Tag Archives: slang
Random Trivia #12 – Interesting Conditions
Test your English and Chinese vocabulary level! See how many of these words you can guess. Today’s theme is interesting conditions. Here’s a tip: most of them (but not all) end in 病 bìng (“sickness”) or 症 zhèng (“disease”). Also note many of these are new and popular expressions in Chinese, and some do not […]
33 Funny Words in Chinese
Let’s try something a bit lighter today. Here’s 33 words in Chinese I’ve collected over the years that I think are pretty funny when translated literally. Some of them also reveal a little bit about Chinese culture and thinking. Enjoy! 33 Funny Words in Chinese A computer is an “electric brain” (电脑). A cactus is […]
A Comprehensive Guide to Euphemisms in Chinese and English
I’ve always been fascinated with the concept of euphemisms in language – that is, words and expressions which allow you to express something without doing so in a direct way. In Chinese they are known as 婉辞, though in daily conversation it is more common to hear them described as 委婉语 or 委婉的说法. Here are […]
Random Word Trivia #8
Now it’s time for another Random Word Trivia Quiz! Which of these can you guess the Chinese and English for? Answers are at the bottom! (Don’t peek until you can figure them out!) You have a big belly, possibly from too much eating or drinking (noun) You know someone who has a huge vocabulary and […]
25 Common Abbreviations in Mandarin
I’ve had a number of readers ask me when I’ll be updating Parts 3 and 4 of the Top 100 Chinese Words feature. They’re currently a work in progress; I hope this list of common Mandarin abbreviations can tie you over in the meantime. If you can think of any good ones to add let […]
Random Word Trivia #7
And now, another round of the Random Word Trivia Quiz… Which of these can you guess the Chinese and English for? Answers are at the bottom! 1. You’re in class when all the sudden you lose your concentration. (verb) 2. Your hungry stomach is making some noises. (verb) 3. After you brush your teeth […]
Random Word Trivia #6 – Education
See how many of these random words you can guess the English and Chinese for! 1. You choose not to attend class. (verb) 2. You are a student who is always sucking up to the teacher. (noun) 3. You did something wrong. The teacher puts you in… (noun) 4. Your parents found out. They punish […]
Random Word Trivia Quiz #5
See how many of these random words you can guess the English and Chinese for! 1. A girl who acts or dresses like a boy. (noun) 2. The person you blame when something goes wrong, even if it’s not their fault. (noun) 3. A word used to describe food which makes you feel full […]
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