萌 (méng) Cute In China, you will often hear the word "萌 (méng)" used in daily life or while watching the news or TV. The word "萌 (méng)" means to sprout and is the symbol of spring. From this, the meaning of "萌 (méng)" has been extended and used to describe young girls who are attractive and give us the feeling of the coming of Spring. But currently "萌 (méng)" is usualy used to say "cute." The term originated from the animation industry. In the animation industry it is used as a lingua franca to refer to young, innocent and beautiful little girls. But now this word has been expanded to describe all the beautiful and cute young girls and boys. Now in the entertainment industry, the phrase "卖萌 (màiméng)" is usually used. It is a verb and means to "pretend to be cute" to attract the audienceand fans. The word "卖 (mài)" literally means to sell, but here it is the short form of "卖弄 (màīnong)" meaning to show off. Examples Tā zài zhège diànyǐng lǐ yǎn de juésè hǎo méng a, wǒmen dōu hěn xǐhuan. 1. 他 在 这个 电影 里 演 的 角色 好 萌 啊，我们 都 很 喜欢！ The role he played in the movie was really cute; we all liked it! Mèimei zǒngshì zài wǒ miànqián màiméng hǎo ràng wǒ gěi tā mǎi táng chī! 2. 妹妹 总是 在 我 面前 卖萌 好 让 我 给 她 买 糖 吃！ My little sister always pretends to be cute in front of me in order to get candy from me! Wǔ suì de nǚ'ér chuānzhe fěnsè de qúnzi, yí shàng tái jiù méng fān quánchǎng. 3. 五 岁 的 女儿 穿着 粉色 的 裙子，一 上 台 就 萌 翻 全场。 My 5-year-old daughter is so cute when she wears her pink skirt. The entire audience cannot help applauding her when she comes out on the stage.

Popular Chinese Words " 伤不起” 伤不起 (shāngbùqǐ) I can’t be hurt anymore! "伤不起 (shāngbùqǐ)" is a new popular expression in 2012. It means someone has already been hurt deeply and won’t stand any more torment. At first, "伤不起 (shāngbùqǐ)" was only popular in schools and on the internet, but now "伤不起 (shāngbùqǐ)" is widely used in daily life. Some television programs are using this phrase to create dramas. It has even been used as a song title by popular singers. Using the normal sentence order, the sentence should be "你伤不起… (nǐ shāngbùqǐ…)", but it is now much more common to say "…你伤不起 (…nǐ shāngbùqǐ)." We put the object in the front of the sentence to emphasis our feelings. For examples: 1. Méiyǒu fángzi de nánrén, nǐ shāngbùqǐ a. 没有 房子 的 男人，你 伤不起 啊。 The man without a house can’t be hurt anymore. Note: In China, from ancient time to nowadays, Chinese people have a rooted tradition –they have always wanted to own their own houses. In Chinese people’s mind, if you want to have a family, you’d better own a house first, especially for men. So those who don’t have a house will feel grieved and you cannot say nor do something to hurt their heart again. 2. Bēnsān de nǚrén, nǐ shāngbùqǐ a. 奔三 的 女人，你 伤不起 啊。 A woman in her late 20s can’t be hurt anymore. Note: "奔 (bēn)" means "to hurry/to rush." In the phrase "奔三 (bēnsān)," "三 (sān)" refers to the being thirty years old. "奔三 (bēnsān)" refers to the people who are in their late 20s, rushing to meet their 30s. In China, that means they begin to become old. So you cannot say nor do something to hurt their heartbecause they have grieved.

Put Your Money Where Your Stomach Is There are varying ways to greet people in Chinese depending on the time of day "早上好 (zǎoshang hǎo) good morning" or the situation "好久不见 (háo jiǔ bú jiàn) long time no see." One of the more baffling greetings you're likely to encounter in China is "你吃了吗? (Nǐ chī le ma?)." Understood literally, this expression means "Have you eaten?" Don't be fooled, though, this isn't someone asking you out to dinner, but rather asking, "How are you?" "你吃了吗? (Nǐ chī le ma?)" is a traditional Chinese greeting, dating back to the days when food was scarce, and if you had eaten, you were doing pretty well. As one of the world's great culinary cultures, the Chinese language is rife with expressions regarding food. Just take a look at some of these examples: "糊口 (húkǒu)" means "to make a living." Literally, "paste mouth." 饭碗 (fànwǎn)" means "job." Literally, "rice bowl." 吃醋 (chīcù)" means "jealous." Literally, "eat vinegar." As you have probably noticed, the literal meanings of these expressions are often very different from the figurative meaning. These kinds of expressions are called idioms, and lots of idioms in China revolve around food. A popular saying these days is "吃货 (chīhuò)," which describes people who are food enthusiasts, usually neutral in tone, it can sometimes be used negatively. Look at a few longer expressions: "吃不消 (chī bù xiāo)" means "to be unable to stand (exertion,fatigue,etc.)." "吃不准 (chī bù zhǔn)" means "to not be sure about something." "吃得开 (chī de kāi)" means "to be very popular." "干什么吃的 (gān shéme chī de)" means "to fail to do something." Take a look at these examples and try to spot the food idioms. Examples: Rúguǒ bù nǔlì gōngzuò, nǐ chízǎo huì diūdiào fànwǎn de. 1. 如果 不 努力 工作， 你 迟早 会 丢掉 饭碗 的。 If you don't work hard, sooner or later you will lose your job. Tā zài zhège gōngsī hěn chīdekāi. 2. 他在 这个 公司 很 吃得开。 He is very popular in this company. Nǐ shì gān shénme chīde? Zhème jiǎndān de shìqing dōu bàn bù hǎo. 3. 你是 干 什么 吃的？ 这么 简单 的 事情 都 办 不 好。 What are you doing? Can't you do even a simple thing like this? (Usuallya boss to their employee.)

Chinese Idiom: 哪壶不开提哪壶 To touch a soft spot The idiom "哪壶不开提哪壶 (nǎ hú bù kāi tí nǎ hú)" literally means "to pick the kettle that is not boiling." It's used to indicate that someone is saying or doing something that shouldn't be mentioned in front of others, or that someone is bringing up a sensitive subject. Idiom Story: Hěn jiǔ yǐqián, yǒu fùzǐ liǎ kāile jiān xiǎo cháguǎn. 很 久 以前，有 父子俩 开了 间 小 茶馆。 A long time ago there was a father and son who owned a tea-house. Dāngshí de zhīxiàn Bái lǎoye tāncái hàolì, jīngcháng lái bái hē chá. 当时 的 知县 白 老爷 贪财 好利，经常 来 白 喝 茶。 The local official, Mr. Bai, was of the greedy miser sort and always came for tea and promptly left without paying even a smile. Yì tiān, Bái lǎoye hēle yì kǒu chá, jiù zhòuzhe méi shuō: "zhè shuǐ méi kāi, chá yě méi wèir." 一 天， 白 老爷 喝了 一口 茶，就 皱着眉 说：“这 水 没 开，茶 也 没味儿。” One day, Mr.Bai took a sip from his cup and grumbled, "This water's not boiled, and the tea itself tastes terrible." Xiǎo zhǎngguì shuō: "lǎoye, zhè chá hái shì shàngděng de Lóngjǐng; shuǐ yě shì shāo kāide, 小 掌柜 说：“老爷，这 茶 还 是 上等 的 龙井； 水 也 是 烧 开的， zěnme néng méi wèir ne?" 怎么 能 没 味儿呢？” The son replied, "My lord, the tea is our prized Longjing (Dragonwell Tea), and the water is piping hot, how could it taste terrible?" Guòle jǐ tiān, Bái lǎoye jiànjiàn bù lái le. 过了 几天，白 老爷 渐渐 不 来了。 A few days later, Mr. Bai stopped coming to their tea-house. Lǎo zhǎngguì biàn wèn érzi: "Bái lǎoye wèi shénme bù lái le?" 老 掌柜 便 问 儿子：“白老爷 为 什么 不 来了？” The Father asked his son, "Why hasn't Mr. Bai been coming?" Érzi jīling de yí xiào, shuō: "wǒ gěi tā qīchá, shì nǎ hú bù kāi tí nǎ hú!" 儿子机灵 地 一 笑， 说:“我 给他 沏茶，是 哪 壶 不 开提哪 壶！” The son smiled knowingly and said, "Whenever I make his tea, I always use the water that hasn’t been boiled!" From that time on, the Chinese idiom "哪壶不开提哪壶 (nǎ hú bù kāi tí nǎ hú)" came into use. Now it's used to mean that someone is saying or doing something that shouldn't be mentioned in front of others.

中国商务送礼禁忌 Taboos of giving business gifts in China (Intermediate) 中国商务送礼禁忌 (Zhōngguó shāngwù sònglǐ jìnjì) Taboos of giving business gifts in China 　 Key Learning Points (Preview): 送礼 (sònglǐ): v to give gift 　 商务往来 (shāngwù wǎnglái): n business exchanges/doing business with others 　 “送礼 (sònglǐ) Giving gift” is an important part of “商务往来 (shāngwù wǎnglái) doing business” in China. Cultural traditions play an important role in business life in China. And there are some important “禁忌 (jìnjì) taboos” that business people should be aware of. First, people should not give clocks to others since the Chinese pronunciation of “送钟 (sòngzhōng) to give clocks” is the same as that of “送终 (sòngzhōng) to attend upon a dying relative.” Second, people should not give shoes as gifts since the Chinese pronunciation of “鞋 (xié) shoes” is the same as that of “邪 (xié) evil.” There is another proverb that says, “If you give shoes to a pair of lovers, it means they will break up.” Lastly, people should not give pears as gifts to others because the Chinese pronunciation of “梨 (lí) pears” is the same as that of “离 (lí) to separate.” The meaning of Chinese character “离 (lí)” is not “吉利 (jílì) lucky” in Chinese. Key Learning Points: 送礼 (sònglǐ): v to give gift The character “送 (sòng)” means to give and “礼 (lǐ)” refers to gift. Examples: Jiérì sònglǐ shì yì zhǒng fēngsú. 节日 送礼 是 一 种 风俗。 　 Giving presents on festivals is a tradition. Tā sònglǐ hěn kāngkǎi. 他 送礼 很 慷慨。 　 He is generous in giving gifts. 商务往来 (shāngwù wǎnglái): n business exchanges/doing business with others　 The character “商 (shāng)” means commerce and “务 (wù)” means affair. “往(wǎng)” means to go and “来 (lái)” means to come. Examples: Tāmen jiànlì le xīn de shāngwù wǎnglái guānxi. 他们 建立了 新 的 商务 往来 关系。 　 They have established a new business relationship. Zhè liǎng jiā gōngsī de shāngwù wǎnglái hěn pínfán. 这 两 家 公司 的 商务 往来 很 频繁。 The two companies are very frequent in business exchanges. 生词 (shēngcí) Vocabulary: 禁忌 (jìnjì): n taboo 吉利 (jílì): adj lucky

A Chinese Christmas Feast: 火锅 (huǒguō) hot pot 聚 (jù): v. to get together 　 大餐 (dàcān): n. feast 　 Stockings and presents are just around the corner and westerners everywhere are busy wrapping, caroling and bustling about. Since its more widespread publicity in China since the 1990s, Christmas has slowly, yet surely gained popularity with locals. The day in China has become an excuse for people to "聚 (jù) get together" for dinner with their friends and loved ones, which is arguably the best part of the day in the first place. In China, unlike the Christmas ham and Yule log enjoyed in the western world, the most popular Christmas "大餐 (dàcān) feast" is "火锅 (huǒguō) hot pot," a delicacy with a long and sentimental history in China. The primary qualities of the meal are its "辣 (là) spiciness" and "热 (rè) heat," which helps keep bones warm despite any chilly weather. As the aroma of the spices, fresh vegetables and meat fuses with a warm atmosphere of close friends and family huddled around a pot of boiling water, the real magic of the tradition becomes apparent. Just like a traditional Christmas dinner, hot pot creates the togetherness with friends that we all love to have at the dinner table. Key Learning Points: 聚 (jù): v. to get together Example: Zuìjìn zěnmeyàng? Wǒmen zhǎo ge shíjiān jù yi jù ba. Lisa: 最近 怎么样？ 我们 找个 时间 聚一聚 吧。 Jeez, what’s been up lately? We need to get together some time. Hǎo a, dàjiā dōu hǎo jiǔ méi jiàn le. Anne: 好啊，大家 都 好 久 没见 了。 I know, we haven’t met up in so long. 大餐 (dàcān): n. feast Example: Māma zhèngzài zhǔnbèi Xīnnián dàcān ne. Brother: 妈妈 正在 准备 新年 大餐 呢。 Mom is making our New Year’s feast! Shì ma? Wǒ dōu kuài liúkǒushuǐ le. Sister: 是吗？ 我 都 快 流口水 了。 Really? You’re already making my mouth water. Vocabulary: 火锅 (huǒguō): n. hotpot 辣 (là): adj. spicy 热 (rè): adj. hot

你最喜欢吃哪道中国菜？What's your favorite Chinese dish?

Why Is the Rabbit the Fourth Animal in the Chinese Zodiac? (Intermediate) 兔子为什么在生肖中排第四？ (Tùzi wèishénme zài shēngxiāo zhōng pái dì sì?) Key Learning Points (Preview) 生肖 (shēngxiāo): n. Zodiac 出发 (chūfā): v. to start off Hěn jiǔ yǐqián, Yùhuángdàdì dǎsuàn zài dòngwù zhōng xuǎn shí’èr gè pái shēngxiāo. 很 久 以前，玉皇大帝 打算 在 动物 中 选 十二 个 排 生肖。 Long ago, the Jade Emperor prepared to select twelve animals to be the zodiac signs. Gēnjù guīdìng, zài zhǐdìng de nà yì tiān, 根据 规定， 在 指定 的 那 一天， nǎ ge dòngwù xiān dào jiù huì bèi xuǎn zhòng. 哪 个 动物 先 到 就 会 被 选 中。 In accord with decree, the first twelve animals to arrive on the appointed day would be selected as the animals of the zodiac. Huángniú yǔ tùzi yuēdìng yìqǐ cānjiā jìngsài. 黄牛 与 兔子 约定 一起 参加 竞赛。 The ox and the rabbit agreed to take part in the event together. Zhēng shēngxiāo de rìzi zhōngyú lái le. 争 生肖 的 日子 终于 来 了。 The day arrived. Tùzi qǐ de hěn zǎo, méi yǒu děng huángniú jiù chū fā le. 兔子起的 很 早， 没 有 等 黄牛 就 出发 了。 　 The rabbit got up early and started off without waiting for the ox. Tùzi pǎo le yí zhèn zi, fāxiàn lùshang méi yǒu qí tā dòngwù de yǐngzi. 兔子 跑 了 一阵子， 发现 路上 没 有 其 它 动物 的 影子。 　 After running for a while, the rabbit found that no other animals were on the way. Yúshì, zài cǎodì shang shuì qǐ jiào lái. 于是，在 草地 上 睡 起 觉 来。 　 So he began to doze off in a meadow. Suīrán huángniú chūfā wǎn le, pǎo de yòu màn, 虽然 黄牛 出发 晚 了，跑 得 又 慢， dàn píng zhe yìlì, zài tùzi shuì jiào de shíhou, jiù dàodá tiāngōng le. 但 凭 着 毅力，在兔子 睡 觉 的 时候，就 到 达 天宫 了。 　 Thanks to his perseverance, the ox, despite starting off later and running slower, arrived at the temple earlier than the rabbit who at the time was fast asleep. Zuìhòu, tùzi zhǐ pái dào le shēngxiāo de dì sì míng. 最后， 兔子只 排 到 了 生肖 的 第 四 名。 　 In the end, the rabbit was the fourth animal in rank of the zodiac. Pái zài tā qián miàn de shì lǎoshǔ, huángniú hé lǎohǔ. 排 在 他 前 面 的 是 老鼠， 黄牛 和 老虎。

Chinese Mini-Test: Does He Know that Beautiful Lady? (Intermediate) Nǐ rènshi qiánmian nà gè měi nǚ ma? A: 你 认识 前面 那 个 美 女 吗？ Rènshi cái guài ne. B: 认识 才 怪 呢。 Question: Has the man met that beautiful lady? A. Yes B. No