(Plus, if you’re interested in improving your grammar skills, be sure to check out our HSK tutorial videos!)

1、The adverb 常常(cháng cháng) means that an action happens many times, regardless of whether it is done regularly or not. On the other hand, 往往(wǎng wǎng) implies that an action happens frequently under specific or regularly timed circumstances. With 往往(wǎng wǎng), the situation, condition, or result related to the action being discussed needs to be specified, while 常常(cháng cháng) has no such limitations.

For example:

He often works overtime.
他常常加班。(Tā cháng cháng jiā bān.)

He tends to work overtime at the end of the year.
他往往年底加班。(Tā wǎng wǎng nián dǐ jiā bān.)

2、You can use 常常(cháng cháng) to express hopes or desires, indicating actions that have not yet taken place but may happen repeatedly. On the other hand, 往往(wǎng wǎng) describes the current situation, indicating actions that are already happening regularly or have happened regularly in the past.

For example:

Let’s go watch movies often.
我们常常去看电影吧。
(Wǒmen cháng cháng qù kàn diànyǐng ba.)

They often watch movies on weekends.
周末他们往往去看电影。
(Zhōumò tāmen wǎng wǎng qù kàn diànyǐng.)

3、You can use 常常(cháng cháng) to describe events that have happened, are happening or will happen frequently. On the other hand, 往往(wǎng wǎng) is mostly used for describing past events, although it can be used for present events. It cannot be used for events that are set in the future.

For example:

Past tense:

When I was young, Mom often used to tell me stories.
我小时候，妈妈常常给我讲故事。
(Wǒ xiǎo shíhòu, māma cháng cháng gěi wǒ jiǎng gùshì.)

Present tense:

The manager often gets to the company half an hour early.
经理常常提前半个小时到公司。
(Jīnglǐ cháng cháng tíqián bàn gè xiǎo shí dào gōngsī.)

Future tense:

I will come to visit you often.
我会常常来看您的。
(Wǒ huì cháng cháng lái kàn nín de.)

4、You can use 不常(bù cháng) to negate 常常(cháng cháng), meaning “not often”. However, there is no negative form for 往往(wǎng wǎng), and it is instead negated by adding 不/没 (bù/méi) to the sentence.

不 + 常

往往 + 不/没

For example：

We live close, but don’t often keep in touch.
我们住的很近，但是不常联系。
(Wǒ men zhù de hěn jìn，dànshì bù cháng liánxì.)

On rainy days, it’s not often easy to get a taxi.
下雨天,往往不容易打车。
(Xià yǔ tiān, wǎng wǎng bù róngyì dǎ chē.)

You can use 常常(cháng cháng) in questions, but 往往(wǎng wǎng) cannot be used in the same way.

Do you watch TV often?
你常常看电视吗?
(Nǐ cháng cháng kàn diànshì ma?)

5、 You can use the shortened version 常(cháng) for 常常(cháng cháng), but you cannot do the same for 往往(wǎng wǎng) by using just 往(wǎng). Also, 常常(cháng cháng) indicates a frequently occurring action that may be commonplace or regular, whereas 往往(wǎng wǎng) points to a less common phenomenon, often surprising or unexpected.

For example：

It is often windy here. 
这里常(常)刮风。
(Zhè lǐ cháng (cháng) guā fēng.)

When it snows, it is often not cold.
下雪时往往不冷。
(Xià xuě shí wǎng wǎng bù lěng.)

In summary, while both 常常(cháng cháng) and 往往(wǎng wǎng) can be translated as “often” in English, their usage and implications in Mandarin Chinese differ significantly. Understanding the nuances between the two adverbs can greatly improve your ability to communicate effectively in Mandarin Chinese. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, mastering the proper usage of these adverbs will help you become a more fluent and confident speaker. So next time you’re communicating in Mandarin Chinese, remember to choose your adverb wisely to convey the precise meaning you intend.

Now let’s practice! Fill in the blanks with“常常(cháng cháng)” or “往往(wǎng wǎng)” :

• 不要____晚睡，对身体不好。(Don’t stay up late often, it’s bad for your health.)
• 公立博物馆____不收费。(The public museum is usually free. )
• 春节时，火车票____不好买。(It’s usually not easy to buy train tickets during the Spring Festival.)
• 他____迟到。(He often arrives late.)
• 成功的人_____都有积极的心态。(Usually, successful people have a positive attitude.)
• 他____做饭。(He doesn’t cook often.)

Key:

• 常常
• 往往
• 往往
• 常常
• 往往
• 常常

The post 常常(cháng cháng) VS往往(wǎng wǎng): The Many Ways of Using the word “Often” in Chinese appeared first on .

(You can check a detailed explanation video on the use of 通过 as well as more HSK-related grammar tutorial videos here.)

通过(tōng guò)

1. As a Verb

As a verb, 通过(tōng guò) signifies the act of passing through a place from one end to another. For instance, it can describe vehicles being prohibited from passing through a pedestrian crossing or someone successfully meeting the requirements of an examination.

For example:

This is a pedestrian crossing, vehicles cannot pass through it.
这是一条步行街，汽车不能通过。
(Zhè shì yì tiáo bù xíng jiē，qì chē bù néng tōng guò.)

He passed the HSK6 examination.
他通过了HSK6的考试。
(Tā tōngguò le HSK 6 de kǎoshì.)

2. As a Preposition

Notably, 通过(tōng guò) also serves as a preposition, indicating that a particular outcome was achieved through external means or another person’s influence.

For example:

I found her via her mom.
我通过她的妈妈才找到了她。
(Wǒ tōngguò tā de māma cái zhǎo dào le tā.)

经过(jīng guò)

1. As a Verb

经过(jīng guò) as a verb implies physically passing by a location or experiencing something for a period of time. It emphasizes the process and can be used to express encountering a flower shop on a daily commute or having undergone a challenging trip.

For example:

I pass by this flower shop every day.
我每天都经过这个花店。
(wǒ měi tiān dōu jīng guò zhè gè huā diàn.)

I’ve just had a trying trip, and I’m very sleepy now.
我刚经过一趟辛苦的旅行，现在很困。
(Wǒ gāng jīngguò yí tàng xīn kǔ de lǚ xíng，xiàn zài hěn kùn.)

2. As a Noun

经过(jīng guò) can function as a noun denoting a process or course of events in certain contexts.

For example:

We never know the process of this thing.
我们永远不知道这件事情的经过。
(Wǒmen yǒngyuǎn bù zhīdào zhè jiàn shìqíng de jīngguò.)

Comparing 通过(tōng guò) and 经过(jīng guò)

Similarities

Both words can express achieving a goal through someone or something’s influence.

For example:

After going through the teacher’s explanation, I finally understood this grammar point.
经过/通过老师的解释, 我终于明白了这个语法点。
(Jīngguò / tōngguò lǎo shī de jiěshì, wǒ zhōngyú míngbái le zhè gè yǔfǎ diǎn.)

Differences

When we consider their pure meanings, 通过(tōng guò) emphasizes the method or means of achieving something, while 经过(jīng guò) emphasizes the process. However, in this case, 通过(tōng guò) functions as a preposition, and 经过(jīng guò) serves as a verb.

For example:

His Chinese language skills improved quickly by making friends with Chinese people.
通过交中国朋友，他的汉语水平提高得很快。
(Tōngguò jiāo zhōngguó péngyǒu，tā de hànyǔ shuǐpíng tígāo dé hěn kuài.)

He finally succeeded after thousands of failures.
经过上千次的失败后，他终于成功了。
(Jīngguò shàng qiān cì de shībài hòu，tā zhōngyú chénggōng le.)

When used as a verb, 通过(tōng guò) means “to pass through from one end to another,” while 经过(jīng guò) means “to go by way of” without necessarily passing through a specific place.

For example:

Go straight ahead, go through that bridge, then turn right, and you’ll see it.
你往前走，通过那个桥，然后右转就看到了。
(Nǐ wǎng qián zǒu, tōngguò nà gè qiáo, ránhòu yòu zhuǎn, jiù kàn dào le.)

The school bus goes past the museum every hour on the hour.
校车总是正点经过博物馆。
(Xiào chē zǒngshì zhèng diǎn jīngguò bówùguǎn.)

As a noun, 经过(jīng guò) denotes a process or course of development, whereas 通过(tōng guò) cannot be used as a noun.

For example:

I forget the process of this matter.
我忘记了事情的 经过.
(Wǒ wàngjì le shìqíng de jīngguò.

Conclusion

Navigating the fine distinctions between similar vocabulary words, such as通过(tōng guò) and 经过(jīng guò) , is an essential step towards mastering the Chinese language. By understanding their semantic nuances, exploring their varied usage as verbs, prepositions, and nouns, learners can effectively express their ideas with clarity and precision.

Remember, 通过 emphasizes the method or means of achieving something, while 经过(jīng guò) focuses on the process itself. Whether you are discussing passing through a physical space, achieving a goal influenced by external factors, or describing a course of development, selecting the appropriate word will enhance your communication skills and convey your intended message accurately. Happy learning!

Practice

Now let’s do some exercises to test your new knowledge of these two words. Fill in blanks with either 通过 or 经过.

1. (1)____这几个月的学习，我的汉语水平提高了很多。(____zhè jǐ gè yuè de xuéxí, wǒ de hànyǔ shuǐpíng tígāo le hěn duō.) Through these past few months of studying, my Chinese proficiency has improved significantly.
2. 去公司的路上，我们会____那个公园吗？(Qù gōng sī de lù shang，wǒ men huì ____nà gè gōng yuán ma) On the way to the office, will we pass by that park?
3. 祝贺你_____了面试。(Zhù hè nǐ _____le miànshì.) Congratulations on passing the interview!
4. 她把事情的_____都告诉我了。(Tā bǎ shìqíng de _____dōu gàosù wǒ le.) She told me all about the process of the matter.
5. 我们应该____运动来减肥。(Wǒmen yīnggāi ____yùndòng lái jiǎnféi.) We should lose weight by exercising.
6. 会议室在前面，_____一扇大门，左边就是。(Huìyì shì zài qián miàn,_____yí shàn dà mén，zuǒ biān jiù shì.) The meeting room is ahead, pass through the door, and it’s on the left.

Key:

1. 通过
2. 经过
3. 通过
4. 经过
5. 通过
6. 通过

The post From Passage to Process: Decoding 通过(tōng guò) and 经过(jīng guò) in Chinese appeared first on .

(For more information on the differences between 本来 and 原来, check out these HSK grammar tutorial videos.)

本来(běn lái)

1. As an adjective

You can use 本来 as an adjective to mean “original.”

For example:

这不是我本来的用意。
(Zhè búshì wǒ běnlái de yòngyì.)
This is not my original purpose.

2. As an adverb

a. You can use 本来 as an adverb to mean “originally,” “at first,” or “to begin with.” It can be placed before or after the subject in a sentence.

For example:

他本来不喜欢这个工作，但是后来慢慢就习惯了。
(Tā běnlái bù xǐhuan zhègè gōngzuò, hòulái mànmàn jiù xíguàn le.)
At first he didn’t like this job, but later he got used to it.

b. It can also mean “naturally” or “supposed to,” when used in the following structure:

本来 + 就 + verb

For example:

你本来就应该今天做完这些作业。
(Nǐ běnlái jiù yīnggāi jīntiān zuò wán zhèxiē zuòyè.)
You were supposed to have finished this homework today.

原来(yuán lái)

1. As a noun

You can use “原来” as a noun to mean “the beginning” or “the past.” It implies that the situation described in the following clause or sentence is different from what it was before. “原来” can be placed before or after the subject.

Subject + 原来
原来 + Subject

For example:

她现在比原来漂亮了。
(Tā xiànzài bǐ yuánlái piàoliangle.)
She is prettier now than before.

2. As an adjective

When used as an adjective, 原来 means “original” or “unaltered.” It must be used with “的” after it when modifying a noun, and it cannot be used alone as the predicate.

原来 + 的 + Noun

For example:

按原来的计划应该是两周，但是我们可以提前完成。
(àn yuánlái de jìhuà yīnggāi shì liǎngzhōu, dànshì wǒmen kěyǐ tíqián wánchéng.)
According to the original plan, it will take two weeks to complete the work, but we can finish it ahead of schedule.

3. As an adverb

a. When used as an adverb, 原来 indicates a specific time or period in the past and suggests that something or someone has changed since then.

For example:

她原来是记者，现在已经成为一名老师。
(Tā yuánlái shì jìzhě，xiànzài yǐjīng chéngwéi yìmíng lǎoshī.)
She was journalist , (but) now she is a teacher.

b. 原来 can also indicate the discovery of a formerly unknown situation. It is often used to emphasize what the speaker has accidentally found out or realized. It’s similar to saying “as it turns out…”

For example:

原来是你!我还以为是小李呢.
(Yuánlái shì nǐ! Wǒ hái yǐwéi shì xiǎolǐ ne.)
So it turned out to be you! I thought it was Xiao Li!

Keep in mind that the discovery is based only on the speaker’s perception, not the situation itself. For instance, it was actually Xiao Li all along, but the speaker only realizes it now.

As a final note, “原本” as an adverb has the same meaning as “本来,” but is more formal and less commonly used in spoken Chinese.

Summary

Similarities:

1.  Both 原来 and 本来 can function as adjectives to mean “original” or “unaltered.”

For example:

已经看不出来(这件衣服)原来/本来的颜色了.
( Yǐjīng kàn bù chūlái (zhè jiàn yīfú) yuánlái/běnlái de yánsè le.)
You can’t tell what the original color was.

2. Both 原来 and 本来 can also be used as adverbs to indicate that the current situation is different from the past, and they can be placed before or after the subject.

Subject + 原来/本来
原来/本来 + Subject

For example:

本来/原来我是学英语的，后来学了法语.
(Běnlái /yuánlái wǒ shì xué yīngyǔ de, hòulái xué le fǎyǔ.)
I was originally studying English, and then studied French.

Differences:

When used as an adverb, 原来 can indicate a formerly unknown situation that has been discovered, while 本来 can indicate that something should have been a certain way.

For example:

我在后面叫她，可她一直没回头。等到了她身边，才发现原来我认错人了。
(Wǒ zài hòumian jiào tā, kě tā yìzhí méi huítóu. Děng dào le tā shēnbian, cái fāxiàn yuánlái wǒ rèn cuò rén le.)
I kept calling out to her, but she never looked back. When l stood next to her, it turned out I’d mistaken someone else for her!

这本书本来应该昨天还给你，真不好意思.
( Zhè běn shū běnlái yīnggāi zuótiān huán gěi nǐ, zhēn bùhǎo yìsī.)
This book was supposed to have been returned to you yesterday, so sorry.

While 本来 (běn lái) and 原来 (yuán lái) can be used interchangeably in some contexts, there are some nuances in their usage that should be noted. 本来 is often used to indicate something that was originally intended or planned, while 原来 emphasizes a situation that was different in the past. Both can also be used as adjectives and adverbs to indicate something that was original or unchanged. However, 原来 can also be used to indicate the discovery of a formerly unknown situation. While these differences may seem subtle, mastering the use of these two words can greatly improve your fluency in Chinese conversation.

PRACTICE!

Do you know how to use these terms now? Let’s do some practice!

Fill in the blanks with 本来 or 原来:

1. 事情总是变化着的，我们需要及时调整____的计划.(Shìqing zǒngshì biànhuà zhe de，wǒmen xūyào jíshí tiáozhěng ____de jìhuà.)
   Things always change, we need to adjust our original plan in time.
2. 她____学新闻，后来改学金融。(Tā ____xué xīnwén, hòulái gǎi xué jīnróng.)
   She originally studied journalism and then switched to finance.
3. 我____能够爬上那座山的。(Wǒ ____néng gòu pá shàng nà zuò shān de.)
   I could have climbed that mountain.
4. _____是你! 我几乎没认出来。(____shì nǐ ! Wǒ jīhū méi rèn chūlái.)
   It is you! I almost didn’t recognize you until just now.
5. ____深圳是个小渔村。(____Shēnzhèn shì gè xiǎo yúcūn)
   Shenzhen was a small fishing village in the past.
6. 她____说九点到，但是由于堵车九点半才到。(Tā ____shuō jiǔ diǎn dào, dànshì yóuyú dǔchē jiǔ diǎn bàn cái dào.)
   She said she would arrive at 9 o’clock, but (due to the heavy traffic) she didn’t turn up until half past.

Key:

1. 原来
2. 原来
3. 本来
4. 原来
5. 原来
6. 本来

The post Differences and Similarities between 本来 (běn lái) and 原来 (yuán lái) appeared first on .

However, some measure words can be tricky to grasp, and 把(bǎ)  is one of them. In this article, we’ll explore eight ways to use the measure word 把 (bǎ) and get to know it better.

1. The measure word 把 (bǎ) quantifies objects that can be held or have handles. Examples of such objects include 牙刷(yáshuā, toothbrush), 钥匙(yàoshi, key), 梳子(shūzi, comb), 勺子(sháozi, spoon), 叉子(chāzi, fork), 刀(dāo, knife), 茶壶(cháhú, teapot), 剪刀(jiǎndāo ,scissors), 伞(sǎn, umbrella),尺子(chǐzi, ruler),笤帚(tiáozhou, broom), 椅子(yǐzi, chair)，扇子(shànzi, fan), 小提琴(xiǎotíqín, violin), 锯(jù, saw), 斧子(fǔzi, axe), 剑(jiàn, sword), and手枪 (shǒuqiāng, pistol).

For examples:

I lost a key.
我丢了一把钥匙。
(Wǒ diū le yì bǎ yàoshi.)

It’s raining. I want to buy an umbrella. 
下雨了，我想买一把雨伞。
(Xià yǔ le, wǒ xiǎng mǎi yì bǎ yǔsǎn.)

Remember, to specify a noun, you can use 这 (zhè, this) or 那 (nà, that) instead of 一 (yī, one).

For example:

This comb is Mary’s.
这把梳子是玛丽的。
(zhè bǎ shū zi shì mǎ lì de.)

That fan is very beautiful.
那把扇子很漂亮。
(nà bǎ shàn zi hěn piào liang. )

2. The measure word 把 can also be used to describe a handful of something. It refers to a set of objects that are typically not bundled and can be held in one hand.

For example:

• 一把火柴(yì bǎ huǒchái, a handful of matchsticks)
• 一把豆子(yì bǎ dòuzi, a handful of beans)
• 一把米(yì bǎ mǐ, handful of rice)
• 一把花生(yì bǎ huāshēng, handful of peanuts)
• 一把沙子(yì bǎ shāzi , a handful of sand)

Here are some ways to use it:

He fed the horse a handful of green grass. 
他给马喂了一把青草。
(Tā gěi mǎ wèi le yì bǎ qīng cǎo.)

The little girl put a handful of candy into her pocket. 
小女孩抓了一把糖放进口袋里。
(Xiǎo nǚhái zhuā le yì bǎ táng fàng jìn kǒudài lǐ.)

3. 把 can be used to describe a bunch or bundle of things of the same kind that are fastened together. For example, you can use 把 with 香蕉 (xiāngjiāo, bananas), 筷子 (kuàizi, chopsticks), 菠菜 (bōcài, spinach), 萝卜 (luóbo, radishes), 大葱 (dàcōng, scallions), and so on.

For example:

I went to supermarket and bought a bunch of bananas.        
我去超市买了一把香蕉。
(Wǒ qù chāoshì mǎi le yì bǎ xiāngjiāo.)

I also bought two bundles of radishes.
我还买了两把小萝卜。
(Wǒ hái mǎi le liǎng bǎ xiǎo luóbo.)

4. 把 can also be used to describe a strong hand, and this phrase would only make sense in a sentence with clear context.

Here is an example of how it can be used:

This suitcase is very heavy. It will take a strong hand to lift it. 
这个箱子很重，提起它需要一把力气。
(Zhège xiāngzi hěn zhòng, tí qǐ tā xūyào yì bǎ lìqì.)

5. 把 can be used to describe actions done with hands.

For example:

give her a helping hand
拉/帮她一把
(lā/ bāng tā yì bǎ)

6. 把 can also be used to motivate or encourage someone to work harder.

For example:

work harder
再努一把力/再加一把劲儿
(zài nǔ yì bǎ lì /zài jiā yì bǎ jìnr)

You have to study harder, if you want to pass this exam.
如果想通过这个考试，还得再加一把劲儿。
(rú guǒ xiǎng tōng guò zhè gè kǎo shì ，hái děi zài jiā yì bǎ jìnr.)

7. 把 can modify actions done with hands (with 一 (yī, one)  as the numeral).

For example:

She whines about her trouble with snot and tears streaming down her face.
她一把鼻涕一把眼泪地哭诉她的烦恼。
(Tā yì bǎ bítì yì bǎ yǎn lèi de kūsù tā de fánnǎo.)

8. Additionally, 把 can be a measure word for persons with special skills or abstract nouns, such as “a good hand” at something.
For example:

He is good at babysitting.
他是带孩子的一把好手。
(Tā shì dài háizi de yì bǎ hǎo shǒu.)

Measure words play a crucial role in Mandarin Chinese learning, and 把 (bǎ) is one of the most versatile measure words in the language. It can quantify objects that can be grasped, describe a handful of something, bundle things together, encourage someone to work harder, modify actions with hands, and even be used as a measure word for persons with special skills. The best way to remember measure words is through example sentences, and we hope that this article has provided you with a better understanding of the measure word 把.

The post Getting to Know the Measure Word 把 in Chinese appeared first on .

But, just like in English, you often hear Chinese speakers use this word in an exaggerated way to indicate an extreme degree of something. Here is the structure:

adjective/verb+死+了

For example, when people say: “累死了(lèi sǐ le, tired to dead),” this doesn’t mean that the speaker is actually close to death, but is merely using “死 (sǐ)” to say that he/she is extremely tired/ exhausted. Similarly, if you are really hungry, you can say我饿死了 (Wǒ è sǐ le, I am starving to death.)

See another example:

这么多事情要做，忙死了！(zhème duō shìqing yào zuò，máng sǐ le!) So many things to do, I’m extremely busy!

This structure is widely used in colloquial Chinese, as you can see in the following common examples:

• 热死了 (rè sǐ le, extremely hot)
• 渴死了(kě sǐ le, “thirsty to death”)
• 困死了(kùn sǐ le, extremely sleepy)
• 贵死了(guì sǐ le, extremely expensive)
• 吓死了 (xià sǐ le, scared to death)
• 无聊死了(wúliáo sǐ le, bored to death)

Also similar to English, this structure can be used to intensify positive situations as well, such as in the phrases “笑死了(xiào sǐ le，laughing to death) / 高兴死了(gāoxìng sǐ le, happy to death) / 喜欢死了(xǐ huān sǐ le，love it) / 激动死了(jī dòng sǐ le，thrilled to death)…

Besides the 死了 structure, there are also several other ways to indicate an extent or degree in Chinese language. Some of these include:

• 太…了(tài…le), as in: 太美了。(tàiměile)So beautiful.
• 可….了(kě…le), as in: 那儿人可多了。(nàr rén kě duō le) There are so many people.
• …极了 (…jí le.), as in: 好极了. ( hǎo jíle) Terrific.

These structures are very good to know, as they are easy to use and frequently appear in daily conversation. Let’s try some!

Choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks.

• 那件大衣___了，我买不起。
  (nà jiàn dà yī ___le ，wǒ mǎi bú qǐ.)
  That coat is very expensive – I can’t afford it.
  
  A. 喜欢死 (xǐ huān sǐ)    B. 贵死 (guì sǐ)    C. 很贵 (hěn guì)

• 我一天没有喝水，快 ___了。
  (wǒ yì tiān méi yǒu hē shuǐ，kuài ___le.)
  I didn’t drink all day, I am____.
  
  A. 渴死 (kě sǐ)          B. 渴极 (kě jí)           C. 太渴 (tài kě)

• 现在是凌晨两点，我___了，但是我不能睡，我还得工作。(xiàn zài shì líng chén liǎng diǎn，wǒ ___le，dàn shì wǒ bù néng shuì，wǒ hái děi gōng zuò.)
  It’s 2am now, I am____, but I can’t sleep. I have to work.
  
  A. 晚死 (wǎn sǐ) B. 忙死 (máng sǐ)           C. 困死 (kùn sǐ)

Write down your answers in the comments below!

The post Freezing “to death?” – Adjective/Verb+死+了 appeared first on .

(Plus, we’ll share additional HSK-related grammar tutorials to help you improve your Chinese language skills.)

另外 (lìng wài)

1. 另外 as a pronoun

You can use the pronoun “另外” to refer to people or things that haven’t been mentioned yet. It’s commonly used in phrases like

另外 (+的) + Num-Measure word (+ Noun)

or

另外 + 的 (+ Noun)

Here are some examples:

我还要跟你谈另外一件事情。(Wǒ háiyào gēn nǐ tán lìngwài yījiàn shìqing.)
There’s another thing I want to talk over with you.

这件衬衫有点儿大，你试试另外那件吧. ( Zhè jiàn chènshān yǒudiǎnr dà, nǐ shìshi lìngwài nà jiàn ba. )
This shirt is little too big for you, try on the other one.

2. 另外 as an adverb

Using “另外” as an adverb, it means “in addition to what has been mentioned previously,” and is often paired with “还(hái) / 再(zài) / 又(yòu)”.

For example:

他今天没有时间，我们另外再找人吧。
(Tā jīntiān méiyǒu shíjiān，wǒmen lìngwài zài zhǎo rén ba)
He’s not available today, shall we find another person?

3. 另外 as a conjunction

You can use “另外” as a conjunction to mean “in addition to,” which helps connect clauses or sentences.

For example:

希望你能按时完成工作。另外，你还应该穿得正式点儿。
(Xīwàng nǐ néng ànshí wánchéng gōngzuò. lìngwài, nǐ hái yīnggāi chuān de zhèngshì diǎnr.)
I hope you can finish the work on time. Besides, you should dress more formally.

另 (lìng)

In contrast, “另” is a shortened form of “另外.” It can be used as a pronoun or adverb, just like “另外,” to refer to something or someone not previously mentioned.

However, there are also some differences between them:

1. In the structures we just reviewed with “另外,” they may or may not include “的.”  However, if “另外” is replaced by “另”, then “的” must be omitted.

For instance, to say “I’m using this computer, please use the other one,” you can say:

• 我在用这台电脑，请你用另外/另一台吧。(√)
  (Wǒ zài yòng zhè tái diànnǎo, qǐng nǐ yòng lìngwài /lìng yītái ba.)

• 我在用这台电脑，请你用另外的电脑吧。(√)
  (Wǒ zài yòng zhè tái diànnǎo, qǐng nǐ yòng lìngwài de diànnǎo ba.)

• 我在用这台电脑，请你用另外的一台吧。(√)
  (Wǒ zài yòng zhè tái diànnǎo, qǐng nǐ yòng lìngwài de yītái ba.)

But you CANNOT say:

• 我在用这台电脑，请你用另的一台吧。 (×)
  (Wǒ zài yòng zhè tái diànnǎo, qǐng nǐ yòng lìng de yītái ba.)

• 我在用这台电脑，请你用另的电脑吧。 (×)
  (Wǒ zài yòng zhè tái diànnǎo, qǐng nǐ yòng lìng de diànnǎo ba.)

2. As an adverb, you can only use “另” to modify monosyllabic verbs, whereas “另外” has no such limitation.

For example:

最近小宇太忙了，没时间帮你，你还是另外/另找别人吧。(√)
(Zuìjìn Xiǎoyǔ tài máng le, méi shíjiān bāng nǐ, nǐ háishì lìngwài /lìng zhǎo biérén ba.)
Xiaoyu has been very busy recently, and she has no time to help you. You should ask someone else.

他不但帮我们解决了现在的问题，还另外提供了不少新的材料。(√)
(Tā búdàn bāng wǒmen jiějué le xiànzài de wèntí, hái lìngwài tígòng le bùshǎo xīn de cáiliào.)
他不但帮我们解决了现在的问题，还另提供了不少新的材料。(×)
(Tā búdàn bāng wǒmen jiějué le xiànzài de wèntí, hái lìng tígòng le bùshǎo xīn de cáiliào.)
He not only helped us solve the problem, but also provided us with some new materials.

3. Finally, it is important to mention that “另外” can be used as a conjunction, whereas “另” cannot.

For example:

冬季应该多吃水果。另外，还要记得多喝水。(√)
(Dōngjì yīnggāi duō chī shuǐguǒ. Lìngwài, háiyào jìdé duō hēshuǐ.)冬季应该多吃水果。另，还要记得多喝水。(×)
(Dōngjì yīnggāi duō chī shuǐguǒ. Lìng ,háiyào jìdé duō hēshuǐ.)
You should eat more fruit in winter. Besides, remember to drink more water.

Keep in mind that in certain fixed or idiomatic phrases, such as “另有打算” (lìng yǒu dǎ suàn; have other plans) and “另立户头” (lìng lì hù tóu; open another/separate bank account), “另” is the more appropriate choice.

Conclusion

By following the simple steps of creating and reviewing sample sentences, you can enhance your understanding of the distinctions between “另外” and “另.” So the next time you come across these words, you will be able to use them accurately in your speech or writing. Keep practicing, and soon, you’ll master the subtle differences between a variety of Chinese synonyms.

Now, let’s do some practice:

The post How to tell 另外(lìng wài) and 另(lìng) apart! appeared first on .

Let’s break it down:

The main difference is that you use 二 (èr) when counting or doing math. However, when you want to say “two of” something, then 两 (liǎng) is used in front of the measure word instead of 二. This is similar to “a pair” in English and can be used when describing two of almost anything. For example:

• 两个小时 (liǎng gè xiǎo shí) two hours;
• 两天 (liǎng tiān) two days;
• 两个星期 (liǎng gè xīng qī) two weeks;
• 两个月 (liǎng gè yuè) two months.

One example that stumps some people is the expression “2 o’clock.” Rather than using 二点 (èr diǎn), the correct way to say it is actually 两点 (liǎng diǎn), which literally means “two points on the clock.”

Let’s see some other differences worth exploring:

1) 二 (èr) can be used as an ordinal number, as in 第二(dì èr) for the second in a series, 二楼(èr lóu) for the second floor, and so on.

2) To indicate a numeral, fraction, or decimal in math, 二 should be used instead of 两. Keep in mind that in Chinese, the bottom number of the fraction will come first.

• ½ =   二分之一 (èr fēn zhī yī); ⅓ 三分之二(sān fēn zhī èr) 
• 0.2 零点二(líng diǎn èr) ； 2.4 二点四(èr diǎn sì) 

3) Use 二 in the tens and ones place for multi-digit numbers, such as 22 (二十二èrshí’èr). For the hundreds place, either两 or 二 can be used, such as in 200 (二百/两百,èrbǎi/liǎngbǎi). In the case of 千 (qiān, thousand), 万 (wàn, ten thousand), or 亿 (yì, hundred million), 两 is more commonly used.

For example:

• 2000(两千，liǎngqiān);
• 22222(两万两千二百二十二 liǎngwànliǎngqiānèrbǎièrshí’èr);
• 200000000(两亿，liǎngyì)

4) You can use either 两 or 二 before “traditional” units for capacity or weight (尺(chǐ) / 亩(mǔ) / 升(shēng).

For example:

• 二尺/两尺 (èr chǐ /liǎng chǐ) two Chinese feet (a traditional unit of length equivalent to 1/3 meter)；
• 二亩/两亩 (èr mǔ /liǎng mǔ) two Chinese acres (a traditional unit of land area equivalent to 1/6 hectare)；
• 二升/两升 (èr shēng /liǎng shēng) two liters (a metric unit of liquid volume).

However, “new” units for capacity and weight typically use 两.

For example:

• 两吨 (liǎng dūn) two metric tons；
• 两公里 (liǎng gōnglǐ) two kilometers.

Keep in mind that 两 also means 1/20 of a kilogram. To make this distinction clear, two-twentieths of a kilogram is written as 二两 (èr liǎng), not 两两 (liǎng liǎng).

5) To approximate a number, use 两 with either 一(yī) or 三(sān) in succession.

For example:

一两天(yī liǎng tiān) One or two days.

这个词我们学了两三次了。 (Zhè ge cí wǒ men xué le liǎng sān cì le.)
We’ve studied this word two or three times.

每个人要花两三百块钱。 (Měi gè rén yào huā liǎng sān bǎi kuài qián.) Every one needs to spend two to three hundred RMB.

6) 两 is also used alone to represent a small quantity, which 二 cannot do.

For example:

怎么就来了这么两个人?(Zěnme jiù lái le zhème liǎng gè rén ?)
How come so few people came?

7) In northern China, 俩(liǎ) is commonly used instead of 两个 to mean “the two of something.” For example, “我们俩 (wǒmen liǎ)” means “the two of us.” It can also be used to indicate a small quantity, such as “俩苹果(liǎpíngguǒ）” meaning “two apples.”

8) It’s worth noting that 贰, also pronounced “èr,” is used to represent the number 2 on items like cheques to prevent forgery.

Understanding the differences between 二 and 两 is an essential part of basic Chinese grammar. While both characters can represent the number 2, they are used in different contexts and have distinct nuances. Remember that 二 is used for ordinal numbers and math, while 两 is used for approximate quantities and traditional units of measurement. By keeping these differences in mind, you can improve your Chinese language skills and avoid confusion in your conversations.

The post The Major Differences Between 两(liǎng) and 二(èr) appeared first on .

Beginner

1.    Q: How can I get started learning Chinese?

I’ve lived in China for one year and I can just say a little Chinese like “NiHao!”,”XieXie”… Actually Chinese will be necessary because of my work but I don’t know how to start learning it. (I’m really puzzled about the Chinese vocabulary.)

A: My initial suggestion would be to watch YouTube videos to get yourself acquainted with pinyin and the four tones (five if you consider the light tone). There is a cool little-known video series that focuses on just this, as well as some basic Mandarin phrases. After that, I recommend the Pimsleur audio series. The Pimsleur method of learning basically focuses on constantly prompting the learner to say something in Mandarin. It builds upon itself, asking the learner to use previously learned content to construct new ideas. It’s the most effective tool I’ve used to improve my spoken Mandarin, outside of simply having Mandarin speaking friends.

Also, do not neglect Chinese characters. Learning simply pinyin will not get you far in the written world. I suggest studying them alongside your vocal practice, as the two (reading and speaking) complement each other in their effectiveness on acquiring Mandarin proficiency.

In order to effectively study Chinese characters, I suggest the Heisig method. Chinese characters are made up of a few smaller radicals, each with their own meaning. Treat these radicals as parts of a story that you can make up to help you remember Chinese character. I did this with Japanese with great success.

For example, an easy (and common) one is:
休
To rest.
The left symbol is the sign for man. The right is the symbol for tree. In Chinese, this is pronounced “xiu1”. 1 denotes the first tone, a long, even tone. You can remember it by making a short sentence: the man sits under a tree to relax. Repeat that sentence while writing the Chinese character (and reciting it’s pinyin reading as well).

I also recommend memrise.com and the app “Quizlet” for learning vocabulary. Memrise provides a gamified point based flash card system, and Quizlet will read your flashcards to you in accurate Chinese. Both are effective in acquiring vocabulary knowledge.

Finally, I recommend lang-8.com for practicing Chinese composition. The way the site works is you will try to write in Chinese (or any language of study) and have native speakers will edit your writing. They get points for doing so, which makes their own English writing more visible to other English speakers, who then can edit their writing for points, and so on. There are tens of thousands of Chinese users on that site. It’s a great way to really improve your composition ability, as well as to network with other language learners who will jump at the chance to practice their English with you.

Practice every day and make mistakes. Laugh at yourself and be passionate about acquiring more knowledge. Immerse yourself in the language and practice more. This is what I found to be the key to language learning.

2.  Q: Book recommendations: Chinese novels for beginners?

A: It really depends on what your actual reading level is. “Beginner” is pretty vague, and if you’re a complete beginner with fewer than a few hundred characters under your belt, you will have an extremely tough time making it through any Chinese novel, even children’s books. A couple recommendations assuming you’re past that level:

The Lady in the Painting is a novelization of a folk tale. It assumes the reader knows 300 basic characters; it introduces a few more but mostly sticks to that limited vocabulary. This was the first full book I ever read in Chinese, though it’s a pretty short one.

The Chinese Breeze series consists of books at a few different skill levels, starting at about a 300-word vocabulary.

Once you’re at a point where you can read the Chinese Breeze books reasonably well, I recommend ditching the “for beginners” requirement and getting some native-speaker reading material whose subject matter is of interest to you. For example, I’m currently on book three of Liu Cixin’s “Three-Body” series, which is considered by a lot of people to be the best science-fiction trilogy to come out of China. It is definitely not beginner-level material; it is written for adult native speakers and I wouldn’t have been ready to tackle it before studying Chinese for several years. But the story is right up my alley so I’m compelled to keep reading to see what happens next, even if it constantly throws new words and phrases at me.

Another piece of advice: use technology to your advantage. Whenever I buy a Chinese novel, I also immediately track down an electronic copy so I can load it into the Pleco app on my iPad and read it there. The Pleco reader feature has dictionary integration built in, so I can tap on an unfamiliar word and get the definition (and even add the word to my flashcard list if I want) without losing the flow of the story. Trying to read a paper book using a separate dictionary to look up new words is far, far less engrossing, not to mention much slower.

General

3.  Q: What are the common mistakes of language learners?

A: Mistake 1: Thinking that going to a class will teach them the language
The teacher can only present material in class. Good teachers will present the material in an interesting way and bad teachers will present the material in a boring way, but you still have to internalize the material afterwards. There is not nearly enough class time to do the memorization in-class, and in a group class there’s not enough time for everyone to get enough practice either. You have to study & practice outside class in order to be a successful language learner.

Mistake 2: Not following their interests
The teacher and the course-book are a starting point, not an end at all. Don’t limit yourself to it, but seek out things that interest you in your target language (or from your target culture). Don’t be afraid to think outside the box: apart from songs, movies, TV shows, books and newspapers there are also viral videos, funny advertisements, memes, blogs, forums, women’s/men’s magazines, cartoons, comic strips, video games, MMORPGs, recipes and Q & A sites like Quora. You should start looking for this kind of content immediately. Refer to translations at the beginning and then wean yourself off them.

Mistake 3: Balking at the language being different
There will be plenty of things that work differently in your target language than they do in English. Some of them may seem (or be) illogical. Rather than having a grudge, be happy that you get to explore these new ways of expressing oneself, ways that are hidden to monolingual English speakers. If languages were a 1 to 1 translation of English, they’d be boring.

Mistake 4: Finding excuses not to use the language, rather than excuses to use it
There are a ton of reasons not to use the language you’re learning. Maybe your level is too low or you don’t know any native speakers nearby. Maybe it’s a small language that doesn’t have much content online or it’s a dead language. These are all probable reasons, but they shouldn’t matter to you. If you’re serious about learning a language, you need to start looking for excuses to use it. For example:

• Greet your friends with a fresh Latin “Salvete! Quid agitis?” the next time you see them. It doesn’t matter if they don’t understand. Teach them.
• Convince your family that kung fu movies are best enjoyed in the original Chinese.
• If researching something for history class, use the French Wikipedia in order to get an international perspective.
• Never comment on international news without having read a local newspaper.
• Play on the Spanish WoW servers and consider it time well spent.
• Plan a German movie week. Invite friends.
• Invent reasons to talk to foreigners you see around town, e. g. ask a department store worker where a product is even when you already know, welcome tourists to your city or swap information on favourite places.

If a language doesn’t excite you so much that you’ll grab at any excuse to use it, maybe you shouldn’t be studying it. Come up with 10 reasons to study the language and hang it somewhere visible.

Mistake 5: Thinking that language learning has to be strenuous
Many people think that they can recognize effective programs by how hard and strenuous, exhausting and uncomfortable they are. By forcing yourself through them once a month, you feel like you’re really investing effort into your target language. In truth, the most effective programs are often the ones that don’t take particular fortitude to slug through. Learning grammar is rarely joyful, but at least it shouldn’t be something you dread. A positive state of mind will tremendously help in making things memorable. Don’t hesitate to switch textbooks or to use multiple sources at once. Use interesting, authentic materials as soon as you can. USE the language.

Culture

4. Q: Mandarin Chinese (language): How should I address young women in Mainland China?

In Taiwan and Hong Kong I often talk to young ladies using “小姐”, but in Mainland China this word became a synonym for “prostitute.” “xiao jie” used simply to mean “young woman” as a term of address or a description (literally “little older-sister”)

Which word should I use when I’m there?

In Taiwan and Hong Kong I often talk to young ladies using “小姐”, but in Mainland China this word became a synonym for “prostitute.” “xiao jie” used simply to mean “young woman” as a term of address or a description (literally “little older-sister”)

Which word should I use when I’m there?

https://www.quora.com/Mandarin-Chinese-language/How-should-I-address-young-women-in-mainland-China#

A: When addressing young women, as long as you are polite and your body language is not suggesting anything explicated, it’s perfectly ok to use “小姐”.

The body language and tone are always the most important in communication. If you smile impolitely when you call someone “小姐”, it would be very rude. Remember that it how you say it, that will determine how it will be received.

So saying “hi, xiaojie” is usually ok, however by saying “are you a xiaojie” would definitively cause problems with the women you are addressing..
Also, I do not recommend you to use other terms such as “美女” or “靓妹” unless you are quite familiar with each other.

HSK

5. Q: How long does it take to pass each level of the HSK at constant effort?

(The HSK is the standardized test for Chinese, similar to DELE for Spanish)

• Roughly speaking, is the difficulty distributed uniformly over its levels or does it get progressively harder (i.e. takes longer to pass) at constant effort?
• Is there a particularly harder level that can be considered a rite of passage?
• How would you rate the difficulties of the levels, assuming you move at constant effort (the learning itself may get easier as you progress, but assume you maintain a beginner’s effort throughout)?

A: HSK 1 and 2 are both very easy, after that there is an exponential increase in difficulty as each new level requires knowing twice as many words as before:

HSK 1: 150 words
HSK 2: 300 words (i.e. +150)
HSK 3: 600 words (i.e. +300, still not a big deal)
HSK 4: 1200 words (+600)
HSK 5: 2500 words (+1300)
HSK 6: >5000 words (+2500)
(source: http://english.hanban.org/node_8…)

Chinese grammar is very simple, so most of your time will be spent on learning the vocabulary and characters. There isn’t a 1:1 correspondence between the number of characters needed and the number of words. At the higher levels, you’ll find some characters are re-used to form different words.

From the vocabulary chart, you may think that reaching HSK 5 will take twice as long as going from zero knowledge to HSK 4, but due to the re-use, it’s somewhat less.

Still, if you assume that HSK 1 takes you 3 months to achieve (typical speed for classroom study I think), that means HSK 4 might take 2 years but HSK 5 might take close to 4 years total. And in fact I know people who have studied Chinese for 10 years and still haven’t reached HSK 5. It’s all about how many hours you put in and how regularly and whether you expose yourself to Chinese movies, TV shows, music, books etc. outside of class.

If you only study once a week for two hours, your progress (in any language!) will be next to nothing, because you have to spend so much time reviewing what you learned before, you don’t have the time to learn new stuff.

On the other extreme, there are university courses for students who really have to master the language quickly, they can reach HSK 5 after as little as 4 semesters (2 years), assuming they are bright, disciplined and study Chinese for 20-30 hours a week. Dalarna University in Sweden offers this kind of class online; it’s free for EU /EEA citizens and I can recommend it, if you have the time.

These answers were some of great insights to different aspects of Chinese language and culture, where we hope you learned something new. If you are interested or want to ask a different question about the China, go to Quora.com or our forum and discover what you are curious about. Your curiosity will lead you to great answers, so enjoy the new resource with your Chinese studies and have fun learning.

The post Periodical Quora Q&As Digest about Chinese Learning – April 2015 appeared first on .

Take for example the upcoming Chinese Year of the Snake (which falls on Jan. 29). Those individuals who were born in the Year of the Snake, namely the years of 1929,1941,1953,1965,1977,1989, 2001 and 2013, are entering their本命年 (Běnmìngnián) in 2025.

However, most Chinese people believe本命年 (Běnmìngnián) is supposed to be a year of extremely bad luck and many difficulties. The reason is that people will犯太岁(fàn tàisuì , offend Tai Sui) on their本命年 (Běnmìngnián) in traditional Chinese mythology. 太岁(fàn tàisuì , Tai Sui) initially referred to a star opposite of Jupiter which revolves around the Earth every 12 years, the same 12-year cycle as the Chinese zodiac signs. Tai Sui is said to bring misfortune to people in the zodiac year matching their year of birth. So people should pay special attention to avoid misfortune in their life every 12 years.

How to bring yourself good luck on your本命年 (Běnmìngnián) has now become a hot topic among people. In order to mitigate its predicted inauspicious effects, people may resort to conventions that have been passed down through generations, one of which is to wear something red since red carries an atmosphere of prosperity and courage. People in China will wear any red-colored clothing such as underwear, socks, scarf, sweater, and shirt.

If you don’t own lots of red clothing, even red-colored accessorizes is probably the easiest way to introduce a little red into your life on a daily basis.

Some people wear jade or gold jewelry strung with a red thread because jade also supposedly will ward off bad luck and gold is said to have enough spiritual power to conquer evil spirits.

Please note that the red item has to be a gift from someone else (your family, your friends) and you can’t buy it for yourself.

Some people even buy 太岁符(tàisuì fú,Tai Sui amulets) in a small red paper pouch and carry it with them throughout the year. Typically, Tai Sui amulets will be burnt before the next new year arrives.

Conclusion

So, is this year your zodiac year? (今年是你的本命年吗?, jīn nián shì nǐ de běn mìng nián ma?) And what gift would you like for your Chinese zodiac? Just remember to ask those who give you these present to include red, jade or gold in these gifts.

The post Bring Yourself Good Luck on本命年 (Běnmìngnián) appeared first on .

General

1.Q:How do I learn Mandarin Chinese well?

A: As learners, we have different goals, motivations, and opportunities. Whether you looking to obtain business opportunities in China, taking expensive classes or have a passion for Chinese writing, you will not learn Chinese the same way. You will see that your goal may even change along the way since it’s a process learning Chinese Before you set your goals though you should find your own learning style and what motivates you to learn the language. I believe having internal motivation makes learning Chinese much easier than external motivations such as the idea of doing business in China. I think this is the key ingredient to learning Chinese well. Here are some details of how to learn Chinese well.

Getting started

First you should get the pronunciation right at the very beginning. You won’t be able to fix it efficiently later. The best way is with a Chinese teacher who can correct you. If you can’t find teacher, use a Pinyin Chart software and try to pronounce all the sounds exactly like you hear them. There are many software applications that you can use on your computer, smartphone or other devices.. It would better if you can find one with dictation where you need to guess the tones which will help you to pronounce them correctly. You can also find such drills online, like this one: Mandarin Chinese Tone Pair Drills.

There are 2 keys in mastering the tones: relentless drills with single and double syllables and listen to people speaking. With drills, practice makes perfect. Listening to people speak at the sentence level and imitate them will help you sound more native. It will become easier if you have done the drills before.

Enough about pronunciation, and let’s move on to a more interesting topic, immersion. Here are two things contributed enormously to my immersion in the Chinese language and culture:

1.QQ

This application has made the bridge between theoretical classroom Chinese and real life Chinese for me. This was the first time I realized reading a text in Chinese characters was not so out of reach as it seemed. Using QQ kick-started by ability to actually communicate with Chinese people. Through this application, I had real conversations in Chinese even though they were simple. This was a major milestone, which a few learners actually reach. At the beginning, I copy and paste from/to Google Translate all the time and used a mouse over a dictionary for every single word I had to read. But it paid off more than I could hope helping me learn faster.

2.Untethered immersion

When I first moved to China I usually hung out with my French classmates and had limited contact with the locals. I was somewhat in an expat bubble. After a few months though, I got a Chinese girlfriend. When we were going out with her circle of friends, the conversations were all in Chinese. This social outings forced me to learn listening skills in order to keep up with the conversations they were having. This time was a great leap forward in my listening comprehension.

At about that same time, I started watching Chinese TV series and movies. The subtitles in the TV shows and movies helped me understand the Chinese being used. Having both text and voice will help you make the bridge between words you know orally and the actual characters used in these words. I also paid more attention to every bit of writing I could see, whether in the street, at the post office, or karaoke lyrics.

Many people disregard Chinese characters and decide to learn only oral Chinese. I think you lose a lot by doing this method. By learning characters, it will increase on your oral Chinese, and the other way round. You get more insight by doing both at the same time. However, learning how to write characters is another matter. Writing skills will help the reading and vocabulary acquisition, but it’s less crucial.

Here is the summary of my suggestions of learning Chinese well.

1. Learn Pinyin and do pronunciation drills until you are perfectly comfortable with Chinese phonetics.
2. Learn basic characters, key vocabulary and simple sentences (for their grammatical patterns).
3. Practice speaking, listening and reading through immersion.
4. Add writing to the mix once you’re relatively comfortable with the other areas..
5. Occasionally, pick up a grammar book to help you formalize and get a more abstract vision of what you learned.

Here are some recommendations for apps to get started:
Skritter is just amazing! Learning to write Hanzi with it is fun because it’s like playing a game. It was also a major proponent to increasing my vocabulary. This helped me because it uses a particular algorithm (Spaced Repetition) that makes it most efficient and fun!

ChinesePod’s Upper Intermediate and Advanced podcasts to learn more grammar patterns and idioms. Their podcasts are quite entertaining and cover a wide range of interesting topics. Then I could use Skritter to retain the lesson’s vocabulary in my memory. Many patterns I use naturally in my conversations today were first learned with ChinesePod.

Conclusion

Have an internal motivation (interest in the language itself) rather than an external one (making money in China). Why? If you enjoy learning Chinese because you find it fun and interesting, it will be much easier, and you will get much farther.

Make sure you get the pronunciation right from the start. It’s the only part which you will have trouble fixing later. Use pinyin charts, and do repetitive drills, until you’re sure your pronunciation is correct. Later it will service you well where you’ll be able to hear the different accents, and create your own personal accent. You’ll be able to sound either like a native, or you’ll forge your own accent.
Once you have the right motivation, and got the pronunciation right, it’s just a matter of time. Find the tools which fit your needs, seize the opportunities, and sooner than you think, you’ll be fluent.

2. Q: When making Chinese flashcards, is it best to put the character and Pinyin on the same side or on different sides (i.e., Pinyin & English // Character, or English // Pinyin & character)?

A: I’ve found it most helpful to use software that can test each element independently. Pleco’s flashcard system, for example, supports that. You could get much the same effect with physical cards if you used multiple cards per vocabulary word, e.g., (Pinyin // Characters; English // Characters; and, if you like, the third combination English // Pinyin) or putting the character on one side and the English plus pinyin on the other.

The best way is the way that helps you personally learn the fastest. You should try different combinations until you hit on the one that works best for you.

The nice thing about this setup is that it lets you account for different levels of recall about different aspects of a word. If you have no trouble remembering what a given set of characters meanings; however you may struggle remembering how to pronounce it, you can focus on just the pronunciation part by repeating that card more often.

Chinese Characters

3.Q: What are the sounds associated with certain radicals in the Chinese language?

A: The radicals do not indicate any phonetic content; it’s the other half of the character that does this. Radicals give you a category that can hint at the meaning of the character.

1. As an example, let’s begin with 马 ma3, which means horse. I can add radicals to this character to get new characters with very similar phonetic content:

By adding the female radical 女 + 马 = 妈 ma1, which means mother. The radical hints at the meaning, while the other half suggests the pronunciation.

2. Adding the mouth radical 口 +马 = 吗 ma, which is a particle indicating a question. The mouth radical is frequently seen with other radicals.

3. Adding two mouth radicals on top gives 骂 ma4, to scold.

These examples aren’t always same for every character though because there are a ton of exceptions:

• Adding the stone radical results in 码 ma3. 码头 (ma3 tou2) means jetty, so I suppose you can see where the stone radical came from here. However generally it means ‘digit’, for example in 号码 (hao4 ma3, number). It also means ‘yard’ as in the unit of measurement and it pops up in expressions like 起码 (qi3 ma3), meaning ‘at least’. The meaning of the word mostly has nothing to do with stone.
• Adding the bamboo radical gives 笃 du3, which means committed or earnest. This example shows how it doesn’t always show phonetics, and the bamboo radical doesn’t help either.

4.Q: Do you have to know Chinese characters (simplified) to speak and write Mandarin Chinese? Or can you just use pinyin?

A: As a tourist wishing to “get around” with some basic words, you can use pinyin, but if you plan to be fluent you need to learn the characters.

I can’t particularly imagine Chinese language without characters. You could probably only use pinyin to get around a Chinese-speaking area; have basic conversations and read street signs. However to have any level of proficiency beyond that, characters (simplified or traditional, either way) would be almost necessary to learn. The Chinese culture has evolved and wrapped itself around its own literary tradition and it would be very hard to do away with them without a serious impact on culture.

The western eye may find Chinese characters to be “complicated”, and the Chinese frequently think of their own language difficult to learn for westerners. Yet, it’s all a matter of how one is taught at a young age. All “complicated” characters are all built from simpler components, and are no more complicated than learning the spellings of thousands of words in a western language that breaks phonetic rules all the time. If you are a native English speaker and complain that 位 vs 立 has no phonetic relation, you should consider the pronunciations of through vs rough, or objection vs. object, or the million other words in the English language that have complicated phonetic rules or break rules. It’s largely a matter of what your brain is molded by as a child. Both Chinese characters and English spellings involve a lot of memorization over years.

Generally, nobody in the Chinese-speaking world would think about this question. Chinese characters are not only such an ingrained part of the culture but also have a number of advantages over pronunciation-based languages, that moving to an all-pinyin system would be almost unthinkable.

• Characters and their usage remain reasonably constant across dialects. It varies but remains intelligible enough to get by, even if the speech is unintelligible. This fact relies upon by so many in day-to-day situations. For example, if a waiter in a restaurant doesn’t speak Mandarin, it is a non-issue: I can point to what I want on the menu. I’ve used Chinese characters countless times in eastern Taiwan, USA’s Chinatowns, Malaysia and Japan at times when I was not able to speak the local language or dialect, and millions of others getting around like this worldwide as well.
• Characters and their usage also remain reasonably similar over time. So much so that an average well-studied high school graduate should be able to understand the gist of literature from 1000-1500 years ago without much trouble. That’s almost impossible with English without having studied a lot.
• Characters are faster to read than pinyin. Reading a paragraph in pinyin is an eyesore and much more taxing on the brain since you have to consciously subvocalize everything to understand what is being said.
• Characters are more space-efficient than pinyin.

Basically, the Chinese-speaking world would not even think of doing away with characters, not just for cultural reasons but also because they are useful. Signs, literature and day-to-day references will continue to revolve around characters, and for anyone wishing to be proficient in the language, it’s going to be necessary to learn them.

Culture

5. Q: How do I introduce myself in Mandarin?

If I want to introduce myself in Mandarin, do I use the European way of saying my name i.e “Gina Langridge” or do I use the Mandarin way, where my surname would come first? Will a Chinese person know which is my family name, and should I expect them to call me “Langridge” or “Gina”?
A: Introductions in Chinese depend on who you are speaking to which determines the level of assumed formality.

• Formal: In response to a formal question (e.g. in a hotel or meeting a stranger), ‘请问您贵姓？’ you simply use ‘我姓 Langridge’. They will then call you ‘Langridge  女士’ if they can pronounce your name (林 would be my suggested Chinese family name for you).
•  Slightly less formal: ‘怎么称呼你/您？’ In this scenario the speaker is not sure how formal to keep things and is leaving it up to you. You can either keep things formal and answer as above or choose to make things less formal. As Chinese society becomes less formal, it’s more common to start with ‘我姓 Langridge’ Then ‘我叫Gina’ AND finally ending smilingly with ‘…你可以叫我Gina’ so they know what to call you. A deferent tactic here would be to give your Chinese nickname like ‘你可以叫我”小林”‘.
• Informal: if someone asks you ‘你叫什么名字？’ Then informality is assumed. I’d use ‘我叫 Gina Langridge, 你可以叫我Gina’. This happens most often with/between young people.

These answers were some of great insights to different aspects Chinese culture and we hope you learned something new. If you are interested or want to ask a different question about the China, go to Quora.com or our forum and discover what you are curious about. Your curiosity will lead you to great answers, so enjoy the new resource with your Chinese studies and have fun learning.

The post Periodical Quora Q&As Digest about Chinese Learning – January 2015 appeared first on .