The Chinese word and character 一 (yī) is one of the first that people learn, and for good reason. My dictionary devotes about 6 pages of words made with it. It not only means “one,” but is used as the equivalent for the English articles “a” and “an.” Other definitions are related to this basic […]
The Many Faces of Chinese Names
Why do Chinese people choose English names? Every Chinese person I have met has had an English name. Whether they were living in Taiwan, living in the United States, or on a cruise ship, each one of them has introduced themselves by their English name. They would only tell me their Chinese name when I […]
Chinese Lesson Blurb: One Handed Counting Idioms
Idioms in any language are phrases that are not well explained by literal translation. I have been introduced to some counting idioms as my Chinese tutor and I work on translating my (English version) children’s book A Million Rocks. The book is about *almost counting words* – words that imply size or amounts without referring […]
Are You Coming or Going 進來或出去 in Chinese
People are always coming and going. Suppose someone asks you: 你知道我的兒子在哪裡？ (你)(知道)(我的)(兒子)(在)(哪裡) (ㄋㄧˇ) (ㄓ ㄉㄠˋ) (ㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄜ˙) (ㄦˊ ㄗ˙) (ㄗㄞˋ) (ㄋㄚˇ ㄌㄧˇ) (nǐ)(zhī dào)(wǒ de.)(ér zi.)(zài)(nǎ lǐ) (you)(to know)(my)(son)(at)(where) Do you know where my son is? And suppose you saw him leaving the house. How you answer will depend on your location compared […]
Chinese Lesson Blurb: Key Chains and Donuts
A fun word association that came up in my Chinese lesson today is going to help me remember how to say “key chain,” or more accurately “key ring,” in Chinese. 鑰匙圈 means “key chain.” Let me break it down. 鑰匙 ㄧㄠˋ ㄕ˙ (yào shi.) means “key” 圈 ㄑㄩㄢ (quān) means “circle, […]
Are You Finished 你完成了嗎 in Chinese
The other day I accidentally told my Chinese tutor that I was perfect. 我說「我完全了！」 (我)(說)「(我)(完全)(了)！」 (ㄨㄛˇ) (ㄕㄨㄛ) [(ㄨㄛˇ) (ㄨㄢˊ ㄑㄨㄢˊ) (ㄌㄜ˙)] (wǒ)(shuō) [(wǒ)(wán quán)(le.)!] (I)(to say, to speak) [(I)(complete, whole, totally, entirely)(intensifies preceding clause)!] I said, “I am perfect!” I was trying to explain that I had finished something. 她覺得好笑！ (她)[(覺)(得)](好笑) (ㄊㄚ) […]
You Want to Do More of Something 你想要多做某件事情 in Chinese
你想要多做某件事情 (你)(想要)(多)(做)(某件)(事情) (ㄋㄧˇ) (ㄒㄧㄤˇ ㄧㄠˋ) (ㄉㄨㄛ) (ㄗㄨㄛˋ) (ㄇㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄢˋ) (ㄕˋ ㄑㄧㄥˊ) (nǐ)(xiǎng yào)(duō)(zuò)(mǒu jiàn)(shì qíng) (you)(think to want)(more)(to do)(some + MW for affair)(affair, matter, business, thing) You want to do more of something Sometimes we want to do more of something than we are, like practice more or save more. A basic Chinese sentence structure […]
得 is a pò yīn zì 是一個破音字
破音字 ㄆㄛˋ ㄧㄣ ㄗˋ are kind of like Chinese homonyms. In English, homonyms are words that sound the same, but are spelled differently (look different) and have different meanings. Examples: here and hear. Are you here? I can’t hear you! The translation of 破音字 ㄆㄛˋ ㄧㄣ ㄗˋ (pò yīn zì) is humorous to me because […]
Just Want 只要, Just Think 只想, Just Have 只有, and Just Am 只是 in Chinese
Recently, my Chinese tutor decided to help me understand the possibilities and nuances for using the character 只 ㄓˇ (zhǐ) in combination with some other common verbs. Like many things in language learning, the best way to get a better grasp of usage is to hear and try the words in sentences. She gave me […]
Understanding the words he 他, she 她, and it 牠 or 它 in Chinese
Understanding the Chinese pronouns that are translated to he, she, or it requires knowing a couple of things. First of all, the pronouns that mean he, she, or it in Chinese all sound the same, but have different characters. 他 ㄊㄚ (tā) “he” 她 ㄊㄚ (tā) “she” 牠 ㄊㄚ (tā) “it” 它 ㄊㄚ (tā) “it” There are […]