差强人意 is a Chinese idiom that is often misunderstood—and sometimes used completely wrong.
Continue reading “A Highly Misused Chinese Idiom: 差强人意”Decoding 期: The Character That Gives Time a Structure
Today, we’re going to decode a Chinese character that appears in some surprisingly different words: 期 — qī.
Continue reading “Decoding 期: The Character That Gives Time a Structure”偏偏: The Chinese Word English Can’t Translate
Think of three very common situations.
You spend a whole week planning a picnic, and just as you’re about to leave, it starts pouring.
Continue reading “偏偏: The Chinese Word English Can’t Translate”The Real Reasons Chinese Is So Difficult — Nobody Tells You This
If you’re learning Chinese, thinking about starting, or simply curious about the language, you’ve probably heard this before:
Continue reading “The Real Reasons Chinese Is So Difficult — Nobody Tells You This”4 Hidden Logics Behind Chinese Radicals You May Not Know
Chinese characters often give you two clues at once. One part suggests the sound. Another suggests the meaning.
Continue reading “4 Hidden Logics Behind Chinese Radicals You May Not Know”