Chinese phrases – “交白卷(jiao1 bai2juan4)” and “交学费(jiao1 xue2fei4)”

Dear friends, in the process of learning online Chinese language you may be examined by some Chinese commonly used phrases. Today our Chinese lesson will help you to learn two Chinese phrases.

“交学费(jiao1 xue2fei4)”

It literally means paying tuition to the school for one’s education. Figuratively it means paying a price for one’s mistake or failure in carry out a task.

By taking our online Chinese lessons you can know that phrase sometimes connotes that one should not have made who have made such mistakes or failed, and it is sometimes also used as a self-consolation or self-irony by the very people themselves.

The phrase is used as predicate, attributive or object. And it can be used with other words in between. The verb and noun can be used in inversion.

Zhenɡ4fu3 yi3jinɡ1 chu1tai2 le yi2 xi4lie4 zhenɡ4ce4, banɡ1zhu4 ɡou4fanɡ2 ren2

政府      已经    出台  了 一 系列   政策，    帮助    购房     人

zai4 mai3fanɡ2 ɡuo4chenɡ2 zhonɡ1 shao3 jiao1 huo4 bu4 jiao1 xue2fei4.

在  买房      过程       中    少  交   或  不  交  学费。

The government has issued a series of policies to help home buyers pay less for or avoid paying for any possible mistake.

“交白卷(jiao1 bai2juan4)”

“白卷(bai2juan4)” is an examination paper with no answer on. This phrase literally means handing in an exam paper with no answers.

When you study Chinese you can also know that it connotes one fails to fulfill the task which he was expected to have completed. It also means failing to obtain any scores in a ball match. The phrase is usually used as predicate, object or attributive and it can be used with other words in between.

Example:

Zhe4 fen4 diao4cha2 wo3 bu4nenɡ2 jiao1 bai2juan4, fou3ze2 zhun3 yao4 ai1

这   份    调查  我  不能     交    白卷，  否则   准    要 挨

lao3ban3 yi2dun4 chou4ma4.

老板     一顿    臭骂。

I cannot hand in a blank report, or I’ll be scolded by the boss.

Dear friends, welcome to our website of Chinese online learning and you will learn more.

Source: 

http://chinesestevie.over-blog.com/2015/01/chinese-phrases-jiao1-bai2juan4-and-jiao1-xue2fei4.html

The most popular expressions of 2014 online showed up

The year of 2014 is ending, and it is high time that some relevant interests and scholars who are fond of collecting the popular expression online of Chinese course with high frequency usage as many as possible. Here comes the list.

For example, the number ten is called in Chinese pinyin as ye3 she4 man2 pin1 de1.  The Chinese is 也是蛮拼的 in Chinese courses. As a matter of fact, this sentence is not used in any formal occasions. Thus, if you use this sentence in you spoken language or a meeting, you tone and emotion of your speaking would be relaxed to the listeners.  The sentence ye3 shi4 man2 pin1 de1 means in English is that someone has done something or has made a great efforts on something for certain. In English, you may often say: I have tried my best on that thing or I've done. On condition that you love in China for several years and use a online chatting tool called we chat or micro blog, such kind of expressions can be found everywhere in your platform of sharing.

The next popular one is called no Zuo no die why you try in Chinese lessons. This is a typical bilingual version of English and Chinese, and it is really interesting thing because of the fact that if a person happened to be coincident with something terrible and unfortunate, people around him would spill this sentence out. In Chinese, Zuo is written as 作. It means that someone means to find something to do that is beyond his or her ability and control, which would make things worse and worse. So in Chinese, it means mei2 you3 Zhe1 teng2 jiu4 mei2 you3 Shi1 bai4. As a matter of fact, the phrase of why you try is an additional part for a rhythm and beautiful tone.

Through these two popular expressions, any complete foreigners who want to learn Chinese lesson in a short time would sigh with a deep breath: Chinese is knowledgeable and so tough to understand. Moreover, it is experiencing the daily changes, which will be created and applied in many occasions.

 Source: 

http://echineselearninhg.jigsy.com/entries/general/the-most-popular-expressions-of-2014-online-showed-up

Qu fu is worth visiting for once in your lifetime

 Though the mansion has no permanent resident, there are 130,000 people in Qufu according to Chinese language course, out of a population of 640,000, with the surname Kong. "I am so proud to be a son of the temple's guard," says Kong Weifeng, a local elementary school teacher who voluntarily gives lectures on Confucianism to local villagers in the countryside. "What Confucius taught is in our belief and blood in the way of Chinese language learning."

The Cemetery of Confucius, where he and his descendents were buried, is probably China's oldest and largest family cemetery, with 4,000 pieces of stele and about 100,000 tombs. Two kilometers north of the temple, it is a place for quiet meditation.

Dinnertime is never boring. During the reign of Qianlong as a kind of Chinese language (1736-96), the Kong mansion cuisine was created based on Shandong flavors. The dishes are delicately and artfully displayed. Some restaurants organize rituals honoring Confucius before the meal, which are probably too complicated for today's people, but they offer an unusual experience.

Group dancing shows about Confucius are staged every evening from April to November in the downtown's Xingtan Theater, acting as a fine after-dinner dessert to digest the day's rich banquet of culture. Xingtan is named after the place where the sage gave lectures.

On Sunday morning, you may watch or join in a Confucius-worship ceremony in the Qufu Confucian Academy. Note that the ceremony will only be organized for groups of more than 20 people. The largest-scale ceremony in the Temple of Confucius was held on Sept 28, the birthday of Confucius.

The academy also provides opportunities to learn the "Six Arts" in Chinese language lessons recommended by Confucians, including horse-riding, archery, and playing traditional Chinese musical instruments. You may also don traditional Han clothes and listen to a lecture on Confucianism in the sacred educator's hometown.

You must, of course, visit Confucius' birthplace, which is in a small cave on Nishan Hill in neighboring Si shui county. It is a 40-minute shuttle bus ride away from downtown. There are also a smaller Confucius temple and a traditional academy in Nishan, which are quieter and more conducive for meditation.

Source: 

http://chineselover.bloggets.net/qu-fu-is-worth-visiting-once-in-your-lifetime/

Taboos in Sending Presents in China

When we give gifts to people of another culture, we need to know their customs and taboos. Otherwise, things will not turn out as we wish. Do you know the taboos in sending presents in China? Welcome to our world learner Chinese class to know.

In China, people seldom offer fans, umbrellas and scissors as gifts, because the pronunciations of fan (扇shan4) and umbrella (伞san3) are similar to 散(san4,) which means separation or parting in Chinese.

In our club of Chinese learn online you can know that there’s a folk saying in Chinese which is “If you give a fan, you will never meet each other again.” (送扇，无相见。 Song4 shan4, wu2 xiang1jian4.) So giving fans as gift may raise the suspicion that you want to break up. The same is true for scissors and knives. They may also lead to misunderstanding or breaking off.

In China, people don’t give pears (梨li2) as gifts, because it’s pronunciation coincides with that of Chinese Characters “离li2,” which means separation. When we give gifts to a newly wedded couple, the gifts should be in even numbers, which is a symbol of good wishes that the couple will grow old together The gift in an odd number means loneliness and separation.

Beside, in by visiting our Chinese learning forum you can also learn that when people are preparing gifts for an old man to celebrate his birthday, it’s a taboo to send bells and watches, because bells and death have the same pronunciation (钟、终zhong1) in Chinese. The bell implies death, so it means bad luck. If you bring a bell as a gift to celebrate the birthday of an old man or old woman in China, it is possible that you will be driven out of the house. To save trouble, you have to be very careful when giving gifts.

Dear friends, if you want to know more information about taboos in sending presents in China please come to take our Mandarin learning online lesson and I believe you will get a lot!

 Source: 

http://chinesepassion.page.tl/Taboos-in-Sending-Presents-in-China.htm

Yi qian or cong qian?

Dear friends, do you know the difference between “以前(yi3qian2)”or “从前(conɡ2qian2)”? Many Chinese learners are confused of the using the two Chinese words. Today online Mandarin tutor will help you to distinguish them.

In the Chinese language, both “以前(yi3qian2)”or “从前(conɡ2qian2)” can be used to refer to the past time, but the meanings of the two words are not exactly the same with each other and they are quite different in usage.

Our Mandarin tutor can tell you that “以前(yi3qian2)” refers generally to a time before now, and it can be placed at the beginning or the middle of a sentence. But “从前(conɡ2qian2)” is always used at the very beginning of a story.

Once upon a time, there was a castle in the mountain.

What’s more, “以前(yi3qian2)” can be used after time words while “从前(conɡ2qian2)” cannot.

Examples:

Boss:  Mike, qinɡ3 san1dian3 yi3qian2 lai2 wo3de ban4ɡonɡ1shi4.

Boss：Mike，请   三点     以前   来  我的   办公室。

Boss: Mike, please come to my office before three o’clock.

Besides, your private Chinese teacher can help you to know that “从前(conɡ2qian2)” always refers to a time far in the past, meaning “long long ago” or “once upon a time,” while “以前(yi3qian2)” is closer to the present, meaning “previously,” “...ago” or “before....”

Zhang Wen: I was a doctor previously.

Dear friends, welcome to visit our online Chinese language courses more and you will get a lot!

Source: 

http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_863ba8180102v8pa.html

Chinese Film Introducing- Magical Kitchen and Root and Branches

Dear friends, welcome to visit our online Chinese language school and today we will introduce two Chinese films for you. They are Magical Kitchen and Root and Branches.

Magical Kitchen:

Through our Chinese online learning lesson you can know that 慕容优(Mu4rong2 You1) is the owner and executive chef of an elegant restaurant in Hong Kong. Her managerial and culinary skills win her an invitation from an acclaimed Japanese TV show to compete in a food contest, but You declines, claiming that she has no interested in the competition. You’s decision puzzles her assistant 小可(Xiao3ke3).

Xiaoke secretly admires You, but he knows that You clings to the memory her ex-boyfriend. Out of respect for her, Xiaoke waits patiently while encouraging her to conquer her fears and to walk a path of her own.

Conflicted with feelings, the indecisive You finds herself unable to pluck up the courage and control her own destiny. Xiaoke’s love and her friends’ colorful life prompt You to begin a new chapter in life, and she falls in love with Xiaoke.

Character Introduction:

慕容优(Mu4rong2 You1) is a successful restaurateur living in the shadow of her childhood. She is deeply convinced and influenced by the stories her mother has told, and does not dare to chart new territories in her personal and professional life. 郭可立(Guo1 Ke3li4) is Murong You’s assistant. He is passionate and committed about his career and love.

In our Chinese online class you can also know about another Chinese film-Root and Branches:

As the young conductor 齐思甜(Qi2 Si1tian2) goes back to China for her first concert, she plans to find her lost siblings. Twenty years before, they have been a happy family in a small town in the northeast despite the hardship. One stormy night, their parents get killed in a traffic accident as the father is taking the gravely ill mother to the hospital.

By taking our online Chinese courses you can know that the four orphans are adopted by their uncle, to which his wife steadfastly objects. The eldest brother 齐忆苦(Qi2 Yi4ku3) takes the siblings and leave. In order to give them a happy life, Yiku sends his siblings into different households, but before they part, he gives each of them a family portrait, so that later in life they may still recognize one another.

Source: 

http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_c52b91410102vbln.html

Xuanzang’s Journey to the West

During the early Tang Dynasty，between 629 and 645，Monk Xuan zang journeyed to India and visited over one hundred kingdoms，and wrote extensive and detailed reports of his findings，which have subsequently become important for the study of

India during this period． During his travels he visited holy sites，learned the lore of his faith，and studied with many famous Buddhist masters，especially at the famous center of Buddhist learning at Nolanda University with Mandarin teacher．When he returned，he brought with him some 657 Sanskrit (梵语的) texts．Xuanzang also returned with relics statues，and Buddhist paraphernalia loaded onto twenty two horses．With the emperor's support，he set up a large translation bureau in Chang’an (present day Xi’ an)，drawing students and collaborators from"all over East Asia．He is credited with the translation of some 1330 fascicles of scriptures into Chinese．His strongest personal interest in Buddhism was in the field of Yoga Ora (瑜伽宗)，or “Consciousness-only” (唯识学 taught by your Chinese tutor)．The force of his own study，translation and commentary of the texts of these traditions initiated the development of the Faxiang School (法相派) in East Asia．Although the school itself did not thrive for a long time，its birth，etc．For theories regarding perception，consciousness，karma，round their way into the doctrines of other more successful schools Xuanzang’s closest and most one, your Chinese teachers who became recognized as the eminent student was Kui ji first patriarch of the Faxiang in ib Chinese. In order to commemorate him, people honored him as “Medicine Buddha” for thousands of years，Shennong’s great spirit of “benefiting and enriching people have been highly respected and praised．It was this idea that lot of great physicians and phamofigists of medicine doctor like Bian Que，“Shizhen and Sun Simiao to make unremittingly of electrically on the great tradition of “saving the people and serving the society” in Chinese medicine，bringing if to a great height of development．

 Source: 

http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_863ba8180102v8g0.html