In this article, we will explore the nuances of these expressions and how they are commonly used in conversations.

好的(hǎo de)

When you add ‘的(de)’ at the end of a sentence, it indicates a confirmation. ‘好的’ means ‘sure’ or ‘ok’ and shows agreement. It’s commonly used to accept a request or suggestion quickly and express understanding.

Example

经理：你明天9点前到公司吧！(Jīnglǐ: nǐ míngtiān 9 diǎn qián dào gōngsī ba!)
Manager: Arrive at the company by 9 tomorrow.

小刚：好的。(Xiǎogāng: hǎo de.)
Xiaogang: Sure.

妈妈：你能帮我买点儿鸡蛋吗？(Māma: nǐ néng bāng wǒ mǎi diǎnr jīdàn ma?)
Mum: Can you help buy some eggs for me?

儿子：好的，没问题。(érzi: hǎo de, méi wèntí.)
Son: Sure, no problem.

好啊 (hǎo a)

When you put ‘啊 a’ at the end of a sentence, it expresses excitement and enthusiasm. So, ‘好啊’ means ‘yes’ or ‘okay’ with a keen tone.

Example

A：你想去那家饭馆吗？ (Nǐ xiǎng qù nà jiā fànguǎn ma?)
Do you want to go to that restaurant?

B：好啊！(Hǎo a!) 
Sure!

 A：我们一起踢足球，怎么样？(Wǒmen yìqǐ tī zúqiú, zěnmeyàng?)
Let’s play football together. How about it?

B：当然 ， 好啊！(Dāngrán， hǎo a!)
Of course, great!

好吧 (hǎo ba)

People often use ‘好吧’ to show they agree with a request or suggestion, but they might not feel very excited about it. This is similar to how English speakers might use ‘ok…’, ‘fine’, or ‘all right.’ For example, if someone suggests going to a restaurant and you reply ‘好吧’, it means you agree but you aren’t very enthusiastic about it.

Example

妈妈：你先把作业写好才可以出去玩。(Mama: nǐ xiān bǎ zuòyè xiě hǎo cái kěyǐ chūqù wán.
Mum: You can go out to play only after you finish your homework first.

儿子：好吧！(ér zǐ: hǎo ba!)
Son: Ok, fine.

老师：下个星期我们有考试，大家请记得。(Lǎoshī : xià ge xīngqī wǒmen yǒu kǎoshì, dàjiā qǐng jìdé.)
Teacher: There’s an exam next week. Please keep it in mind.

学生：好吧！(Xuéshēng: hǎo ba!)
Students: Fine.

好嘛 (hǎo ma)

‘嘛 ma’ can make your tone sound more ‘cute’ when stating your expectations or request. That’s why ‘好嘛’ is often used when you’re asking for help and hoping someone will say ‘yes’. It’s similar to saying ‘please’ or ‘say yes, please’. For example, if you ask your friend to lend you a book and they hesitate, you might say ‘好嘛’ to try to convince them.

Example

儿子：我真的很喜欢这个电脑游戏，你买给我吧！(érzi: wǒ zhēnde hěn xǐhuān zhè ge diànnǎo yóuxì, nǐ mǎi gěi wǒ ba!)
Son: I really like this computer game. Buy it for me!

妈妈：走吧，别看了。(Māma: zǒu ba, bié kàn le.)
Mum: Let’s go, stop looking.

儿子：妈，好嘛！就买给我嘛！(érzi: mā, hǎo ma! jiù mǎi gěi wǒ ma!)
Son: Mum, please! Just buy it for me.

妈妈：不行。(Māma: bù xíng.)
Mum: No.

同学：小丽，借我看一下你的作业，行吗？(Tóng xué: Xiǎolì, jiè wǒ kàn yíxià nǐ de zuòyè, xíng ma?)
Classmate: Xiaoli, can I take a look at your homework real quick, is that ok?

小丽：这个啊，让我想想。(Xiǎolì: zhè ge a, ràng wǒ xiǎng xiǎng.)
Xiaoli: well …let me think.

同学：好嘛！(Tóngxué: hǎo ma!)
Classmate: Please!

小丽：那好吧！看完了马上还我。(Xiǎolì: nà hǎo ba! kàn wán le mǎshang huán wǒ.)
Xiaoli: Fine, then! Give it back when you’re done

好啦 (hǎo la)

People use ‘好啦’ to show they agree to a request, but they might not feel very enthusiastic about it. It shows dissent. This is similar to how English speakers might use ‘fine’, ‘ok…’, or ‘alright then’ when they are really against an idea. ‘好啦’ is similar to ‘好吧’ but with a stronger sense of reluctance. For example, if someone asks you to clean your room and you reply ‘好啦’, it means you will do it, but you really don’t want to.

Example

朋友：好啦，别哭了，我们出去散散步吧！(Péngyǒu: hǎo la, bié kū le, wǒmen chūqù sàn sàn bù ba!)
Friend: Fine, stop crying. Let’s go out for a walk!

小红：好吧！(Xiǎohóng: hǎo ba!)
Xiaohong: Ok.

女儿：爸，可以带我去逛商场吗？(Nǚér: bà, kěyǐ dài wǒ qù guàng shāngchǎng ma?)
Daughter: Dad, can you take me to the mall to go shopping?

爸爸：好啦，好啦！(Bàba: hǎo la, hǎo la!)
Dad: Ok, fine, fine!

Conclusion

By simply adding a character after ‘好(hǎo)’, you can add nuance to the meaning of “ok”, “fine,” or “all right” in different ways.

Learning these different words will help you express yourself more clearly when you say “ok” in Chinese and help you understand what native Chinese speakers really mean when they say “ok” to you. For example, if someone says ‘好的(hǎo de)’ instead of ‘好(hǎo)’, it means they are acknowledging what you said and are ready to move on.

Mastering this skill can make you both a better speaker and listener of Chinese.

The post Responding with ‘好的’(hǎo de), ‘好啊’(hǎo a), ‘好吧’(hǎo ba), ‘好嘛’(hǎo ma), ‘好啦’(hǎo la) appeared first on .

However, are you familiar with how and in what situations they’re used? In this article, we’ll have a closer look at 5 common Chinese interjections, and discuss how they are applied.

1. 啊 (a)

Expressing exclamation in statements

• This is placed at the end of statements when one intends to show your exclamation or enthusiasm.

Example:

(Nǐ de jiā zhēn dà a!)
你的家真大啊！
Your home is really big!

(Nǐ bié chídào a!)
你别迟到啊！
Don’t be late!

(Jīntiān de tiānqì duō hǎo a!)
今天的天气多好啊！
Today’s weather is so nice!

Expressing the feeling of surprise in questions

• This is placed at the end of questions when there’s a need to emphasize your being surprised or suddenly curious.

Example:

(Zěnme tā jīntiān méi shàngxué a?)
怎么他今天没上学啊？
How come he didn’t go to school today?

(Zhè ge rén shì shéi a?)
这个人是谁啊？
Who’s this person?

(Wǒmen xiànzài zài nǎli a?)
我们现在在哪里啊？
Where are we now?

2. 吧 (ba)

Soften the tone when giving commands, requests, or suggestions in statements

• This is placed at the end of statements to soften the tone when giving a command, request, or suggestion
• It can also act as ‘let me’ or ‘let’s’

Example:

(Nǐ bāng wǒ ná bēi shuǐ ba!)
你帮我拿杯水吧！
Help me to get a cup of water.

(Nǐ chūqù ba! wǒ bù xiǎng zài gēn nǐ shuō le.)
你出去吧！我不想再跟你说了。
Get out! I don’t want to talk to you anymore.

(Wǒmen yì qǐ qù tī zúqiú ba!)
我们一起去踢足球吧！
Let’s go play football together!

(Wǒ sòng nǐ huíjiā ba!)
我送你回家吧！
Let me send you home.

Seek for confirmation in questions

• This is placed at the end of questions when you’re not 100% sure of your thoughts and are seeking for confirmation
• It is therefore equivalent to ‘right?’ or ‘isn’t it?’

Example:

(Tāmen bú zài jiā ba?)
他们不在家吧？
They aren’t at home, right?

(Tā bú huì gàosu nǐ ba?)
他不会告诉你吧？
He won’t tell you, will he?

(Tā chángcháng kàn zhe nǐ, shì xǐhuān nǐ ba?)
他常常看着你，是喜欢你吧？
He often looks at you, he likes you, right?

3. 呢 (ne)

Produce a casual tone in both statements and questions

• This is placed at the end of both statements and questions, which helps to express a casual, relaxed but friendly tone

Example:

(Nǐ de xīn qúnzi hěn piàoliang ne!)
你的新裙子很漂亮呢！
Your new dress is very pretty!

(Tā huì bú huì wàngjì wǒ de shēngrì ne?)
他会不会忘记我的生日呢？
Will he or or won’t he forget my birthday?

(Wǒmen zěnme qù túshūguǎn ne?)
我们怎么去图书馆呢？
How do you go to the library?

Ask the same question back in return

• This is placed at the end of a subject, to suggest ‘what about that subject?’

Example:

(Wǒ jīntiān wǔ diǎn xiàbān, nǐ ne?)
我今天五点下班，你呢？
I get off work at five today, what about you?

(Wǒ ài pǎobù, tā ne?)
我爱跑步，他呢？
I love running, what about him?

Short version of ‘where?’

• This is placed at the end of an object, to create a short version of ‘where’s that object?’
• This application is often used when you’re in a rush or urgently seeking something

Example:

(Wǒ de qiánbāo ne?)
我的钱包呢？
Where’s my wallet?

(Wǒ de shǒujī ne?)
我的手机呢？
Where’s my mobile phone?

4. 啦 (la)

Replace the ending了(le) in both statements and questions to produce a relaxed tone

• You can substitute 啦(la) at the end of any statement or question that originally ends with了(le), to make the sentence sound relaxed or delightful
• It even has the function of creating a ‘cute’ tone if you extend the vowel

Example:

(Wǒ yǐjīng bānjiā la!)
我已经搬家啦！
I already moved home.

(Wǒ xiànzài lái la!)
我现在来啦！
I’m coming now!

(Nǐ bú yào zài kū la!)
你不要再哭啦！
Don’t cry anymore.

(Nǐ gāngcái mǎi shénme la?)
你刚才买什么啦？
What did you just buy?

(Nǐ jīnnián duō dà la?)
你今年多大啦？
How old are you?

5. 嘛 (ma)

Emphasize an obvious fact in statements

• It can be considered as ‘as you know’, ‘obviously’, ‘as a reminder’
• It also has the function of creating a ‘cute’ tone if you extend the vowel

Example:

(Tā háishì xiǎo háizi, bù dǒngshì ma, bié jièyì.)
他还是小孩子，不懂事嘛，別介意。
He’s still a child, therefore not very sensible. Please don’t mind him.

(Wǒ kàn bu dǒng yīngwén ma!)
我看不懂英文嘛！
(You know,) I can’t read English.

(Tā hěn máng ma, suǒyǐ méiyǒu shíjiān fā nǐ duǎnxìn.)
他很忙嘛，所以没有时间发你短信。
(You know,) he’s very busy, so doesn’t have time to send you texts.

Add ‘cute’ element to state an expectation in statement

• It makes the tone sound more ‘cute’ when specifying your expectation
• It’s close to the meaning ‘you should’
• It’s specifically useful when you want to blame someone, however, with a ‘cute or soft’ tone

Example:

(Nǐ zěnme bù zǎo shuō ma!)
你怎么不早说嘛！
How come you didn’t say so earlier!

(Nǐ zìjǐ zuò ma!)
你自己做嘛！
Do it yourself.

(Nǐ zǒu màn diǎn ma!)
你走慢点嘛！
Walk slower.

(Tā wèishénme yào zhèyàng zuò ma!)
他为什么要这样做嘛！
Why did he have to do this!

As a Topic Marker

• This is placed at the end of a topic – often a subject or object, followed by further information or comment
• It’s similar to the meaning: ‘about the topic’, ‘regarding the topic’
• It serves to give a pause before giving further information or feedback on the topic, hence it’s particularly useful when you’d like to sound patient or gentle

Example:

(Zhè jiàn shìqíng ma, wǒ yě bù qīngchǔ.)
这件事情嘛，我也不清楚。
About this matter, I’m also not sure.

(Nǐ ma, zuò shì zǒngshì bú rènzhēn.)
你嘛，做事总是不认真。
You’re just not serious when doing work all the time.

Interjections are a great way to add flavor and character to your sentences. They make you sound informal, and show that you are becoming more comfortable with the Chinese language. Once you master when and how to use these interjections, it will also make you sound more like a native speaker.

The post 5 Common Chinese Interjections to Add Tonal Color -啊(a) 吧(ba) 呢(ne) 啦(la) 嘛(ma) appeared first on .

Below are 16 must-have apps that will help you in your stay in China.

1. Maps: Baidu Maps (百度地图), Apple Maps

If you know how to read in Chinese, even just a bit, then Baidu Maps is the perfect app. Its route planner leads you directly from one point to another, supported by audio. It shows not only various transport routes, but also factors in real-time traffic conditions, accurate waiting times, and the estimated length of time for a journey.

However, if your Chinese reading skills are not that strong, Apple Maps can be an alternative. Similar to Baidu Maps, Apple Maps helps you find different ways to your destination with spoken directions. It provides instant updates about traffic information, therefore helping to estimate your total amount of time needed to commute. Additionally, it has indexed categories, including ‘Food & drink’, ‘Shopping’, ‘Fun’, and ‘Travel’, which can suggest to you the closest attractions, hotels, restaurants, banks and ATMs and more. This would greatly smoothen your travel plan.

2. Subway Map: MetroMan (地铁通)

With MetroMan, which works in all cities in China, you get all the details of subway information. To navigate, first, pick your journey from your departure station to your arrival station. Second, pick the date and time, then the app will show a choice of different routes, with all their estimated times for the journey, number of transfers, as well as fares. You can then simply pick the right route that matches your timeframe and budget, and set off!

3. Taxi: DIDi (滴滴出行)

For those times when you’re in a rush or seek a more relaxed and convenient option, DiDi app is the best for ordering a cab. The app comes with both Chinese and English versions, making non-Chinese speakers’ lives much easier. Similar to other taxi apps, you’ll need to enter your pick-up location and destination, and from there, your driver will bring you to wherever you need to go.

4. Communication: WeChat (微信)

As many of you may already know, Wechat is the most widely used communication app across China. Apart from chatting with your friends and seeing their updates and posts in ‘Moments’, it has other features that practically help your daily activities. For example, with Wechat Pay, you can shop however you like, both in physical stores and online platforms. Moreover, you’re able to send and request money from friends!

If you’re looking to make new friends, Wechat’s ‘Shake’ function lets you instantly interact and chat with people around your area. But of course, if you have no interest in knowing people nearby, feel free to turn off this feature.

5. Payment: Wechat Pay (微信支付), Alipay (支付宝)

Do you know the majority of people living in China use their smart phones to make payments in basically all situations, such as utility bills, shops, restaurants, etcs? It’s rare that young people would still carry a wallet or cash when going out nowadays.

To use Wechat Pay, which is already pre-installed in the Wechat communication app, you can simply add your card details from Chinese or international banks, and you’re all set. To make a payment, you may display your barcode from the ‘Quick Pay’ option, which merchants will scan,   and payment will then go through!

Apart from Wechat Pay, another well-known mobile payment app is Alipay, though currently, you need to have a Chinese bank card to use it.

6. Bicycle: Mobike (摩拜单车), Hellobike (哈罗单车)

Shared bikes are especially popular in China. Of the various options, Mobike and Hellobike are the two most commonly used. They need to bond with a payment method before making fully refundable deposits, which could be either through Wechat Pay, Alipay, or proper Chinese bank cards.

Both Mobike and Hellobike require you to scan the QR code on the bike with the app. It will then automatically be unlocked, and you can ride where you want!

The two companies offer several models of bikes, catering to people with different needs, sizes, and heights.

7. Tour Guide: DianPing (大众点评)

Want to explore all amazing local places like a pro? DianPing is the app for you! It’s a Chinese version of Tripadvisor, and more! It gives information on a vast majority of places that Chinese people visit, ranging from restaurants, movie theatres, hotels, shopping centers, gyms, hospitals, learning centers, salons, karaoke, and all other services! It lists everything!

With ratings, photos and comments supplied by other customers, it helps you discover the hidden gems in China.

8. Travel Planner: Ctrip

When you’re in a big country like China, you might want to travel across cities, and that’s when Ctrip comes in to assist. Ctrip acts as your personal travel agency, offering services like accommodation reservations, transportation ticketing, packaged tours, and corporate travel management.

So, for example, if you’d like to view different options for train tickets and book online, you’re sure to find Ctrip useful.

9. Online Shopping: Taobao (淘宝)

Everyone in China knows Taobao. It’s basically an upgraded version of Amazon. It has more products, and they’re sold at much cheaper prices. If you’re staying in China for good, you’ll absolutely need Taobao. With Taobao, you can actually find anything, from physical products to services. What’s more, you can interact with the vendor directly and instantly via Taobao’s chat messenger, so you would have better knowledge about the product before making the purchase. Besides Taobao, JD.com and TMall.com also provide efficient e-shopping and delivery service.

10. Food Delivery: Waimai Meituan (美团外卖), Ele.me (饿了么), Baidu Waimai (百度外卖)

The food is one of the nicest things about China. If you’re planning to live in China, food delivery services are something you cannot do without.

Waimai Meituan, Baidu Waimai and Ele.me are three of the top food delivery apps used in China. Similar to all other food delivery apps, they offer you a list of the different food that is available to be delivered to your door, and it even gives you the estimated arrival time of the delivery.

But how about if you only want to have some snacks and beers that you can eat and drink while watching the telly at home? Or what if you prefer to cook yourself a nice meal, and you just found out that there are not enough ingredients?  Baidu Waimai and Ele.me have been impressively in providing supermarket delivery! With such efficient food delivery apps, no one ever needs to leave their home again for food!

11. Group Buying: Meituan (美团)

Things in China still not inexpensive enough? How about buying through group buying sites? Meituan is the biggest group buying site in China and includes all sorts of deals that save you money. Like other group buying sites, their deals cover basic things such as dining experiences, hotel deals, movie tickets, and even business to consumer services like home repairing services. On Meituan, you’ll also find business to business deals such as corporate training workshops and even home building materials. With such a dynamic app, a lot of things can be purchased cheaply.

Living in today’s modern world requires digital knowledge and the proficient use of mobile technologies. China today is a very modern society, so it’s no surprise that they have so many apps that help make daily life easier and more efficient. In fact, some people say China is even ahead of other countries in terms of the high-tech lifestyle. These 16 apps are sure to help you live a truly modern and digital life in China, making your stay more satisfying and allowing you to really immerse yourself in current Chinese culture.

The post 16 Essential Apps to Survive While Staying in China (2019) appeared first on .

Cultural Activities

Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year (农历新年 nóng lì xīn nián) is seen as the most important time of the year in Chinese culture. To celebrate the festival, there are various rituals and customs that the Chinese people follow, one of which is to visit family and friends. Chinese New Year is an opportunity to reunite with family, friends, and loved ones. In practice, visiting them at their homes is a custom called 拜年 (bài nián).

During these visits, it’s common practice for people to dress in red, as this colour symbolizes ‘good luck’. Generally, people exchange festive gifts, while senior members of the group will give out ‘red envelopes’, which are in fact cash gifts, to the more junior, unmarried members of the family. This act is considered as ‘sending good luck’ to others. Furthermore, everyone would greet one another with New Year blessings, wishing each other good fortune, health, and wealth.

Be aware, though, that there are some gifts that are taboo, and which you shouldn’t bring at all. Here’s a handy list of gifts to be avoided: ‘Giving Gifts to Chinese People: Beware of Certain Taboos’. Always make sure that you are giving the right gift so that you will not accidentally insult anyone.

Greetings During the New Year of the Pig

Apart from the traditional New Year greetings, below are 6 Chinese New Year greetings that relate to ‘pigs’ (猪 zhū), and are suitable for use this year!

1. 猪年进步 (zhū nián jìn bù)

‘‘May you make progress in the Year of Pig’’

‘猪年’ represents ‘the Year of Pig’, and ‘进步’ means ‘to improve’. This statement is a general greeting and is applicable in various situations during Chinese New Year.

2. “猪”事顺利

诸事顺利 (zhū shì shùn lì)

“May all things work out smoothly”

‘诸事’ refers to ‘all things, different things’, and ‘顺利’ means ‘smooth’. The phrase can be used to greet people of all ages. ‘诸 (zhū)’ shares the same sound as ‘pig, 猪 (zhū)’, therefore it’s particularly popular to be used in the Year of the Pig.

3. “猪”事如意

诸事如意 (zhū shì rú yì)

“May all things go as you wish”

Similar to ‘诸事顺利’, the word ‘诸’ from ‘诸事如意’ also takes the exact pronunciation as ‘pig’, which is ‘猪 (zhū)’.This makes it suitable to be used during the New Year of the Pig. Yet, ‘如意’ has a slightly different meaning from ‘顺利’, which means ‘as one wishes’.

4. “猪”报平安

竹报平安 (zhú bào píng ān)

“May you be peaceful and safe”

The phrase is a traditional idiom that people used when sending mail back home to reassure their family that everything was well and peaceful after being away from home for a long time. Nowadays, the phrase is a nice blessing to wish someone peace and safety. ‘竹 (zhú)’ has a similar sound to  ‘猪 (zhū)’, which means pig, therefore it is particularly appropriate to be used this year.

5. 胸有成“猪”

事事胸有成竹 (shì shì xiōng yǒu chéng zhú)

“May you have a well-designed plan for all things”

‘事事’ equals to ‘everything’, and ‘胸有成竹’ is a traditional idiom indicating one has a thorough plan in advance before any kind of work. This is a nice saying especially between businesses or corporations. Also, ‘竹 (zhú)’, having a similar sound to ‘pig, 猪 (zhū)’, makes it more meaningful for the Year of the Pig.

6. 猪笼入水

(zhū lóng rù shuǐ)

“May wealth flow in”

This saying is more often used among Southern Chinese. ‘猪笼’ literally means ‘pig cage’, while ‘入’ and ‘水’ mean ‘enter’ and ‘water’ respectively. ‘Water flowing in a pig cage’ symbolizes wealth flowing into your pocket, therefore it’s a good way to wish one wealth and prosperity. In particular, the phrase consists of the word ‘猪 (zhū), pig’, so this year is the right time to use this greeting.

As was mentioned, Chinese New Year is a time for families and friends to reunite and get-together in happy gatherings. It is traditionally a joyful time for everyone, and it is also a time for renewal and hopes. Since it is a new year, it is also a time to start over and make things better in our lives moving forward.

We at Digmandarin wish you all a wonderful and joyful Year of the Pig! 祝大家猪年快乐!

• 8 Things You Might Not Know About Chinese New Year
• All about Chinese New Year: taboos, wishes and magic words
• Useful Phrases for Spring Festival Celebrations
• Bring Yourself Good Luck on本命年 (Běnmìngnián)
• 8 Common Homophonic Puns in Chinese New Year Festival

The post Chinese New Year Traditions and 6 New Year Greetings for the Year of the Pig appeared first on .

In this article, we’ll take an even closer look at this construction and provide some useful examples to help you incorporate it into your daily Chinese speech.

Let’s start with a brief overview of the 是…的 (shì…de) structure.

Structure 1: Main topic + 是+ emphasized information+ 的

The 是…的 (shì…de) structure is formed by combining the main topic, 是 (shì) to emphasize a piece of information, and 的 (de) at the end of the sentence. This structure serves to highlight the content between 是 (shì) and 的 (de) and is equivalent to the English phrase ”it is… (that).” It is commonly used to indicate facts or past events. The main topic can refer to any other elements in the sentence, such as subjects or objects.

For example:

我是五年前认识丽丽的。
(wǒ shì wǔ nián qián rènsh Lìli de.)
It was 5 years ago that I knew Lily.

你昨天是怎么来机场的？
(Nǐ zuótiān shì zěnme lái jīchǎng de?)
 How is it that you came to the airport yesterday?

我是在美国念大学的。
(Wǒ shì zài Měiguó niàn dàxué de.)
It’s in the U.S. that I studied university.

这块手表是300快买的。
(Zhè kuài shǒubiǎo shì sān bǎi kuài mǎi de.)
This watch was bought at 300 RMB.

这些苹果是在哪里买的？
(Zhèxiē píngguǒ shì zài nǎli mǎi de?)
At what place were these apples bought?

菜是妈妈做的。
(Cài shì māma zuò de.)
Mom made that dish.

Structure 2: Main topic + emphasized information + 的

Sometimes, you can omit 是 (shì) from the structure without changing the sentence’s meaning.

For example:

我和大山(是)昨天一起去的。
(Wǒ hé Dàshān (shì) zuótiān yìqǐ qù de.)
It was yesterday that Dashan and I went together.

这杯红茶(是)我特意买给你的。
(Zhè bēi hóngchá (shì) wǒ tèyì mǎi gěi nǐ de.)
I bought this red tea specially for you.

However, if the sentence contains a lot of content, leaving out 是 (shì) can create confusion between the main topic and the emphasized information. So, in such cases, it is advisable to use 是 (shì) to clearly distinguish between the main topic and the information being emphasized.

For instance, consider the ambiguity in the following example:

我和小红上周在咖啡厅见面的。
(Wǒ hé Xiǎohóng shàng zhōu zài kāfēitīng jiànmiàn de.)
Me and Xiaohong met in a cafe last week.

This sentence could have various interpretations without specifying which piece of information is being emphasized. It could mean:

我是和小红上周在咖啡厅见面的。
(Wǒ shì hé Xiǎohóng shàng zhōu zài kāfēitīng jiànmiàn de.)
It was Xiaohong that I met last week in a cafe.

我和小红是上周在咖啡厅见面的。
(Wǒ hé Xiǎohóng shì shàng zhōu zài kāfēitīng jiànmiàn de.)
It was last week that me and Xiaohong met in a cafe.

我和小红上周是在咖啡厅见面的。
(Wǒ hé xiǎo hóng shàng zhōu shì zài kā fēi tīng jiàn miàn dí.)
It was at a cafe that me and Xiaohong met last week.

To ensure clarity, it is essential to use 是 (shì) in these situations. By employing the 是…的 (shì…de) structure, you can precisely convey the intended emphasis and avoid ambiguity in your Chinese sentences.

Structure 3: Main topic + 不是 + emphasized information + 的

To create the negative form of the 是…的(shì…de) structure, simply add 不 (bù) before 是 (shì), forming the structure 不是… 的(búshì…de).

For example:

我们昨天不是坐地铁回公司的。
(Wǒmen zuótiān bú shì zuò dìtiě huí gōngsī de.)
It was not by taking the subway that we came to office yesterday.

这个礼物不是送给老师的。
(Zhè ge lǐwù bú shì sòng gěi lǎoshī de.)
This gift is not for the teacher.

At first, the grammar structure 是…的 (shì…de) may appear perplexing, particularly the option to omit 是(shì) in certain situations. However, mastering this structure empowers you to convey emphasis more effectively in your sentences. By doing so, you can improve your clarity in Chinese and embark on a journey towards sounding like a native speaker. Tackling new and difficult grammar structures is an essential aspect of the learning process, so embrace it and watch as your Chinese fluency flourishes.

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BEGINNER

Aim: Conduct basic conversations

If you’re a beginner, the short-term goal for you should be being able to conduct basic conversations. Additionally, you can add the ability to describe things and express your thoughts.

Tip 1: Read out loud

To be able to achieve this goal, you have to actually start speaking. Therefore, we suggest that you learn with audio materials that you can speaking along with. It can be textbooks with audio, podcasts, or other similar resources. It’s suggested that you listen a few times, and start speaking with the texts, so that you can imitate the speaker’s tone and pronunciation. At the beginning you can speak at a slower pace, and gradually increase the tempo when repeating the texts. This exercise familiarizes you with speaking the language.

If you’re afraid you might not be pronouncing the words accurately, I found the Edugora App quite useful, as not only most of their courses cater to beginners, but their App has a ‘speaking analysis function, wherein you can repeat their sentences by recording your voice, while a score will be given based on how accurately you speak.

Tip 2: One-on-one speaking practice

Practice makes perfect! Therefore, another tip I have is to practice speaking with a native speaker. It can be your Chinese friend, tutor, or language exchange partner. This can actually put your learning into real practice; the ‘one-on-one’ setting allows you to have less distractions. You can talk about any topic within your capability, for example, the weather, food, transportation, etc.. The purpose of this is to get talking. Meanwhile, your partner must point out any mistakes you made, such as pronunciation, sentence structure, and grammar errors.

It’s easy to look for an online tutor, and Verbalplanet is a popular platform. It’s especially suitable for those who have less budget. If you’re looking for a language exchange partner, wherein you can make online friends while learning from each other, HelloTalk is a free app that has a large user base, so finding the right partner shouldn’t be difficult. Of course, practicing speaking skills with a professional Chinese teacher is the best way to learn and improve. There are plenty of online Chinese schools to choose from, such as TouchChinese, AllMandarin, and etc.

INTERMEDIATE

Aim: Communicate fluently in general situations

As an intermediate learner, you should have adequate vocabulary and knowledge to practice your speaking in wider, day-to-day living situations. Therefore, your target at this stage should be to apply speaking in these situations while attaining a good level of fluency.

Tip 1: Practice with Chinese TV

As your Chinese language skills have improved, it’s the perfect time for you to start watching Chinese TV, as a relatively higher level is required for watching most Chinese TV dramas and movies. However, what I’m suggesting here is not for you to just watch it, but to practice speaking with it. How? First of all, you’re recommended to choose Chinese TV with Chinese subtitles, which could be easily found on Dnvod.TV, Youku, Iqiyi, and more. Then, watch the whole video before picking up the scenes of your choice. You can then listen carefully to how the actor/actress you intend to imitate speaks, in terms of tones, accents, and pronunciation, and you can repeat the lines for yourself. Furthermore, you can even literally imagine yourself being in the scenes, and speaking to your idol. This is an amazing and entertaining way to learn.

Tip 2: Situational speaking practice

Apart from practicing on your own, you might want to go out and talk to someone else. At the intermediate level, you should be able to chat with people on a wider range of topics. Therefore, travelling to China is a good option, as this opportunity allows you to practice speaking in different kinds of situations, such as booking a hotel room, ordering food, eating in restaurants, buying in shops, purchasing train tickets, etc.

If you find it difficult to plan a trip to China, there are other ways to get around this. Try attending Chinese social events at local Chinese clubs, or other similar activities. These events allow you to be involved in a Chinese environment where you can interact with Chinese people, therefore you get the chance to practice speaking in a more natural setting.

ADVANCED

Aim: Speak like a native

When you’ve reached the advanced level, you should be able to speak with native Chinese fluently covering a broad area of subjects. So what more can be improved? How about speak like a native? This would help you to mingle with Chinese more quickly and smoothly, and we have two tips for you to reach this goal.

Tip1: Surrounded by Chinese only environment

As you’re at an advanced level now, it is highly likely you can improve your speaking if you’re immersed in a complete Chinese environment for a period of time. You could apply your knowledge in daily Chinese life. In addition, what you previously learned in materials may not 100% fit in the actual world, as there are always modern and trendy words evolving, such as ‘萌’ as ‘可爱’, and ‘很牛’ instead of ‘太棒了’. These phrases are more likely to be adapted when you’re in a complete Chinese environment.

It’s believed staying in China for a while, ranging from months to years, would best serve this purpose. However, if it’s not possible for you to leave your country for such long time, another alternative is get to know more Chinese friends in your local area, hang out more with them, and copy the way they talk about things. Gradually, you will sound more like a native.

Tip2: Adopt Chinese accent

Students at this stage often can speak very fluently and pronounce words accurately. There’s only one step away from sounding like a native, which is the adoption of a Chinese accent. Why’s that? Because if you sound like a native, there’s a better chance Chinese people perceive you as one of them, and in turn, it will help with building relationships, regardless if it’s for friendship, business, or romance.

To achieve this, find a Chinese language partner who can tell you in what areas you might need to adjust to sound close to a native. Other than that, you can pick a character in a movie or TV show and copy the way he/she speaks. Record your voice and listen back to make further corrections. Finally, keep practicing and practicing, and eventually you will reach your goal.

In the end, it will really benefit you to pay attention to your Chinese-speaking skills. Don’t neglect this skill in favor of your reading, writing, and listening skills. Remember that any language is a means for communicating with others, and a big part of communication is to speak it, not just to read it or write it down. Always remember to develop your speaking skills alongside reading, writing, and listening in Chinese.

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BEGINNER

Aim: To understand basic conversations

At the beginner stage, learners generally would know a limited range of vocabulary and sentences. Therefore, to avoid confusion caused by having too many extra words and complicated sentence structures, it’s suggested that learners focus mainly on understanding the words and phrases that they have learned.

Tip 1: Audio learning

Audio learning is especially useful in balancing your ability between reading and listening. When learning new words, learners usually start with reading, while the listening part may be neglected. So, we suggest that you learn with both textbooks and audio. You can start with listening to the text once, then read it to learn the new words. Listen to the audio once more, this time without reading the text. Understand the context of the sentence to ensure all is understood. Repeat this method whenever new text comes by, and in time, your listening skill will certainly improve.

Apart from textbooks, you can also perform your own audio learning with other materials of your learning level. For example, in LingQ, all their texts are accompanied by recorded audio which you can add to your playlist. In addition, an English translation is also provided. In Edugora, most courses are made for beginners, in which users are taught sentence by sentence. As the courses all come with a short video, it allows you to watch and listen as many times as you like. In MandarinBean, you can access all HSK levels listening materials for free, which include Chinese transcription with pinyin, English translation and vocabulary flashcards. The topics also varies from daily life news to business, from fun stories to Chinese idioms origins.

Tip 2: Real life one-on-one practice

To further enhance your listening skills, practice is essential. As a beginner, being able to practice the content you’ve learned would build a stronger base for improving your listening. Therefore, we suggest you find a native speaker who knows your level well and together, you can conduct practice conversations. It could be a friend, your tutor, or a language exchange partner. The format can be simple Q&A, in which your partner will ask simple questions and you respond accordingly. This can be a fun and engaging exercise, while giving you a taste of putting your knowledge into real life conversations.

INTERMEDIATE

Aim: To understand general topics

As an intermediate learner, you should possess knowledge covering wider and more general topics. Therefore, it’s time to also make sure your listening skills are also up to that level. Apart from continuing to follow the above tips for beginners, we have other tips specifically tailored for intermediate learners.

Tip 1: Watch Chinese videos and shows with subtitles

At this point, you may want to get away from purely text-based studying, right? It’s a good idea to now learn from things that are close to daily living. Why not try to watch Chinese shows, movies, or video clips, with the help of subtitles? It’s suggested that you first watch the full video once to gain an understanding of the whole story, then choose the parts you particularly enjoyed the most, and watch it again, but this time without looking at the subtitles. This will not only hone your listening skills, but you may be able to learn some new words and phrases.

To search for Chinese videos, check out Viki, which provides free Chinese TV dramas and movies with both Chinese and English subtitles. On the other hand, CNTV could also a good platform. Videos are filmed mainly for educational purposes, yet they show real life situations, and have English subtitles.

Tip 2: Step into real life situations

Apart from shows and videos, why not try real life scenarios? At this time, you should already be able to comfortably handle some simple Chinese speaking settings, such as in restaurants or shops. If you’re not living in China, find out if there’s a Chinatown within your area, where most people would use Chinese to communicate. Being physically in a Chinese speaking environment is a very direct and effective way to practice your listening.

ADVANCED

Aim: To understand a wide range of topics

When you’ve reached the advanced level, you should be able to interact with people easily under normal daily circumstances without any problem with listening. To improve further, you might want to focus your learning on a specific topic of interest, like your professional scope. What you’re doing is looking to expand your Chinese usage to a broader set of topics, where richer listening skills are required.

Tip1: Get immersed in the Chinese environment

To do so, it’s highly recommended that you immerse yourself in a complete Chinese speaking environment for a certain period of time. Relocating to China is a good option, and the trip can last from a couple of weeks to even years. Being fully immersed in China means you’re passively listening to Chinese being spoken daily, where you are exposed to all sorts of scenarios, ranging from buying groceries, renting apartments, to looking for jobs. Meanwhile, you’re exposed to native speakers who may even become new friends. In this way, you will get loads of opportunities to practice Chinese listening.

Tip2: Join Chinese seminars of your interests

Aside from travelling to China, if you’re seeking to expand language skills to a more specific scope, such as your professional field or a topic of your interest, we recommend that you join relevant seminars, webinars, talks, or conferences which are conducted in Chinese. As the content discussed would be entirely related to your chosen specialty, you’ll get a great opportunity to enhance your listening ability within these areas. It works best if these events could be attended regularly, which helps to maintain your level.

Listening is often an overlooked skill when learning a language. A learner can end up focusing too much on reading texts and speaking the language, that he forgets that listening can also enhance his overall language skills. There is a saying that goes, “When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.” Such is the same with learning Chinese. Chinese listening practice really matters! If you listen, you will certainly learn new things, and your language skills will improve much faster.

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To master your Chinese reading skills, we have a few tips and suggestions for our beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners.

BEGINNER

Aim: Bridge the gap between Pinyin and characters

As beginners, learners are likely to have learned some vocabulary and be able to read short sentences with the help of pinyin, an official system used in Standard Chinese; pinyin helps you to pronounce a Chinese character correctly. However, to progress to a higher level, being able to read Chinese characters is essential, and that’s because the more words you learn, the more you will realize that words with same pinyin can mean different characters, and hence have different meanings. If this point is neglected, you may easily mix up words and struggle to understand what you read. To address this, we have two tips for you.

Tip 1: Start with radical recognition

A Chinese radical is a graphical component of a Chinese character that makes up characters. Usually, it gives you an idea of the meaning of words. For example, ‘亻’, the human radical, forms words related to people, including ‘他tā = he’ and ‘们mén = the character that makes subjects plural’. A further example: ’氵’, the water radical, implies the character to be water-related, including ‘游yóu = swim’, and ‘河hé = river’.

Tip 2: Study with flashcards

Your journey of learning Chinese characters will be much easier if you manage to find a fun and engaging way to do so. Therefore, using flashcards is recommended, and you can always conveniently bring the set out and practice a little whenever you’re free. If you’re more of a digital person, there’re many apps out there providing this function; for example, Quizlet, which not only can help you create your own flashcards, but these sets of words can turn into games and tests, which consolidate your learning even further.

INTERMEDIATE

Aim: Understand long sentences & short passages

When you reach this stage, it’s the time when you start to read longer sentences and short passages. However, what can you do to thoroughly understand them more smoothly and easily?

Tip 1: Audio-Assisted Reading

Listen to someone actually speak the sentence a few times when reading a sentence or short passage. In addition to being able to practice pronunciation and fluency, it’s a good way to strengthen your word recognition with the combination of sound and sight. By hearing a native speaker speak with natural intonation, you’ ll it easier to understand the content and phrasing.

There’re many resources that offer you this function, including audio supported textbooks, or even apps such as DuChinese, MandarinBean, and Decipher. All these sites offer various articles for reading tailored for different levels, and you could choose to read with or without pinyin. While they are supported by audio, DuChinese and MandarinBean also allows you to choose the audio speed to ensure your ability to follow.

Tip 2: Read out loud

Along with audio, it is recommended to also read it out yourself while you read. That’s because this will enhance your word-sight recognition, while reinforcing your memory of the words at the same time.

ADVANCED

Aim: Comprehend long articles

If you’re an advanced Chinese learner, you are probably getting ready to read long and relatively complicated articles independently. Yet, some students struggle to comprehend the essays thoroughly, so what should you be aware of to efficiently read long articles?

Tip 1: Pick key words

Imagine you’re reading a novel or a newspaper, and you spend time to read the words one by one? It’d take ages, right? Therefore, for Chinese, similar to other languages, requires you to learn the skill of identifying key words from each sentence, which you can make sense of and form meaningful main topics. This would also speed up the pace of reading.

Tip 2: Summarize each paragraph

To hone your reading comprehensive skills, this process cannot be neglected. First, instead of reading the long article in one go, read by paragraphs. This allows you to have less information to digest, enabling you to grasp the main idea of each passage. Second, summarize the paragraphs in your own words. This provides you a real opportunity to think deeply and test yourself on your understanding of the content. Moreover, it’s a very effective method to train your ability to convey messages accurately and express yourself in Chinese.

All of the above is a general guide on how to do Chinese reading practice for each level of learner. The Chinese reading practice is a stage you cannot ignore because it will not only help you with grammar and vocabulary, but it will also help you reach a deeper level of understanding more complex contexts and situations. It might be a little bit hard at the beginning, but after some practice, you will surely improve, and the benefits will be more than you can imagine.

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To have smoother conversations and show your enthusiasm for working with Chinese people, it’s important to know some useful phrases. Here are 12 phrases that can help you in any Chinese business situation.

Initial Greetings

#1: 很高兴能跟您会面!
(Hěn gāoxìng néng gēn nín huìmiàn!)
Very happy to meet you!

When addressing someone in Chinese, using 您(nín) instead of 你(nǐ) shows greater respect.

One phrase you could use is 很高兴能跟您见面 (hěn gāo xìng néng gēn nín jiàn miàn), which means “Nice to meet you”.

Another option is to use 会面(huì miàn), which is more formal than 见面(jiàn miàn) and better suited for business events, even though both words mean “meet”.

#2: 怎么称呼?
(Zěnme chēnghū?)
How should I address you?

When meeting new people in a business setting, it’s important to ask their name. Instead of using the casual phrase 你叫什么名字？(Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì? – what’s your name?), you could use the term 称呼(chēng hū), which means “to address”. This gives a more polite and appropriate impression.

#3: 幸会，幸会!
(Xìnghuì, xìnghuì!)
Very pleased to meet you!

幸会(xìng huì) is a very polite way of saying “meet” in Chinese. It expresses a deep sense of honor for the opportunity to meet another person. It’s customary to say 幸会(xìng huì) twice, which amplifies the feeling of honor and pleasure.

#4: 这是我的名片，以后请多多关照!
(Zhè shì wǒde míngpiàn, yǐhòu qǐng duō duō guānzhào!)
This is my business card. I’d like to have your guidance in future.

When meeting a new potential business partner, it’s customary to exchange business cards.

To express your willingness to learn from the other party and seek their guidance, you could say 以后请多多关照(Yǐhòu qǐng duō duō guānzhào). This phrase uses 多(duō), meaning “much”, and 关照(guān zhào), which literally means “to look after”. It’s an extremely humble way of asking for their guidance and support.

Small Talk

#5: 您一路上还顺利吗？
(Nín yí lù shàng hái shùn lì ma？)
Did you have a smooth journey coming here?

When striking up a conversation, it’s often helpful to start with something safe.

One example is asking about their trip using the phrase 您一路上还顺利吗？(Nín yí lù shàng hái shùnlì ma?). This phrase uses the expression 一路上(yí lù shàng), which means “on the way”, and 顺利(shùn lì), which refers to being “smooth”.

By asking if their trip has been smooth, you’re showing concern for their well-being and using a polite phrase appropriate for business contexts.

#6: 非常感谢您们的招待，您们安排得太周到了！
(Fēicháng gǎnxiè nínmen de zhāodài, nínmen ānpái de tài zhōudào le!)
I’m very grateful for your warm reception. Your arrangement is so thoughtful!

When attending a business event, such as a conference or party, it’s a good idea to show your appreciation for the host’s preparation and effort.

One way to do this is to use the phrase 感谢(gǎn xiè), which means “thankful”, and 周到(zhōu dào), which is often used to describe an event that has been thoughtfully organized. This allows you to compliment your host and show gratitude.

#7: 您们刚才已经吃过饭了吗？
(Nínmen gāngcái yǐjīng chī guò fàn le ma？)
Have you already eaten just now?

It’s very common to have small talk immediately before beginning a formal business meeting.

Talking about eating is a light-hearted topic and a significant aspect of Chinese culture. Using the phrase 您们刚才已经吃过饭了吗？(Nínmen gāngcái yǐjīng chī guò fàn le ma)? is a polite way to greet people and start a conversation.

#8: 这礼物是我们的一点儿心意，希望贵公司喜欢。
(Zhè lǐwù shì wǒmen de yì diǎnr xīnyì, xīwàng guì gōngsī xǐhuān.)
This gift is a small token of our appreciation. We hope your company likes it.

In Chinese culture, people often give gifts to business partners or clients as a sign of respect, gratitude, and hospitality. This helps build and maintain relationships in business settings.

You can give your gift at the end of the meeting and explain your good intentions. “心意” (xīnyì) means “kind intention,” and “贵公司” (guì gōngsī) is a polite way to say “your company.”

Maintaining Relationships

#9: 很高兴能有机会和您们合作
(Hěn gāoxìng néng yǒu jīhuì hé nínmen hézuò.)
Very pleased to have the opportunity to cooperate with you.

When doing business with Chinese people, you can use this phrase to show your satisfaction after reaching a deal. The phrase includes the terms “机会” (jī huì), which means “opportunity,” and “合作” (hé zuò), which means “cooperate or cooperation.”

#10: 希望我们合作愉快！
(Xīwàng wǒmen hézuò yúkuài！)
I hope we will have a pleasant collaboration.

You can also express your excitement for cooperating with the other party by saying “希望我们合作愉快” (Xīwàng wǒmen hézuò yúkuài), which means “hope we have a happy cooperation.”

It’s common for both parties to shake hands after saying this as a sign of encouragement. “愉快” (yú kuài) means “happy.”

#11: 我们保持联系!
(Wǒmen bǎochí liánxì)
Keep in touch!

After a business event, it’s important to express your desire to stay in touch for future opportunities. In China, creating and keeping good relationships is crucial for doing business.

To convey this, you can say “保持联系” (bǎochí liánxì), which means “to maintain contact.” “保持” (bǎo chí) means “to maintain,” and “联系” (lián xì) means “to contact.”

#12: 以后有什么问题，可以随时和我联系。
(Yǐhòu yǒu shénme wèntí, kěyǐ suíshí hé wǒ liánxì.)
If there’s any question (you may have) afterward, contact me anytime.

To end a formal conversation, it’s polite to welcome any future questions the other person may have.

You can use the phrase “随时和我联系” (suíshí hé wǒ liánxì), which means “contact me anytime.” This shows extra courtesy and is considered a standard way to end a conversation. “问题” (wèn tí) means “questions or problems,” and “随时” (suí shí) means “anytime.”

Using these 12 essential phrases in a business setting can help you improve communication and develop positive relationships in China. By incorporating these turns of phrases into your professional work, you’ll be able to show respect, gratitude, and hospitality to your business partners or clients. Knowing formal and polite language is crucial for doing business in China, and these phrases are just the beginning. Practice using them, and you’ll see the benefits they bring to your work.

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