Tag: Chinese culture
The answer isn’t obvious. Today, I welcome Dorota from Mandarin Zest, who will share her experience. She…
American YouTuber iShowSpeed visits China and receives a hero’s welcome. Six-hour livestreams showcase his China experience. Plain propaganda or good news?
Slang is the heartbeat of everyday language and Chinese has plenty of it. Here are 45 commonly used slang words and expressions that will help you sound more native in an instant.
Red Cloth” (一块红布, Hóng Bù) is a song by Cui Jian (崔健), often called the father of Chinese rock. Cui Jian rose to fame in the 1980s as a pioneer of rock music in China, using his music to express deep emotions, social critique, and personal struggles. Here’s the Chinese lyrics with English translations, pinyin and more.
“The little chickens will grow to be ducks, the ducks will become geese, and the geese will become oxen, and tomorrow will be better”.
This comprehensive review explores nine apps designed to enhance Chinese reading skills for learners at various proficiency levels. The Chairman’s Bao and Du Chinese, which are well-known for their extensive libraries and graded materials, face competition from newer apps like Dot Languages and mylingua, introducing AI features.
You want to improve your Mandarin skills? For some of the greatest online resources for Chinese you don’t have to look far: they can be found on YouTube. But where to start? This is my updated top 10 of YouTube channels for learning Chinese.
Rural China is the raw reality most Chinese people come from. Here are 10 film recommendations about the Chinese countryside, including some real classics.
A Chinese county level official in his prime. The Mainland Chinese documentary “书记” introduces Guo Yongchang, secretary of the Gushi County Party Committee, who “rules” over 1.6 million people in Southern Henan. The film covers the three months before secretary Guo leaves his post and ends up in prison.
Chinese learners are often told 成语 (chéngyǔ), the four-character idioms, are essential to reach native-like fluency. What are these idioms exactly and how important are they?
Interview: I talked to the co-founder of Keats Chinese language School Zier Liu (刘子尔) and asked her why students keep returning every year and how Keats adepts to the present Covid-situation.
Are you considering to learn Chinese? What speaks in favor, what speaks against learning one of the most difficult languages in the world? This is what the Mandarin learning community has to say about it.
What better place to learn Chinese than China: here are 10 things you can do to make the most of your learning experience in China.
“The little chickens will grow to be ducks, the ducks will become geese, and the geese will become oxen, and tomorrow will be better”.
Should you still learn Chinese? My own answer hasn’t really changed, how about yours?
Where do you find Chinese audiobooks that are interesting, high quality and not hidden behind a paywall?
You’re at intermediate level and want to improve your listening skills?
What helps you to memorize Chinese characters?
Some love this song, some absolutely hate it. Mainly because the singer Zhao Lei sings about “leftover women”, the so-called “剩女” which is a big issue in China. My opinion: the song is innocent, Chinese society is guilty. Let’s have a closer look.
Learning to write Chinese characters: my personal list of disastrous advice and practices that are a complete waste of time and oxygen.
Looking for something to explain the rich meaning of the Chinese expression 差不多 I came across this videoclip by G.E.M.鄧紫棋 who raps about what she calls “差不多 girls”. The song 差不多姑娘 was published as part of the album City Zoo and is the only rap song on it.
一无所有” (yī wú suǒ yǒu) by 崔健 is considered China’s first rock song. Here’s a breakdown of the lyrics with pinyin and English translations.
These mostly older Mainland Chinese movies I’ve come to like and recommend to anyone interested in China.
《花房姑娘》 (Huā Fáng Gū Niáng / Flower House Girl) is a great song by 崔健 (Cui Jian). Here’s a breakdown of the lyrics for people interested in the song and learners of Chinese.
For one month I digitally teamed up with like-minded spirits for a Mandarin learning challenge. This is what I learned.
“人生第一次” or “The Firsts in Life” is a very popular documentary series in China. Here’s why I think it’s a good resource for learning Mandarin – even though it has one problem.
Many western China doc’s are deeply rooted in prejudice and choose the moral high ground. Hardly surprising: they don’t bring any new insights. There are exceptions though…
Tired of listening to endless corona-updates and Covid-discussions? Here’s some China-focused listening material for you sorted by topic.
Chinese learning materials have improved a lot over the last 50 years, however more often than not…
This gem is a classic Chinese children’s song from the 1986 animated series 葫芦兄弟 (Húlu Xiōngdì, Calabash Brothers), performed by Wowkie Zhang in the version linked below. Here’s a breakdown of the lyrics with English translations, pinyin and more.