хозяин - (n) boss, chief, employer; landlord; owner, proprietor
настроение - (n) emotions, mood, spirits
чудак - (n) strange person, eccentric
спор - (n) dispute, controversy, argument
преступник - (n) criminal
саботаж - (n) sabotage
полиция - (n) police

Review/Oбзор

завистливый - (adj) envious
бескорыстный - (adj) unselfish
бескорыстный труд - labor of love
ценить - (v) to appreciate, to value highly
вздыхать/вздохнуть - (v) to sigh; to yearn for, to pine after
ухаживать - (v) to take care of, to look after; to court, to date
заигрывать/заиграть - (v) to flirt; to make advances
сердце - (n) heart; temper; anger; darling, love, sweetheart
пара - (n) couple, pair

New Words/Hовые Cлова

рот - (n) mouth
знакомый - (adj.) familiar, acquainted (with); (n) acquaintance, friend
любить/полюбить - (v) to love, to like, to be fond of
страсть - (n) passion; strong love; strong obsession with, attraction to some activity

Review/Oбзор

страшно - (adv) terrifyingly; very, very badly
тотчас - (adv) immediately, at once
наверняка - (adv) certainly, for sure; safely
весело - (adv) happily, merrily, cheerfully
безполезно - (adv) uselessly
вдруг - (adv) suddenly

New Words/Hовые Cлова

чудно - (adv) wonderfully, beautifully
мрачно - (adv) gloomily, dismally
только - (adv) only, but
уже - (adv) already

Source:https://lilidoescriticallanguages.com/2018/08/30/feeling-stuck-how-to-get-passed-a-language-learning-rut/

“Everything is so hard! I just wanted to be an astronaut!” – A wise man (probably)

Learning a language isn’t supposed to be easy. It’s a living and breathing method of communication that isn’t always perfectly logical. In other words, it’s a HOT MESS and you’re going to have to learn your way through the dense and confusing jungles of someone else’s language. So naturally, you will reach roadblocks and will deal with things that will make you want to quit life and go back to bed. It’s natural! It’s life!

If you are a huge bump in your language learning journey, don’t panic. Don’t panic!! You being stuck is not a reflection upon you or your capabilities. Let me say that again. YOU BEING STUCK IS NOT A REFLECTION UPON YOU OR YOUR CAPABILITIES. It is a reflection of how the world works and how sucky it can be to learn languages.

While learning Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, I faced so many bumps in the road. So many. So many…. *clinches fist and closes eyes dramatically*. But I got through and so can you. In the steps I outline what you can do if you’re feeling stuck in your language learning or if you’ve reached a language learning plateau how to move forward. (So chill out on the “feeling in a rut” quotes from Pinterest cause they won’t help).

Remember Why You Started

This is super basic and you’ve probably heard it a million times, so I won’t linger on this tip. If you feel like giving up, just make a list of all the reasons you started learning this language in the first place. If you have no specific reasons, make some right now. Do some research and see what benefits your language(s) grant you! This will kick your butt into gear again, because now you remember the goal you’re chasing after and you’ll wanna reach it. Cause who doesn’t love reaching goals!?

Don’t Rely On Motivation

Motivation is so great for getting started on something, but once you’ve actually started to do something, you will find that your motivation often wains and all you’re left with is procrastination and guilt. You can’t rely on being motivated to do things everyday. You can try to motivate yourself each and everyday, but that is ineffecient because it takes up precious time and energy. Instead, build up your discipline or your ability to do things even if you don’t want to. Wouldn’t that be sick wicked awesome if you could consistently get things done even if you don’t want to!? That’s what discipline can do for you! The only way to grow it, is to practice doing it over and over till you build the muscle. Beautiful things take time and when you give it that time, you will see amazing results.

Pinpoint EXACTLY What the Problem Is

If you are feeling stuck, you need to try to pinpoint EXACTLY what the problem is. Are you having trouble reading, writing, formulating sentences, listening to natural speed? Pinpoint EXACTLY where the problem lies and then go deeper than THAT to see what is causing the problem. It is important to know exactly what is causing the problems in your studies, writing them down and then brainstorming the best way FOR YOU to address those problem areas. I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS.

For example, in my Korean studies I faced a HUGE issue. I could NOT formulate sentences to save my life or even my dog’s life! I could perfectly understand sentences, but I couldn’t make a single one. So I identified that I had trouble speaking. Then I identified that it was sentence formation. Then I needed to figure out why. So I threw myself into an immersive environment and realized it was because I was feeling overwhelmed by the grammar and was learning the material the wrong way.

Change Your Approach

Once you have identified the problem, you can begin brainstorming creative ways to deal with each and every problem

For example, in my Korean studies I could NOT formulate sentences! So I reviewed making basic sentences then adding complicated parts to them. I studied that grammar inside and out so that I knew EXACTLY what each word meant and how it contributed to the sentence to create it’s meaning.

I also realized that Koreans formulate sentences so bizarrely different from English so I needed to learn DIRECTLY from native speakers more often. In other words, I needed to shadow them. Then I was able to take sentences I learned to use them and modify them with my deep knowledge of the grammar.

Ask Someone For Help

Last but certainly not least, ask someone for help. It could be a teacher, a coach, another language learner (like myself) or a native speaker. Ask them to assess your abilities and help you determine what’s going wrong in your language studies. There is no book, blog or video that can supplement a human person’s personal interaction so look to others to help you where you are stuck and you will never be disappointed!

You can join language communities in:

Facebook,

Tumblr (you can ask me questions directly on my Tumblr page)

Instagram (Every week I hold a Q&A in Instagram Live)

Reddit (r/languagelearning)

iTalki

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram|Facebook|Twitter|Pinterest

Give yourself a break ☆

Please, don’t forget, it’s OK to give yourself some time to rest. Take your time.

<Jonghyun - Maybe Tomorrow>

It’s okay to cheer up by tomorrow

明天加油也可以

Míngtiān jiāyóu yě kěyǐ

No, it’s fine even by the day after tomorrow

不，后天开始也可以

bù, hòutiān kāishǐ yě kěyǐ

We can’t be having fun everyday as we live

我们不能每天都开心，

wǒmen bùnéng měitiān doū kāixīn,

We won’t be tearing for a lifetime either

也不会终生都流泪

yě bú huì zhōngshēng dōu liúlèi

Sometimes I wonder, why am I the only one who isn’t doing well

有时候在想，为什么只有我不行，

yǒu shíhòu zài xiǎng, wèishéme zhǐyǒu wǒ bùxíng,

Feel bitter and pain

又苦涩又痛苦

yòu kǔsè yòu tòngkǔ

When it’s stifling, when it’s frustrating

压抑的时候，茫然的时候

yāyì de shíhòu, mángrán de shíhòu

It’s not that bad to waste it like that for once

就这样放弃一次，也不是很坏

jiù zhèyàng fàngqì yīcì, yě búshì hěn huài

It’s OK, it’s OK

没关系，没关系

méiguānxì, méiguānxì

It’s OK to rest

休息也可以

xiūxí yě kěyǐ

Vegetarianism   素食主义者   sùshí zhǔyì zhě

Veganism 纯素主义   chún sù zhǔyì

I am a vegetarian.   我是一个素食者。   Wǒ shì yīgè sùshí zhě.

I do not eat meat.   我不吃肉。   Wǒ bù chī ròu.

I eat eggs and dairy products.   我吃鸡蛋和奶制品。   Wǒ chī jīdàn hé nǎi zhìpǐn.

I am a vegan.   我个是纯素者。Wǒ shì gè chún sù zhě.

I do not eat eggs or dairy products at all.   我根本不吃鸡蛋或乳制品。   Wǒ gēnběn bù chī jīdàn huò rǔ zhìpǐn.

Do you have any vegetarian (vegan) dishes?   你们有素食(纯素食)菜吗？   Nǐ men yǒu sùshí (chún sùshí) cài ma?

纯素主义是一种生活方式，志在尽可能排除对动物的所有剥削虐待。
Chún sù zhǔyì shì yī zhǒng shēnghuó fāngshì, zhì zài jǐn kěnéng páichú duì dòngwù de suǒyǒu bōxuè nüèdài.
Veganism is a way of life, aiming to eliminate all exploitation and abuse of animals as much as possible.

动物产品 包含所有形式的   Animal products includeall forms of
Dòngwù chǎnpǐn bāohán suǒyǒu xíngshì de
肉  ròu   meat
禽   qín   birds
鱼   yú   fish
贝   bèi   shell
蛋   dàn  eggs
乳制品   rǔ zhìpǐn   dairy products
毛皮   máopí   fur
皮革   pígé   leather
毛料   máoliào   wool
昆虫产品   kūnchóng chǎnpǐn   insect products
丝   sī   silk
蜂蜜   fēngmì   honey
副产品例如   fùchǎnpǐn lìrú   by-products such as
明胶   míngjiāo    gelatin
凝乳   níng rǔ   curd
乳清   rǔ qīng   whey

祝你…／希望你…+

(zhù nǐ… / xīwàng nǐ…) wish you… / may you…

basic:

• 幸福(安康)   xìngfú(ānkāng)                   happiness (and good health)
  
• 好运绵长     hǎo yùn miáncháng          good luck lingering
  
• 快乐无疆     kuàilè wújiāng                   happiness without borders
  
• 天天开心     tiān tiān kāi xīn                  be happy everyday
  
• 新年／中秋节… 快乐    xīn nián / zhōng qiū jié … kuài lè
  Happy New Year / Mid-Autumn Festival..
  

with … 顺利／顺心 … shùn lì / shùn xīn 

smoothly／be satisfactory

• 一切顺心    yī qiè shùn xīn           (may you) everything go well
  
• 工作顺利    gōng zuò shùn lì        work go well
  
• 感情顺利    gǎn qíng shùn lì         love go well
  
• 考试顺利    kǎo shì shùn lì            exams go well
  
• 生活顺利    shēng huó shùn ltì     life go well

工作 - gōngzuò - work

• 早日升迁    zǎorì shēngqiān     to get promotion earlier
  
• 步步高升    bùbùgāo shēng     to attain eminence step by step 
• 再展宏图    zài zhǎn hóngtú     realize one’s ambition
• 在任功成绩高       zàirèn gōng chéngjī gāo
  high performance in the work
  
• 芝麻开花节节高   zhīma kāihuā jié jié gāo
  be like sesame in bloom, each flower grows higher than the last

生日 - shēngrì - birthday

• 生日快乐          shēngrì kuàilè                      happy birthday
  
• 长命百岁          cháng mìng bǎi suì              may you live a hundred years
  
• 永远年轻          yǒngyuǎn niánqīng              may you be young forever
  
• 过着幸福生活   guò zhe xìngfú shēnghuó    live a happy live
  
• 未来的日子与以往一样快乐    wèilái de rìzi yǔ yǐwǎng yīyàng kuàilè
  the days ahead are as happy as ever
  

感情 - gǎnqíng - love

• 有情人终成眷属    yǒuqíng rén zhōng chéng juànshǔ
  lovers finally get married
• 永浴爱河    yǒng yù àihé       to bathe in the river of love forever   
  
• 早生贵子    zǎoshēng guìzǐ   to have a dear son soon
  
• 携手共渡美丽人生    xiéshǒu gòngdù měilì
  rénshēng join hands to live a beautiful life
  
• 愿爱洋溢在你甜蜜的生活中    
  yuàn ài yángyì zài nǐ tiánmì de shēnghuó zhōng
  May love overflow in your sweet life.
  

学业 - xuéyè - studies

• 学业进步    xuéyè jìnbù         to progress one’s studies
  
• 金榜题名    jīnbǎng tímíng    to succeed in exam
  
• 取得丰硕的成果     qǔdé fēngshuò de chéngguǒ     
  score great successes
• 将来造福社会        jiānglái zàofú shèhuì     
  to benefiting society in the future
  
• 大学生活缤纷绚烂   dàxué shēnghuó bīnfēn xuànlàn
  the university life to be gorgeous

自我介绍 self-introduction

1. 姓名 （xìngmíng）surname and name

• 请问 + 您／你／他／这位 + 怎么称呼／叫什么名字？
• 我／他／这位 + （的名字）叫／叫做／是 + 【姓名】
• 我／他／这位 + 姓 + 【姓】

称呼 (chēnghū) to call; to address (of people’s names and titles)

✎ 您怎么称呼 - How can I address you? (more formal way to ask name, when you want to show your respect to someone, you can use this expression)

✎ First - surname, then - name. Eng.: John Smith, 中文：Smith John

✍ 请问，您怎么称呼？- 我姓周。

✍ 请问，你叫什么名字？- 我叫周子芸。

2. 国籍（guójí）nationality

• 请问 + 你／您 是哪里人？

        + 他／这位 来自哪里？

• 我／他／这位 + 是 + 【国家】人。
• 我／他 + 来自 +【国家】。

✍ 请问，这博客写手(bókè xiěshǒu blogger) 来自哪里？- 她来自俄罗斯。

3. 职业 （zhíyè）occupation / profession

• 请问 + 你／您／他 + 在哪里 + 念书／工作？
• 我／他 + 是／是个／是位 + 学生／医生／家庭主妇。
• 我／他 + 在 + 【大学／公司名字】+ 念书／上班／工作。

✍ 请问您在哪里工作？- 我是个学生，在马萨里克大学念书。

4. 年龄 （niánlíng）(a person’s) age

• 请问 + 您／你／他 +（今年）+ 几 + 岁？
• 我／他 +（今年）+ 【年龄】+ 岁。

✍ 请问，您几岁？- 我今年二十三岁。

✎ 年龄 (niánlíng) and 年纪 (niánjì) are different in that the former can refer to the age of a person, plant or heavenly body, while the latter can only refer to the age of a person.

Task／任务：请你自我介绍一下！

Example／例子：

你好！我叫Kate，我中文名是瑟琳。我来自俄罗斯，可是现在我住在捷克。我是个学生，我的专业是中文。今年我二十三岁了。

Xìng shēnfèn
性 - nature / character / sexuality / sex / gender 
身份 - identity / status 

性取向 - xìng qǔxiàng - sexual orientation

Asexual - 无性恋 - wúxìng liàn
Bisexual - 双性恋 - shuāng xìng liàn
Heterosexual - 异性恋 - yìxìng liàn
Homosexual - 同性恋 - tóngxìngliàn
     Lesbian - 女同性恋 - nǚ tóngxìngliàn
     Gay - 男同性恋 - nán tóngxìngliàn
Non-heterosexual - 非异性恋 - fēi yìxìng liàn
Pansexual - 泛性恋 - fàn xìng liàn
Polysexual - 多性恋 - duō xìng liàn
Queer - 酷儿 - kù er

性别认同 - xìngbié rèntóng - gender identity

Agender -  无性别 - wú xìngbié
Androgyne - 双性性格 - shuāng xìng xìnggé
Bigender - 双性别 - shuāng xìngbié
Cissexual - 顺性别 - shùn xìngbié 
Genderqueer, gender-fluid - 性别酷儿 - xìngbié kù er
Pangender - 泛性别 - fàn xìngbié
Transgender - 跨性別 - kuà xìngbié 
     Trans man - 跨性别男性 
     Trans woman - 跨性别女性
Trigender - 三性别 - sān xìngbié

10.October - World Mental Health Day

Shí yuè shí hào - Shìjiè jīngshén wèishēng rì

世界 shìjiè world
精神卫生 jīngshén wèishēng mental health

anorexia - 厌食症 yànshízhèng
             厌 - to loathe
             食 - to eat, food
             症 - disease, illness
厌食症不是闹着玩的，不是你想得就能得的。

anxiety - 焦虑（症）jiāolǜ
             焦 - burnt, worried, anxious
             虑 - to think over, to consider, anxiety
             焦虑症发作 - an anxiety attack
             急性焦虑症 (jíxìng) - acute anxiety disorder
大部分人一生中都会经历不同程度的焦虑，但急性焦虑却会让人感到束手无措。

autism - 自闭症 zìbì ／孤独症 gūdú
             自 - self, oneself
             闭 - to close, to stop up, to shut, to obstruct
             孤 - lone, lonely
             独 - alone, independent, single, sole, only
自闭症的孩子只是不爱说话、比较孤僻，其实是隐藏的天才。

bipolar disorder - 躁郁症 zào yù zhèng
             躁 - hot-tempered, impatient
             郁 - dense (growth), melancholy
凡高很有可能同时患有癫痫及躁郁症。

dementia - 痴呆症 chīdāi
             痴 - imbecile, sentimental, stupid, foolish, silly
             呆 - foolish, stupid, expressionless, blank, to stay
             老人痴呆症* - Alzheimer’s Disease*
痴呆症患者常常无法获得其他人享有的基本权利和自由。

depression - 抑郁症 yìyù
             抑 - to restrain, to restrict, to keep down
世卫组织称，全球范围内，共有超过3.5亿人患有抑郁症，遍布各个年龄组。

obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) - 强迫症 qiángpò
             强 - strong, powerful, vigorous, violent, best in their category
             迫 - to force, to compel, to approach or go towards, urgent, pressing
强迫行为是我们的自我保护方式，并不是坏的东西。

panic attack - 恐慌发作 kǒnghuāngfāzuò
             恐 - afraid, frightened, to fear
             慌 - to get panicky, to lose one’s head
             恐慌 - panic, panicky, panic-stricken
             发作 - to flare-up, to break out
虽然每位病人的恐慌发作时感受都有不同，但有一点是相同的：恐慌发作非常吓人。

phobia - 恐惧症 kǒngjù  
             惧 - to fear
             恐惧 - fear, dread, phobia
患有社交恐惧症的人一想到要见陌生人就发抖。

post-traumatic stress disorder - 创伤后压力紊乱 chuāngshāng hòu yālì wěnluàn
              创 - a wound, cut, injury, trauma
              伤 - to injure, injury, wound
              创伤后 - post-traumatic
              压 - to press, to push down, to keep under (control), pressure
              力 - power, force, strength, ability, strenuously
              压力 - pressure
              紊乱 - disorder, chaos
在美国，每年约3.5%的成人罹患创伤后压力症。

schizophrenia - 精神分裂症 jīngshén fēnliè zhèng
              精神 - spirit, mind, consciousness, thought, mental, psychological
              分裂 - to split up, to divide, to break up, fission, schism
精神分裂症患者通常不知道自己病了。

*a useful note from rolandbarfs:痴呆 for Alzheimer’s is considered dated and pejorative (I’ve previously been told this by a Chinese mental health expert). A much more neutral, non-judgemental term is 阿滋海默症 — even Chinese state media tends to call it this now.