Chinese Zodiac is equivalent to western constellations

The ancient Chinese time correlated the time in which certain animals are active while time in animals make up the twelve signs of the zodiac．Today, our hanbridge online lesson will show you that they are rat，ox，tiger，rabbit，dragon，snake，horse，ram，monkey，rooster，dog，and pig．However, we would like to introduce the former six animal zodiacs in ancient Chinese culture that is related with a Chinese fairy tales on our online Chinese lessons.

Rat：(called zi3shi2)．At this time，the nerves of the rat are strongest and it is most arrive．By the way, the rat is always called in Chinese people conversation as hao4 zi.

Ox：(called chou3 shi2)．At this time, the ox has finished eating grass and is ruminating the vegetation，it is slow and cozy．

Tiger:(called yin2shi2)．Ancient records reveal that at this time，tigers are the most active and fierce，killing many people．

Rabbit:(called mao3shi2)．At this time, the sun is not yet exposed，the moon’s radiance not yet vanished．In mythology，the Jade Hare is the only animal allowed in the Moon Palace．

Dragon：(called chen1shi2)．As legend has it，dragons congregate and make the rain at this time．In folk lore，dragons are the main animals，therefore this time belongs to the dragon．

Snake：(called si4shi2)．It is believed that at this time，snakes cannot harm people and

are not traversing the walking paths．Rather they are believed to remain concealed in the under brush．

OK, do you want to learn Chinese animal zodiacs with more interesting and more legendary stories online? Please go to our official website whose headquarter was established in China’s Shenzhen city: www.hanbridgemandarin.com look for more and more information about how to make Chinese learn become easy and relaxed a lot through reading articles regarding Chinese interesting stories.

Next time, we are going to continue to give you the introductions about Chinese animal zodiacs in our online Chinese culture lessons. The next content embodies the next six animal zodiacs’ stories. And finally there will be a fairy tales about the origin of those altogether twelve animal zodiacs. Welcome to stay tuned on our Chinese platform online hanbridge lessons.  

Source: 

http://chinesemasterin.over-blog.com/2015/02/chinese-zodiac-is-equivalent-to-western-constellations.html

Chinese language learning for dian3 mao3 in your HSK test

Hello, guys! This time, here is a practical and important story for those who had a long experience of leaning mandarin Chinese for children everywhere in the world. Whether you are online or offline, I believe that most of you will catch some puzzling questions when you are preparing for a Chinese exam or other level’s test. For example, a less frequently used Chinese word may cause a trouble for many Chinese learners, just as you have seen the phrase in the title. Honestly speaking, the native speaker of Chinese is not entirely familiar with its meaning, story and usage.

It is exactly what we are going to learn Mandarin online share some stories with you about this strange phrase in Chinese expressions. To begin with, the Chinese pinyin is given as dian3 mao3. It should be written as 点卯, which is not too difficult write. However, what exactly is the meaning?

The phrase of dian3 mao3 derived from a method applied as the supervision in ancient times in the Chinese court palace. In the past, people divide a whole day into twelve hours. What differs from the hours today is that the hours in the past is equal to two hours, in other words, an hour has one hundred and twenty minutes. Accordingly, the word mao3 represents two hours from 5 am to 7 am of the phase in the past. At this time, the officials started to work in their own office that was called ya2 men in ancient times, but they had to get together in a special place for arrival check-out. Later, an official in charge of count the arrivals of the officials on duty was began to write down who was absent or not. This action was meant as dian3 mao3. There was also a phenomenon that some officials were meant to be absent their works. They  had an idea to escape from the obligatory tasks after their names had been written on the note book of the charger. Therefore, the meaning of dian3 mao3 has also changed as way to learn Chinese online, which can described that someone is not responsible and elaborate.

As a matter of fact, some related special nouns about the activity of dian3 mao3 had disappeared, but they were really vivid and interesting. For instance, the phrase 应卯 (ying4 mao3) means that all officials react to the sound of charger’s checking when their names are called. The phrase 卯册 (mao3 ce4) refers to a pamphlet carried by the charger. The phrase 画卯（hua4 mao3）means that the attendant officials’ name had been put down on the pamphlet.

Learning Chinese difficult words and expressions via its original stories can be the best way to learn Chinese online around the world. Please keep your pace in reading more articles from the Chinese learning online platform.

       

 Source: 

http://chinesehanbridge.jigsy.com/entries/general/chinese-language-learning-for-dian3-mao3-in-your-hsk-test

East and West in Chinese language culture

As is known to all, the word, east and west represents two different and opposite directions when people talk with each other in English. Generally speaking, these two words are, more often than not, used in daily situations where one person asks for someone help in finding a right direction because he or she lost the way or someone wants to go to a unknown place. In Chinese learning process, this kind of usage is also usual in people’s daily conversations. However, some complete foreigners cannot understand its specific meaning when Chinese speak: zhe4 shi4 shen2 me dong1 xi1? So, what is the meaning of dong1 xi1? How to use it in China? And is there any interesting story about that popular phrase? In today’s essay, our Chinese online lessons’ teacher will answer these questions for those Chinese learners learning Chinese all the time worldwide.

Historically, the phrase dong1 xi1 derived from a primitive theory called five elements; gold, wood, water, fire, and earth. These five elements can be made in different groups with the Chinese common five directions: east, west, south, north and center. According to Chinese traditional culture and theory, the east is related with wood, the south is related with fire, the west is related with gold, the north is related with water, and the center is related with earth. We can see that east stands for all plants, and the west represents all golden things. So do the south and north. Therefore, people combined the wood and gold, gradually giving rise to the phrase dong1 xi1. This is the symbol of colorful everything in the world for the first time. Many online Chinese lessons provide learners with the history stories about the phrase dong1 xi1.

Until song dynasty, a famous, knowledgeable, and humiliate thinker zhu1 xi3, experienced an interesting moment. One time, he once came across his friend sheng4 wen1 he2 in the block. Because sheng4 excelled in the theory of five elements, and he was questioned by zhu1 xi3: what were you going to do with a basket in the hand? Sheng4 replied: I went to buy dong1 xi1 on the street. Thus, the phrase dong1xi1 had not appeared at that time, so zhu1 xi3 could not understand. Then sheng4 answered: you rethink the theory of five elements and you would be clear at once. A few seconds later, zhu1 xi1 got it. As a matter of fact, the gold and wood stand for items and golden things respectively. Compared with south and north, the items or golden things can be put into the basket. So as you can see, how can you place the fire and water in a basket? From then on, the phrase meant the item or a thing until now.

Literally, the phrase dong1 xi1 should be written as 东西 of Chinese character. On the other hand, the tone of xi1 is usually no tone, just read as xi in daily conversations. Therefore, you can use as this way. This is end of this introduction of this Chinese phrase in Chinese online lesson. Have you learned well?

Source: 

http://oldchinese.jigsy.com/entries/general/east-and-west-in-chinese-language-culture

How to express the phrase tour guide in Chinese?

Travelling in China can be a tiring and puzzling activity due to the large territory with so many attracting sites and views. Under this situation, some of foreigners might have learnt some knowledge about the place where they are going to sightsee. Some of visitors who are interested in the civilized heritage and environment are more likely to choose the historical site for their trip. Therefore, it is a beneficial choice for you to apply for a tour guide who is responsible for your reference of your trip, enabling you to have both comfortable and knowledgeable experience in China.

What is the pronunciation of the tour guide? It is called dao3 you3 in the lessons of Chinese learn online, which should be written as 导游 in Chinese characters.

The phrase dao3 you2 actually evolved from another phrase xiang3 dao3 响导. What we speak those two phrase is not formed in a short time. The address of xiang3 dao3, since ancient times, was used as a specialized noun in the military forces. For instance, it had already been recorded in a strategic book called sun1 zi3 bing1 fa3 in the past when people have no platform of Chinese online learning. The recordation means that any troops would better not march forward if the commander has no information of local situations like plains, mountains, and jungles; if you do not have a strategist or an advisor in troops, your advantage of location will not be made use of.

There was another typical example of the meaning of xiang3 dao3 in the Chinese learning online. In the period of Spring and Autumn, the great politician, guan3 zhong4 together with his military forces of the state emperor qi2 huan2 gong1, did not have an appropriate tour guide for the information of local geography. As a result, they lost their way on their way home. At that time, they were at a loss. A moment later, guan3 zhong4 come up with a proposition: the intelligence of the horses is useful for us. Thus, he picked out an old horse, and loosened the rein and other things on the back of the horse, letting the horse go forward about. In this way, the troop of Qi2 found the way home by following the horse. As a matter of fact, this old horse played a role as a tour guide. Therefore, this story gave rise to a Chinese idiom whose pin yin is lao3 ma3 shi2 tu2. It means that a old horse can lead you who lost the way to a right direction.. Later on, this saying was passed down until nowadays.

In Chinese tourism industry, the phrase of address of xiang3 dao3 rather than the xiang4 dao3 was put into practice in the first place. A couple of years later, the sound of xiang3 has been changed into xiang4 with different tone- xiang4 dao3 向导. At present, people more often than not say xiang4 dao3 through online Chinese learning. However, especially in the tourism industry, the phrase xiang4 dao3 was used frequently as dao3 you2.

Source: 

http://chinesehelper.kinja.com/how-to-express-the-phrase-tour-guide-in-chinese-1684815583

Using the Same Character，the Same Track Gauge

Before 221 B．C, there were many vassal states in China that often launched wars. Their inhabitants lived in chaos as the states fell apart．You can know the name of Seven Warring States from the online Chinese lesson were the Han2，Zhao4，Wei4，Chu3，Yan1，Oi2，and Qin2 dynasties of the seven，the Qin State was eventually declared the victor withYing2 Zheng4 as their leader. Ying2 Zheng4 became the first emperor of China，and was given the title of first emperor. From 230 to 221 BC，Ying2 Zheng4 launched a massive war，destroying the other’s states．This time in Chinese history is known as the Qin Eradicate the Six States period. Following 221 BC, one country was established for the first time in China’s history and was ruled bya uniform, multinational，and centralized power called the Qin Dynasty (221—206 B．C．Ying2 Zheng4 believed that is contributions exceeded more than the ancient Three Sovereigns＆Five Emperors so he proclaimed  himself the first emperor.

After first unifying China，he implemented a series of laws and changes to society in order to maintain the unification of the Qin2 Empire where much power was entrenched in feudal systems of The First Emperor of China—Ying2 Zheng4 who was also a historical figure known by many students studying in Chinese online lessons. The First Emperor abolished feudalism and imposed a new national government In order to avoid the insurgence of civilians．he ordered all weapons confiscated by the empire to be destroyed by melting or burning．To withstand invasions from minority factions，the First Emper or implemented a great deal of manpower，material，and financial resources to build the Great Wall, not to mention the great deal of time it took．Currently the Great Wall still rests on its original foundation，and the subsequent repairs were made on top of the original wall The Great Wall is an extraordinary feat of human beings and a symbol of China．To control the thought of the citizen，the First Emperor executed the policy of burning the books，burying the Confucians．In addition，the laws were nationalized，weights and

measures mandated，and currency standardized．

   

Among the Emperor’s laws，one important regulation was implementing the same characters，the same road width policy．Before the unification，each state used different styles with which to write，making it very inconvenient to communicate Therefore after the unification，the First Emperor Qin ordered the states to use the same character and same track gauge．In our Chinese lesson online, we read it as shu1 tong2 wen2, che1 tong2 gui3. Under the so-called same road width policy a government standard was created for the width of roadways，and relay stations for post horses were constructed throughout the country along the roadways in order to allow for better communication between states．The roads built before unification varied in size，making it difficult for vehicles to pass. As a result the emperor decreed that the same width roads are to be built all over the country，limiting the axle length of carriages to six feet wide．In this way, the vehicles could travel on every road．One could say that this is China’s oldest form of a postal service．

   

In short, the policies of Qin Emperor，especially the same characters，same road width policy，established a firm foundation, maintaining a unified China for over 2000 years. OK, that is all for today’s Chinese history knowledge on Chinese lessons online where you will find the same kind of history story as much as possible.

Source: 

http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_eb0f20a90102vcu8.html

Dear friends, what will you do if you want to do business in China? What are you going to prepare if you are about to converse with Chinese businessmen and customer? And what are the relevant items in Chinese business? How can you learn business Chinese online free? In today’s discussion, our Chinese online language teachers will teach you several business expressions in China. These practical sentences enable you to acquaint with more about Chinese culture, which will be good for learning business mandarin and for your business operation in China.

1你是草，客是宝. (ni3 shir4 cao3, ke4 shir4 bao4)

The sentence means that as a business man, you should keep a modest and service awareness before your customers, and your customers are the source of the profits. So all businessman should treat your customer with welcome and honesty.

2 市场认得清，生意买的精.(shi4 chang3 ren4 de1 qing1, sheng1 yi4 mai4 de1 jing1)

Anyone who wants to earn a lot of money ought to run the business with good method. The conditions and situations of local markets is the key to that. Therefore, whether you can judge the local marketing demand well or not has a big concern with the performance with your business. The better marketing conditions you own, the higher profits you make.

3 当哄得哄，当骗得骗.(dang1 hong3 dei3 hong3, dang1 pian4 dei3 pian4)

For example, as you run a store, you have to deal with the varieties of bargains. Some customers cut prices sharply, while others pretended to tell a lie for comparing the same products. This proverb actually means that the appropriate induction method is necessary as long as you keep your quality of product. Likewise, sometimes you have to coax some customers into buying your products, or they will head to other stores where the same products are available. The aim is to win more and more customers back with a better competence against your rival in the markets.

4 一分钱，一分货.(yi4 fen1 qian2, yi4 fen1 huo4)

This proverb is still popular in modern conversation among marketing activities. The meaning is that the much more money you spend on a product, the higher quality of the product is. In a broad sense, the good quality product’s cost is dear, so most of Chinese customers are more likely to buy expensive goods for the sake of the idea of this proverb with a long time.

OK, these four proverbs above are highly used in Chinese daily conversations. To learn business mandarin, which the point is not those proverbs themselves, but the inner cultural beliefs embodied in the sentences. All right, guys, that is all for this edition of the lesson to learn business mandarin online.

 Source; 

http://chinesetool.bloggets.net/doing-business-in-china-is-so-easy/

What will say when someone gets into bad luck?

When you see the title, how many words can you spill out concerning that situation? In English, such as terrible, unfortunate, and so on. Likewise in Chinese, it is very common to take place that a person has a bad luck or incident in lives. The moment that kind of emergency happened, Chinese people would react directly with the highly used phrase as dao3 mei2 that you can learn in mandarin hanbridge. The phrase is written as 倒霉 who pinyin is very useful for any complete foreigners who want to memorize Chinese words as many as possible.

When it comes to the phrase dao3 mei2, actually, this phrase came from a province in south China, zhe jiang (it was recorded in Chinese hanbridge online) province where the word has long been regarded and used as the local dialect. As for its origin, it appeared in Ming dynasty, which was more than thousands of years ago from now. This phrase had never appeared in the formal texts or specialized articles at that time. Rather, its appearance was related with the ke1 ju3 system, the imperial examination system, and civil custom in ming dynasty.

At that time, it is adopted by state emperor in ming dynasty called ba1 gu3 qu3 shi4 as the imperial examination system. Students or scholars who was longed for being an official in the court palace, in most cases except for some upper class’s succession, they have to pass that test to make their dream come true. Owing to the limitations of its test, the development of many intellectuals was given a negative impact on their skills or abilities, plus some serious and normal facts that most people cheated during the exam. In this case, those who born into the poor family and hard working learners have the huge difficulty in being an official in the court palace. In order to seek a fortune for their exam, the examination attendants will lift a flag stick in front of their own house. People called it as 楣 whose Chinese pin yin is mei2 as hanbridge Chinese.

After the examination, if you passed the test smoothly, the flag stick would stand still, or they would take it away. So the action of taking away the flag stick was called and described as 倒楣 at that time. As a matter of fact,, the mei2 should be 霉， which the word was the same pronunciation as the mei2. The hanbridge mandarin can help you differ them clearly if you want to apply for its lesson. Later on, this phrase was used as spoken and written language in daily chatting and essays nowadays, to express the meaning of something unfortunate or something that does not go in your way.

People today will not use dao3 mei2. It is changed from the dao 3 mei2 in the past. 

However, Chinese learners and people coming from all over the world who are desired for learning Chinese stories and language would better know this change.

Source ; 

http://chinesepassion.page.tl/What-will-say-when-someone-gets-into-bad-luck-f-.htm