Fair Enough: Spring Into Beijing’s Most Popular Temple Fairs
The Lunar New Year exodus leaves many cities almost devoid of action, unless you head into bustling temple fairs. Here are the ones to visit in Beijing.
Mandarin Monday: Fend Off Pesky Paparazzi (Especially When You Have Kids)
When you’re out with children, the situation can escalate quickly as a child can be frightened and parents protective.
Mandarin Monday: Learning Chinese for the First Time? Here Are Some Tips from a Chinese Teacher
Learning this complex language is about more than just talking to taxi drivers and market vendors.
Mandarin Monday: Taking the HSK 3 Exam? Here’s What to Expect (Plus Test Hacks!)
HSK 3 may be quite challenging, but it’s still doable! Here are some tips that I got from my Chinese teachers.
Chinese Challenge, Week 4: Get to Know the Good and the Adorable!
Let’s delve deeper into the character 好 with eight different uses… and the origin of an “adorable” slang!
Mandarin Monday: The Dog Days of Summer in China Aren’t About Dogs
The term exists in the Chinese language but doesn’t have any literal relation to dogs or any kind of canines whatsoever.
Chinese Challenge, Week 3: Listening with Ten Eyes? How Is It Possible?
This week’s words are random, but listen! One of them may be very familiar but it has an exceptional meaning.
Chinese Challenge, Week 2: “Thank You for the Reminder!”
I normally don’t answer phone calls, but this one is an exception. It turns out I will learn another word from that conversation.
Chinese Challenge, Week 1: Recipe Book, Broccoli, and More
The first week of my challenge sees several words related to food – well, it’s because of a charity project I’m also co-organizing.
Mandarin Monday: Supermarket Run Faster with This Shopping Lingo
While our liking for shopping transcends the challenges of the language barrier, it doesn't hurt to know the many Chinese words related to supermarket runs.