Meaning: certainly；necessarily；have to；must； Origin: 甲骨文“必”字像一把有长柄的水勺子，旁边有水滴。“必”是“柲”（bì,义为“柄”）的本字，现在多用于指“一定”、“必须”。 On oracle bones inscriptions, “必” looks likes a water spoon with a long handle and water droplets beside it. “必” is the original version of “柲,” and now is more used as “certain” or “must.” Continue Reading
Structure : Number + 个 + Noun Meaning: The measure word 个 (ge) is the most common Chinese measure word. It can be used in a pinch for any noun if you can’t think of a more precise measure word. Continue Reading
Structure : 难道 + Rhetorical question Meaning: Rhetorical questions use the form of a question to emphasize a point, and as such the question does not require an answer. A typical English rhetorical question might be: “you’re not saying you Continue Reading
Meaning: fish Origin: 甲骨文中的“鱼”，字形为一条直立的鱼，头朝上，尾朝下。头、身、鳞、鳍俱全。后来鱼身的图案被拉直为笔画，鱼尾变为四点，而在简体字中，鱼尾则由一横代替。“鱼”和“余”发音相同，有鱼（余）说明生活富裕，中国春节的年夜饭一定要有鱼，象征“年年有余”。 In the oracle bone inscription, the character “鱼” is the image of a fish upstanding, with the head upwards and the tail downwards, It has head, body, scale and fins. Later the pattern on the fish Continue Reading
Meaning: to press from both sides; to clip or clamp; folder Origin: 这个字形像两个较小的人扶着一个较大的人，本义是“辅佐”，后来本义逐渐消失，引申为“从两旁钳住”。 This character looks like two smaller men supporting a larger man with their arms, so its original meaning was to assist a ruler in governing. Later, that Continue Reading
Meaning: Uniform; similar; together Origin: 田里的麦子一般都长得很整齐，所以古人用三棵麦子代表“齐”这个字，齐，表示“同时”、“一样”的意思，也可以表示“一起”。“齐”也是中国人的一个姓。 Because wheat grows orderly in the fields, ancient Chinese used the image of three strands of wheat to form the character “齐,” which means the same, at the same time, or together. “齐” (Qi) Continue Reading
Structure: Subject + 又 + Adjective 1 + 又 + Adjective 2 Meaning: The character “又” (yòu) can be used to attribute two qualities to something. This is like saying that something is “both … and … ” in English. Continue Reading
Meaning: sentence Origin: “句”字由“口”和“丩”（“纠”的本字）组成。“口”的原意是方钉，“丩”像两根绳子纠结在一起。所以“句”的本意是“弯曲”。现在“句”多用来表示完整的话。 The character “句” was composed of “口” and “丩” (the original version of “纠”). “口” used to mean nail, and “丩” looks like two intertwining ropes. Thus, the original meaning of “句” was “winding.” Now，it means Continue Reading
Structure: Subject + 多 + Adjective Meaning: “多” (duō) is often used to ask about the extent of something. Examples: 1. 他 多 重？ Tā duō zhònɡ How heavy is he? 2. 她 多 高？ Tā duō Continue Reading
Meaning: a row of people; line；team; group Origin: “队”是“坠”的本字，甲骨文的字形是一个孩子从土山上坠落下来的状况，现在“队”的意思主要是“行列”、“军队”。 “队” is the original version of the character “坠.” On ancient oracle bone inscriptions, “队” looks likes a child falling down a hill. Now, it mainly means “row” or “military.” Words: Continue Reading
