Useful Chinese Expressions Ⅰ

Like many other languages, there are also some useful Chinese expressions, which is really helpful to express some meanings in a simple and exact way.

The first one useful expression I want to introduce is 不好意思(bù hǎo yìsi). This expression is generally used to make an apology, which indicates that the speaker is sorry for what has happened or what is going to happen. It can also mean being shy, feeling embarrassed, and polite (equal to "excuse me" in English).

Examples:

A: Bù hǎo yìsi, wǒ chí dào le.

A：不 好  意思，我 迟   到 了。

A: Sorry, I'm late.

B: Méi ɡuānxi.

B：没  关系。

B: It doesn't matter.

A: Bù hǎo yìsi, Wǒ zhōngwén shuō de tài chà le.

A: 不 好  意思，我  中文     说  得 太  差  了。

A: I am sorry, my Chinese is very bad.

B: Méi shì, mànmàn lái.

B: 没  事，  慢慢  来。

B: Take it easy, and be patient.

Bù hǎo yìsi, qǐng ràng yíxià.

不 好  意思，请   让   一下。

Excuse me. 

Another useful expression is 得了吧(Déle ba). This expression is used to negate the other and show one's disagreement, meaning "don't say that; it is not what you think". It indicates the truth is not as the speaker assumed but is a totally different situation.

Examples:

A: lǐ jùn zhēn shì zánmen xuéxiào zuì shuài de nánshēng.

A: 李俊真是咱们学校最帅的男生。

A: Li Jun is really the most handsome boy in our school.

B: Déle ba, Liú jūn, chéng xī, nǎ yí gè bù bǐ tā shuài a?

B: 得了吧，刘君，程曦，哪一个不比他帅啊？

B: Come on. He is not even as handsome as Liu Jun and Cheng Xi.

A: Tīngshuō nǐ yào jié hūn le? Hái yào jiàrù háo mén?

A: 听说你要结婚了？还要嫁入豪门？

A: I heard that you will be married a rich man!

B: Déle ba, wǒ xiànzài dàlíng shèngnǚ le.

B: 得了吧，我现在都大龄剩女了。

B: Give me a break. I'm even becoming a 3S(Single, Seventies,Stuck) lady.

The two phrases above are frequently used in our daily life. Whether you learn Chinese online or take local Chinese courses, it is really useful for you to master them.

Which Style Is Yours?

Learn Chinese Online - What's your style?

The phrase "范儿(fànr)" in Chinese equals "style" in English. Originally, "范儿(fànr)" , a jargon used in Beijing opera, is the traditional Chinese operatic style. When the performers are ready to go on stage, they call it "起范儿 (qǐ fànr)".

Now, this word are widely used in our daily life. You might have seen it in a fashion magazine or heard it everywhere. It is used after adjectives to describe most fashion styles. For example,  "欧美范儿 (Ōu měi fànr) European-American style" , "甜美范儿(Tiánměi fànr) luscious style"...

As "范儿(fànr)" becomes more and more popular, it can be used in many more creative ways. It can describe someone who generally has a very good taste, somone who is attractive, or someone whose style is amazing.

Below are some examples to help you learn this fashion word:


Nǐ jīntiān zhè shēn zhuāngbàn kě zhēn shì míngxīng fànr shízú a.
你 今天    这   身  装扮      可  真   是  明星    范儿 十足  啊。
Your dress has fully shown off your superstar style

Zú qiú cháng shàng de xiǎobèi zhēn shì tài yǒu fànr le.
足 球  场     上   的 小贝     真   是  太  有  范儿了。
Beckham had his own unique style in the football field.

Tā zhēn shì tài yǒu fànr le.
他 真    是 太  有  范儿 了。
He has his own unique style.

Keywords:

. 范儿 (fànr) 
. 欧美范儿 (ōu měi fànr)
. 甜美范儿 (tiánměi fànr)
. 明星范儿 (míngxīng fànr)

Learn Chinese Online and express your style in Chinese!

How to Say "Class" in Chinese

Learn Chinese Online - How to say "class of 2012"?

When I first started teaching at a Chinese university I was immediately confused by the way they refer to students. For example, a student might introduce herself as a "2012 jí 级" student. I mistakenly equated that to the English "Class of 2012." But actually it doesn't mean she's graduating in 2012 it means she's starting in 2012.

To make it clear, here are the two shuōfǎ 说法 in Chinese and their (American) English meanings:

2012 jí 级 = Starting college in 2012 as a freshmen. Graduating in either 2015 (for zhuānkē shēng 专科生) or 2016 (for běnkē shēng 本科生)
2012 jiè 届 = "Class of 2012." Starting as a freshman whenever, but graduating in 2012.

By the way, student numbers are usually based on the first system (jí 级) and I'm not sure exactly when they use jiè 届. But the other day two graduated students (native speakers of Chinese) were discussing this difference and I thought I'd share what they told me.
One further complication is that "class" in English really has 3 Chinese translations:

jiè 届 = graduating class (all students in a "year" of college).
bān 班 = the actual class of students that stay together in a classroom for a lesson.
jié 节 = measure word for one teaching "period" or one "class session."

So this sentence would be much clearer in Chinese than in English:

"I taught every class in the class of 2012 two classes."

"我给每个2012届的班上了两节课."
"wǒ gěi měi gè 2012 jiè de bān shàng le liǎng jié kè"

Many times speaking with Chinese colleagues in English about "classes" results in confusion and I find that the most efficient way to clear it up is to just use the Chinese word.

Learn Chinese Online - Taobao Terms

Taobao (淘宝网) is the main place to buy stuff online in China, similar to eBay and Amazon. But shopping on Taobao isn’t quite as simple as asking “How much?” and promptly exchanging money for goods and services. Here are some terms for expats in China to make the purchase a lot smoother.

Basic Taobao vocabulary: 

掌柜(Zhǎng guì) – shopkeeper
Taobao sellers are referred to as zhanggui, meaning “shopkeeper.” The all-purpose laoban (老板, boss) is also used. 

拍(pāi) – bid/buy 

making a purchase is still expressed using the verb pai (拍), “to bid,” Once they have placed their “bid” (pāi xià 拍下), the customer then goes on to pay through an internet banking service. 

亲(qīn) – dear (buyers) 

most Taobao shopkeepers tend to refer to their customers as qin (“dear,” “dearie,” or if you prefer the British slang, “ducky”), whether they’re young or old, male or female.  

宝贝(bǎo bèi) – treasure (any item for sale) 

The tao (淘) in Taobao (淘宝) literally means “to dredge out” or “to pan for” (gold, etc.) , and here it is used figuratively to mean “search for”. The bao (宝) means “treasure” 

It’s customary to talk your intended purchase over with the shopkeeper via Taobao’s online messaging system before any purchases are made. Such dialogues usually go something like this:

Buyer: Are you there, shopkeeper?
Mǎijiā: Zhǎngguì zài ma?
买家： 掌柜在吗？
Seller: I’m here, dearie!
Màijiā: Zàide, qīn ~
卖家：在的，亲~
Buyer: Is this particular “treasure” in stock? (followed by the name or hyperlink of the item in question)
Mǎijiā: Qǐngwèn zhèjiàn bǎobèi yǒu huò ma?
买家：请问这件宝贝有货吗?
Seller: Oh, yes it is, feel free to bid, dearie.
Màijiā: Yǒude ó, qīn pāixià ba.
卖家：有的哦，亲拍下吧。
Buyer: Is shipping included?
Mǎijiā: Bāoyóu ma?
买家：包邮吗？
Seller: Yes it is dearie, remember to leave good feedback after it arrives!
Mài jiā: Bāoyóu de ó qīn, shōudào jìde gěi hǎopíng ó qīn ~
卖家：包邮的哦亲，收到记得给好评哦亲~ 

Learn Chinese online and buy stuff from Taobao!

Chinese Poems for Kids to Learn Chinese

Chinese really likes poems. Chinese poems are appreciated not only in the meaning but also in the structure. Notice how each line has the same number of characters. They are made so the “sound” is good as the poem is read. They way to read also matters. In the past, many are accompanied by music.

These are samples of simple ones but really famous. All Chinese know these. Also,they are great materials for kids to learn Chinese online.

Chinese to English translation for this:

The Peasants' Lot

By Li Shen

Hoeing the grass under the noonday sun,

His sweat drips on the ground beneath.

Who knows that on the dining plate,

Every single grain means hardship.

Chinese to English translation for this:

A Spring Morning

By Meng Haoran

This morning of spring in bed I’m lying,

Not woke up till I hear birds crying.

After a night of wind and showers,

How many are the fallen flowers?

Chinese to English translation for this:

Ode to the Geese

By Luo Binwang

Geese, O geese!

Your necks curve and sing to sky in glees;

Your white plumes float on water green,

Red feet paddle streams clear and clean.