#zhongwen
Do Chinese people really use “nihao”?
We all know how to say “ni hao” and “nin hao”, but do people really use it?
The first time you meet someone,we use “ni hao”, and also use “nin hao”.But when two friends meet,people very seldom use “ni hao”.People like to use “Have you eaten?” , “Where are you going?”, or calling out the other person’s name.
For example,
if two neighbors meet they might say: “Did you eat yet?” “I did.What about you?” No I will go eat smth in a while”.
When friends meet they might say:
“Where are you going?” “Over there.And you?” “I’m just strolling about.”
When you meet someone at work you might say : “Manager Wang!” “Xiao Li!”
So when you meet someone and they ask you “Did you eat?” they don’t really want to know ♀️if you’ve eaten or not,nor are they trying to treat you to a meal. If the person asks you “Where are you going?” they don’t really want to know ♂️where you are going.
They’re just greeting you
Hope it was interesting for youInformation from my article in Chinese.Let’s develop our vocab guys
Grammar: “a little” in Chinese. «一下»
Note: The pinyin for 一下 is written “yīxià” but pronounced “yíxià” due to a tone change rule
Structure: To express that a verb is carried out briefly or “a little bit,” you can add 一下 (yīxià) after it. Sometimes 一下 (yīxià) can soften the tone.
Subj. + Verb + 一下 + Obj.
Often, adding 一下 (yīxià) just makes the Chinese feel more natural. This is not something you can get a feel for quickly. You’ll want to observe how native speakers use 一下 (yīxià) over a long period of time to really get used to how it is used.
Examples:
*请 你 等 一下。You get the feeling that it shouldn’t be a long wait.Qǐng nǐ děng yīxià. Please wait a little bit.
*你 看 一下。It should be quick.Nǐ kàn yīxià. Take a look.
*试 一下 吧。How long can trying it take? Shì yīxià ba. Try it.
*我 要 想 一下。You’re supposed to believe that I won’t need to think about it long.Wǒ yào xiǎng yīxià. I want to think a little.
*开 一下 门 吧 。 How long can it take to open the door?Kāi yīxià mén ba. Please open the door.
*请 你 说 一下 为什么。I feel it should be a quick explanation.Qǐng nǐ shuō yīxià wèishénme. Please say why.
How to compare in Chinese. Grammar
Since we use comparisons a lot in both conversation and writing, I’ve decided to to tell you about this grammar.
The basic structure for comparison 比 bǐ is
A + 比 + B + Adjective
For example:
- 我哥哥(A) 比 我(B) 高(Adj)。(My older brother is taller than me.)
- 这个公园(A) 比 那个公园(B) 漂亮(Adj)。(This park is prettier than that park.)
But in the real conversation, we may add more details when we compare.
You can add “degree,” like:
- “Wow! This one is MUCH bigger than that one.”
- “I am just A LITTLE shorter than him.”
- “He is 4 years older than me.”
You can add “degree” in the end of the sentence. So the structure is:
A + 比 + B + Adj. + Degree
For example:
- 我哥哥(A) 比 我(B) 高(Adjective) 得多(Degree)。(My older brother is taller than me.)
- 我哥哥(A) 比 我(B) 高(Adjective) 五公分(Degree)。(My older brother is 5 centimeters taller than me.)
You also can add “even more” when you would like to compare 3 things. So the structure is:
C + 比 + A + 更/还 + Adj.
For example:
- 我哥哥(A) 比 我(B) 高(Adjective), 我爸爸© 比 我哥哥(A) 更(even more) 高(adjective)。
Weather vocabulary
Left:Simplified version
Right:Traditional version
The adverb 都 (dōu) is used to express “all” in Chinese. It’s common to use 都 (dōu) in a variety of sentences where it would seem unnecessary in English.
Remember that 都 (dōu) appears after the subject. A common mistake learners make is to put 都 (dōu) at the beginning of the sentence (as “all” often appears there in English). This isn’t good Chinese - make sure you put 都 (dōu) after the subject and before the verb.
Structure:Subj. + 都 + [Verb Phrase]
Examples:
Since it is an adverb, 也 (yě) is inserted after the subject, before the verb or verb phrase.
Structure:Subj. + 也 + Verb / [Verb Phrase]
Examples:
In Chinese, regardless of whether the sentence is positive (“I like them too”) or negative (“I don’t like them either”), 也 (yě) is used the same way. Just make sure you put the 也 (yě) before the 不 (bù) or other negative part that comes before the verb.
也 (yě) with Adjectives:
也 (yě) can also be used with adjectives. Remember that for simple “noun + adjective” sentences you normally need to include an adverb like 很 (hěn) before the adjective. In that case, just put the 也 (yě) before the adverb.
Structure:Subj. + 也 (+ Adv.) + Adj.
I’m trying to post more this summer, so here’s another Mandopop vocab list. I’ve seriously been seeing some of these words pop up EVERYWHERE. I guess it’s the Baader–Meinhof phenomenon?
- 姿态 zītài - attitude / posture / stance
我们都讨厌她傲慢的姿态。 - 不知不觉 bùzhībùjué - unconsciously / unwittingly
不知不觉已过了三个月。 - 暧昧 àimèi - vague / ambiguous / equivocal / dubious
她与一个已婚男人的关系有些暧昧。 - 放纵 fàngzòng - to indulge / to pamper / to connive at / permissive / indulgent / self-indulgent / unrestrained / undisciplined / uncultured / boorish
我们偶尔都会放纵一下自己。 - 背叛 bèipàn - to betray
这种背叛严重伤害了我。 - 牵挂 qiānguà - to worry about / to be concerned about
好好学习，家里的事不用牵挂。 - 优先 yōuxiān - to have priority / to take precedence
我总是优先考虑我的孩子们。 - 忍耐 rěnnài - to endure / to bear with / to exercise patience / to restrain oneself / patience / endurance
我的忍耐是有限度的。 - 漫无目的 mànwúmùdì - aimless / at random
他过着一种漫无目的的生活。 - 闪烁 shǎnshuò - flickering / twinkling / evasive / vague (of speech)
她的眼睛里闪烁着喜悦的泪花。 - 坦白 tǎnbái - honest / forthcoming / to confess
坦白地说，我根本不在乎。 - 不配 búpèi - unworthy / unsuitable / not fitting
这袜子的颜色和鞋子不配。 - 退路 tuìlù - a way out / a way to retreat / leeway
我们到了没有退路的地步。 - 脸孔 liǎnkǒng - face
我还记得那些名字、那些脸孔。 - 不闻不问 bùwénbúwèn - to show no interest in sth / uncritical / not in the least concerned
她对这件事情完全不闻不问。 - 空白 kòngbái - blank space
我脑子突然一片空白。 - 标本 biāoběn - specimen / sample / the root cause and symptoms of a disease
苏州园林是中国园林的标本。 - 坐立不安 zuòlìbùān - agitated sitting or standing / restless / fidgety
都半夜了，儿子还不回家，母亲坐立不安。 - 无所事事 wúsuǒshìshì to have nothing to do / to idle one’s time away
孩子在家一整天都无所事事。 - 着迷 zháomí - to be fascinated / to be captivated
老爷爷的故事让孩子们听得着迷了。
These words are so fun to me! They are truly just fun to say. There are also A TON of words with this ABB pattern, so I’m only listing 20 that I’m familiar with. Please enjoy them :)
- 空荡荡 kōngdàngdàng - absolutely empty / complete vacuum
- 孤零零 gūlínglíng - lone / isolated and without help / all alone / solitary
- 毛茸茸 máorōngrōng or máoróngróng - hairy / shaggy
- 肉乎乎 ròuhūhū - plump / fleshy
- 阴森森 yīnsēnsēn - gloomy / gruesome / ghastly
- 热腾腾 rèténgténg or rètēngtēng - steaming hot / bustling / hectic / excited / stirred up
- 阴沉沉 yīnchénchén - dark (weather, mood)
- 香喷喷 xiāngpēnpēn - delicious / savory
- 空洞洞 kōngdòngdòng - empty / deserted
- 赤裸裸 chìluǒluǒ - bare / naked / plain / undisguised / unadorned
- 笑盈盈 xiàoyíngyíng - smilingly / to be all smiles
- 眼睁睁 yǎnzhēngzhēng - to stare blankly / to look on helplessly / to look on unfeelingly
- 笑嘻嘻 xiàoxīxī - grinning / smiling
- 甜蜜蜜 tiánmìmì - very sweet
- 黑乎乎 hēihūhū - black / blackened / dark / dim / blurry
- 绿葱葱 lǜcōngcōng - green and luxuriant
- 急匆匆 jícōngcōng - hurried / hasty
- 笑眯眯 xiàomīmī - beaming / all smiles
- 湿淋淋 shīlínlín - dripping wet / drenched
- 光闪闪 guāngshǎnshǎn - shiny / gleaming / brilliant
