Distant water won’t quench your immediate thirst

It’s been a while since we learned a new Chinese proved. So why not do it today? There is a Chinese proverb I would like to share, and this is how it goes:

远水解不了近渴
Yuǎn shuǐ jiě bù liǎo jìn kě
Distant water won’t quench your immediate thirst

远 (yuǎn): far; distant
近 (jìn): near; close

As it is pretty obvious, this proverb implies the need to come up with an immediate solution to a problem. Now let’s see how it can be used:

远水解不了近渴，我今天急需钱。
Yuǎn shuǐ jiě bù liǎo jìn kě, wǒ jīntiān jíxū qián.
Distant water won’t quench immediate thirst, I badly need the money today.

Use of 每 (měi) in Chinese language

We just learned that measure words are reduplicated in Chinese language to emphasize commonality among different members of a group. And you must be thinking, isn’t that what每 (měi) is used for? Yes, just like reduplicated measure words, 每 (měi) can be used to stress commonality. See example below:

每个学生都学习中文
měi gè xuéshēng dōu xuéxí zhōngwén
All the students study Chinese language

However, unlike reduplicated measure words, 每 (měi) can also be used to emphasize individuality among different group members:

我们十个学生，每个人学习的语言不同
wǒmen shí gè xuéshēng, měi gèrén xuéxí de yǔyán bùtóng
Each one of us ten students study different languages

We also learned that reduplicated measure words and nouns cannot be used as objects. But每 (měi) can be:

你要把书给每一个学生
nǐ yào bǎ shū gěi měi yī gè xuéshēng
You should give a book to every student

Reduplication of measure words and nouns

We have already learned the reduplication of verbs and reduplication of adjectives in Chinese language. And we have also learned what the measure words are. Now why not learn a bit about the reduplication of measure words.

Reduplicated measure words denote the inclusion of the entirety without exception. It is used to emphasize that all the individual members of a group share the same qualities or exist in the same state. See the example below:

他们个个都喜欢用筷子
tāmen gè gè dōu xǐhuan yòng kuàizi
They all like to use chopsticks

Similarly some nouns like 人，年 and 天 can also be reduplicated for the same purpose:

现在人人都关心北京的绿化
Xiànzài rén rén dōu guānxīn běijīng de lǜhuà
These days everyone is concerned about Beijing’s greenery.

However please note that reduplicated measure words and nouns cannot be used as objects. The sentence 我告诉人人 would be incorrect.

Chinese New Year

I recently wrote a blog post on How to say ‘Happy New Year’ in Chinese language. But is that when the Chinese people celebrate New Year? Actually the Chinese New Year this year is on January 23. So how do you say Chinese New Year in Chinese language?

春节 (chūn jié)
春(chūn): spring
节(jié): festival

So in China it is known as the Spring Festival. There is a weeklong holiday during this period, allowing Chinese people to travel home and celebrate the new year with the family. The Chinese new year is also known as the Lunar New Year, because it is the first day of the lunar-solar Chinese calendar.

[Source: Click here]

Each new year is marked by the characteristics of one of the twelve zodiacal animals, and this is the year of the dragon.

龙 (lóng): dragon

Last year was the year of the rabbit and next year is the year of the snake

兔 (tù): rabbit
蛇 (shé): snake

Measure words: 把 (bǎ) and 本 (běn)

Let’s pick up where we left off and look at couple more measure words in Chinese language. We have already learned 个 (gè), 只 (zhǐ), 顶 (dǐng), 张 (zhāng) and 条 (tiáo). Today let’s learn when to use the measure words 把 (bǎ) and 本 (běn).

把 (bǎ)

把 (bǎ) is a measure word most commonly used to quantify objects that can be grasped or objects with a handle. Few examples below:

一把刀 (yī bǎ dāo): a knife
一把椅子 (yī bǎ yǐzi): a chair
一把茶壶 (yī bǎ cháhú): a teapot

It can also be used to quantify a handful of something:

一把米 (yī bǎ mǐ): a handful of rice
一把花 (yī bǎ huā): a bunch of flowers

本 (běn)

本 (běn) is a measure word used for books.

一本书 (yī běn shū): a book
一本小说 (yī běn xiǎoshuō): a novel
一本字典 (yī běn zìdiǎn): a dictionary

It can also be used to quantify bound documents or paper products:

一本相册 (yī běn xiàngcè): a photo album

It’s too expensive!!!

We have already learned how to say It’s too expensive in Chinese language. Just in case you forgot, here it is again:

太贵了 (tài guì le): too expensive

贵 (guì ) means expensive, but what does 太 (tài) mean?

太 (tài): excessively; too; extremely

太 + adjective 了 structure can be used to express different kinds of emotional intensity (surprise, disgust, praise, excitement etc). Here are few more examples:

你太棒了！

Nǐ tài bàng le!

You are so great!

人太多了！

Rén tài duō le!

There are too many people!

你太糊涂了！

Nǐ tài hútú le!

You are so confused!

And if someone asks you How are you?, you can always respond:

太好了！(Tài hǎo le!): Great!

Reduplication of verbs in Chinese language

You must have seen verbs being repeated in Chinese language, like the one below:

学习学习 (xuéxí xuéxí)

No, it’s not a mistake. Verbs are reduplicated as shown above to denote short duration of actions. It can also be used to express an attempt. Reduplication of verbs softens the tone of a sentence, making it more relaxed and informal.

The reduplicated form of monosyllabic verbs is A一A, and the reduplicated form of disyllabic verbs is ABAB:

看一看(kàn yī kàn)

想一想(xiǎng yī xiǎng)

学习学习(xuéxí xuéxí)

认识认识(rènshi rènshi)

Let’s look at some examples of how they are used in sentences:

我可以看一看吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ kàn yī kàn ma?

Can I look at it quickly?

我想跟他们认识认识

Wǒ xiǎng gēn tāmen rènshi rènshi

I want to meet them

Being humble in Chinese language

你说中文说得很好

Nǐ shuō zhōngwén shuō de hěn hǎo

You speak very good Chinese

How should you response if someone compliments you like above? You will probably say

谢谢 (xièxiè): Thank you

Next time try the following instead 哪里,哪里 (nǎlǐ, nǎlǐ)

哪里 (nǎlǐ): where

It literally translates to “Where? Where?”, and it is a polite way of responding to a compliment. It is also like saying “Where is my Chinese good?”

Using 哪里,哪里 instead of 谢谢 has two advantages. Firstly, people will think that your Chinese is actually really good. And more importantly, humility is valued highly in Chinese culture.

Another polite way to respond to a compliment is 不敢当 (bù gǎndāng)

不 (bù): no; not; do not

敢当 (gǎndāng): dare

It literally translates to “do not dare”, and it is like saying “I wouldn’t dare to accept such a compliment”.

Speak of the Chinese devil

You must have heard the English saying “Speak of the devil”, but what is its Chinese equivalent?

说曹操曹操到

Shuō Cáo Cāo Cáo Cāo dào

Speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives

You don’t believe me? Check this comic below:

I got this comic from this website. Check it out for more Cao Cao and other Chinese comics.

So who exactly is Cao Cao? Here is the Wikipedia excerpt:

"Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled Emperor Wu of Wei. Although often portrayed as a cruel and merciless tyrant, Cao Cao has also been praised as a brilliant ruler and military genius who treated his subordinates like his family."

The fact that Cao Cao is portrayed as a cunning and deceitful man in the Chinese opera has also helped his negative image. Below is the Cao Cao mask used in Chinese opera:

Some more Chinese expressions

Earlier we looked at Some daily Chinese expressions. That list was definitely not exhaustive, and today we will add few more to it. Let’s keep it simple this time around:

啊 (ā) is used to express amazement

啊！这个地方这么漂亮！

Ā! Zhège dìfāng zhème piàoliang!

Oh, This place is so beautiful!

啊 (á) is used when you want an answer

啊？ 你说什么？

Á? Nǐ shuō shénme?

Pardon?

啊 (ǎ) is used to express surprise

啊，你有什么问题？

Ǎ, Nǐ yǒu shénme wèntí?

Gosh, what’s your problem?

啊 (à) is used to express sudden realization

啊，你是她的男朋友！

À, Nǐ shì tā de nánpéngyǒu!

Ah, so you are her boyfriend.

Yes, I have been saying again and again: TONES ARE IMPORTANT.

How do people park in China?

We all know parking is a problem everywhere, and China is not an exception. So what is the solution? Here is one:

车 (chē): car

开车 (kāi chē): to drive a car

我开车去北京

Wǒ kāichē qù Běijīng

I drove to Beijing

停车 (tíng chē): to park a car

If you don’t want to deal with parking, why don't you take the public transportation then?

地铁 (dìtiě): subway

我是坐地铁来的

Wǒ shì zuò dìtiě lái de

I took the subway here

地铁站 (dìtiě zhàn): subway station

火车 (huǒchē): train

Can you guess how to say train station?

火车站 (huǒchē zhàn): train station

飞机 (fēijī): airplane

机场 (jīchǎng): airport

机票 (jīpiào): plane ticket

出租车 (chūzū chē): taxi

You might find the above in textbooks but the more common way of saying taxi is

打的 (dǎ di): taxi

自行车 (zìxíngchē): bicycle

我骑自行车上班

Wǒ qí zìxíngchē shàngbān

I ride my bike to work

And here is my favorite public transport in China. It might not be fun to ride but it is definitely fun to say.

公共汽车 (gōnggòng qìchē): bus/public bus

I am starving to death

How hungry are you? Well, if you are really hungry then you should definitely learn this.

我饿死了 (Wǒ è sǐ le): I am starving to death

And now that you have eaten a lot:

我吃饱了 (Wǒ chī bǎo le): I am full

As you might have noticed in the first sentence, 死了 (sǐ le) is used to reflect an extreme situation. You need one more example? Here you go:

我累死了 (Wǒ lèi sǐ le): I am dying of exhaustion

How else can you show an extreme situation? How about 极了 (jí le)?

好极了 (hǎo jí le): wonderful; great

This can be your response next time someone asks you “How are you?” Below is one more example:

阿拉斯加冷极了

Ālāsījiā lěng jí le

Alaska is extremely cold

And you can use 腻了 (nì le) when you are sick or bored of doing something.

这道菜我天天吃，都吃腻了

Zhè dào cài wǒ tiāntiān chī, dōu chī nì le

I eat this dish every day, I am sick of it.

Remember 死了 (sǐ le), 极了 (jí le) and 腻了 (nì le).

Some daily Chinese expressions

You must be familiar with expressions like Ah! Oh! etc in English language. Chinese language has similar expressions to indicate different emotions as well. Let’s look at some of them:

哎呀 (āiyā): an expression of wonder, shock, etc.

哎呀，你为什么告诉她？

Āiyā, nǐ wèishéme gàosu tā?

Oh! Why did you tell her?

哎呦 (āiyōu): an exclamation usually indicating disappointment

哎呦，我还没有做功课

Āi yōu, wǒ hái méiyǒu zuò gōngkè

Ah! I still haven’t done my homework.

噢 (ō): an expression indicating a sudden realization

噢， 他是你的哥哥

Ō, tā shì nǐ dí gēgē

Oh! He is your brother.

Another character, same sound but different tone, can also be used in a similar context:

哦 (ó): an expression to indicate a sudden realization

哦，是这样

Ó, shì zhèyàng

Oh! That’s how it is

Chinese Valentine's Day

Yesterday was the Qixi Festival in China, and it is also known as the Chinese Valentine’s Day.

七夕节 (Qīxì jié): Qixi Festival

七(qī): seven

夕(xì): evening

Literally it translates to “The night of sevens”, and it is named as such because it falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the Chinese calendar, which happens to be on August 6 this year. It is also known as the Chinese Valentine’s Day:

情人节 (Qíngrén jié): Valentine’s Day

情 (qíng): love

人 (rén): people

Looking for a Chinese girlfriend/boyfriend? You could definitely use some of these Chinese words:

爱 (ài): love

我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ): I love you

男朋友 (nan péngyǒu): boyfriend

女朋友 (nǚ péngyǒu): girlfriend

谈恋爱 (tán liàn'ài): to date someone

马克和丽莎谈恋爱

(Mǎkè hé Lìshā tán liàn'ài)

Mark and Lisa are dating.

吹了 (chuīle): to break up

他们吹了 (tāmen chuīle): They broke up

不来电 (bù láidiàn): to have no chemistry

And there is this very popular Chinese saying:

男才女貌 (Nán cái nǚ mào): talented man and a beautiful woman

In ancient China, it was believed to be a good match if the man was talented and the woman was beautiful.

男才女貌，这么不配？

(Nán cái nǚ mào, zhème bù pèi?)

The guy is talented and the girl is good looking, how is it not a good match?

Body parts in Chinese language

I came across this really catchy song which teaches how to say different body parts in Chinese language. Hope you will enjoy it:

一个土豆	yīgè tǔdòu	One potato
长两只眼睛	cháng liǎng zhī yǎnjīng	With two eyes
长一只鼻子	cháng yī zhǐ bízi	With a nose
和一张嘴	hé yī zhāng zuǐ	And a mouth
一个土豆	yīgè tǔdòu	One potato
有两只手	yǒu liǎng zhī shǒu	With two arms
有两条腿	yǒu liǎng tiáo tuǐ	With two legs
和一顶帽子	hé yī dǐng màozi	And a hat
一个土豆	yīgè tǔdòu	One potato
谁想跳舞	sheí xiǎng tiàowǔ	Who likes to dance
谁想跳舞	sheí xiǎng tiàowǔ	Who likes to dance
谁想跳舞	sheí xiǎng tiàowǔ	Who likes to dance

As you can see the different body parts used in this song are:

眼睛 (yǎnjīng): eyes

鼻子(bízi): nose

嘴 (zuǐ): mouth

手 (shǒu): hand

腿 (tuǐ): leg

Just in case you haven’t figured out yet

土豆 (tǔdòu): potato

[Update: As Alan Chan pointed out in the comments below, at 00:48 instead of saying "two potatoes have four arms" the song says "two potatoes have two arms"]

怎么(zěnme) vs. 怎么样 (zěnme yàng)

Earlier we looked at some of the uses of 怎么 (zěnme), but make sure that you don’t confuse it with 怎么样 (zěnme yàng). Even though they look alike they mean completely different things. You can revisit the post Why are you so Stupid? to refresh yourself on the uses of 怎么 (zěnme). And below are some of the common uses of 怎么样 (zěnme yàng).

To ask about the state of someone/something

你最近怎么样？

Nǐ zuìjìn zěnme yàng?

How are you these days?

你工作怎么样？

Nǐ gōngzuò zěnme yàng?

How is your job?

To get someone’s opinion

跟我们一起去，怎么样？

Gēn wǒmen yīqǐ qù, zěnme yàng?

How about going together with us?

我们踢足球，怎么样？

Wǒmen tī zúqiú, zěnme yàng?

How about we play soccer?

Hope these examples gave you a better idea between the differences of 怎么 (zěnme) and 怎么样 (zěnme yàng).