Various ways to say “Are you sure?” in Chinese
The common expressions 你确定吗？(Nǐ quèdìng ma?) When used on its own, this phrase can be used in almost any situation. For example, a friend decides to make a risky investment…
Various ways to say “Be careful” in Chinese
The common expressions 小心 (xiǎoxīn) This is the most direct and general way to say “be careful” in Chinese. It’s used in a wide range of situations where you want…
Wowza! or is it 哇塞? An Introduction to Chinese Onomatopoeia
Learning our native language is one of our earliest experiences that irreversibly shapes how we perceive the world. Did you know that your native language even shapes how you hear…
Various ways to say “Good idea” in Chinese
The common expressions 好主意 (hǎo zhǔyì) A straightforward way to say “good idea,” applicable in both formal and informal contexts. e.g. 这个方案听起来是个好主意。(Zhège fāng’àn tīng qǐlái shì gè hǎo zhǔyì.) This…
Chinese Tongue Twisters (绕口令) – Challenge Yourself and Practice!
Chinese tongue twisters, known as 绕口令 (ràokǒulìng), cleverly play with similar sounds to challenge your ability to differentiate and articulate closely related phonetic elements, making them great for practicing the…
Various ways to say “How much is it” in Chinese
The common expressions 多少钱？ (Duōshǎo qián?) This is the most common and straightforward way to ask the price of something. It’s suitable for both formal and informal contexts. e.g. 这个包多少钱？(Zhège…
Various ways to say “How long” in Chinese
The basic expressions: 多久 (duō jiǔ) It’s used to ask about the duration of time for both future and past events. e.g. A: 下午要开一个会。(Xiàwǔ yào kāi yīgè huì.) There’s a…
The Versatility of the Neutral Tone in Chinese
The neutral tone, also known as the fifth tone, is a key feature of the Chinese language. Unlike the four main tones, the neutral tone is light and unstressed, often…
Various ways to say “Do you mind” in Chinese
The common expression 你介意吗？(Nǐ jièyì ma?) This is a direct translation of “Do you mind?” in Chinese and is quite polite. e.g. 我们改天再见，你介意吗？(Wǒmen gǎitiān zài jiàn, nǐ jièyì ma??) We’ll…