Structure: Subject + 还 + Verb + Object Meaning: “还” (hái) can be used to indicate that something is continuing – that it’s still a particular way. Examples:     他 还 在 看 书。     Tā hái zài kàn shū Continue Reading

Structure : Subject + 可以 + Verb + Object Meaning: Permission is expressed with the auxiliary verb 可以. It might be helpful to think of 可以 as meaning “may.” This will help to keep its functions and usage clear. Examples: Continue Reading

Meaning: dark, dim, confused Origin: 甲骨文“昏”字像太阳落到了人的手臂的高度，表示“到了天暮的时候”，这就是字的本义。引申为“昏暗”、“糊涂”等义。 On oracle bones inscriptions, the character “昏” looked like the sun falling into a man’s arms. It meant “the time of sunset,” which then extended to “dim,” “confused,” and more. Words:    昏君 (hūnjūn): Continue Reading

Meaning: exchange; convert; add (water, etc.) Origin: “兑”是“悦”的本字，字形的下半是一个人，上半突出了他的嘴和嘴角的笑纹。现在另有“悦”字表示喜悦，“兑”的意思为换取。 “兑” is the original version of the character “悦.” The lower part is a person and the upper part is an exaggeration of a laughing mouth. Today, the character “悦” expresses joyfulness, Continue Reading

Meaning: state-owned; collective; common; general; public affairs Origin: 这个字的上部“八”是分的意思，下部的“口”表示所分的物品，用平分东西表示“公平”。 The upper of this character is “八”，which means to separate, and the lower part is “口”, which represents the goods being divided. Likewise, the word “公平” means to divide things equally. Continue Reading

Meaning: bent; twisted; song; tune; music Origin: 甲骨文的“曲”像曲尺形，本义是“弯曲”，和“直”相对（音qū）。又有“乐曲”的意思（音qǔ）。 On ancient oracle bone inscriptions, the character “曲” resembles a curved ruler, so its original meaning was “bent,” the opposite of straight, and it was pronounced “qū.” It also has the meaning Continue Reading

Structure: Subject + 不太  + Adjective Meaning: You may be familiar with using “太”(tài) to express “too” in the sense of “too expensive.” There’s a similar pattern in the negative, which just means “not very” or “not so” (literally “not Continue Reading

Structure as an adjective: Subject + ( verb) + 差不多 + ( 的 + Noun ) Meaning: As an adjective, “差不多” can be placed directly after the subject of the sentence and, when coupled with a “的”, can modify nouns. Continue Reading

Structure: Subject + 刚 + Verb Meaning: “刚” expresses that the action happened not long ago. It’s used the same way as “刚刚”. Examples: 1. 我 刚 做 完 今天 的 工作。     Wǒ ɡānɡ zuò wán jīntiān de ɡōnɡzuò Continue Reading

Meaning: white; clear; pure; free of charge; Origin: 这个字原来是烛火的形状，中心是烛芯或灯芯，有了烛光就可以照亮，因此它最初的意思是“明亮”“清楚”，后来常用来指“白色”。 The original shape of this character is a candle with a wick in center. Its original meaning was bright and clear, and now is often used to refer to the color Continue Reading