Chinese Festivals

1. Spring Festival

Spring Festival, widely known as Chinese New Year in the west, falls on the first day of the first lunar month (usually in late January and early February) according to the Chinese lunar calendar. It is the most important traditional festival in China and is celebrated grandly and extensively across the country.
Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is commonly called "Lunar New Year", because it is based on the lunisolar Chinese calendar. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first month. In the Chinese calendar and ends with Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day. Chinese New Year's Eve is known as chú xī. It literally means "Year-pass Eve".
Chinese New Year is the longest and most important festivity in the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The origin of Chinese New Year is itself centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and traditions. Ancient Chinese New Year is a reflection on how the people behaved and what they believed in the most.
Chinese New Year is celebrated in countries and territories with significant Han Chinese populations (Chinatowns), such as Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand.



2. Dragon Boat Festival

Duanwu Festival (Chinese: 端午節/端午节), also known as Dragon Boat Festival, is a traditional and statutory holiday associated with Chinese and other East Asian and Southeast Asian societies as well. It is a public holiday in mainland China (since 2008), where it is known by the Mandarin name Duānwǔ Jié, and in Taiwan, as well as in Hong Kong and Macau, where it is known by the Cantonese name Tuen Ng Jit. The festival is also celebrated in countries with significant Chinese populations, such as in Singapore and Malaysia. Equivalent and related festivals outside Chinese-speaking societies include the Kodomo no hi in Japan, Dano in Korea, and Tết Đoan Ngọ in Vietnam.
The festival occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar on which the Chinese calendar is based. This is the source of the alternative name of Double Fifth.In 2009 this falls on May 28 and in 2010 on June 16. The focus of the celebrations includes eating the rice dumpling zongzi, drinking realgar wine xionghuangjiu, and racing dragon boats.
Duanwu Festival is traditionally celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar.



3. Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, Zhongqiu Festival, or in Chinese, Zhongqiujie (traditional Chinese: 中秋節), is a popular harvest festival celebrated by Chinese and Vietnamese people, dating back over 3,000 years to moon worship in China's Shang Dynasty. It was first called Zhongqiu Jie (literally "Mid-Autumn Festival") in the Zhou Dynasty.[1] In Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines, it is also sometimes referred to as the Lantern Festival or Mooncake Festival.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar, which is usually around late September or early October in the Gregorian calendar. It is a date that parallels the autumnal equinox of the solar calendar, when the moon is supposedly at its fullest and roundest. The traditional food of this festival is the mooncake, of which there are many different varieties.

Ni Hao 1 Lesson 10 : My friend (我的朋友)

眉毛 meimao = eyebrow

眼睛 yanjing = eye

鼻子 bizi = nose

嘴巴 zuiba = mouth

头 tou = head

耳朵 erduo = ear

脸 lian = face

头发 toufa = hair

长 chang = long

短 duan = short

上 shang = to go, to attend

年级 nianji = grade

学校 xuexiao = school

同班 tongban = classmate

笑哈哈 xiaohaha = to laugh heartily

凶巴巴 xiongbaba = fiercely



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Sentences



1. Our friend from china will now tell us about her research.
现在我们的中国朋友要向大家介绍她自己的研究情况。

2. I hope I never set eyes on him again.
我希望永远不要再见到他。

3. The clowns pulled funny faces.
小丑扮出了可笑的鬼脸。

4. She wears her hair in a bun.
她把头发盘成一个髻。

5. Soon, the whole school knew about her win.
不久，全校师生都知道她获胜了

6. Even though I hadn't seen my classmate for many years, I recognized him immediately.
即使多年没有看见我的同学，我也马上认出了他。

7. She was slender and had long dark hair.
她身材苗条，有一头长长的黑发。

8. All his observations were short and to the point.
他的观察报告都很简单扼要。

9. He is my friend.

他是我的朋友.

10. What grade are you in?

你上几年几?



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Schools



In China, the school year begins in September with the first semester ending in mid-January. The second semester begins in February(after three weeks' vacation) and ends in mid-July, leaving six weeks for summer vacation.

The structure of the regular education system follows a 6-3-3-4 pattern : six years of primary school(小学), three years of junior high school(初中), three years of senior high school(高中) and four years of tertiary education(大学). Entrance examinationa to each higher level are very competitive. Keypoint schools, which are better equipped and have higher academic standard, are the most popular schools.

In Taiwan, the school year starts in autumn and ends in summer the next year. There are two vacations: winter vacation(寒假), around the time of the lunar New Year(end of January to the beginning of February) and summer vacation(署假), from July to late August. The general school system also follows a 6-3-3-4 pattern.

Ni Hao 1 Lesson 9 : I like swimming

Sports



游泳 youyong = swimming

骑车 qiche = cycling

跑步 paobu = running

足球 zuqiu = soccer

篮球 lanqiu = basketball

网球 wangqiu = tennis

乒乓球 pingpangqiu = table tennis

板球 banqiu = cricket

棒球 bangqiu = baseball

垒球 leiqiu = softball

体操 ticao = gymnastics

跳远 tiaoyuan = long jump

跳高 tiaogao = high jump

排球 paiqiu = volleyball

曲棍球 qugunqiu = hockey

高尔夫球 gao'erfuqiu = golf

羽毛球 yumaoqiu = badminton


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Sentences

1. In many sports physical fitness is not as important as technique.
在许多体育运动中，体能没有技巧重要。
2. He takes part in the intercollegiate sports every year.
他每年参加大学校际运动会。
3. In soccer, only the goal-keeper may play the ball with his hands.
在足球运动中只有守门员可以用手触球。
4. The children ducked each other in the swimming pool.
孩子们在游泳池里互相把对方按入水中。
5. He doesn't like to play table tennis
他不喜欢打乒乓球.
6. Xiao Ming really likes to play basketball.
小明真喜欢打篮球.

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Asking what sports someone likes

To ask ' What sports do you like ?' say 你喜欢什么运动 Ni xihuan shenme yundong? To answer the question, say 我喜欢.. and replace the name of sport.

eg. A: 你喜欢什么运动?

B : 我喜欢打篮球.


Asking of someone likes a certain sport

To ask someone wheter he or she likes a particular sport say:


你喜欢.....吗? Ni xihuan...ma? or 你喜欢不喜欢...? Ni xihuan bu xihuan...?

The expression 'xihuan bu xihuan' can be shortened to 'xi bu xihuan' 喜不喜欢.

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Suggesting an activity

In Chinese, say 'Women qu...haoma?' 我们去....好吗?

To answer OK say 'Hao a!' 好啊!

The 啊(a) is used to stress that you think it's a good idea. To answer I'm not going, say

'Wo bu qu' 我不去.

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Taijiquan


Taijiquan 太极拳(taichi), characterized by its graceful and slow movements, is a traditional Chinese sport and an exercise for the mind as well as the body. To practise Taijiquan, one needs to be relaxed and concentrate on breathing and the flow of each movement. The exercise develops physical endurance, relaxation and metal calm. It's performed by millions of Chinese daily, mainly early in the morning, in parks or anywhere else where there is enough space


Taijiquan (simplified Chinese: 太极拳; traditional Chinese: 太極拳; pinyin: tàijíquán; Wade-Giles: t'ai4 chi2 ch'üan2) (literal translation "Supreme Ultimate Fist") is an internal Chinese martial art practiced for both its defence training and health benefits. It is also typically practiced for a variety of other personal reasons: its hard and soft martial art technique, demonstration competitions, and longevity. Consequently, a multitude of training forms exist, both traditional and modern, which correspond to those aims. Some of tai chi chuan's training forms are especially known for being practiced at what most people categorize as slow movement.
Today, tai chi has spread worldwide. Most modern styles of tai chi trace their development to at least one of the five traditional schools: Chen, Yang, Wu/Hao, Wu and Sun

Ni Hao 1 Lesson 8 : I can speak Chinese

Countries



中国 Zhongguo = China

澳大利亚 Aodaliya = Australia

英国 Yingguo = England

美国 Meiguo = America

加拿大 Jianada = Canada

德国 Deguo = Germany

日本 Riben = Japan

新西兰 Xinxilan = New Zealand

台湾 Taiwan = Taiwan

香港 Xianggang = Hong Kong

法国 Faguo = France

意大利 Yidali = Italy

泰国 Taiguo = Thailand

新加坡 Xinjiapo = Singapore

马来西亚 Malaixiya = Malaysia

西班牙 Xibanya = Spain

南非 Nanfei = South Africa

Asking about someone's nationallity

To ask a person his/her nationality, say 你是哪国人 Ni Shi Na Guo ren. To answer the question say 我是...with nationality

eg. A : 你是哪国人? B: 我是中国人

Describe Language ability

To ask someone if he or she can speak a certain language, again both ways of asking question can be used. eg.


你会说汉语吗? or 你会不会说汉语?


To say 'You speak very well ' say 你说得很好 Ni shou de hen hao. To reply ' Not at all ' say 哪里, 哪里. Chinese use 得 after a verb to lead to the degree or result of the action of this verb.




'Mandarin' the official Chinese language
Mandarin is called different names by the Chinese living in different places. Since the introduction of Pinyin and simplified characters in China, there are also variations in form of Mandarin being used. You will find that in your local Chinese community, characters used in newspaper, publications are printed in traditional characters, while publications from China are in simplified form.

Vocabulary Ni Hao 1 Lesson 7 :Pets at home


只 = a measure word used for some animals i.e. dogs,cats,birds
匹 = A measure word use for horse
条 = A measure word for some lone and thin object
狗 = dog
猫 = cat
马 = horse
金鱼 = goldfish
宠物 = pets
动物 = animals
鸟 = bird
凶 = Fierce,ferocious
可爱 = cute
漂亮 = beautiful
跑来跑去 = To run around
都 = all
熊猫 = panda
蝴蝶 = butterfly
蜜蜂 = bee






Sentences


My daughter keeps a rabbit as pet - 我的女儿养了一只兔子当做宠物。


The jackal is a wild animal in Africa and Asia. 豺狼是产于亚非的一种野生动物。


Isn't she a cute baby! 她是个多么逗人喜爱的孩子啊！


he postman was bitten by a fierce dog. 那个邮递员被一只恶狗咬了。


The fisher drew in the net and found a big goldfish in it. 渔夫收了网，发现有一条大金鱼在里面。


The thrush is a kind of small singing bird. 画眉是一种小鸣禽。







Chinese Zodiac



Unlike the Western zodiac, the Chinese zodiac is tweleve-year cycle and is based on tweleve animals



老鼠 - Rat
牛 - Cow,ox
老虎 – tiger
兔子 – rabbit
龙 – dragon
蛇 – snake
马 – horse
羊 – goat
猴子 – monkey
鸡 – chiken
狗 – dog
猪 - pig

Chinese Speech

大家好!

Hello Everyone!

我的名字是 Tita . 我的中文名字是李明月. 我14岁.

My name is Tita. My Chinese name is Li Ming Yue. I'm 14 years old.

我家有四个人. 有爸爸, 妈妈, 弟弟和我 .

There are four people in my family. Father,mother,brother and me.

我的爸爸和妈妈是商人. 我的爸爸今年四十四年岁 , 他是泰国-中国人.

My dad and mom are businessmen. This year my dad is 44 years old , he's Thai-Chinese.

我妈妈今年四五年岁. 她是泰国人.

This year my mom is 45 years old. She's Thai.

我弟弟今年13岁 , 他是学生. 他喜欢画画. 他的生日是11月18日

This year my younger brother is 13 years old. He's a student. He likes drawing.His birthday is on November 18th.

我爸爸和妈妈已经在泰国酒店业.

My dad and mom have hotel business in Thailand.

我们的家没有宠物.

We don't have any pets at home.

我的父母都是住在泰国.

My parents both live in Thailand.

我和我的弟弟在新西兰学习.

Me and my brother studying in NZ.

我留在美国家庭. 我弟弟是在寄宿学校

I'm stying with the American family. My brother is in boarding school.

谢谢

Thankyou.

Animals Sentences

It's illegal to kill a panda.
杀害熊猫是犯法的。

Pandas are loved by people all over the world.
熊猫被全世界的人们喜爱。

The farmer has a shepherd dog.
农夫有一条牧羊犬。

When the horse had finished the race, its sides were wet with foam.
这匹马结束比赛时，它的脊背被汗水湿透了。

The dolphin balanced the ball on its nose.
海豚用鼻子顶着球，使其保持平衡。

The monkey was hanging head downwards from the branch.
猴子头向下倒挂在树枝上。

The shark is dangerous to swimmers.
鲨鱼对游泳的人来说很危险。

The beach is a good place to fish from.
海滩是钓鱼的好地方。