Welcome to the ChinesePod Weekly, your chance to find out what's going on at ChinesePod this week!

With so many online Chinese learning resources, it can be a real pain choosing which ones to keep and which ones to nerf. Well today, we’ve decided to help you out a bit and give you our recommendation on 5 great free resources for learning Mandarin Chinese.

1. Learn Chinese - QingWen App
   With podcasts updated weekly, this is a great little app to take with you for learning Chinese on-the-go. The QingWen show gets down to the nitty-gritty and gives listeners the much-needed explanations about the tricky parts of the Mandarin language – from the multiple uses of “就” to common examples and uses of “成语”. The Beijing Standard Time show is not only great from a learning standpoint, but also from a cultural one as well. The show provides listeners with valuable information about Chinese culture, from tips on how to avoid common scams in China, to etiquette guides on how to behave in certain social situations, such as “How to act at a Chinese banquette?”
2. Lang-8
   A great free resource for anybody looking to improve their writing skills. Lang-8 is basically a community of users all looking to improve their writing skills, in whatever language. As a user, you can write a blog, journal, or post in Chinese, and look for native Chinese speakers to correct your writing and give feedback. It works because you will be doing the same for them, correcting their writing in English, or any other language you speak natively. The correction system is simple and straightforward, and the more friends you make, the more corrections and feedback you can receive.
3. Nciku
   Probably the best web-based English-Chinese dictionary out there. You can search by English, Chinese characters, pinyin, radical, or even via handwriting with their in-site writing pad. The interface is clean, and they have a nice library of sample sentences that come up with each word search. Although their mobile app requires you to fork over some dough to unlock, try Pleco basic version for a free mobile alternative.
4. AllSet Learning Pinyin App
   A great free iPad app for newbie Mandarin learners. AllSet’s Pinyin chart is simple and to the point, providing you with zoom-able and pan-able features where you can zone in on your selected pinyin and listen to the accompanying audio. For a web-based version of a pinyin chart, check out ChinesePod’s Pinyin Chart.
5. FluentU
   A relative newcomer to the Chinese language learning scene, however, FluentU has some great things to offer. It uses popular video clips and short movies to help you learn Chinese in a very visual manner. What’s more is that all of the videos are subtitled in Chinese characters, with pinyin display and English breakdowns available via hovering over the text.

So there you have it - our recommendation on 5 great free learning resources for Chinese. If you are looking for more, however, why not check out ChinesePod subscriptions as well. It’s the best way to get your mandarin learning rolling, and is especially helpful for busy people who like a practical approach to language learning.

----------------------------------

A Big Thanks to All Premium Users!

Thank you to all our Premium users for participating and getting involved with our new Task feature. As of May 1st, free feedback on lesson “Tasks” for Premium users will no longer be given; however, you can still upload and share your work for peer review! In addition, if you really enjoyed our Task feeback, then perhaps you should consider our New Skype Classes, which have full integration of the Task feature, including full and detailed feedback on Tasks from your very own ChinesePod teacher.

Go Mobile!

If you have not yet done so, make sure to check out the ChinesePod mobile app for Android and iOS. It is the best way to learn mandarin on-the-go, so you can squeeze in that extra study time whenever and wherever you feel like it (on your morning commute, on your lunchbreak, at home, etc.) Plus, with the most recent version, you can now also upload tasks directly from your device! The TASK section allows Premium users to upload and share their work to get feedback directly from our ChinesePod teachers. It's the next step in direct, online, student-teacher support!

Key Words/Phrases

血

xiě

blood (often in speech: xuě; in dictionary: xuè, xiě)

下雪

xiàxuě

to snow

照片

zhàopiàn

photograph (often in speech: zhāopiān; in dictionary: zhāopiàn)

照片儿

zhàopiānr

photograph (in dictionary: zhāopiānr, considered standard pronunciation)

恐怖片

kǒngbùpiàn

horror movie

片子

piānzi

movie (piānzi)

晕

yūn

to faint, be dizzy (often in speech: yūn; in dictionary: yùn)

晕船

yūn chuán

to be seasick

晕车

yūn chē

to be carsick

下载

xiàzǎi

to download (in speech: xiàzǎi; dictionary: xiàzài)

唠叨

lāodao

to nag (in speech: lāodao; dictionary: láodao)

好莱坞

Hǎoláiwū

Hollywood (in speech: hǎoláiwū; dictionary: hǎoláiwù)

披萨

pīsà

pizza (in speech: pīsà; dictionary: pīsà)

比萨

bǐsà

pizza (in speech: pīsà; should be pronounced: bǐsà)

必胜客

Bìshèngkè

Pizza Hut

Please click here to have a listen to the song.

Verse1:   乘着风游荡在蓝天边， 

       (Riding the wind, I float in the blue sky.)

:   一片云掉落在我面前。 

       (A cloud falls in front of my face.)

:   捏成你的形状，随风跟着我。 

       (I form it into your shape and it follows me with the wind.)

:   一口一口吃掉忧愁。 

       (I swallow down my sadness.)

Verse2:   载着你仿佛载着阳光， 

       (Carrying you is like carrying the sunshine.)

:   不管到哪里都是晴天。 

       (No matter where I go it's a sunny day.)

:   蝴蝶自在飞，花也布满天。 

       (Butterflies fly freely; flowers fill the world.)

:   一朵一朵因你而香。 

       (Petal after petal blooms for you.)

Chorus1:   试图让夕阳飞翔， 

       (I try to hold the setting sun)

:   带领你我环绕大自然。 

       (To guide you and me around the world.)

:   迎着风，开始共度每一天。 

       (Facing the wind we are sharing every single day.)

Chorus2:   手牵手，一步两步三步四步，望着天。 

       (Hand in hand, one step two step three step four, gazing at the sky.)

:   看星星，一颗两颗三颗四颗，连成线。 

       (Look at the stars, one star two star three star four, forming a line.)

:   背对背，默默许下心愿； 

       (Back to back, quietly making a wish in our heart.)

:   看远方的星，是否听得见。 

       (Looking at a faraway star and wondering whether or not it hears it.)

:   手牵手，一步两步三步四步，望着天。 

       (Hand in hand, one step two step three step four, gazing at the sky.)

:   看星星，一颗两颗三颗四颗，连成线。 

       (Look at the stars, one star two star three star four, forming a line.)

:   背对背，默默许下心愿； 

       (Back to back, quietly making a wish in our heart.)

:   看远方的星，如果听得见....... 

       (Looking at a faraway star. If it hears it...)

:   它一定实现。 

       (It will definitely come true.)

Welcome to the ChinesePod Weekly, your chance to find out what's going on at ChinesePod this week!

After years of updating and improving our site and mobile apps, ChinesePod has become rather action-packed in terms of features go. That is why we thought you might need a refresher on some features you either have forgotten, or may not even have used before. Here are 5 useful tools to get re-acquainted with to make your Chinese learning easier and more enjoyable! You can try out these features now by clicking on the title links below.

1. ChinesePod Tests
   Stuck on where to start, or want a heads up on where your Chinese is at? There are 2 great tests (the placement test and level test) on the website that you can take at any time. The great news is that these are also free for new users, so you can get a good understanding of where to begin before you start listening to lessons.
2. Downloadable Pinyin Chart
   This applies to mostly new users, but our pinyin chart, complete with built-in audio, can help loads in terms of pronunciation (a definite must-use for all you newbies out there). If you are just starting with ChinesePod, this should be one of your first stops.
3. Simplified and Traditional Settings
   Did you know you can learn both Traditional and Simplified characters with ChinesePod? To switch your preferred character settings, click on the small gray cog-wheel to the upper right hand corner of any lesson page.
4. Self-Study Filter
   Self-Study getting cluttered? You can filter this section by level or show by clicking on the “filter” link just below your self-study tab on the homepage dashboard.
5. iTunes Feed
   Want your lessons directly imported into iTunes? Then be sure to take advantage of your feed and copy and paste your URL feed address into iTunes. Click here for a more in-depth tutorial on the feed settings page.

So that’s it - a refresher on some features that you may be out of touch with. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to email us here.

- The ChinesePod Team

----------------------------------

ChinesePod Introduces New Speaking Classes!

Our New Speaking Classes will be released starting April 1st (and no, this is not an April Fool’s joke!). With the addition and full integration of the Task feature, students now get more than ever from ChinesePod Classes. With Tasks, students can upload tailored assignments in the form of video, audio, or text documents and later have these reviewed and corrected by their ChinesePod teacher. It is the most comprehensive and valuable feedback you could hope to get from learning Chinese online!

To learn more about what our New Speaking Classes has to offer, be sure to contact a learning consultant today!

Key Words/Phrases

有钱
yǒuqián
rich

John很有钱。
John hěn yǒuqián.
John is very rich.

我没钱。
wǒ méiqián.
I don't have money. (Also: I'm not rich.)

有用
yǒuyòng
useful

我们今天的这个课很有用。
wǒmen jīntiān de zhè gè kè hěn yǒuyòng.
Our lesson today is very useful.

没用
méiyòng
useless

手机坏了，没用了。
shǒujī huài le, méiyòng le.
The cell phone is broken. It's useless.

你太没用了。
nǐ tài méiyòng le.
You're so useless.

有名
yǒumíng
famous

Jenny在ChinesePod很有名。
Jenny zài ChinesePod hěn yǒumíng.
At ChinesePod, Jenny is very famous.

没名气
méi míngqì
not famous, unknown

有意思
yǒu yìsi
interesting, fun

这本书很有意思。
zhè běn shū hěn yǒu yìsi.
This book is really interesting.

这个游戏很有意思。
zhè gè yóuxì hěn yǒu yìsi.
This game is really fun.

没意思
méi yìsi
not interesting

有趣
yǒuqù
fun, funny

没趣，无趣
méiqù, wúqù
not fun

有空
yǒukòng
free (to have free time)

你晚上有空吗？
nǐ wǎnshang yǒukòng ma?
Are you free tonight?

我周末没空。
wǒ zhōumò méikòng.
I'm not free this weekend.

有事
yǒushì
busy (to have something to do)

我今晚有事。所以没空。
wǒ jīnwǎn yǒushì. suǒyǐ méikòng.
I'm busy tonight. So I'm not free.

有意义
yǒu yìyì
meaningful

当志愿者是一件很有意义的事。
dāng zhìyuànzhě shì yī jiàn hěn yǒu yìyì de shì.
Being a volunteeer is a really meaningful thing.

学汉语是一件有意义的事。也很有意思。
xué hànyǔ shì yī jiàn yǒu yìyì de shì. yě hěn yǒu yìsi.
Studying Chinese is a very meaningful thing. It's also very interesting.

没有意义
méiyǒu yìyì
meaningless

有帮助
yǒu bāngzhù
helpful

电脑对大家的工作很有帮助。
diànnǎo duì dàjiā de gōngzuò hěn yǒu bāngzhù.
Computers are very helpful for everyone's jobs.

玩游戏对我学习汉语没有帮助。
wán yóuxì duì wǒ xuéxí hànyǔ méiyǒu bāngzhù.
Playing video games isn't helpful for my Chinese.

煎饼果子 jiānbingguǒzi /鸡蛋煎饼 jīdànjiānbing


炸臭豆腐 zháchòudòufu


烤红薯 kǎohóngshǔ /烤地瓜 kǎodìguā /烘山芋 hōngshānyù


烤羊肉串 kǎoyángròuchuàn


肉夹馍 ròujiāmó


凉粉 liángfěn

Welcome to the ChinesePod Weekly, your chance to find out what's going on at ChinesePod this week!

With the Spring flowers starting to blossom and the weather finally starting to warm up (for us folks in the Northern Hemisphere, that is) what better way to spend this weekend than to be outside in the fresh air. In fact, that is exactly what the upcoming weekend will be about for many Chinese, as April 4th marks the observance of this year’s Qing Ming Festival (清明节).

Qīng Míng Jié (literally “Clear, Bright Festival”) is said to originate from Hánshí (寒食 - cold meal) Festival, which dates back to the Spring and Autumn Period in China (722 - 481 B.C.). The day commemorates a man called Jie Zitui, who was a loyal follower of Duke Wen during the Jin State. Unfortunately, due the turmoil of the state at the time, Duke Wen (who was not yet a Duke at that point) was exiled and spent the next 19 years living nomadically with Jie, scraping by on nothing but the bare minimum of life’s necessities. At one point, the Duke became so close to the point of starvation that Jie cut a piece of flesh from his thigh to make a soup for Wen. The soup ended up saving Wen’s life, and the Duke was so touched at Jie's sacrifice that he promised to reward Jie later on.

Eventually, Wen reclaimed his position on the throne and became the Duke of Jin State. He proceeded to reward all those who assisted him in reclaiming his position, however, for some reason he left out Jie. When reminded of the life-saving soup Jie made for him in dire need, the Duke became regretful and went out in search of Jie to reward him. It was at that time that the Duke had learned Jie had moved to some remote forest with his mother. Unable to locate Jie himself, he ordered his men to set the forest on fire in attempt to force Jie out so that he could reward Jie and rid his own feelings of guilt. The fire, however, ended up doing just the opposite and burned Jie, along with his mother, alive. Realizing the error of his ways and feeling remorseful over the loss of Jie, Duke Wen from there on order 3 days of the year to be held without fire (Hanshi Festival) in order to commemorate Jie Zitui’s death.

Today, Hanshi Festival has been combined with Qing Ming Festival, whereby not only Jie Zitui is remembered, but all ancestors in general. It is a holiday for families to honor their ancestors at their grave sites, hence the English translation of the term “Tomb Sweeping Holiday”. It is also a time for families to go on “Spring outings” to enjoy the outdoors and experience the beauty and nature of Spring. Kite flying is another popular activity during this holiday, and you can expect to see children flying kites from daytime right into the evening, where lanterns are often tied to the kites to light up the night sky. So how will you spend your 清明节? Will you be visiting an ancestor's grave with your beloved family, or will you be running through the park with the wind in your hair and a kite in your hand? Feel free share your plans and leave a comment.

- The ChinesePod Team

----------------------------------

ChinesePod Meetup - Jing'An, Shanghai

Come join fellow ChinesePod members and practice your Chinese with us on Saturday morning, April 20th! For those of you in the Shanghai area, if you enjoy listening to ChinesePod and following our lessons, now's your chance to practice what you've learned with other language learners and native speakers. Spaces are limited to the first 8 people to RSVP plus one guest, so send us an email at meetup@chinesepod.com to reserve your spot!

After reserving your spot, we will send you more details on the event location in Jing'An as well as the exact time.

Get a Premium Subscription for Only 99 Cents!

We have a great introductory offer for all our first-time users. Sign-up now, and receive the first month of a monthly Premium Subscription for only 99 cents. Just follow the instructions below:

• Open any lesson page.
• Click on the "Subscribe Now" link at the top of the page
• Click "Check out" and proceed to Step 2 of the payment process
• Click "check" beside the entered promo code to verify the code and get your 99 cent offer!

Note: The regular subscription price ($29) will be listed in your shopping cart until you verify the code on step 2 of the payment process.

Key Words/Phrases:

有效
yǒuxiào
effective

这个药有效吗？
zhè gè yào yǒuxiào ma?
Is this medicine effective?

没效果
méi xiàoguǒ
ineffective

这个药没效果。
zhè gè yào méi xiàoguǒ.
This medicine is ineffective.

无效
wúxiào
ineffective, not valid

合同无效。
hétong wúxiào.
The contract is not valid.

有利
yǒulì
beneficial

有实习经历对你以后找工作比较有利。
yǒu shíxí jīnglì duì nǐ yǐhòu zhǎo gōngzuò bǐjiào yǒulì.
Having internship experience is beneficial to finding a job in the future.

不利
bùlì
detrimental

每天加班对你的身体不利。
měitiān jiābān duì nǐ de shēntǐ bùlì.
It's not beneficial to your body to work overtime everyday.

有害
yǒuhài
harmful

吸烟对健康有害。
xīyān duì jiànkāng yǒuhài.
Smoking is harmful to your health.

无害
wúhài
harmless

有限
yǒuxiàn
limited

我能力有限。
wǒ nénglì yǒuxiàn.
My ability is limited.

资金有限。
zījīn yǒuxiàn.
Funds are limited.

有限公司
yǒuxiàn gōngsī
limited liability company

无限
wúxiàn
unlimited

有理，有道理
yǒulǐ, yǒu dàolǐ
reasonable, makes sense

这句话很有道理。
zhè jù huà hěn yǒu dàolǐ.
This sentence makes sense.

没道理
méi dàolǐ
doesn't make sense

有毒
yǒudú
poisonous, toxic, venomous

蛇有毒。
shé yǒudú.
The snake is venomous.

有毒的牛奶。
yǒudú de niúnǎi.
Poisonous milk.

没毒
méidú
non-toxic

有才
yǒucái
talented

你很有才！
nǐ hěn yǒucái!
You are very talented!

有特色
yǒu tèsè
distinctive, unique

有中国特色的社会主义。
yǒu Zhōngguó tèsè de shèhuìzhǔyì.
Socialism with Chinese characteristics.

这里的房子很有特色。
zhèlǐ de fángzi hěn yǒu tèsè.
The homes here are really distinctive.

没有特色
méiyǒu tèsè
plain, not distinctive

上海的很多房子都没什么特色。
Shànghǎi de hěn duō fángzi dōu méi shénme tèsè.
Many houses in Shanghai aren't distinctive.

有营养
yǒu yíngyǎng
nutritious

骨头汤很有营养。
gǔtou tāng hěn yǒu yíngyǎng.
Bone soup is nutritious.

没营养
méi yíngyǎng
not nutritious

可乐没营养，不要喝。
kělè méi yíngyǎng, bù yào hē.
Cola is not nutritious. Don't drink it.

有创意
yǒu chuàngyì
creative

这个广告很有创意。
zhè gè guǎnggào hěn yǒu chuàngyì.
This ad is very creative.

你的这个计划很有创意。
nǐ de zhè gè jìhuà hěn yǒu chuàngyì.
Your plan is really creative.

没创意
méi chuàngyì
not creative

Click here to have a listen to the song!


女:   不想再问你你到底在何方 
       (I don't want to ask you again: where are you?)


:   不想再思量你能否归来么 
       (I don't want to think about whether or not you'll come back.)


:   想着你的心想着你的脸 
       (I miss your heart; I miss your face.)


:   想捧在胸口能不放就不放 
       (I will keep it in my heart. I can't let it go.)


男:   One night in Beijing我留下许多情 
       (One night in Beijing - it made a great impression on me.)


:   不管你爱与不爱都是历史的尘埃 
       (Whether or not you feel love, it's all ancient history.)


:   One night in Beijing我留下许多情 
       (One night in Beijing - it made a great impression on me.)


:   不敢在午夜问路怕走到了百花深处 
       (I don't dare to ask directions at midnight; I'm afraid to go to the end of the flowery paths.)


女:   人说百花的深处住着老情人 
       (They say at the end of the flowery paths old lovers live there)


:   缝着绣花鞋面容安详的老人 
       (Making flower embroidered shoes, the contented old people)


:   依旧等着那出征的归人 
       (Are still waiting for their lovers who went to war to come home.)


男:   One night in Beijing你可别喝太多酒 
       (One night in Beijing - you shouldn't drink too much.)


:   不管你爱与不爱都是历史的尘埃 
       (Whether or not you feel love, it's all ancient history.)


:   One night in Beijing我留下许多情 
       (One night in Beijing - it made a great impression on me.)


:   把酒高歌的男儿是北方的狼族 
       (Drunken men singing songs are the wolves of the north.)


女:   人说北方的狼族会在寒风起 
       (They say the wolves of the north, when the cold when starts to blow)


:   站在城门外穿着腐锈的铁衣 
       (Will stand outside the gates wearing their rusty iron armor,)


:   呼唤城门开眼中含着泪 
       (Calling for the city gates to open, eyes full of tears.)


男:   哦我已等待了千年为何城门还不开 
       (Oh, I've already waited 1,000 years. Why won't that gate open?)


:   哦我已等待了千年为何良人不回来 
       (Oh, I've already waited 1,000 years. Why won't my husband return?)

Key Words/Phrasese

有男人味
yǒu nánrén wèi
manly, masculine

有女人味
yǒu nǚrén wèi
feminine

他看起来很有男人味。
tā kàn qǐlái hěn yǒu nánrén wèi.
He looks really manly.

你怎么像个男人啊？太没有女人味了。
nǐ zěnme xiàng gè nánrén a? tài méiyǒu nǚrén wèi le.
Why you do you look like a man? You are so unfeminine.

有实力
yǒu shílì
powerful

这是一家很有实力的公司。
zhè shì yī jiā hěn yǒu shílì de gōngsī.
This is a very powerful company.

中国是一个很有实力的国家。
Zhōngguó shì yī gè hěn yǒu shílì de guójiā.
China is a very powerful nation.

没实力
méi shílì
powerless

有耐心
yǒu nàixīn
patient

没耐心
méi nàixīn
impatient

他对学生总是很有耐心。
tā duì xuésheng zǒngshì hěn yǒu nàixīn.
He is always really patient with the students.

有精神
yǒu jīngshen
energetic

每天Connie总是很有精神地来上班。然后，一到下午就很没精神。
měitiān Connie zǒngshì hěn yǒu jīngshen de lái shàngbān. ránhòu, yī dào xiàwǔ jiù hěn méi jīngshen.
Every day Connie energetically comes to work. Then, when afternoon comes she's worn out.

有规律
yǒu guīlǜ
regular, routine

他每天的生活都很有规律。
tā měitiān de shēnghuó dōu hěn yǒu guīlǜ.
Every day his life is really routine.

这些数字没规律。比较乱。
zhèxiē shùzì méi guīlǜ. bǐjiào luàn.
These numbers aren't regular. They're pretty chaotic.

他每星期都去教堂，很有规律。
tā měi xīngqī dōu qù jiàotáng, hěn yǒu guīlǜ.
He goes to church every week, regularly.

有说服力
yǒu shuōfú lì
persuasive

他的演讲很有说服力。
tā de yǎnjiǎng hěn yǒu shuōfú lì.
His speech was really persuasive.

这个广告很有说服力。
zhè gè guǎnggào hěn yǒu shuōfú lì.
This add is really persuasive.

没有说服力
méiyǒu shuōfú lì
not persuasive

有责任心
yǒu zérèn xīn
responsible

他是一个很有责任心的男人。
tā shì yī gè hěn yǒu zérèn xīn de nánrén.
He is a responsible man.

没有责任心
méiyǒu zérèn xīn
irresponsible

这个员工太没有责任心了。我要炒掉他。
zhè gè yuángōng tài méiyǒu zérèn xīn le. wǒ yào chǎo diào tā.
This employee is too irresponsible. I'm going to fire him.

有野心
yǒu yěxīn
ambitious

他是一个有野心的人。
tā shì yī gè yǒu yěxīn de rén.
He is an ambitious person.

没有野心
méiyǒu yěxīn
unambitious

我没什么野心。我只要一份稳定的工作。
wǒ méi shénme yěxīn. wǒ zhǐ yào yī fèn wěndìng de gōngzuò.
I'm not too ambitious. I just want a stable job.

有针对性
yǒu zhēnduì xìng
targeted, focused

他的评论很有针对性。
tā de pínglùn hěn yǒu zhēnduì xìng.
His comment was very targeted.

他的建议没什么针对性。
tā de jiànyì méi shénme zhēnduì xìng.
His suggestion wasn't very targeted.

你的教授经常会说，你的论文要有针对性。
nǐ de jiàoshòu jīngcháng huì shuō, nǐ de lùnwén yào yǒu zhēnduì xìng.
Your professor says often says your thesis needs to be more focused.

刚才大家的例子都很有针对性。
gāngcái dàjiā de lìzi dōu hěn yǒu zhēnduì xìng.
Everyone's examples just now were very relevant.

这个广告很有针对性。
zhè gè guǎnggào hěn yǒu zhēnduì xìng.
This ad was very targeted.

Find out more and start learning Chinese at chinesepod.com.

Welcome to the ChinesePod Weekly, your chance to find out what's going on at ChinesePod this week!

China has long been known for its mathematical prowess. It is a subject that is drilled into the minds of most Chinese, even from a very young age. China’s affinity for math is not a recent phenomenon, however, and can actually be traced back thousands of years. Below are a few examples of China’s ancient mathematical wonders.

1. Counting Rods (算筹-Suàn chóu)
   By about the 11th Century BC, China already had in place an effective counting system that enabled the expression of large units, decimals, and even negative values. This was likely the first of such number systems that so closely resembles the base-10 counting system we use today. The system used bamboo rods representing numbers1 through 9, which were then arranged in columns in order to represent multiple units. The number 0 was represented by a blank slate. In this way the Chinese could handle calculations in units of hundreds and thousands quickly and accurately - all long before a system of such efficiency was adopted by the west.
2. The Nine Chapters of Mathematical Art (九章算术-Jiǔzhāng Suànshù)
   Another major stepping stone in the history of Chinese mathematics was the creation of The Nine Chapters of Mathematical Art– a book which was compiled over a period of hundreds of years, and possibly as far back as 300 BC. The book contained some 246 mathematical problems (from geometry to complex algebraic equations) which were all designed to aid a variety of aspects of everyday life. The use of this book extended to agriculture, engineering, trade, taxation, and a number of other industries, and was perhaps the most influential piece of mathematical literature in China for thousands of years.
3. Yang Hui’s Triangle (杨辉三角形-Yánghuī sānjiǎoxíng)
   A third important discovery in ancient Chinese mathematics was the early interpretation of the famous Pascal’s Triangle, which was developed in China by a mathematician called Yang Hui in the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). Although Yang acknowledged that his triangle was originally invented by his predecessor, Jia Xian, Yang was the first person to illustrate the triangle in detail, and explain how it could be used to find square and cubic roots. For this reason, Pascal’s triangle is officially called Yang Hui’s triangle in China.

If you are a math addict, or want to learn more about how to use and explain math in Chinese, have a listen to this week’s math-themed lessons: Multiplication and Division and Addition and Subtraction.

- The ChinesePod Team

----------------------------------

10% Off Annual Premium Subscriptions

Simple fact - the more resources you have to study a language the easier it will be to study that language, and the faster you will learn. With ChinesePod Premium subscriptions, you get a whole bundle of these valuable tools and resources that won’t leave you bored nor confused like the everyday textbook. Our lessons are engaging, practical, and most of all – fun!

Sign up to get 10% off Annual Premium Subscriptions and get started learning today! Just enter the promo code below while checking out with an Annual Premium Subscription from our store.

Promotion Code: FUNWCPOD

This offer will expire April 29th, so don’t miss out!

ChinesePod Speaking Classes - Free Demo Class

ChinesePod recently introduced new speaking classes, which now include lesson Tasks. With the addition and full integration of the Task feature, students now get more than ever from ChinesePod Classes. With Tasks, students can upload tailored assignments in the form of video, audio, or text documents and later have these reviewed and corrected by their ChinesePod teacher. It is the most comprehensive and valuable feedback you could hope to get from learning Chinese online!

To learn more about our New Speaking Classes and register for a free demo class, be sure to contact a learning consultant today!

Key Words/Phrases

清明節
Qīngmíngjié
Qingming Festival, Tomb Sweeping Day

因為清明節是懷念去世的親人的一個節日，所以是很悲傷的一個節日。
yīnwèi Qīngmíngjié shì huáiniàn qùshì de qīnrén de yī gè jiérì, suǒyǐ shì hěn bēishāng de yī gè jiérì.
Since Qingming Festival is a holiday to commemorate relatives who have died, it's a sad holiday.

祝你生日快樂！
zhù nǐ shēngrì kuàilè!
Happy Birthday!

聖誕節快樂！
Shèngdànjié kuàilè!
Merry Christmas!

感恩節快樂！
Gǎnēnjié kuàilè!
Happy Thanksgiving!

復活節快樂！
Fùhuójié kuàilè!
Happy Easter!

萬聖節快樂！
Wànshèngjié kuàilè!
Happy Halloween!

中秋節快樂！
Zhōngqiūjié kuàilè!
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

新年快樂！
Xīnnián kuàilè!
Happy New Year!

春節快樂！
Chūnjié kuàilè!
Happy Spring Festival!

教師節快樂！
Jiàoshījié kuàilè!
Happy Teacher's Day!

情人節快樂！
Qíngrénjié kuàilè!
Happy Valentine's Day!

諷刺
fěngcì
sarcastic

母親節快樂！
Mǔqīnjié kuàilè!
Happy Mother's Day!

父親節快樂！
Fùqīnjié kuàilè!
Happy Father's Day!

兒童節快樂！
értóngjié kuàilè!
Happy Children's Day!

紅領巾
hónglǐngjīn
red scarf

端午節
Duānwǔjié
Dragon Boat Festival

紀念屈原
jìniàn Qū Yuán
commemorating Qu Yuan

三八婦女節
Sānbāfùnǚjié
Women's Day

祝你度過美好的一天！
zhù nǐ dùguò měihǎo de yī tiān!
Have a nice day!

玩得愉快！
wán de yúkuài!
Have a good time!

玩得開心！
wán de kāixīn!
Have a good time!

玩得盡興！
wán de jìnxìng!
Have a great time!

週末愉快！
zhōumò yúkuài!
Have a nice weekend!

週末快樂！
zhōumò kuàilè!
Have a nice weekend!

旅行快樂！
lǚxíng kuàilè!
Have a good trip!

一帆風順！
yīfānfēngshùn!
Smooth sailing!

一路平安！
yīlùpíng ān!
Travel safely!

新婚快樂！
xīnhūn kuàilè!
Have a happy marriage!

祝，好！
zhù, hǎo!
Best wishes!

身體健康！
shēntǐ jiànkāng!
To your heath!

一切順利！
yīqièshùnlì!
I hope all is well with you!

祝大家學得開心！
zhù dàjiā xué de kāixīn!
Wishing everyone happiness in their studies!

小馄饨 xiǎohúntun


粥 zhōu


豆腐脑 dòufunǎo


豆腐花 dòufuhuā


米粉 mǐfěn


酸辣粉 suānlàfěn

Key Words/Phrases:

叹词

tàncí

exclamation

啊，这里真漂亮！

à, zhèlǐ zhēn piàoliang!

Oh! It's really pretty here.

表示赞叹。

biǎoshì zàntàn.

Expresses admiration, praise

啊，真香！

à, zhēn xiāng!

Oh! it smells really good!

啊，下雪了！

à, xiàxuě le!

Oh! It's snowing!

啊，有鬼！

à, yǒu guǐ!

Ah! A ghost!

啊，有老鼠！

à, yǒu lǎoshǔ!

Ah! A rat!

啊，吓死我了！

à, xià sǐ wǒ le!

Ah! You scared me!

啊？怎么会这样！

ǎ? zénme huì zhèyàng!

What? How can this be?

啊？一杯咖啡要五十块，这么贵！

ǎ? yī bēi kāfēi yào wǔshí kuài, zhème guì!

What? One cup of coffee is fifty kuai! It's so expensive!

啊？你又换工作了。

ǎ? nǐ yòu huàn gōngzuò le.

What? You changed jobs again.

啊？你说什么？

á? nǐ shuō shénme?

Huh? What did you say?

哎，唉

āi, āi

similar to ”hey“; used to express exasperation; used to express understanding

引起对方注意。

yǐnqǐ duìfāng zhùyì.

To get the attention of someone you're speaking to.

哎，你在忙什么啊？

ái, nǐ zài máng shénme a?

Hey, what are you doing?

哎，你现在有空吗？

ái, nǐ xiànzài yǒukòng ma?

Hey, are you free now?

哎，先生，这里有人吗？

ái, xiānsheng, zhèlǐ yǒu rén ma?

Hey, sir, is there somebody here?

哎，小姐，这里有人吗？

ái, xiǎojie, zhèlǐ yǒu rén ma?

Hey, miss, is there somebody here?

哎，你是哪里人啊？

ái, nǐ shì nǎlǐ rén a?

Hey, where are you from?

哎，小姐，你的东西掉了。

ài, xiǎojie, nǐ de dōngxi diào le.

Hey, miss, something of yours fell.

哎，你怎么能这么说？

ài, nǐ zěnme néng zhème shuō?

Hey, how can you say this?

哎，你怎么能插队？

ài, nǐ zěnme néng chāduì?

Hey, what are you doing cutting in line?

哎，你怎么能打女人？

ài, nǐ zěnme néng dǎ nǚrén?

Hey, how can you hit a lady?

哎，你怎么随地吐痰？

ài, nǐ zěnme suídì tǔtán?

Hey, how can you just spit wherever you want?

哎，无聊死了。

ài, wúliáo sǐ le.

Man, I'm so bored.

哎，分手吧。

ài, fēnshǒu ba.

Oh, let's break up.

哎，算了算了。

ài, suàn le suàn le.

Oh, forget it. Forget it.

哎，真可惜。

ài, zhēn kěxī.

Oh, that's really unfortunate.

哎，怎么还没下班？

ài, zěnme hái méi xiàbān?

Oh, how can you still not have gotten off of work?

哎，我知道了。

ài, wǒ zhīdào le.

Okay, I got it.

哎，好的。

ài, hǎo de.

Okay, good.

哎，我马上就来。

ài, wǒ mǎshàng jiù lái.

Okay, I'll be there soon.

哇

wā

used to express admiration and astonishment, “wow”, “whoa”

哇，Connie真漂亮！

wā, Connie zhēn piàoliang!

Whoa! Connie's really pretty!

哇，你们太聪明了！

wā, nǐmen tài cōngming le!

Whoa! You're so smart!

哇，太好了！

wā, tài hǎo le!

Whoa! So great!

哇塞

wāsāi

another version of 哇 popular in HK and Taiwan

来自于港台。

láizì yú Gǎng Tái.

It came from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

啊，太棒了！

à, tài bàng le!

Oh, that's great!

啊？这么贵！

ǎ? zhème guì!

What? It's so expensive.

哎，你是上海人吗？

ái, nǐ shì Shànghǎirén ma?

Hey, are you Shanghainese?

哎，你怎么这么没礼貌？

ài, nǐ zěnme zhème méi lǐmào?

Hey, how can you be so rude?

哎，没办法啊。

ài, méi bànfǎ a.

Man, there's nothing I can do.

哎，我知道了。

ài, wǒ zhīdào le.

Okay, I got it.

哇，太好了！

wā, tài hǎo le!

Wow! So great!

哇，podcast结束了！

wā, podcast jiéshù le!

Whoa! The podcast is over!

哇，放假了！

wā, fàngjià le!

Whoa! It's holiday time!

啊，我的女儿好可爱！

à, wǒ de nǚér hǎo kě ài!

Oh! My daughter is so cute!

啊，蛇！

à, shé!

Ah! A snake!

啊，你不喜欢吃肉？

ǎ, nǐ bù xǐhuan chī ròu?

What? You don't like to eat meat?

哎，你有男朋友吗？

ái, nǐ yǒu nán péngyou ma?

Hey, do you have a boyfriend?

哎，你怎么不给老人让座？

ài, nǐ zěnme bù gěi lǎorén ràngzuò?

Hey, why don't you give the old person your seat?

哎，你怎么喝冰水？

ài, nǐ zěnme hē bīngshuǐ?

Hey, why are you drinking water?

哇，这么大一个汉堡。

wā, zhème dà yī gè hànbǎo.

Whoa! Such a big hamburger!

哇，你这么会喝酒。

wā, nǐ zhème huì hējiǔ.

Whoa! You can really drink!

哇塞，又有大美女来找你了。

wāsāi, yòu yǒu dàměinǚ lái zhǎo nǐ le.

Whoa-ho! There's a pretty girl looking for you again.

Welcome to the ChinesePod Weekly, your chance to find out what's going on at ChinesePod this week!

With ChinesePod being in the epicenter of the H7N9 outbreak, things have gotten a little unsettling around the office in the past few weeks. Now don’t worry, we are not all running around in panic about some impending pandemic, but I guess it’s safe to say we are a little a more germ-cautious than we were a month ago. So what do I mean by cautious?

Well, before I get into it, let’s just list a few facts in case you’re not that up-to-date with the H7N9 situation at the moment. What is H7N9? To put it simply, it’s a type of bird flu, or 禽流感 （Qín liúgǎn）, as it is called in Chinese. This is not the same bird flu (H5N1) that spread from Hong Kong in the mid 2000s, but is rather a serotype of the virus (see the previous link for the definition of “serotype” and other mumbo-jumbo). It is known to circulate amongst various avian populations, but this is the first we have seen it to cross over to humans. So far, reports from health officials in China and the WHO is that no sustained human to human transmission has been found, and at the present time it seems that transmission comes largely from direct contact with birds. While it is good news that the virus doesn’t seem to be spreading from human to human (or at least not efficiently), it is still a little scary when you consider the fact that the majority of people infected have become seriously ill, including death in several cases. According to an official weekly report by WHO, as of April 24th there were 108 cases spread around China and of these cases 22 confirmed fatalities.

Ok, so back to question at hand. What are we doing around the office to be a little more cautious? Well, for one, some of us (including me) started wearing surgical masks on the way to work. Now I must admit I found these to be quite ridiculous the first time I planted my feet in Asia, but try riding on a packed Shanghai subway in the midst of cold and flu-ridden springtime and you might come to see how I changed my mind. If you fancy picking one of these up yourself, you can go to any local pharmacy and ask for a 口罩 (Kǒuzhào - face mask). The one that I bought is made of some micro cloth that is particularly comfortable, with an interchangeable paper-ish filter on the inside lining. I do get some stares being one of the few 老外’s wearing a facemask, but my insecurities quickly vanish when I am protected from the hacks and coughs of everyday commuters (well, at least I feel protected!). Other than that, I noticed a lot more frequent hand-washing and for a period of time our weekday lunches became mysteriously, rather chicken-less.

Things are starting to die down a bit here now, however, and chicken has made a comeback on the weekly lunch menu as we realized there is likely only a small chance (if any) that you might get infected from eating some fully cooked 宫保鸡丁. Also, when you consider Shanghai’s population of 23 million, and of that only tens of people have become infected (so far), perhaps we were being just a little bit paranoid? Nonetheless, if you are a germaphobe like me, or are just plain interested in all this bio-medical stuff, have a look at this week’s Advanced Lesson "超级细菌", where we go into more detail about viruses and superbugs. Feel free to also leave any comments or thoughts you have on H7N9, as we are always eager to hear what our poddies think of new China-related events.

----------------------------------

10% Off Annual Premium Subscriptions

Simple fact - the more resources you have to study a language the easier it will be to study that language, and the faster you will learn. With ChinesePod Premium subscriptions, you get a whole bundle of these valuable tools and resources that won’t leave you bored nor confused like the everyday textbook. Our lessons are engaging, practical, and most of all – fun!

Sign up to get 10% off Annual Premium Subscriptions and get started learning today! Just enter the promo code below while checking out with an Annual Premium Subscription from our store.

Promotion Code: MAY12MP

This offer will expire May 12th, so don’t miss out!

ChinesePod Speaking Classes - Free Demo Class

ChinesePod recently introduced new speaking classes, which now include lesson Tasks. With the addition and full integration of the Task feature, students now get more than ever from ChinesePod Classes. With Tasks, students can upload tailored assignments in the form of video, audio, or text documents and later have these reviewed and corrected by their ChinesePod teacher. It is the most comprehensive and valuable feedback you could hope to get from learning Chinese online!

To learn more about our New Speaking Classes and register for a free demo class, be sure to contact a learning consultant today!

Key Words/Phrases

嗯，嗯，嗯，我知道了。嗯，好的，嗯，嗯，就这样啊！

ng4, ng4, ng4, wǒ zhīdào le. ng4, hǎo de, ng4, ng4, jiù zhèyàng a!

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I got it. Yeah, okay, yeah, yeah, it's like that.

表示思考。

biǎoshì sīkǎo.

Expresses thought.

嗯......我也不太清楚。

ng...... wǒ yě bùtài qīngchǔ.

Umm... I'm not so sure.

嗯......好像不行。

ng...... hǎoxiàng bùxíng.

Umm... it seems like this won't do.

嗯......这个好像不对。

ng...... zhè gè hǎoxiàng bù duì.

Umm... this looks like it's incorrect.

给别人留面子。

gěi biérén liú miànzi.

Giving someone else face.

嗯？这是什么？

ng2? zhè shì shénme?

Huh? What is this?

嗯？你说什么？

ng2? nǐ shuō shénme?

Huh? What did you say?

嗯？他是谁？

ng2? tā shì shéi?

Huh?" Who is he?

嗯？你什么意思啊？

ng2? nǐ shénme yìsi a?

Huh? What do you mean?

嗯？你怎么也在这里？

ng2? nǐ zěnme yě zài zhèlǐ?

What? Why are you here too?

嗯？你怎么还在睡觉？

ng2? nǐ zěnme hái zài shuìjiào?

What? Why are you still asleep?

哦，噢，喔

ō, ō, wō

Oh

哦，原来是这样。

ò, yuánlái shì zhèyàng.

Oh, that's how it is.

哦，我懂了。

ò, wǒ dǒng le.

Oh, I understand.

哦，好的，好的。

ò, hǎo de, hǎo de.

Oh, okay, okay.

哦，谢谢！

ò, xièxie!

Oh, thank you!

哦，对不起！

ò, duìbuqǐ!

Oh, I'm sorry!

哦，我想起来了。

ò, wǒ xiǎng qǐlái le.

Oh, I remember.

哦？真的是这样吗？

ó? zhēn de shì zhèyàng ma?

Oh? Is it really like this?

哦？你会说中文？

ó? nǐ huì shuō Zhōngwén?

Oh? You can speak Chinese?

哦？你今晚都在加班？

ó? nǐ jīnwǎn dōu zài jiābān?

Oh? You are working overtime tonight?

哦？你说的都是真的？

ó? nǐ shuō de dōu shì zhēn de?

Oh? Is what you're saying true?

嗯......我觉得这样做不太好。

ng...... wǒ juéde zhèyàng zuò bùtài hǎo.

Umm... I think doing it this way isn't so good.

嗯？你的电脑又坏了？

ng2? nǐ de diànnǎo yòu huài le?

What? Your computer is broken again?

哦？明天会下雨？

ó? míngtiān huì xiàyǔ?

Oh? It's going to rain tomorrow?

嗯......我们还是做朋友吧。

ng...... wǒmen háishì zuò péngyou ba.

Umm... let's just be friends.

嗯？这个孩子长得不像他。

ng2? zhè gè háizi zhǎng de bù xiàng tā.

Huh? This kid doesn't look like him.

嗯？你怎么哭了？

ng2? nǐ zěnme kū le?

Huh? Why are you crying?

哦，我知道，你是老王的女儿。

ò, wǒ zhīdào, nǐ shì Lǎo Wáng de nǚ ér.

Oh, I got it. She's Lao Wang's daughter.

哦？这个蛋糕是你自己做的？

ó? zhè gè dàngāo shì nǐ zìjǐ zuò de?

Oh? Did you make this cake yourself?

哦？真的假的？

ó? zhēn de jiǎ de?

What? For real?嗯，嗯，嗯，我知道了。嗯，好的，嗯，嗯，就这样啊！

ng4, ng4, ng4, wǒ zhīdào le. ng4, hǎo de, ng4, ng4, jiù zhèyàng a!

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I got it. Yeah, okay, yeah, yeah, it's like that.

表示思考。

biǎoshì sīkǎo.

Expresses thought.

嗯......我也不太清楚。

ng...... wǒ yě bùtài qīngchǔ.

Umm... I'm not so sure.

嗯......好像不行。

ng...... hǎoxiàng bùxíng.

Umm... it seems like this won't do.

嗯......这个好像不对。

ng...... zhè gè hǎoxiàng bù duì.

Umm... this looks like it's incorrect.

给别人留面子。

gěi biérén liú miànzi.

Giving someone else face.

嗯？这是什么？

ng2? zhè shì shénme?

Huh? What is this?

嗯？你说什么？

ng2? nǐ shuō shénme?

Huh? What did you say?

嗯？他是谁？

ng2? tā shì shéi?

Huh?" Who is he?

嗯？你什么意思啊？

ng2? nǐ shénme yìsi a?

Huh? What do you mean?

嗯？你怎么也在这里？

ng2? nǐ zěnme yě zài zhèlǐ?

What? Why are you here too?

嗯？你怎么还在睡觉？

ng2? nǐ zěnme hái zài shuìjiào?

What? Why are you still asleep?

哦，噢，喔

ō, ō, wō

Oh

哦，原来是这样。

ò, yuánlái shì zhèyàng.

Oh, that's how it is.

哦，我懂了。

ò, wǒ dǒng le.

Oh, I understand.

哦，好的，好的。

ò, hǎo de, hǎo de.

Oh, okay, okay.

哦，谢谢！

ò, xièxie!

Oh, thank you!

哦，对不起！

ò, duìbuqǐ!

Oh, I'm sorry!

哦，我想起来了。

ò, wǒ xiǎng qǐlái le.

Oh, I remember.

哦？真的是这样吗？

ó? zhēn de shì zhèyàng ma?

Oh? Is it really like this?

哦？你会说中文？

ó? nǐ huì shuō Zhōngwén?

Oh? You can speak Chinese?

哦？你今晚都在加班？

ó? nǐ jīnwǎn dōu zài jiābān?

Oh? You are working overtime tonight?

哦？你说的都是真的？

ó? nǐ shuō de dōu shì zhēn de?

Oh? Is what you're saying true?

嗯......我觉得这样做不太好。

ng...... wǒ juéde zhèyàng zuò bùtài hǎo.

Umm... I think doing it this way isn't so good.

嗯？你的电脑又坏了？

ng2? nǐ de diànnǎo yòu huài le?

What? Your computer is broken again?

哦？明天会下雨？

ó? míngtiān huì xiàyǔ?

Oh? It's going to rain tomorrow?

嗯......我们还是做朋友吧。

ng...... wǒmen háishì zuò péngyou ba.

Umm... let's just be friends.

嗯？这个孩子长得不像他。

ng2? zhè gè háizi zhǎng de bù xiàng tā.

Huh? This kid doesn't look like him.

嗯？你怎么哭了？

ng2? nǐ zěnme kū le?

Huh? Why are you crying?

哦，我知道，你是老王的女儿。

ò, wǒ zhīdào, nǐ shì Lǎo Wáng de nǚ ér.

Oh, I got it. She's Lao Wang's daughter.

哦？这个蛋糕是你自己做的？

ó? zhè gè dàngāo shì nǐ zìjǐ zuò de?

Oh? Did you make this cake yourself?

哦？真的假的？

ó? zhēn de jiǎ de?

What? For real?

Welcome to the ChinesePod Weekly, your chance to find out what's going on at ChinesePod this week!

The Chinese government probably had a good idea in mind when they decided to enforce the national standardization of Mandarin. After all, it was a way to break language barriers between the many linguistically and culturally isolated areas within China, and the use of Pǔtōnghuà as a lingua franca has helped China vastly in its economical and social development. There often comes a cost with change, however, and in this case, China’s many dialects are bearing the front of the effects of this so called “Mandarinization” – namely, dialects are disappearing left, right and center.

But why should we care? Well, for one, dialects are an integral part of each region’s habits, culture, and unique characteristics. With some 56 different ethnic groups, and an estimated 130 local languages (not to mention sub-dialects and accents), many of China’s non-standardized forms of communication are even older than Mandarin itself, and are therefore important in indicating key factors of Chinese history. If China were to lose these precious dialects, so too would it be losing an important part of its culturally rich past.

Thankfully, as people are starting to realize this widespread language vanishing act, efforts are being put forth to help protect endangered dialects. A project called Phonemica has recently started recording and archiving audio clips from a variety of areas in China in order to help preserve language for future generations. Their team is largely comprised of several volunteers working throughout China, interviewing, recording, and transcribing various dialects and accents. If you are interested in assisting their efforts, check out their website here.

ChinesePod too is contributing a small part towards this dialect preservation and awareness. We have published one dialect-based series on Shanghainese, which you can check out here. In addition, if you are keen to learn other dialects as well, feel free to post your interests and comments on our blog/comment boards.

----------------------------------

Buy a ChinesePod Subscription, Get 50% off OpenLanguage

Now is a great time to get studying for all you language nerds out there. Right now, if you purchase an Annual ChinesePod Subscription, you can get 50% off a second subscription on OpenLanguage. To take advantage of this offer, simply purchase a ChinesePod Annual Subscription directly from our store, and then email support@openlanguage.com to get your discount for 50% off a second language subscription.

Note: This offer is expires on May 31st, 2013 and the 50% discount can only be applied to Annual OpenLanguage Spanish, Italian, French, and English subscriptions.

ChinesePod Meetups Everywhere!

ChinesePod Meetups are a great way to meet fellow language learners, swap stories, share ideas, form study groups, and have a great time. Find a meetup near you, or start a new one. These events are for you, by you, so meet wherever you like. You choose the topic, the time and the venue.

To get started with ChinesePod Meetups today, visit meetup.com and feel free to email meetup@chinesepod.com for help creating your own group.

Key Words/Phrases:

字母

zìmǔ

letter (in an alphabet)

PPT

PPT

powerpoint

OK

OK

okay

卡拉OK

kǎlā OK

karaoke

KTV

KTV

karaoke

周五下班了，我们去K歌吧。

zhōuwǔ xiàbān le, wǒmen qù K gē ba.

When work is over on Friday, let's go to karaoke!

去KTVK歌。

qù KTV K gē.

to go to karaoke

WC

WC

WC (Water Closet)

去WC

qù WC

to go to the WC

AA制

AA zhì

to go Dutch, to split the bill

XO

XO

brandy, or any type of foreign liquor with “XO” on the bottle

IQ，EQ

IQ, EQ

IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and EQ (Emotional intelligence Quotient)

你的IQ很高。

nǐ de IQ hěn gāo.

Your IQ is very high.

你的EQ很高。

nǐ de EQ hěn gāo.

Your EQ is very high.

IQ很高，EQ很低。

IQ hěn gāo, EQ hěn dī.

A high IQ and a low EQ.

CT

CT

CT scan (Computed Tomography scan)

我今天身体不舒服，我要去医院做一个CT。

wǒ jīntiān shēntǐ bù shūfu, wǒ yào qù yīyuàn zuò yī gè CT.

Today I wasn't feeling well, and I'll go to the hospital to do a CT scan.

X光

X guāng

x-ray

B超

B chāo

ultrasound

T恤，T恤衫

T xù, T xùshān

t-shirt

ATM机

ATM jī

ATM (Automated Teller Machine)

MBA

MBA

MBA (Master's of Business Administration)

DVD，VCD

DVD, VCD

DVD (Digital Video Disc), VCD (Video CD)

mp3，mp4

mp sān, mp sì

MP3 (MPEG-3, .mp3), MP4 (MPEG-4, .mp4)

3D，3G

sān D, sān G

3D (3 Dimensional), 3G network

4S店

sì S diàn

car dealership providing the 4 S's (Sales, Service, Survey, Spare parts)

GDP

GDP

GDP (Gross Domestic Product)

CPI

CPI

CPI (Consumer Price Index)

WTO

WTO

WTO (World Trade Organization)

VS

VS

versus

PK

PK

PK (Player Killing), to defeat

真人秀

zhēnrénxiù

immortal excellence

我要和你PK。PK说中文。

wǒ yào hé nǐ PK. PK shuō Zhōngwén.

I want to defeat you. Defeat you at speaking Chinese.

T台

T tái

runway, catwalk