Category Archives: Learn Chinese

Sometimes a nice break can be good while learning Chinese (or any other subject); a rejuvenating experience that helps you refocus and set new goals. But, for me, an 8 week holiday this summer wasn’t quite that. While I still did maintain bi-weekly podcast lessons, it wasn’t enough to keep alive the daily routine that would have allowed me to continue making steady progress.

I was in Chinatown, Boston a few days ago to have lunch, and to see if I could make some cultural comparisons between overseas China and the real China that I have already spent a year in. Fortunately, there was no spitting in Chinatown, and the food was reasonably authentic (though, definitely more influenced by Cantonese and Hong Kong cuisine). I ordered some 鱼香肉丝 (yu xiang rou si), (蘑菇青菜) mo gu qing cai, and the more Americanized, crab ragoon. The yu xiang rou si was similar to how it is prepared in China, although the sauce was spicy and not of the fish-fragrant variety I am used to having in mainland China.

Guest post by Troy Edwards

Mention actors Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan, and most American students would be delighted to discuss at great length their popular box office movies, and perhaps even recite some of their famous lines.

Few would disagree with their iconic status in the United States. But the Chinese language? Not so popular!

So you just started learning Chinese and now you are ready to start typing characters on the computer. Here is a brief guide to get you started. 

First you will need to install the pinyin input method on your computer. 

I think those that are not studying Chinese will find this post just as interesting as those who are. It takes hardly a glimpse into the Chinese language to realize it’s quite different from English. One of the fascinations I have with Chinese is how its words are formed. There is logic behind creating words in Chinese, and if you had to generalize, it would be the logic of taking two abstract ideas, joining them, and creating a concrete object. I will give you a sample of some of my favorite Chinese words and what they mean, literally speaking.