| Blog of Carl Gene Fordham | Friday, 24 October 2025 - 6:28 |
26. 搭讪 dāshàn, 27. 走光 zǒuguāng, 28. 默认 mòrèn, 29. 领情 lǐngqíng, 30. 碰头 pèngtóu, 31. 坦率 tǎnshuài, 32. 打量 dǎliang, 33. 拜托 bàituō, 34. 发福 fāfú, 35. 山寨 shānzhài, 36. 靠谱 kàopǔ, 37. 郁闷 yùmèn, 38. 有种 yǒuzhǒng, 39. 臭美 chòuměi, 40. 无奈 wúnài, 41. 陶醉 táozuì, 42. 陪衬 péichèn, 43. 委屈 wěiqu, 44. 任性 rènxìng, 45. 忐忑 tǎntè, 46. 体会 tǐhuì, 47. 啰嗦 luōsuo, 48. 熬夜 áoyè, 49. 下海 xiàhǎi, 50. 灿烂 cànlàn
Here is Part 1 of 100 absolutely fascinating words in Chinese that you really should know. These are quintessential Mandarin words – so quintessential that if you don’t happen to know them I’d say you’re really missing out! I’d say all of these are quite common both in speaking and writing – they’re also highly expressive and vivid terms and as a result, if you master how to use them properly, they can be quite powerful. In fact, in my view, each one of them represents a tiny morsel of Chinese culture that all learners should be aware of. And I hope the translations will be useful for Chinese learners of English too. Parts 2, 3 and 4 will be posted over the next two weeks. Enjoy.
1. 赌气 dǔqì, 2. 熏陶 xūntáo, 3. 封建 fēngjiàn, 4. 糟蹋 zāotà, 5. 德性 déxing, 6. 彪悍 biāohàn, 7. 磨唧 mòji, 8. 冤枉 yuānwang, 9. 霸道 bàdào, 10. 耍赖 shuǎlài, 11. 气场 qìchǎng, 12. 得瑟 dèse, 13. 翻臉 fānliǎn, 14. 辟邪 bìxié, 15. 利索 lìsuǒ, 16. 怂恿 sǒngyǒng, 17. 猎艳 lièyàn, 18. 皮毛 pímáo, 19. 嗑药 kēyào, 20. 笑点 xiàodiǎn, 21. 淡定 dàndìng, 22. 刁钻 diāozuān, 23. 缘分 yuánfèn, 24. 意境 yìjìng, 25. 抬杠 táigàng
Mrs Wen, a Mandarin-speaking woman, is planning to sell a property she owns in Melbourne. Today she is in the office of Mr Wickham, an English-speaking real estate agent.
A business man named Mr Brown has just moved to Beijing and is looking for a new house to rent. He is having a discussion with Mrs Lu, a Mandarin-speaking real estate agent.
100 Personalities in Mandarin with English Translations
A criminal law professor is giving a speech for a visiting delegation from China about the sentencing options available to judges in Australian courts.
Interpreting Speech #6 – Sentencing Options (English-into-Mandarin)
Mrs Liu, a Mandarin-speaking woman, has been called in to take an interview with Victoria Police regarding a fire that broke out at her workplace, Chaochao Grocery, in Richmond.
Mandarin-English Dialogue #19 – Suspicious Fire
A drug possession charge has been brought against a Mandarin-speaking woman, Miss Wu, after a tip-off alerted police to a possible supplier operating from her residence. Wu is being interviewed by Police Constable Granger following the discovery of various controlled substances within her rented property in Fitzroy.
Mandarin-English Dialogue #18 – Drug Possession
You have been called in at the last minute to interpret for your colleague who has been called away on a family emergency. Your interpreting assignment is at a local police station, where you will be interpreting for Mrs Zeng, a Mandarin-speaking woman, and an English-speaking constable. Zeng’s teenage son has been arrested and charged with a number of offences, and they are now conducting a police interview.
Mandarin-English Dialogue #17 – Delinquent Juvenile
You have been asked to interpret for a visiting economist from China. Her speech topic is entitled “The World is Changing”, and she will cover how both China and the world has undergone significant changes both socially and economically.
Interpreting Speech #5 – The World Is Changing (Mandarin-into-English)
Carl Gene Fordham is a Chinese/English translator and Mandarin/English interpreter based in Brisbane, Australia.
傅君恺（Carl Gene Fordham），中英翻译，现居澳大利亚布里斯班。
Learn more about Carl here.
点击上方链接了解更多关于傅君恺的信息。
To hire Carl, please send the relevant job details by email to carlgenefordham AT gmail DOT com, or make direct enquiries via WeChat (ID: carlfordham).
招聘相关事宜，请将任务详细发送电子邮件至carlgenefordham AT gmail DOT com，或加微信（微信号：carlfordham）进行咨询。
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