Tackling the two opposite meanings of 让(ràng)
This article covers the character 让(ràng), a word with two virtually opposite meanings in Mandarin: to permit; to yieldto make someone do/feel something; to have someone do something. Tackling these…
How to tell 另外(lìng wài) and 另(lìng) apart!
Are you an intermediate Chinese learner struggling with synonyms? Do you find yourself wondering which words to use in certain situations? You’re not alone! Many learners have difficulty with this…
Mastering Chinese Characters Through Radicals – Analyzing Characters with the Mouth Radical
Grouping Chinese characters with similar meaningful parts can help when learning to write them. Today, we’ll focus on characters with the 口 (kǒu) radical. The ancient form of 口 resembled…
Basic Verbs that are Different in Chinese and English Part II
Although I always know Chinese and English were poles apart, I didn’t realize how much simple differences between the two languages could create problems for learners until I started developing…
Mastering Chinese Characters Through Radicals – Recognizing Chinese Characters by Their Radicals
This week, I have chosen a set of Chinese characters that beginners may easily confuse. In the picture below, you’ll see six pairs of characters. The symbols in the second…
4 Common Chinese Measure Words – 个/只/支/头
Many people have trouble understanding which “measure word” they should use in different situations. If you don’t know what a measure word is – it’s a word that is used…
10 ways to use 点 (diǎn)
点 (diǎn) is one of those characters in Mandarin that pops-up all over the place. In the dictionary, there are multiple meanings given, including “dot”, “point”, a “small amount”. In…
Various Chinese Translation for “Too Many” and “Too Much”
The Chinese language, with its rich vocabulary and intricate grammar, often presents unique challenges for learners. One phrase that frequently stumps Mandarin learners is “太多 (tài duō),” which is the…
The Major Differences Between 两(liǎng) and 二(èr)
Numbers are often one of the first topics that learners tackle when starting a new language, and Chinese is no different. However, Mandarin is unique in the fact that it…