor during the time.
Jìn Wén Gōng 晉文公 Duke Wen of Jin thanked and congratulated everyone who had assisted him, but he forgot about Jiè zǐ tuī 介子推 and did not mention him.
Jìn Wén Gōng 晉文公 then decided to pay a personal visit to Jiè zǐ tuī 介子推 and bestow a royal title on him. Jiè zǐ tuī 介子推 and his elderly mother took refuge on a nearby mountain and refused to meet with Jìn Wén Gōng 晉文公 because he did not want to serve as an officer in the military.
No one was able to locate him. When Jiè zǐ tuī 介子推 went into hiding, Jìn Wén Gōng 晉文公 set fire to the mountain to bring him out of hiding.
Three days later, two dead bodies were discovered in a cave beneath a willow tree on the mountain by Jìn Wén Gōng 晉文公 and his people, who determined that they were Jiè zǐ tuī 介子推 and his mother’s bodies.
Because Jiè zǐ tuī 介子推 was a man who never sought fame or profit and thus had a great character, Jìn Wén Gōng 晉文公 buried him and his mother in a tomb as well as ordered his subjects not to use fire or eat hot food on the day of their burial, which was held as part of a memorial ceremony.
The cold food tradition has survived as Qīng míng jié 清明节:
Hán shí jié 寒食节 The Cold Food Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday that originated as a local commemoration of the death of Jiè zǐ tuī 介子推. By the 7th-century Tang dynasty, the celebration of ancestors had spread throughout East Asia.
The tradition of not lighting any fires, even for food preparation, inspired the festival’s name. This practice was initially observed during the middle of winter for as long as a month. Still, its hardship led to repeated attempts to prohibit its observance out of concern for those who participated. This number had been reduced to three days by the end of the Three Kingdoms Period (3rd century).
The traditional observance was limited to a single day during the Tang dynasty, and the tradition was later known as the Qīng míng jié 清明节.
During the Qingming Festival, there are numerous activities, including tomb sweeping, taking advantage of the pleasant weather outside, and flying kites. Willow branches are used to decorate the tombs and hung at the house’s front door during this time of year.
Nowadays, the ceremony includes tombs and graves being tended, cleaning and removing debris from the tombstones. Praying is another part of the rituals at Qīngmíng jié 清明节. You light incense sticks that have been embedded in the ground. After that, each family member participating in the ceremony takes turns offering prayers to their ancestors.
Offers are made to the deceased during the final segment of the ceremony. This can take the form of food, alcohol, paper goods, or even so-called “ghost money” that is burned as a formal offering for the afterlife of the beloved.
For their efforts, ancestors will bestow blessings on their living relatives and assist them in having a prosperous year in the temporal world. After the entire ceremony, all family members assemble around the tomb and raise coloured papers into the air in prayer to the heavens for a blessing on their loved one.
For the festival to function appropriately, tombs must be cleaned. The celebration’s two fundamental aspects are cleaning up the tombs and paying homage to the deceased with offerings: remembering the past and honouring the ancestors, respectively. The weeds around the tomb are removed, and new earth is added.
The deceased’s favourite dishes and wines are brought to their tombs as offerings and fake money. They set it ablaze in the hopes of surviving the afterlife with enough money and food to last them a lifetime.
Qīngmíng jié 清明节 is not only a day to remember your ancestors, but it is also a day to enjoy yourself and spend time with your family on tàqīng 踏青 family outings.
Warmer temperatures, more sunlight, and fewer rainy days characterise March, making it an ideal time to spend time outdoors in nature and relaxing with friends or family. This tradition began during the Tang Dynasty and has continued to this day, becoming a popular tourist activity for the Chinese.
Fàng fēngzhēng 放风筝 flying kites is a prevalent activity during Qīngmíng jié 清明节. It is possible to see many of them in the sky at any time of the day or night of the festival in China. Small lanterns are attached to the kite at night to illuminate the festivities during nighttime. In the night sky, they take on the appearance of stars and are a breathtaking sight to behold.
Perhaps even more remarkable about kite flying is that people cut the thread that connects the kite to the ground, which is said to bring good fortune and cure diseases.
Besides being a day to remember and honour the deceased, this festival is also a day to spend with family outdoors or travel in spring’s vibrant colours following a long and grey winter.
If you want to learn Mandarin Chinese, feel free to REGISTER FOR A FREE TRIAL CLASS HERE or send me an email (Chen Huimin): huimin@laerkinesisk.no.
We offer private lessons and group classes at all levels, HSK 1-6, children, adults, business. All Mandarin Chinese classes are offered in classrooms or online.
Do you know anyone who wants to learn Chinese? We will give you 500 US dollars as a bonus as a part of our program “Refer a friend – get $ 500” if your friend or others you introduce to us start taking Chinese classes at our school.Register here if this is interesting for you!
Cultures differ from one country to another, a simple fact of life. Moreover, culture influences everything from communication styles and idioms to technical terms and jargon, relationship maintenance, and numerous other areas critical to communicating well in Chinese.
In Chinese culture, expressing gratitude and giving praise is done entirely differently from the West. For most Chinese people, modesty and humility are essential characteristics to have in their lives. Knowing how to express gratitude in Chinese demonstrates a thorough understanding of, appreciation for, and respect for Chinese cultural traditions.
Different languages have different ways of communicating, as they are influenced by the local culture. Chinese culture values reverence and politeness. On the other hand, in Western culture, there is often a more relaxed way of communicating with family members, the elderly, or our manager.
Here are some examples of how to express gratitude and thanks in Chinese in different situations, to help you communicate better with native speakers of Chinese. We have added pinyin and Chinese characters.
1 xiè xie 谢谢 – thank you
A common and casual way to express gratitude in the Chinese language is to say xiè xie 谢谢. The first syllable is pronounced with a fourth tone, whereas the second syllable has a neutral tone and a light pronunciation.
Here is a situation where you can use the expression:
Nǐ zuò de hóngshāo ròu zhēn hào chī.
你做的红烧肉真好吃。
The braised pork you have made is really delicious.
You can respond in an informal way with the following:
Xiè xie, xǐhuān dehuà wǒmen xià cì kěyǐ zuò duō diǎn.
谢谢，喜欢的话我们下次可以做多点。
Thank you, we can make more next time if you like it.
Alternatively, you can say:
Xiè xie, wǒ kàn shìpín xuéxí de.
谢谢，我看视频学习的。
Thanks, I watched videos and learned it.
2 duō xiè 多谢 – many thanks, thanks a lot
This phrase is used relatively casually as a basic way of saying xiè xie 谢谢. It is slightly more formal and means “thanks a lot”.
Let us say your Chinese friend helped you to find a job. In this particular situation you could say:
Duōxiè nín gěi wǒ gōngzuò jīhuì.
多谢您给我工作机会。
Thanks a lot for giving me a job opportunity.
3 fēi cháng gǎn xiè 非常感谢 – thank you very much.
Even though you can make use of xiè xie 谢谢, there are more polite phrases that can be used in many situations daily. The phrase fēi cháng gǎn xiè nǐ! 非常感谢你! “Thank you very much!” is usually said when you owe someone a debt of gratitude that is difficult to repay.
4 xiè xie nǐ 谢谢你 – thank you (polite)
Adding nǐ 你 after xiè xie 谢谢, is viewed as a more polite Chinese phrase, whereas it is appropriate to add nín 您 – you (formal) when speaking to someone elderly, someone in a respected position, or customers.
For example:
Xiè xie nǐ bāng wǒ bān jiā.
谢谢你帮我搬家。
Thank you for helping me to move (housing).
5 xiè xie dà jiā 谢谢大家 – thanks everyone, thank you all
The expression xiè xie dà jiā 谢谢大家 is typically used when speaking to a group of people. It is often used in formal settings such as banquets, etc. for a toast, a business meeting, a wedding, or a large group setting.
6 má fan nǐ le 麻烦你了 – I’m sorry to bother you.
If someone goes out of their way to help you, the expression má fan nǐ le 麻烦你了 “Sorry to bother you” is a great phrase to use.
7 gǎn xiè 感谢 – thanks
To show appreciation or gratitude, you can also use gǎn xiè 感谢.
You can say:
Fēi cháng gǎn xiè nín de yì jiàn.
非常感谢您的建议。
I really appreciate (thanks for) your opinion.
You can also say tài gǎn xiè … le 太感谢…了 “I really want to thank someone/you”, expressing how incredibly grateful you are.
8 biǎo shì gǎn xiè 表示感谢 – I want to express gratitude, show one’s thankfulness
To explain to someone that you want to “express gratitude”, you can say biǎo shì gǎn xiè 表示感谢.
Gift-giving is an essential part of relationship building and showing appreciation for someone. You do not want to give something too expensive, as you do not want it to look like you are bribing someone. Choose something unique for the receiver, for example, some local products from your own country.
Thus, giving gifts and how you give the gifts are seen as very important in China. When you give gifts, you should use both hands when giving and receiving gifts. It is good to treat the present as if it is “the person you will give it to”. What do we mean by this? Hold it carefully, and give and receive the gift respectfully with both hands while looking the other person in the eyes. The receiver of the gift expresses thanks and suitable Chinese phrases as a way of ending the “gift ceremony”.
If this is your first time in China, you should note that in China it is common to decline a gift before accepting it to show humility and be polite. It is also common to wait until the gift’s giver has left before you open it, as you do not want to appear greedy. When giving each other gifts, the key is to do something nice to someone else. There is an unspoken obligation in this situation that says, “this time I do something nice for you, next time you will do something nice to me”.
9 Nǐ zhēn bāng le wǒ dà máng. 你真帮了我大忙。You really helped me a lot.
In Chinese culture and communication, modesty is highly regarded, and it is improper to express gratitude when someone compliments you. In the West, saying “thank you” is simply a polite way of acknowledging a compliment; in contrast, saying “thank you” directly in Chinese (as a way of admitting “I am great!”) is considered egotistical in Chinese culture.
When someone compliments you, it is common to respond with one of the following phrases, rather than accepting the praise straight away:
10 nǎ li nǎ li 哪里哪里 – literally this means Where? Where? The meaning is: You do flatter me, but I am not that great
Although the literal translation of nǎ li nǎ li 哪里哪里 is “Where? Where?”, the actual meaning behind it is “Where can you see that I am so great” or “I am not so great”. While we in Western culture are taught to brag about our accomplishments, being humble is essential in Chinese culture.
As we have already pointed out, Chinese culture is well-known for its preference for modesty and humility. Rather than simply accepting a compliment with a simple xiè xie 谢谢 “thank you”, it is much more appreciated in China when the compliment is deflected. One way to deflect praise while valuing the feedback is to say méi yǒu méi yǒu 没有没有 “no, no (that is not correct)”.
Here are some other phrases that follow the pattern of being humble and not bragging.
11 yī bān, yī bān 一般，一般 – not good, not good (Oh, I’m just so-so)
You could also say hái hǎo, hái hǎo 还好，还好 “Not that great, not that great. (I am not that great)”. Or you could say bù, bù, bù 不，不，不 “No, no, no…(I am not that great)”.
When you give and receive compliments in Chinese, you might say
Compliment:
Nǐ de máo bǐ zì xiě dé hěn hǎo.
你的毛笔字写得很好。
Your calligraphy is very good.
You can reply like this:
Nǎlǐ, nǎlǐ, wǒ cái kāishǐ xué.
哪里，哪里，我才开始学。
Where, where, I just started to learn.
Or you can say:
Bù, bù, wǒ xiě dé méi nàme hǎo.
不，不，我写得没那么好。
No, no, I do not write that well.
12 shì ma 是吗? / zhēn de ma? 真的吗？- Really? (Do you think that I am that great?)
Another common and easy way to reflect praise is by using the following:
shì ma 是吗? / zhēn de ma? 真的吗？– Really?
Being humble is also a common way of thanking someone indirectly. Let us say someone is complimenting you:
Nǐde qúnzi hěn hǎokàn.
你的裙子很好看。
Your dress is very nice.
Reply:
Shì ma? Wǒ hái dānxīn bù héshì ne.
是吗？我还担心不合适呢。
Really? I was actually worried it was not fitting.
Or you can answer:
Zhēn de ma? xiè xie.
真的吗？谢谢.
Really? Thanks.
13 Hái xíng ba 还行吧 – It is just ok
First, there is a compliment, for example:
Nǐ huàn fǎxíngle? Hěn piàoliang!
你换发型了？很漂亮！
Did you change your hairstyle? Very beautiful!
And then a reply:
Hái xíng ba, zài wǒ jiā lóu xià fàláng nòng de.
还行吧，在我家楼下发廊弄的。
It is just okay. I got it at the hair salon downstairs where I live.
14 hái hǎo ba 还好吧 – It is not that great
First the compliment:
Nǐ huàn fǎxíngle? Hěn piàoliang!
你换发型了？很漂亮！
Did you change your hairstyle? Very beautiful!
You can thank by being humble:
Hái hǎo ba, fǎxíng shī bāng wǒ nòng de.
还好吧，发型师帮我弄的。
It is ok. The hairstylist did it for me.
If you want to learn Mandarin Chinese, feel free to REGISTER FOR A FREE TRIAL CLASS HERE or send me an email (Chen Huimin): huimin@laerkinesisk.no.
We offer private lessons and group classes at all levels, HSK 1-6, children, adults, business. All Mandarin Chinese classes are offered in classrooms or online.
Do you know anyone who wants to learn Chinese? We will give you 500 US dollars as a bonus as a part of our program “Refer a friend – get $ 500” if your friend or others you introduce to us start taking Chinese classes at our school. Register hereif this is interesting for you!
Being able to express yourself in Chinese allows you to engage in more in-depth conversations with others. As a result, communicating effectively with Chinese friends or colleagues requires sharing your own opinions in Chinese.
The Chinese words and sentences we will teach you in this article will help you express yourself and improve your Chinese level.
The xiǎng 想 character has multiple meanings: “to think”, “to want”, “to miss” or “believe something”. Here are some examples of how to use the expression:
Nǐ zài xiǎng shén me 你在想什么？ What are you thinking about?
Wǒ xiǎng kàn diànyǐng. 我想看电影。I want to watch a movie.
If you say wǒ bù xiǎng 我不想, that means “I do not want”.
Wǒ xiǎng zhè jiàn yīfú yǒudiǎn dà. 我想这件衣服有点大。I think that this clothing is a little bit large.
The character kàn 看 has several different meanings. It is most commonly used to describe the verb “to look”, but it can also mean “to regard” or “to think about”.
Nǐ kàn zhège fāngfǎ xíng bùxíng? 你看这个方法行不行? Do you think this method works?
Zài wǒ kàn lái 在我看来 In my opinion….
Wǒ juédé tā rén hěn hǎo. 我觉得他人很好。I feel that he is a nice person.
If you want to say “in my humble opinion”, you could say yī wǒ yú jiàn 依我愚见. This expression can literally be translated as “in my foolish opinion”. However, this does not mean that the person saying this is foolish in a Chinese person’s mind, but instead shows a tone of humbleness and respect.
If you want to say, “My opinion”, you can also do this by saying Wǒ de yì jiàn 我的意見。。。 or Wǒ de kàn fǎ 我的看法 “My point of view…”. If you then want to say “In my opinion”, you can say yī wǒ de yì jiàn 依我的意見 or yī wǒ gè rén de kàn fǎ 依我个人的看法 “In my personal viewpoint”. Here yī 依 is “according to” and gè rén 个人 means “personal”.
Wǒ rèn wéi wǒmen huì yǒu gèng hǎo de wèi lái. 我认为我们会有更好的未来。I think we will have a better future.
The Chinese word yǐ wéi 以为 can be used to describe something that you believed to be true but was later proven to be false.
Wǒ yǐ wéi nǐ hái méi dào ne. 我以为你还没到呢. I thought you had not arrived yet.
Wǒ xiāng xìn tā shuō de dōu shì shì shí. 我相信他说的都是事实。I believe what he said is true.
Bàba xiāng xìn zhōng yī. 爸爸相信中医。My father believes in (the effect of) Chinese medicine.
Wǒ rèn dìng jiù shì tā xí jī le wǒ. 我认定就是他袭击了我. I firmly believe he was the one who attacked me.
Wǒ xìn yǎng ài qíng. 我信仰爱情。I believe in love!
If you want to ask someone’s advice on something, you can use the expression qǐng jiào 请教 . The expression consists of the characters qǐng 请 “please” and jiào 教 “teach”.
Yǒu kòng ma? Wǒ yǒu gōng zuò shàng de shì qíng xiǎng qǐng jiào yī xià nǐ. 有空吗？我有工作上的事情想请教一下你。Do you have time? I have something I want to ask you about at work.
You can also use the phrase qǐng zhǐ jiào 请指教, which means “please provide instructions on something”.
Chūcì jiànmiàn, yǐhòu qǐng zhǐ jiào. 初次见面，以后请指教。This is the first time we meet, please advise me in the future.
Tā jiànyì wǒ huàngè gōngzuò. 他建议我换个工作。He advised me to change job.
You can use the phrase Méi yǒu jiànyì 没有建议 “Do not have any recommendation” if you don’t feel strongly about something or if you don’t want to say it.
Wǒ méiyǒu yìjiàn. Nǐmen shuō de dōu hélǐ. 我没有意见。你们说的都合理。I have no opinion. Everything you said is reasonable.
If you want to learn Mandarin Chinese, feel free to REGISTER FOR A FREE TRIAL CLASS HERE or send me an email (Chen Huimin): huimin@laerkinesisk.no.
We offer private lessons and group classes at all levels, HSK 1-6, children, adults, business. All Mandarin Chinese classes are offered in classrooms or online.
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There are different ways of communicating in the Chinese language, including slang used among friends. Slang is a part of Chinese culture and is also something that Chinese learners should focus on to improve their language skills and communicate better with Chinese people.
As Chinese slang is a great way to learn new words, we have added a list of phrases you’ll hear on the street in China with Chinese characters and Chinese pinyin. The mandarin slang that we explain here, you will not necessarily find in your Chinese textbooks. However, these expressions are common in China and are expressions that are important also for basic learners, intermediate learners or advanced learners of Chinese.
1 shá 啥 – what
In Chinese slang, you will often hear the shortening of regular words. This is something that you will often hear when you are speaking Chinese with your Chinese friends. For example, can you hear the word shá 啥 that is a shortening for shénme 什么, that means “what?”
2 lèi sĭ le 累死了 – extremely tired
Chinese speakers use many variants of an adjective plus sĭ le 死了 “dead”. It means “extremely” + adjective. If you add it to lèi 累 “tired”, lèi sĭ le 累死了 “extremely tired”.
3 è sĭ le 饿死了 – extremely hungry
In the same slang phrase, you find the expression è sĭ le 饿死了 means “extremely hungry”. However, it can also mean to literally die from starvation.
4 gǔshén 股神 – someone who has extremely good at investing in stocks “a god in investing in stocks”
The word shén 神 can be translated into “spirit” or “god,” and is a common slang word used to compliment someone on their excellent skills in anything. Examples are gǔ shén 股神 which literally means “a god in investing in stocks” or someone who is really good at investing in stocks.
5 chīcù 吃醋 – to be jealous
The expression chī cù 吃醋 can literally be translated as ‘eat vinegar’, and means “jealousy” of lovers. If you say Nǐ wèi shén me chī cù 你为什么吃醋, it then means “Why are you jealous?” Some people also say chī fēi cù 吃飞醋, which means to be jealous without any reason.
6 wŭ èr líng 五二零 520 – I love you
In Chinese, slang is also expressed through numbers. In fact, some of the most inventive and interesting slang words in Chinese are numbers. ‘520’ in Chinese means “I love you’. What is the reason for this? It’s because, in Chinese, the numbers 5, 2, 0 are pronounced wŭ 五 5, èr 二 2, líng 零 0, which sounds similar to Wǒ ài nǐ 我爱你 I love you.
7 èr bǎi wǔ 二百五 250 – idiot
Certain numbers and slang expressions in Chinese, such as the fairly common insult “250,” have been given significance by myths from Chinese history.
In ancient China, coins were strung together in stacks of 1000. Scholars used to refer to themselves as “half a stack”—in other words, wǔ bǎi 五百 500. It was considered modest and politely self-deprecating.
The number èr bǎi wǔ 二百五 250 is, of course, half of 500. The slang term èr bǎi wǔ 二百五 has become a term for someone who is so stupid that they aren’t even half a stack!
8 yī sān yī sì 一三一四 – forever
When you read the number 1314 in Chinese, yī sān yī sì 一三一四 , it sounds similar to another Chinese expression yī shēng yī shì 一生一世. The literal meaning of this expression is “one life, one world”, meaning “for the rest of my life” or “forever.”
If you put these two sayings together you end with the number 520 1314 or wǒ ài nǐ yī shēng yī shì 我爱你一生一世 I love you forever!
Let us finish on a note of love! Chinese slang words are many and evolving continuously in China. Slang changes! This is especially true for Chinese internet slang, as people are spending more time communicating on Chinese social media. Different people use different expressions, so by learning an interesting expression or two, you will be able to communicate better in everyday conversations in China.
The examples that we have shown here are just some of many. In addition to textbook words, learning slang and the real/world language in Mainland China is also a practical way to learn Chinese and try to speak like the locals.
If you want to learn Mandarin Chinese, feel free to REGISTER FOR A FREE TRIAL CLASS HERE or send me an email (Chen Huimin): huimin@laerkinesisk.no.
We offer private lessons and group classes at all levels, HSK 1-6, children, adults, business. All Mandarin Chinese classes are offered in classrooms or online.
Do you know anyone who wants to learn Chinese? We will give you 500 US dollars as a bonus as a part of our program “Refer a friend – get $ 500” if your friend or others you introduce to us start taking Chinese classes at our school. Register here if this is interesting for you!
Here we give you some simple tips to help you use the chopsticks properly in China. We tell you what to do and what not to do, so you learn chopstick etiquette correctly and are well prepared next time you eat Chinese food.
The use of chopsticks is important either you use metal chopsticks, plastic chopsticks, disposable wooden chopsticks, bring your own chopsticks etc. Do remember that food culture and eating etiquette has been an important part of Chinese culture from ancient China all the way to modern times. Thus, Chinese chopstick etiquette and table manners play an important role in China are something that you should pay attention to while visiting a Chinese restaurant.
1 Don’t put your chopsticks straight into a bowl of rice, as this will ruin the dining experience among Chinese people
People in China burn incense sticks placed in rice or other foods to honour the dead. Placing the chopsticks vertically into the food or the rice bowl will be seen as a sign of bad luck, as well as a lack of respect for others and the spirit of a dead person.
2 When you are at the dining table, avoid using your chopsticks as a toy
By correctly using the chopsticks, you show respect for other cultures. Chopsticks should not be used as drums, tapped or banged together. Avoid slamming your chopsticks into the dish or plate, as this activity is linked to something that beggars do.
3 According to Chinese table manners, dishes should not be pulled toward you with chopsticks
In China, plates should always be picked up or moved by hand.
4 Do not use the little finger
The chopsticks should only be held by each hand’s thumb, index finger, and middle finger. It would be best not to use the little finger, as this is not common and makes it more challenging to handle the chopsticks. If you use the little finger, it seems like you “act strangely”, and some Chinese might view you as having bad habits and not paying attention to proper manners.
5 Do not transfer food to another person’s chopsticks
It is better to use an intermediary plate to hold the meal and then pass the plate to the person who wants it, rather than use your chopsticks or any other utensil that isn’t given. This is because of hygiene.
When the Chinese are eating together and having a shared plate with family members, close friends, colleagues etc, it is common to use gōng kuài 公筷 “shared chopsticks”. These chopsticks are not used for eating but for picking up food. Either they are put on plates or accompany each dish and have become an important part of modern Chinese food culture.
6 Never use chopsticks to pick your teeth in public and make unpleasant sounds while eating
The Chinese will find this impolite and a sign of bad manners.
7 Never point your chopsticks at anyone, especially an older person, guest of honour or someone with a higher social rank than you
This will be seen as a lack of respect and good manners. You can see this as using your finger to point at someone, which some people might be offended by and is often used during arguments. Would you see this as a sign of respect?
8 According to basic chopsticks etiquette in China, you should not suck or lick the ends of chopsticks
The Chinese might see such behaviour as a sign of poor manners and a lack of respecting Chinese etiquette.
9 The Chinese view the double, a par or two as a symbol of harmony. Do not create disharmony by using a pair of broken or mismatched chopsticks of a different colour when eating.
Take a new pair of chopsticks, and not simply one to replace a broken one.
It is not seen as good practice to use chopsticks that are not all the same length. Using chopsticks of different sizes reminds more traditional Chinese people of a coffin and funeral rites. In the Chinese language, you have the saying sān cháng liǎng duǎn 三长两短 “three long, two short”. A coffin without a lid comprises traditionally five boards, three long and two short.
10 Chopsticks should not be used as a hair ornament
Chopsticks are used for eating as an eating utensil and are not the same as hair ornaments. With probably would not look good with a fork in your hair, right?
As we now have explained the important chopstick etiquette in China, you can take a firm grip on the chopsticks and we can wish you “bon appetit” or what we in Chinese say: qǐng màn yòng 请慢用. While this expression literally means “please eat slowly”, it can be translated as “Please, enjoy your meal”!
If you want to learn Mandarin Chinese, feel free to REGISTER FOR A FREE TRIAL CLASS HERE or send me an email (Chen Huimin):huimin@laerkinesisk.no.
We offer private lessons and group classes at all levels, HSK 1-6, children, adults, business. All Mandarin Chinese classes are offered in classrooms or online.
Do you know anyone who wants to learn Chinese? We will give you 500 US dollars as a bonus as a part of our program “Refer a friend – get $ 500” if your friend or others you introduce to us start taking Chinese classes at our school. Register here if this is interesting for you!
China has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. When you visit China, it is always a good idea to follow local rules and social customs to avoid offending anyone or leading to a misunderstanding.
Here we have listed ten things you should avoid while visiting China. These tips are important whether you go there for the first time or if you are living there now.
One of the most important China travel tips is to not put chopsticks into the rice and leave them there when you are eating Chinese food.
Because of Chinese culture and habits, for Chinese people, this evokes memories of the incense sticks burned at funerals and other ceremonies during which the Chinese venerate their ancestors. Thus, foreign tourists should know that this is considered impolite and is said to bring bad luck among Chinese citizens.
“To keep the face” is a common practice in China, emphasising the importance of patience. “Keeping the face” is important in Chinese society, as well as keeping one’s cool.
If you lack control and become angry, you will lose respect among the local people. The main reason for this is that the Chinese frown upon public displays of anger and find that synonymous with humiliating others.
Because the Chinese emphasise group harmony, the best way is to avoid interrupting others by displaying anger publicly, and rather leave your anger for personal space.
One thing that might be different from your own country, is that it is considered impolite in China to refuse someone who has approached you and then create a conflict.
An important China travel tip is to find a way to communicate your message so that you can politely imply that you disagree with others rather than saying “no” directly.
Gift etiquette is crucial in China. Gift-giving and receiving should be done with both hands. Why not look at the gift as it is your friend, and give it and receive it carefully with both hands!
Do remember that many people will initially decline a gift before accepting it, out of politeness
Often, gifts are opened after the recipient has left, rather than while they are still present.However, the most critical aspect of gifts is that you should feel obligated to return the favour whenever possible.
Always show that you are ready to remove your shoes and refrain from wearing them inside other people’s homes. This is more for hygiene reasons and is widely accepted in China.
Your host will usually provide you with house shoes or slippers to wear.
Ensure that you are wearing the slippers that are provided to you as a guest.
Some hosts may say that you can wear shoes, in which case you do not need to take them off.
If you eat together with others, you should first reach out to take the food closest to you to show that you are not picky and greedy.
If your favourite food is further away, you can wait a little bit and then reach out for those dishes later.
If you invite Chinese people to lunch or dinner, you will be expected to pay. If someone invites you to something in China, they are expected to pay for your attendance.
On other occasions, paying for the meal when sharing lunch or dinner is a very nice gesture. While the other party frequently refuses to pay, they should eventually relent if you persist.
However, if you and your colleagues are eating, it is completely fine to split the bill, as you often eat together.
When speaking to someone significantly older than you, you can, out of respect, address them in Mandarin Chinese by saying ā yí 阿姨 aunt or shū shu 叔叔 uncle.
You can use ā yí 阿姨 aunt to address women older than you who are not in your family, and shū shu 叔叔 uncle when you address men older than you.
You can also address the elderly by their family position, for example, yé yé 爷爷 grandfather or nǎi nai 奶奶 grandmother. When addressing people in high positions, you use surname plus title. For example, Wáng jīnglǐ 王经理 Wang manager. In Chinese, a title comes after the surname.
While China has developed a lot in recent years, whether you are in big cities or in the countryside, visiting tourist attractions like the Forbidden City or the Great Wall of China, going there for studies or business etc. you will find that it is still a culturally a traditional country.
So when you communicate with your Chinese host, visit local companies, visit major cities, talk to taxi drivers or visit Chinese restaurants, it is wise to follow the local laws and customs. While there sometimes might be a language barrier in the communication, if you do your utmost to avoid sensitive subjects, act as the locals do and offend others, you will have a good time and enjoy your stay in China among friendly Chinese people.
If you want to learn Mandarin Chinese, feel free to REGISTER FOR A FREE TRIAL CLASS HERE or send me an email (Chen Huimin): huimin@laerkinesisk.no.
We offer private lessons and group classes at all levels, HSK 1-6, children, adults, business. All Mandarin Chinese classes are offered in classrooms or online.
Do you know anyone who wants to learn Chinese? We will give you 500 US dollars as a bonus as a part of our program “Refer a friend – get $ 500” if your friend or others you introduce to us start taking Chinese classes at our school. Register here if this is interesting for you!
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