Ken Cheong asked:


The Chinese Language and dialects Each province, each city and even each village speaks their own dialect. There are hundreds of Chinese dialects in China so much so that each dialect speaker is not likely to understand another dialect speaker from another village or city. Fortunately, Mandarin, the official dialect, is understood by all dialect speakers.

Let’s learn a few useful basic and common Mandarin words and phrases that will help you break barriers with your Chinese friends.

How are You? -Ni Hao Ma

Also commonly shorten to Ni Hao.

This is likely to be the first Mandarin phrase that you will ever learn. Useful as a greeting or a ice-breaker. Suitable for use with all ages and professions.

Thank You -Xie Xie.

Another polite term that is easy to remember and use.

Very Good -Hen Hao.

This is useful when giving praise for a job or task well done. Also useful as a reply to anyone who says “Ni Hao Ma?’ to you.

Ni Hao Ma? -How are you?

Hen Hao (Very Good)

No Good -Bu Hao

This is useful when there is a need to comment on a shoddy or incomplete job or task. Can also be used as a reply to Ni Hao Ma? but may not be such a good reply.

Ni Hao Ma? -How are you?-

Bu Hao (No Good)

Very Expensive -Hen Gui.

When bargaining at the shops, this is the best term to use when driving a hard bargain.

Don’t want or -No Bu Yao.

This is the best term to use for touts – street hawkers who approach you at every tourist stop to ask you to buy things. Bu Yao….will stop them in their track.

This is beautiful -Hen Piao Liang.

Use this phrase to praise something that is nice or beautiful. May also be used when meeting a pretty girl too!

Taxi -De Shi.

De Shi is the correct term but you should be understood even if you use the English word for Taxi. They sound alike anyway.

Good Bye or See You Again -Zai Jian.

Well, I guess this is another term that will be easily understood even if the English word is used.

Excuse Me -Jie Guo.

There is always a crowd in touristy areas. There are so many Chinese who wants to see the same monuments too. Rather than push your way through the crowd, using the term Jie Guo may just open the path ahead for you!

Receipt -Fa Piao.

Always ask for the receipt or Fa Piao at the shops or from a taxi. This may be useful if you need to complain about a fraud or shoddy product. Also useful if you leave behind your bag or camera in the taxi.

I don’t want -Wo Bu Yao.

Useful when refusing a tout or when offered a drink too many at the Dinner table.

Please visit us at: www.chinese-culture.net for more such useful aticles

Sharon Lepcha asked:


People around the world have fallen in love with Chinese language as more and more people are actively learning Chinese these days. The good news is that various language schools around the world is offering Chinese learning courses but people often like to visit China to learn Chinese being in the midst of Chinese culture to better understand their way of life.

In fact, there are hundreds of Chinese dialects used by the people but the preference will be given to Chinese Mandarin language. IT is also the main language in mainland China as 50 % of the population speaks this language. It is the reason that Chinese Mandarin has been recognized as the official language of China.

There are various reasons why people are running after Chinese language. Despite the craze of learning foreign language to become a linguistic expert, people are after it with a hope of better career prospects.

To address the need of the dialect hungry people, there is a huge competition in major cities of China in establishing and running a Chinese Mandarin leaning center. Many of these centers provide comfortable accommodation according to your need, qualified professionals to teach Chinese, and organize teaching events.

Among these centers, China Study Abroad (CSA) is one of the highly reliable centers that provide excellent Chinese Mandarin learning experiences in China. This center has highly Knowledgeable staffs to guide you during your learning process, have excellent housing and insurance facility, provide guided tours around Beijing and China, and organizes regular events to help you meet native speakers to explore the Chinese culture. Candidates are also offered internship and allowed to volunteer. They get a chance to teach the language in one of nine diverse and dynamic cities located throughout China.

Another reason for people’s preference on CSA over other centers is their lowest price for the program. The cost assigned for the program by China Study Abroad is highly affordable in comparisons to other centers. CSA has offered highly competent Chinese Mandarin learning facility inclusive of all other basic necessity pertaining to learning Chinese language at highly affordable cost.

Hence, if you are looking for a reliable center to offer comfortable stay and quality learning facility in China, end your search here. China Study Abroad is the right center for you to approach as they provide excellent learning process throughout the seasons at budget fitting price.