In this article, we will explore the best practices to do business in China. We will discuss the importance of the culture, the economy, the government, and finally, we will see the importance of the Chinese people and how it can affect the way we do business.

At Ninchanese, we made a special Chinese business course to follow. You will experiment with doing business in China and learn key concepts to work in China in a Chinese environment successfully. You’ll take your post as a project manager. From there, you’ll see every part of conducting business, from meeting customers to delivering goods. It is one of the best ways to learn how to do business in China, as you can see in the curriculum (and one of the cheapest ways too). And if you want to know more about it before starting this course, you can read the description page of the course Doing Business in China.

The Chinese market is enormous, and there are many ways to do business in China, and also disastrous faux-pas. So we’ll brush up on the state-of-the-art of doing business in China that you’ll be happy to apply directly. 

• What is Chinese business etiquette?
• How do I avoid difficulty doing business in China?
• How to get a visa to work in China?
• How to start doing business in China if you’re not in China yet?
• How to get a visa to work in China?
• Do you need a visa to do business in China?
• What are the business advantages of learning Chinese?
• Which language will be the business language of the future?
• Should you approach companies directly or go through an intermediate?
• Free (or not too expensive) ways to approach Chinese companies?
• How to start a conversation with Chinese companies and people?
• When are Chinese companies open?
• How to get dressed for business in China?
• The business card is utterly more important in China than in the West.
• How to use business cards in China during meetings?
• What about bringing a gift to your potential business partner?
• How do Chinese companies conduct meetings in China?
• How to address different people and hierarchies?
• The importance of face
• What does it mean to use your guanxi?
• Are we obliged to go to the restaurant with the Chinese Business Partner?
• Are the Chinese Direct? Are they frank or secretive?
• Should I speak Chinese with Chinese partners?
• What are good manners with Chinese People?
• Should we drink alcohol during business?
• How to avoid drinking too much without losing face?
• Who should pay for the restaurant in China during Business?
• How to continue the conversation after your first meeting?
• How to work with Chinese colleagues?

What is Chinese business etiquette?

The people of China are very different from Western people, I would say boldly. They may look seemingly similar, but they are different, and it’s essential to know the difference and subtilities. They have different views on the world, different cultures (and very ancient), different values, and different ways of doing things. Therefore, it is essential to truly understand the Chinese people and how their business culture can affect the way we do business.

Before going on and doing big things in China, there are a few rules that will lead you to greater success:

1. Learn how to use the local Chinese language to communicate with Chinese professionals. (Tip: Use ninchanese.com)
2. Take some time to learn and respect the traditional culture, faith, customs, and Chinese history.
3. It would be best if you also understood the recent treaties, policies, phenomena, and historical events to familiarize yourself with the latest trends of China.
4. Lastly, try to know all your partners, colleagues, clients, and other persons involved in your field of work.

How do I avoid difficulty doing business in China?

If you want to work in China or with China, it’s natural to learn the Chinese language and the Chinese business language because it’s not the same knowledge. When we made our course based on actual present dialogues, we were surprised to see that much of the terminology used in the course is not in the HSK. So learning the language is essential, but it’s especially crucial to understand the business lingo. And more specifically, you’ll have to know the Chinese vocabulary for your field of work (or market). But, still, having a high-level HSK will also great you with a better visa. This can be interesting in the long term, we’ll see more about the visa system later.

Second, read the rest of the article and master Chinese business etiquette because if you do not master either, your attempt to do business in China will fail very soon.

It’s really about knowledge is power, and the environment in China is very complex. So it would help if you won the trust of people before you can do business in China. And you will win their trust partly by knowing and understanding them.

How to get a visa to work in China?

In the situation where you did find a job in China and need to move there, you’ll need a work visa. Well, It’s an important question, but I’m not a visa specialist, so first I recommend you go to the website of the Chinese Embassy of your country. You’ll need to put together some documents before you can apply for a visa and be able to travel to China for business purposes. And then you usually have to go to the Embassy to process your application; then they will tell you to get it when it’s ready. You’ll be granted a level visa.

You can get a B, A, Z, or R visa depending on your profile. For example,  to get an A-level Visa, you must get 85 points and for example, having the HSK 5 is the one that will give you the most point (5 points). Having the HSK 6 won’t give you more points. There are quite a few things that will give you points, the age, the salary level, and your Mandarin Skills: here’s a Visa level simulation. But while having a high-level visa is good to get a better level visa in the future, you will be totally fine with a B grade visa to work in China. I highly recommend the blog article of Andy Boreham speaking about his experience on Visa.

Do you need a visa to do business in China?

You don’t need a work visa but a China “M” business visa. M business visas are issued for commercial and trade activities. If you need to go to China for less than 3 months to visit clients, or meeting with business partners, and attend trade fairs, then an M business visa is easier to get and what you need. If you have an American nationality, you may be eligible for a 10-year multiple entry visa.

What are the business advantages of learning Chinese? 

The Chinese economy is rapidly developing and is an important global trading partner. The Chinese language has the most significant number of speakers of any language globally, which means that learning Chinese can lead to business opportunities in China. More than 2.3 million Chinese students study English. Still, English speakers have few opportunities to study Chinese, which means that learning Chinese can be a path to future opportunities in business and trade.

Which language will be the business language of the future?

It is not possible to predict this with any certainty. The common language of international business is, at present, English. However, this may be superseded by an Asian language, especially if the influence of the Asian countries continues to grow. The use of English as the language of business has been facilitated by the fact that the countries of the Commonwealth have become important trading partners. However, the same may not be true in the future.

It is possible, even likely, that there will be trading blocks formed in the future, which Asian countries will dominate. If this were to happen, it is most likely that Chinese would become the common language of international business.

How to start doing business in China if you’re not in China yet?

If you are not in China, the most straightforward way to know Chinese companies in your sector is by going to your local commerce chamber. They already have specialists that will help you get connected with Chinese businesses.

Some other private companies, or independent consultants, can also help you get started and get a few meetings. Be sure to define the scope of your activity and what you want to do with them. Be straightforward with the specialist on how you’d like to work with them and your goal in China. 

I have used these services, and it’s a fast method to get contacts and meetings with China-based enterprises. But, beware, I’ll say that it’s better to drive well how the specialist works. China has millions of companies, so explain to them what kind of company you want to see as precisely as possible. It will help them identify businesses looking like the one you would like to see. So don’t rest, and continue working alongside them to get the most result out of your trip. A few calls regularly will help you know how things are going. Your time is precious, and you can see only a limited number of enterprises.

Entering the Chinese market is not that difficult. It won’t be hard to organize your business trip with a trustworthy organization, a good product, and a good knowledge of your general market.

Should you approach companies directly or go through an intermediate?

It’s a legit question, and we can be tempted to do it ourselves as we do in our country, but I recommend you go through an intermediate. Why? Because Chinese companies like to get advice from a trusted partner and often favor word of mouth over cold calls. You will also save time identifying companies, and they can get appointments you only have dreamt possible.

Free (or not too expensive) ways to approach Chinese companies?

One great way to make contact is trade fairs. There are many trade fairs in China, and they are huge, with many companies presenting their products. So you’ll find a lot of companies there. And if you introduce yourself to a company in your field and make a good connection with them, there are great chances that they will help you get to the businesses you want to work with.

The Chambers of Commerce often do events with companies involved. You’ll meet other entrepreneurs, but it can also be challenging to find a relevant partner there.

The most well know Fair in China are Canton Fair, Yiwu Trade Fair, Beijing Auto Show, the Bauma Fair, and the Shanghai Import and Export Commodity Fair.

You can also use a professional app like Maimai to connect directly with people, a bit the same way LinkedIn works but for Chinese professionals.

How to start a conversation with Chinese companies and people? 

They’ll grace you with a smile. That’s typically how a conversation starts in China. And they expect you to be smiling too. You can then handshake but look attentively at your counterpart to check if they are used to handshakes. It’s common to say hi without any touch in China, and that’s ok, don’t take it personally. And you don’t need to bow, but if they do it, well, you can.

When you address Chinese people, it’s common to start with their titles and follow them by their last names. But, compared to the Western way of naming oneself, keep in mind that it’s the opposite in China: so the surname comes first, followed by the first name.

When are Chinese companies open?

It’s a fundamental question but always good to know. Chinese enterprises are often open from Monday to Friday and start working from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. It’s pretty normal to have a 2 hours break at noon, so don’t expect to get someone on the phone during these hours or make a reservation for a meeting.

How to get dressed for business in China?

You’ll generally see your interlocutors dress in “smart” apparel in a business meeting in China. You can expect to see classic black suits with a colorful tie for men and a traditional black dress for women. It’s not always true for ladies; if they have a high-level position in the company, they will dress with expensive clothes. So be sure to match your interlocutor’s grade and dress accordingly.

People can dress more relaxed, fashionably, or eccentrically in an innovative space like computer engineering, start-ups, or creative fields like art. But, even if they dress more casually, they do it with style and keep their look professional. So here again, go with the trend and dress like them.

The business card is utterly more important in China than in the West.

When saying hi, you’ll start to exchange business cards rapidly. A business card is vital in China. Imagine the business card as a person. You need to be careful how you present, take, and store the card. For example, it is not very good to put a business card in your back pocket for obvious reasons. 

Understand that exchanging business cards is a sport in China, so be sure to have enough on you. If you can have a unique business card only for China, do it and get one side with English and the other side with Mandarin Chinese.

As I said, it’s vital to give your card with (humility) manners and style. Be sure to give your card using two hands with the side in Mandarin Chinese facing up. Let your recipient examine it, and do the same when you receive a card. Take it with two hands, look at it, and store it in a card case. Only glancing at a card and setting it down can be interpreted as a lack of interest.

How to use business cards in China during meetings? 

If you did not exchange business cards before, presenting one’s card on the table when the meeting starts is necessary. Then, you push your card along its long axis against another card on the table. You hold it with two hands on both sides of the card. Then you take the other cards and place them next to you, so you don’t forget the names and titles of your interlocutors. 

Sometimes your Chinese interlocutors will give you their WeChat account. But sometimes not, and we will speak about it a bit later.

Ok, you’re doing great. Now, let’s get to the meeting!

What about bringing a gift to your potential business partner?

Before going to the meeting, you may think it’s a good idea to bring a gift. It’s a complicated question. A few years ago, it was a good idea, but recently, China started a war against corruption, so it is not acceptable to bring a present anymore. Even if it’s an excellent cultural habit in China, I recommend going easy with gifts and not making it look like a bribe. So if you go with a present, bring something not expensive. 

If the business relationship is going well and you know your Chinese partner better, I recommend offering a gift later, like if you meet in a restaurant. Your Chinese partner will see it as proof of your relationship going well. And, if you can make a double gift, it’s even better and a good auspicious. 

How do Chinese companies conduct meetings in China?

Don’t fear your meeting with a Chinese company. You’ll be surprised to see how joyful a meeting can start. It’s pretty different than in the West. The first 5 minutes are for small talk! So please don’t be late. This is viewed poorly, as the first minutes are for the critical small talk.

As far as topics go, rest easy. Be it the weather or an anecdote you have to tell, most small talk topics are acceptable. Your host will undoubtedly tell you where to sit and bring you water. You’ll usually find your name on the table, and you’ll be on the opposite side of your interlocutor.

Then after this starter, the meeting goes as we are used to in the West. You can start your presentation, bring your slides, and make a convincing presentation. If you did your presentation right, the Chinese counterpart will tell you how to continue any formality with his assistant. Don’t expect to sign the contract immediately. But if you did well, that’s undoubtedly a perfect moment to exchange your WeChat accounts. Be sure to have one when you arrive in China. That’s how you keep in contact with everyone, even the boss. I think that is a great way to connect with influential people. It’s something we certainly should do more in the West.

Then, when you feel the meeting is ending, you can leave the room. It is expected from you that you leave the room before your mandarin Chinese counterparts.

How to address different people and hierarchies?

The first thing to know then is that you must pay attention to elders and respect hierarchy in every situation. Senior positions enter a room by rank, so take a close look at who enters first and second in the room. Same for you, if you’re the boss, enter first in the space; if you’re not the boss, tell your boss to enter first. 

You must acknowledge the place of older people and seniority and be sure to show regard to them.

The importance of face

It’s a question of respect. It is not so far from the idea of a face. For example, restrain yourself from correcting people if they made an error. Just say that it’s a good point and tell them you see things differently if it’s imperative. But bring up things slowly, and be sure to be considerate of how you say something. Take your time, beat around the bush, and let them discover by themselves what’s wrong. And if they don’t, just bring up that point again later, preferably in a more private manner. I know this can take time, but they like to negotiate this way. Chinese see the whole picture as more important than just a detail. And so if the entire concept is good, but they made a little mistake, just let it go and move on.

What does it mean to use your guanxi?

If you give them face and your relation with your partners go well, you’ll make good 关系 guanxi, a good connection. Making connections is pretty crucial for the Chinese. It is what they call 关系 guanxi. Guanxi is a pretty important concept and can open up many doors. So be sure to respect them, so they will trust you to present some people of their guanxi. But, in a way, it’s the same for us. We like to introduce people to partners when they trust and respect you. It’s the same. Let them have their face, they will do the same for you, and you can all do business.

Everything is going well, and you showed them respect as you should. Great chances that you will receive an invitation to a meal, quite possibly directly via your WeChat.

Are we obliged to go to the restaurant with the Chinese Business Partner?

One thing about being invited. I had many meetings in China, and from my experience, you should not believe people who say you need to ask people to restaurants to do business. No, you can do business with them without having a meal. It depends on the context. For example, if you are there to make a big contract, you may likely stay with your partner for some days, like a joint venture, then, yes, they will invite you to have a meal, and you will invite them too. But, on the other hand, if it’s a quick transaction, then you don’t need to. 

So then, everything went well, and you invited your Chinese partner to the restaurant. How do you behave?

Are the Chinese Direct? Are they frank or secretive?

So you are invited to a great Chinese restaurant. Don’t take any risk here. Go with the kind of outfit you went to the meetings in. The ambiance will likely be friendly, and that’s where you’ll get asked many questions. Chinese people can be pretty direct and can ask questions we can view as rather intimate. Speaking about money, age, for instance, isn’t taboo in China. So do as you feel about answering these questions. But be sure that you explain that you don’t feel right speaking about this subject politely. If you are not shy and are comfortable sharing such information, then don’t hesitate to answer.

Should I speak Chinese with Chinese partners?

Chinese speakers love it when you speak Chinese, and it can be a great impression to make. But, before going on with your Chinese, be sure to know what you are saying. If you say something wrong, it can be counter-effective. But worry not, if you did your lessons on Ninchanese, you’ll be ok. If you’re ok in Chinese, but it’s still so-so, they will say it’s excellent. Do you remember the face? Perfect example. But if your Chinese is quite good, they sure will adore you and see it as an impressive commitment. So, depending on the Chinese level, be sure to speak Chinese on the right occasion.

What is the best app to learn Mandarin for business?

The best app to learn Mandarin for business will vary depending on your exact desired level of Mandarin. If you are planning to go to China or if you are planning to work with Chinese companies, then the best app to learn Mandarin for business is Ninchanese. Ninchanese is the best app to learn Mandarin for business because it is a complete language learning application. In addition to its business course, it provides a wide range of language courses from beginner to advanced levels. Ninchanese offers courses on grammar, conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, and cultural course topics.  It is completely free to signup or to download, use, and learn from Ninchanese.

What are good manners with Chinese People?

The Chinese will often ask you if you have eaten first. Say that you’re good. They are just being polite. It’s the same as when asked, “how are you doing?” in English. But if you are at the restaurant, then, yes, be happy about it.

Should we drink alcohol during business?

The idea is to get to a friendly environment; your Chinese partner will likely ensure that’s the case for you. For example, Chinese people like to toast. And they will start by raising a toast to your new relationship.

It’s a great time, but there are again some little rules to know here. Chinese don’t drink like you, you individualist drinker. In China, you drink when the toast is finished. You drink all your glass. In one shot, all together. You never drink alone. If you want to drink, you need to make a toast to everyone. Do as your elders do. And be very optimistic here.

When toasting, be mindful of what you were served to drink. For example, a few shots of beer (yes, it’s possible) are not the same as a few shots of Baijiu. Baijiu is fine alcohol, but it’s very strong. So, take it easy with making toasts (because you want to drink); your Chinese counterparts will also make their share of toasts.

How to avoid drinking too much without losing face?

With that in mind, make sure you have eaten a little before or during the toast. The last tip, if you don’t like drinking, tell them you’re sick and have a medical reason for not drinking. It will help in to get by. Don’t tell them that you don’t drink. Also, don’t joke by saying “comrade” (if you’re not part of the communist party) or tell a lame joke about that.

When you are going to eat, they will bring you a tremendous quantity of food. It should be more than enough, so don’t feel like you should finish all the dishes laid out in front of you. Quite the opposite, it’s seen as a good sign if you did not eat it all, they will think that you had enough to eat.

There are many rules about eating, and I won’t enumerate them, but you can read more about Chinese cultural habits here.

Who should pay for the restaurant in China during Business?

Lastly, your host will pay for the meal, and giving tips is generally not a thing in China, so don’t bother with that. If you’re the instigator of the meal and it makes sense in your business relation, you pay for everyone. This might require a little insisting, as your host will insist they are the ones that should pay. But, it’s good business etiquette to do your best to pay for everyone at times.

How to continue the conversation after your first meeting? 

In all of China, Chinese companies use Mandarin mandarin Chinese except for Hong Kong and Macau. So they will likely write in Chinese, but they do speak English with an international partner. If you can write the message yourself in Chinese, do, you’ll talk with the person in charge. 

The very next day of your meeting, you can send an email to the person the boss told you. Send them a simple email with a resume of the meeting. Tell them you would like to see them again to discuss the last details of the operation. Then, it could be your turn to invite them to a nice restaurant.

You can also do business with WeChat; it depends on how your Chinese counterpart tells you about that. The best is to follow the vibe. But WeChat is a great way to reconnect with your interlocutor. It could be as easy as sending a nice message during the Chinese new year wishing prosperity in your partnership. In general, it’s good Chinese Business etiquette (as well as good common sense) to try to stay in touch and regularly check in with your Chinese partners. 

How to work with Chinese colleagues?

Like in the West, establish a good personal rapport between your Chinese colleagues and yourself. Then be considerate of their food and work culture. You should adhere to the local customs (like napping time), obey the company’s rules, cultivate work habits, be patient, and remember that names are important. It’s not always easy, but follow our business course and you’ll do fine.

We wish you good luck with your business. Like I said before, be sure to check out our business course on Ninchanese to know how exactly it happens and be sure to speak impressive Chinese. It takes a few hours to complete and will guarantee you considerable business knowledge. Let us know how it goes for you in China. We love to hear stories from you!

The Nincha Team

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The post Business in China: How to do it? appeared first on Ninchanese.

Best wishes for the Mid-Autumn Festival

中秋节快乐! 
Zhōng qiū jié kuài lè!
Happy mid-autumn festival!

Why is the festival called the “Mid-autumn” Festival?

First things first. If you break down the Chinese name 中秋节 (Zhōng qiū jié), you get 中[zhōng] (middle) + 秋[qiū] (autumn) + 节[jié] (holiday). Why is that?

To us, the name of this festival, which is “Mid-autumn Festival,” begs the question: Why is this festival called the Mid-Autumn festival held on the first day of Autumn?

This year, the Chinese Mid-Autumn festival happens to fall on September 21st, the beginning of Fall. But that’s not what one should focus on. What’s important to know is that this festival, like all Chinese festivals, follows the lunar calendar. 中秋节 is celebrated each year on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. Because that’s the day the Autumn harvest ends. Incidentally, 秋  also means “Harvest time.”  The 15th is also the middle of the month, and the 8th lunar month is the middle of autumn. Hence the name, Mid-Autumn.
In our western calendar, its date changes slightly every year and ranges from mid-September to early October.

A magical way to celebrate the full moon

Okay, now that’s out of the way, what is this Chinese festival? What magical mid-autumn festival traditions are there? What do we do during it? This traditional Chinese festival is all about the full moon.

When the moon shines the brightest, Chinese people worldwide celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival.

Mid-autumn Festival Traditions

Gaze at the moon and make wishes

On this day, in China, the moon shines at its brightest. The Chinese believe it’s the purrfect time to send prayers for good luck. In ancient times, they would wish for a great next harvest next year, and now, they wish each other luck in life and business. That’s why the festival is sometimes called the Moon festival. Lanterns are often lit and sent out into the starry sky, carrying with them our wishes.

Join in the fun with mooncakes

What else? Ah yes, you’re going to like this next part. The mooncake festival is all about eating, and everyone should partake in at least one of the delicious Mid-Autumn festival food traditions. Yes, to celebrate the moon, we eat delicious mooncakes filled with all sorts of things. The fillings may be traditional lotus seed paste, egg yolk, red bean paste, or more innovative. That’s why this festival is also sometimes called the Mooncake festival.

The mooncakes are elaborately decorated, with patterns usually depicting the festival’s legends. Mooncakes now range from the traditional kind, rich and dense, with usually a duck egg in the center,

to modern takes on them, with a more delicate flavor and made with rice flour, such as the snowflake skin mooncakes. You’ll even find some iced, filled with ice cream. Luckily for us, stores and pastry shops usually sell mooncakes in small sizes, sometimes even bite-sized, which allows you to sample several.

Kick off October with some quality family time

The full moon also represents a family reunion. Due to that, the festival is also a big family moment, and getting together is a crucial Mid-Autumn festival tradition. Everyone gets three days off for it! If you’re in China or with a Chinese family, you’ll typically have a big celebratory meal with your family. You’ll eat, talk and sit together and enjoy the glorious moon. You can also have this experience with your Nincha family on the Ninchanese app in a special Mid-Autumn-themed world! In the Dialogue, you’ll be learning with Yocha a quote from a famous Mid-Autumn poem and will chat about the Mid-Autumn Festival.

When did the Mid-Autumn festival really begin?

No one knows for sure, but we do know this festival is thousands of years old!

Over 2000 years ago

The earliest records of the Mid-Autumn festival found are over 2000 years old, during the Han Dynasty.

In the 10th century AD, the festival date became fixed.

From there, the celebration steadily grew in popularity. As early as the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), the festival began being celebrated all over China, with much of the Mid-Autumn festival traditions appearing then. At the time, the date for the Mid-Autumn festival still varied. In the Song dynasty (960 – 1279 AD),  the festival’s date became officially fixed. It has become a yearly custom every since and is still a festival that means a lot to Chinese people worldwide. Did you know, however, that this festival only became a public holiday in 2008?

The Legends of the Autumn Full Moon Festival

Many have written poems and stories about the moon festival, and there are many legends around the Mid-Autumn festival. Among those, Chang’e Flying to the Moon is the most widely known.

Chang’e, Goddess of Heaven

It goes like this:
Once upon a time, Chang’e was married to Hou Yi, a real hotshot at the time (what?! he literally was! He was a heroic archer who shot down nine of the ten suns believed to have existed in ancient times).

Chang’e bringing mooncakes on a platter for the Chinese Mid-Autumn festival

Tasked with protecting an elixir that would allow Houyi to ascend directly to Heaven, Chang’e found herself forced to drink it. Then, desperate to stay close to her love, she managed to fly to the moon, the nearest place to Earth in heaven. There, she eventually adopted an immortal pet rabbit (that’s a different story), and that’s why ever since she’s been represented this way.

Chang’e and her rabbit

It is believed that Hou Yi, who sorely missed Chang’e, would serve the food she liked best when the full moon shone the brightest. Awwww. And that’s how, according to the legend, the Mid-Autumn festival began.

Mooncakes to fight the Mongols

There is another Mid-Autumn folktale so meowsome it sounds like a legend, except it actually happened.
In the late Yuan Dynasty (1271 to 1368 AD), people were unhappy with their rulers, the Mongols, and so, the resistance wanted to plot an uprising. To keep their messages hidden, a counselor had the brilliant idea of hiding notes inside the mooncakes, indicating when the uprising should occur. The revolt was very successful, and so, from then on, each year, the new ruler rewarded his subjects with mooncakes to commemorate that fateful day.

Since then, eating mooncakes took on a different meaning and has become even more of a tradition.

Talk about the Mid-Autumn festival in Chinese

Want to discover more about this festival? Then the new content on Ninchanese is precisely what you need. So check it out now; it’s available for free, this week only!

Three Special Event Stages for you on Ninchanese

A unique themed world to celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival, this week only!

There’s a new pop-up advanced world for you to discover for the occasion! Join in the Mid-Autumn festival celebrations with this themed exclusive world. In it, you can:

• Learn vocabulary to understand and discuss the Mid-Autumn festival
• Build sentences to talk and wish someone a happy Mid-Autumn festival in Mandarin
• Express yourself in Chinese: Learn to speak about the Mid-Autumn festival in the new dialogue
• Train your ear: Listening practice to be ready to talk about the festival in Chinese

The best part? It’s free all this week! So hurry! It’ll soon be gone.

Best paired with a yummy mooncake to keep your brain juices flowing. Enjoy and happy Chinese learning!

The Nincha Team

Stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Try the best way to learn Chinese today.
Ninchanese is free to use!

Sign up now

The post Marvelous Mid-Autumn Festival Traditions and Stories appeared first on Ninchanese.

How to handle doors checks? Going to the supermarket?

By now, everybody should have heard of the newly discovered Coronavirus, which is currently spreading worldwide.

People are afraid of getting sick or even worse and are worried about friends and family, not only in China but also everywhere else. This leads to many controversial discussions on how to handle the situation on different levels, from nationwide protection down to individual people’s lives.

As I am a foreigner living in China with (personally, I would say) intermediate knowledge of the Chinese language, this results in many new exceptional situations to deal with. I haven’t been in China for that long and don’t have that much practice in speaking, and there is especially a whole range of phrases and words which are rarely learned during the common Chinese learning path. But being in this Coronavirus situation, there are essential or at least useful Chinese words to know.

Depending on the city and district one lives in, the experience can be different, but I want to give a short insight into some everyday situations. This is an account of situations that happened in the past few weeks in the region I live (Sichuan – Chengdu (southern part)) and the challenges they may bring for a foreigner:

Door interviews:

These can happen often, and the biggest challenge is, of course, the language barrier if you’re not fluent in Chinese.

So, problems can be:

• None of the people can speak English, and your level of Chinese is far from fluent. The difficulty is here.
• They speak Chinese very fast and use different words than the words you know.
• Sometimes, they even speak a local dialect, which makes it even harder.

How to handle communication misunderstanding in Chinese?

Ask them to speak Chinese a bit slower (and hope that they understand you) with 请您说慢一点儿 – Qǐng nín shuō màn yīdiǎn er。

It truly makes a difference. When the Chinese speak slowly, it makes it easier to understand. At least you’ll have a sense of the meaning, even if you don’t understand every single word. Try to explain your situation as well as you can with the Chinese words you know.

They often collect personal information, so they most likely have a list to write it down. Don’t be afraid of the sheet of paper with all the Chinese characters. It’s not that complicated.

First, use a dictionary with an app like Ninchanese to translate the words on the list. With at least a bit of Chinese knowledge and common sense, you’ll guess most of the unknown words pretty easily. See the list below to know more about them.

Main entrance controls:

They put up main entrance control in every building which can be accessed by the public. This also accounts for the building I live in because it’s part hotel, part rented apartments.

As above, they’ll ask for personal information. They will hand you a list to write your info down. Or you may have to tell the security staff the information they want. Keep in mind that many people may have already touched the pen and the list before you. So you may want to wear gloves or bring your own pen.

You also have to scan a QR-Code and fill out a survey (only once). It’s on your phone, so the translation should not be tough – Before entering, you have to do a fever-check. They simply aim with a thermometer at your forehead; that’s it.

Supermarket/Shopping center-lockdowns:

One thing to know is shopping-centers or supermarkets with more than one entrance closed all entrances except one. Sometimes it’s hard to find the entrance, but the mall or supermarket is still open. Sometimes some small centers/shops are entirely closed down.

Before entering, you also have to do a fever-check. Check the sign below that says that you have to wear a mask (戴口罩 – dài kǒuzhào – Wear a mask) or you are not allowed to enter. So always wear a mask when leaving your apartment.

How does the Chinese news speak about Coronavirus?

Information about the epidemic is spread frequently through hundreds and thousands of channels in all media. In China, most of it is in Chinese, and only a few of them are aimed directly at foreigners and translated into English. Despite this, with some keywords and expressions, you’ll be able to pick up the general info, as it’s the most crucial info to know to protect you.

Below is a sheet which was published by CCTV News (央视 新闻 – yāngshì xīnwén). It lists a few common rules on how to increase personal protection. Originally it was only published in Chinese, but I translated it for some foreign friends here, and a Chinese friend helped me share it.

The common rules of safety by CCTV

I found it quite interesting because it’s visually appealing, simple to understand, and is not explicitly attached to the current situation. It also lays out a more common sense of protecting yourself from getting sick. This makes a good starting point to learn some new words and short phrases, which may also be helpful in the future or at least act as an excellent addition to the familiar “Getting sick / Having a cold”-lesson in the Ninchanese app.

Epidemic Sheet in Chinese – CCTV original

epidemic sheet English

Phrases on the sheet:

For a more convenient understanding, the sentences in the English version of the sheet above are translated to sound more natural. However, in the phrases below, I will stick as close as possible to the word-order to make the sentence structure more understandable (which makes them sound more like those typical funny translated signs you often can find). Fill words with no Chinese equivalent are added in [square brackets].

尽量不出门 – jǐnliàng bù chūmén – As much as possible, don’t go out
勤开窗通风 – qín kāichuāng tōngfēng – Frequently open window [for] ventilation
适量运动 – shìliàng yùndòng – [In an] appropriate amount, exercise.

出行时 – chūxíngshí – Going out time
戴口罩 – dài kǒuzhào – Wear a mask
N95 口罩 – N95 kǒuzhào – N95 mask [comment: a particular type of mask] 医用外科口罩 – yīyòng wàikē kǒuzhào – Medical-surgical department mask
保持手卫生 – bǎochí shǒuwèishēng – maintain hand hygiene
洗手 – xǐshǒu – wash hands
湿纸巾,免洗洗手液 – shī zhǐjīn, miǎnxǐ xǐshǒuyè – wet paper towels, no wash hand sanitizer

处理口罩 – chǔlǐ kǒuzhào – handle mask(s)
不要剪碎 – bùyào jiǎnsuì – don’t cut [in]to pieces
普通人直接丢弃进垃圾桶 – pǔtōngrén zhíjiē diūqì jìn lājītǒng – ordinary (no medical) people directly discard [the mask] in [a] trashcan
有症状的用自封袋包装按医疗废物处理 – yǒu zhèngzhuàng de yòng zìfēng dài bāozhuāng àn yīliáo fèiwù chǔlǐ – [mask, used by a person who] has symptoms, use self-sealing bag [to] wrap [it and] refer [to it as] medical waste [for] disposal
清洗穿戴衣物 – qīngxǐ chuāndài yīwù – Rinse clothing [and] other daily used articles
对携带物品进行消毒 – duì xiédài wùpǐn jinxing xiāodú – For carried goods conduct disinfection
洗手 – xǐshǒu – wash hands
使用肥皂和流动的水 – shǐyòng féizào hé liúdòng de shuǐ – use soap and flowing water
搓手时间不低于 20 秒 – cuōshǒu shíjiān bù dīyú 20 miǎo – rub [your] hands time not less than 20 seconds

有症状 – yǒuzhèngzhuàng – having symptoms
有轻微症状在家先隔离观察 – yǒu qīngwēi zhèngzhuàng zàijiā xiān gélí guānchá – having light symptoms, at home first isolate [and] observe
有可疑症状戴上口罩就近就医 – yǒu kěyí zhèngzhuàng dàishang kǒuzhào jiùjìn jiùyī – having suspicious symptoms, put in [a] mask, [get] nearest medical advice

Below are tables containing the medical symptoms, words from the phrases, and additional vocabulary according to the context.

Symptoms

Words from the phrase sheet

Additional Words

Thanks, Stefan, for these handy guidelines and vocab about the coronavirus and the protection measures taken in China around it. We hope these will help you stay safe and healthy in China, little dragons!
Would you like to learn these words on Ninchanese? Let us know in the comments below!

Stefan and 

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We picked them, and our users like watching them because they are a lot of fun, obviously, and very inspiring. As you may learn Chinese, you’ll love them too.

Why? Because most vloggers (video bloggers) in our selection are actually non-native Chinese speakers who have reached an awe-inspiring Chinese level. They were Chinese learners, then moved to China and started making super good videos in Mandarin.

These videos are usually easier to approach than a full-length feature film or TV show in Chinese, so that’s why we’re starting with these. Plus, there are loads to enjoy in these videos and glean from them in terms of language currently used in China and golden nuggets of Chinese culture to discover. You’ll see! Ready? Let’s dig in.

Fulinfang

Fulinfang is the one dude you want to be friends with. It feels warm to watch his videos. His Chinese is really great too. He has a really understandable way of speaking Chinese. He is quite funny, and I recommend some of his videos where he visits China with his niece. They are so adorable :)!

Here another video from him:

Thomas

Thomas is one of my favorite youtubers. He speaks really great Chinese. I mean, he really adds a lot of energy to his way of speaking Chinese. And Chinese people really do speak with a lot of intonation, and he does it very well. I like to follow his videos since they are really close to real life in Shanghai (his wife is Chinese). So there are a lot of videos about life in China and about what it’s like living with a family in China, and that’s super cool.

Here a présentation of this superstar:

Ninchanese is an incredible app for learning Chinese!

” I actually graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a MA in Chinese.
I’ve used Ninchanese daily, and it has helped me a lot!  “

 – Connor, Ninchanese User

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Kevin in Shanghai

Kevin in Shanghai creates entertaining videos to watch. They speak a lot about the cross-cultural culture and the challenges that go along with them. The videos are really nicely done, with many visual cues and situations to understand what’s going on. There are also often English subtitles in these videos, so it’s great to make sure you’re following okay if you’re not sure.

Collin Abroadcast

Collin likes to visit parts of the world, but I suspect his preference is for China. This vlogger has made really, really great videos about life in China and what situations you could expect when you’re facing Chinese citizens. His videos are fascinating and worth a look.

This particular video is about a guy showing how he bargains to get what he wants. The last seller is quite aggressive, but all in all, that’s only a negotiation style. From my experience, it’s always really fun to haggle over what you’re buying in China, and it makes buying an interesting experience. It’s even more fun if you speak Chinese with them (plus you negotiate better).

Mamahuhu

The Mamahuhu gang is one of the funniest you can find on youtube. They don’t care to mock Chinese culture and the Laowei’s culture (though they often compare American and Chinese culture). What can I say? Their videos are hilarious, and if you don’t know them yet, you have only one choice now, it’s to go there, watch these videos and share this article with your friends :D.

The China Traveller 司徒建国

Stu has been living for many years in China, and he makes a lot of videos about China and the Chinese culture. All his videos are quite funny. He actually has two channels. One called the China Traveller or 司徒建国. He’s funny and says his videos have two goals: help foreigners discover the Chinese culture more and make Chinese people laugh. The truth is, he manages to make us laugh too :).

Stu has also done many videos for a Chinese TV channel, so if you needed proof his Chinese was good, there you go!

His other channel is called STUpid in China; It’s great too!

This rounds up our selection of fun vlogs and vloggers to watch in Chinese! This selection was hand-picked by the Ninchanese community on Slack. Did we miss your favorite vlogger? Let us know in the comments or on Slack! And don’t forget, learn Chinese with us 🙂

New entries: User recommendations

Laowhy86 and Serpentza

C-milk channel or Laowhy86 has made lots of videos about China. He likes really doing deep-dives in the Chinese culture, especially what stands out. If there is a weird aspect of China, you bet it, and he’s made a video about it. It’s great if you are an ex-pat in China since these videos are really like speaking about China. And he always has a little pun that will make you laugh. Keep up the good work, C-Milk!

Another great vlogger is Serpentza, who does videos about China. He likes asking the “real” questions like, are Chinese girls easy? Don’t take me wrong, the titles are always a bit catchy, if not even a little clickbaity, but he has a lot of respect for China, and you really can feel his love for the country.

C-Milk and Serpentza have teamed up to make another great Channel: ADVChina. They visit a lot of places in China and make their videos really interesting. Worth a look! And if you really like their videos, check out the complete documentary on their website https://t.co/CvB2hZxg3R

xxxoooo

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Have you ever been to a cat café? Apparently, they’re everywhere in China now. As a Chinese learner, don’t you think a cat café is the purrfect opportunity to go pet cats, drink coffee AND practice your Chinese at the same time? To give you a feeling of what a cat café is like in China, Angel from Mandarin HQ did what she does best: go interview the cat café owners and those who go to cat cafés, in Mandarin Chinese of course, to give you a taste of what real Chinese sounds like! Alright, let’s dive in!

Over to you, Angel! Tell us about cat cafes

Meow Bar… Mimi Pet… Cup Cats… Meow’s Coffee… Cappucimeow… Cafés with names like these are popping up in cities across China, and I’m pawsitive it’s not a coincidence!

The question is: “Why is this trend catching on so fast?” To find out, I sat down for a chat with the owners of Mimi Pet and Meow Bar…

Press “play” to practice your Chinese listening skills and learn what the fuss is all about!

Can’t see the video above? Click here

Download the interview to practice your listening skills in Mandarin! Here’s the sound (in mp3) and here’s a transcript of the interview in pdf. Just click to download.

THIS WAS A GUEST POST BY ANGEL HUANG

Angel is the founder of Mandarin HQ – a blog aimed at helping learners bridge the gap
between textbook Chinese and real spoken Chinese through authentic interview videos
and tutorials. You can grab a free copy of her guide: 7 Keys to Improving Your Chinese
Listening Skills Fast.

Thanks Angel!

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Why is today so special in China?

The 20th of May is a very special day for the Chinese because they celebrate love on this day! For the Chinese, today is like a Valentine’s day.

During this lovely day, couples go on a date or spend time together. And for those who are single, well, it’s a perfect time for them to be brave and show their love to their main crush! Nobody can resist a declaration of love at this special event!

How did 5.20 come to equal a Chinese love word that says I love you?

Talking about this special event, you may wonder why it occurs on this day and not another one in Chinese. The answer is quite simple. It’s all about the sounds. When you write May 20th in numbers, it’s written 5.20. When you pronounce the numbers 5. 2. 0 in Chinese, 五二零 wǔ èr líng, they sound very close to the words 我爱你 wǒ ài nǐ. See? They don’t sound the same, but they sound quite similar, and that’s enough! The Chinese love plays on homophonic words and numbers with hidden meanings.
520 originally started as a slang word used by the Chinese online as a shortcut to say I love you in Chinese, like ILY in English. It then came to be associated with the date May 20th (5.20), which became a very romantic day!

Show your love with 520!

The Chinese love numbers and their hidden meanings

The Chinese people sure love this romantic day, as they have strong beliefs regarding numbers. You may know how some numbers are considered lucky and some unauspicious in Chinese. Certain number combinations also have secret meanings.

For example, did you hear of the wedding record set in China on 2012.12.12? In China, tons of couples got married on that special day because it was said to be a lucky day for lovers. See, in Chinese, you can pronounce 12 一二 yāo èr. (in Chinese, when talking about a phone number or a street, 1 is pronounced yāo instead of yī). The sound of yāoèr is close to the sound of 要爱 yào ài, which means to want love. So 2012.12.12 stood for “to want love, to want love, to want love.” What a lovely day to get married, huh?!

Ninchanese is an incredible app for learning Chinese!

” I actually graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a MA in Chinese.
I’ve used Ninchanese daily, and it has helped me a lot!  “

 – Connor, Ninchanese User

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As for 520, it means 我爱你 wǒ ài nǐ, and is a great Chinese love word to say today (and whenever you can) to your loved one. When you do, make sure you pronounce each word individually, because saying 5 五 wǔ and 20 二十 èr shí doesn’t work the same! Also, be careful not to mix it up with 250 二百五 èrbǎiwǔ, another number with a special meaning, but that means something totally different! 250 èrbǎiwǔ means idiot, stupid. Trust me; your lover won’t appreciate it if, instead of sending a cute 520 (I love you) text or saying it to them, you write 250. 嘻嘻.
If you like the idea of communicating in numbers, you can also take it up a notch and tell your boo 5201314! Why? 520, you know, is the Chinese love word to use today, and 1314 represents 一生一世 yīshēng yīshì (for a lifetime). So if you say 5201314, you’re saying I love you for a lifetime. So romantic, right? Add a 么么哒 to send extra love and affection!

Happy 520 love day!

Have a nice and lovely day full of 520 and love! Don’t forget to share your love as much as you can: today and every day using 520, the Chinese love word is purrfect for today!

The Nincha Team

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Ninchanese is an incredible app for learning Chinese!

” I actually graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a MA in Chinese.
I’ve used Ninchanese daily, and it has helped me a lot!  “

 – Connor, Ninchanese User

Try Ninchanese, an award-winning method to learn Chinese today:

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Top 10 Chinese pop music songs to know now

I picked for you 10 of the best songs and artists according to QQ 2016 top charts of Chinese pop songs.  What do I mean by the best? Well, the trendiest, most popular songs among Chinese people, but also the most surprising, such as 苏运莹. The music videos are ranked by number of Youtube views from the highest to the lowest. Enjoy!

#1 苏运莹 – 2-0+1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlvoJyk0W8E

苏运莹 participated in 中国好歌曲第二季 : the Chinese version of “The voice” TV show with this song she wrote on her own. It is all about being brave and keeping on fighting, what a great motto!

#2 李榮浩 Ronghao Li – 野生動物 Wild Animals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHAsE6hB4iM

If you like this song so much you want to sing it here are the lyrics!

#3 TFBOYS – 不完美小孩 高清完整音源 歌词字幕 Imperfect Kid

https://youtu.be/53Ohu8fkRoQ

This band is formed by 3 boys very famous among Chinese people. Since their debut, they have made many appearances in music awards and various TV shows

It’s better if you sing with the lyrics, so go for it and don’t be afraid of striking a false note!

#4 鹿晗 (Lu Han) – Excited 封印

鹿晗 Lu Han, 25 years old, is the former member of the well-know K-pop band EXO. He is now one of the most influential Chinese artist in China.

The lyrics can be useful.

Ninchanese is an incredible app for learning Chinese!

” I actually graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a MA in Chinese.
I’ve used Ninchanese daily, and it has helped me a lot!  “

 – Connor, Ninchanese User

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#5 Sunshine -甜蜜具现式

Sunshine is a Chinese girls band! They are really becoming famous in China but are barely known in foreign countries. We’re giving the best Chinese training ever with these lyrics.

#6 李宇春 (Li Yushun) – 野蛮生长

李宇春 (Li Yushun) is also known as Chris Lee. In addition to being a popular singer, she’s also an actress and won the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Worldwide Act, which is a meowsome prize to gain international fame!

You’ll find the lyrics in the video! That’s some kind of magic 😉

#7 许嵩 (Xu song)- 燕归巢

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84jhmSWcUPs

Also, know as Vae in English, 许嵩 Xu song became famous by posting videos of him singing on the internet, some of his songs such as “The Funeral of Rose” started to be quickly popular among Chinese young people.

There are no lyrics yet available online that we found, maybe you can try to write them down?

#8 郑钧(Zhen jun) – 你必须幸福

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbNZDjKa4Mg

Zhen jun became some kind of popular in the US thanks to the Chinese version he made of Coldplay’s song“Yellow”. After that, he joined the members of the jury of Happy Boys Voice (快乐男声) TV show, aka Superboy.

The lyrics for Zhen jun’s song are available on Mojim.

#9 魏語諾 – 躲不开

She decided to create a pop-rock band with few friends and became famous thanks to the song “花房姑娘”.

The best way to learn a language is by speaking, right? Try your best.

#10 俞灏明 (Yu Haoming) – 愚先生

participation in Happy Boys Voice (快乐男声) TV show, a singing contest aka Superboy. Now he appears a lot on TV shows such as Tian Tian Xiang Shang and Meteor Showe.

Try to read the Chinese pictograms in the lyrics.

Bonus song because I love Ronghao Li 李榮浩 so much:

李榮浩 Ronghao Li – 有理想 An Ideal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsIAsd2cekI

Which one is your favorite? Tell us if you know other 2016 pop songs you’d want to see make our top 10!
If you want to find more Chinese pop songs, use these Chinese music sites to start exploring!
And to listen to this 2016 playlist all over again, check our youtube playlist.

Two more bonus 2016 Chinese pop songs:

A reader sent us a message with two more great 2016 Chinese pop songs to listen to! The first one “五月天 Mayday – 派對動物 Party Animal” is #1 in the KKBOX chart and the second “林俊傑 JJ Lin – 只要有你的地方 By Your Side”  is #2 in the chart. Of course, we had to add them for your hearing pleasure!

五月天 Mayday – 派對動物 Party Animal

This famous Taiwanese rock band led by Ashin, the lead singer was created in 1995 and they’re still rocking today!
Check out the lyrics of Mayday’s Party Animal song here (thank you, Albert, for sending them to us)!

林俊傑 JJ Lin – 只要有你的地方 By Your Side

JJ Lin is a Singaporean singer based in Taiwan. He can sing in Mandarin, Cantonese and even Hokkien (a Chinese dialect spoken in Taiwan). This is so amazing! Wanna sing this song too? Check out the lyrics of JJ Lin’s song.

Do you know any other top 2016 Chinese pop songs we should add? Let us know!

Source: focustaiwan, playbuzz, jingdaily

Pauline and

The Nincha Team

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Lantern Festival marks the last day of the Spring Festival and officially ends the Chinese New Year celebrations. This fun festival is mostly celebrated at nighttime to see the colorful lanterns flying high in the dark sky.In addition to seeing the lanterns flying, during this festival, families gather to attend four other major activities on this special day. Let’s learn the five must-do activities for a happy Lantern Festival so you can join in in the fun!

Shanghai Lantern Festival 2014

The lantern festival activity you have to do: Watching the lanterns

The Lantern Festival was born when a Buddhist Emperor during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 25) gave the order to light lanterns on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month to honor Buddha. Since that day, the 15th day of the first lunar month has remained the day on which the popular Lantern festival is celebrated by all the Chinese!

On this special day, Chinese people like to hang lanterns up on their house and light them. Walking around in China, you’ll see lanterns everywhere, in malls, shops, houses, in parks and in the streets.

These lanterns are mostly either traditionally round or shaped like fishes or dragons. This year you will also see monkeys as it’s the Year of the Monkey!

People choose to design their lanterns according to what they want to praise (zodiac signs, food, flowers,..)

The belief during this festival is by lighting a lantern, you make a wish. So Chinese families light their lanterns and pray for health, fortune, wealth or make even more precise wishes. It is said that if you want your wish to come true, you must walk under a hanging lantern and pray for what you want.

So, at the end of the day, people light their lanterns and watch them fly away in the dark sky, accompanied by fireworks. Releasing the lanterns, which are red for good luck, symbolizes people letting go of their past selves and embracing new identities for the coming year.

What do you do during the Lantern Festival? Guess lantern riddles

Another popular activity during the Lantern Festival is to guess lanterns riddles.

Lantern riddles are called 灯迷 dēng mí in Chinese, where 灯 dēng is a lantern, lamp, or light, and 迷 mí refers to a puzzle, riddle, enigma, or conundrum.

The lanterns’ owners write riddles on small strips of paper they attach to the lantern they have hanging outside their home, so visitors can try to guess and solve the riddle.

If the visitors come up with an answer to the riddle (they are usually pretty tough to guess!), they can take off the paper and give it to the lantern owner. If the visitor guessed the right answer, then they win a little gift, given by the owner.

And this is how you change your casual stroll in the streets into a delightful moment by solving riddles. Fun, right?

What can you watch during the festival? A lion dance

Another popular Lantern Festival custom is to see a lion dance. In a Lion Dance, two people hide under a lion outfit, one manages the head and forelegs, and the other the back and rear legs.

Then, following the beat of musicians often playing gong, cymbals or a drum live, the two people in the lion outfit make the lion dance. Chinese people really enjoy the Lion dance, and it’s easy to see why: the dance is really acrobatic and awe-inspiring. The Chinese also find the Lion Dance very amusing to them as the dancers usually depict a lion’s movement in an exaggerated and comical way.
In a Lion Dance, the lion symbolizes boldness and bravery. The dance carries the meaning that people should be empowering themselves. During this dance, Chinese wish for a happy life and this dance is supposed to bring good luck to those who watch it.

Here’s what a lion dance looks like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb9EE5QCW9w

Other Lantern Festival activties:

Walking on stilts

If lion dances aren’t your thing, you can also go watch acrobats walk around on stilts. During Lantern Festival celebrations, you’ll often see actors walking around on stilts, embodying different characters such as fishermen, monks, clowns. As they walk on stilts, they perform difficult artistic moves and try to be as funny as possible to amuse people.

Eating 元宵 (Yuánxiāo)

元宵 (Yuánxiāo)

Lastly, a big Lantern Festival tradition is to eat 元宵  (Yuánxiāo) and these sticky balls are so yummy you’d be sorry to miss out on this excuse to eat sweet stuff.

`元宵 Yuánxiāo are sticky rice dumplings that can be stuffed with white sugar, brown sugar, sesame seeds, peanuts, walnuts, rose petals, bean paste, and jujube paste, or any combination of two or three ingredients. For Chinese people, the roundness of the dumplings symbolizes the togetherness as it is a great time for family gatherings.

So there you have it, the top 5 activities you need to do to be able to say “I’ve celebrated the Lantern Festival”! Which activity would you rather attend? Have you already been part of the Lantern festival? Share your experience with us!

I, personally, went to Shanghai Lantern Festival and I recommend it! It was enchanting with all the lights, the decors and the colors!

Source photo: Patrick Léger, Hujiang Chinese, Uwishunu
Pauline and

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But young Chinese people like to immerse themselves in western culture and sometimes plan romantic activities on this special day, February 14. Let’s take this opportunity to spread our love in Chinese with 6 different ways to tell that special person you like them.

#1 我爱你 – I love you

Saying “I love you” is such a huge commitment, especially in China, you can’t use it with everyone. Indeed, you wouldn’t say “I love you” to a person you’ve just met, or to someone you’re interested in, even if you get along well with them. As you can imagine, saying 我爱你 to someone on a first date might be inappropriate and have the opposite effect of scaring them away.

But if you’re committed to someone, the right way to show them you love them is to say

我爱你 wǒ ài nǐ I love you

In China, lovers use it to express their strong feelings, when they are truly, madly and deeply in love with each other.

#2 我喜欢你 – I like you

If you want to show your love in a more modest way, to your friends or to someone you’re like, you can definitely use

我喜欢你 wǒ xǐ huān nǐ I like you.

It’s a lot less strong than 我爱你.

#3 我对你感兴趣 – I’m interested in you

If you’ve found someone you want to date, here is one of the things you can say to show them your interest.

wǒ duì nǐ gǎn xìng qu I'm interested in you.

It’s a bit straight to the point, so just be confident, and it can work!

#4 你是我喜欢的类型 – You’re my type

Congratulations, you’re finally on a date! This person likes rock music, plays volleyball and loves Nincha more than everything, JUST LIKE YOU! Sounds like you’ve found your perfect match.

Then it’s the right time to tell them they’re just your type by using

你是我喜欢的类型 nǐ shì wǒ xǐ huān de lèi xíng You're just my type

#5 我爱上你了- I’m in love with you

The two of you have spent a lot of time together by now and you can feel yourself falling in love little by little with them.

Tell them how you feel:

我爱上你了 wǒ ài shàng nǐ le I'm in love with you.

Maybe it’s a good time to start talking about moving in together?

#6 你让我着迷 / 疯狂 – I’m fascinated by you/ I’m crazy about you

You are now in a stable relationship with your beloved, isn’t it nice? Remember to not take your lover for granted, however, and don’t forget to show them your love as much as possible!

Here are two adorable sentences to use:

你让我着迷 nǐ ràng wǒ zháo mí I’m fascinated by you.

你让我疯狂 nǐ ràng wǒ fēngkuáng I’m crazy about you.

Aww, so sweet!

Now that you know these 6 romantic ways to show your love in Chinese, you can express your feelings on Valentine’s day but also on EVERY day of the year! Have you used any of these sentences to show your feelings to someone in Chinese? Did we miss other useful sentences to show your love in Chinese?

Tell us in the comments!

The Nincha Team

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Two cat expressions you’re puuuurfectly familiar with

You’ve probably heard of the first two expressions before. They also exist in English and are used the same way as in English. All you need to do is learn how to say them in Chinese and you’ll be good to go.

Cat saying #1: Curiosity and cats don’t match

好奇心杀死猫

hào qí xīn shā sǐ māo.

Curiosity killed the cat.

一只好奇的小猫。A curious cat – Photo by Juliàn Cantarelli

You all probably know “Curiosity killed the cat”:  this cat quote is used to warn of dangerous situations. Here at Ninchanese, we try very hard not to think about what happened to the first cat who was too curious and from whom this quote derives…and choose to focus on a more positive note: Wikipedia notes “A less frequently-seen rejoinder to “curiosity killed the cat” is “but satisfaction brought it back””and we kind of like that idea!”

Cat saying #2: Cats live multiple lives

猫有九条命

māo yǒu jiǔ tiáo mìng.

A cat has nine lives!

The Chinese, as do many cultures, believe that a cat has multiple lives. They also opt for 9 lives, just like we do in English (and in a number of other places). Lucky cats!  In Chinese, this expression is used to symbolize someone who has a stronger vitality than others.

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Four cat sayings you’ll be pawzzled with

The following cat expressions and sayings are unique to Chinese, as far as we know. Cats are given interesting roles in Chinese sayings, we’ll tell you that!

Cat saying #3:  Cats as women

猫性女子

māo xìng nǚ zǐ

A woman with the character of a cat

Photo credit: Fanny Latour-Lambert

Chinese people often like to compare cats and women. Here’s why.

A cat can be very gentle, but it also has a strong sense of self-esteem. For example, if a baby kitten does something wrong, you need to comfort it, not scold it. For, if you hit it, it will remember that (and blame you) forever.

In Chinese, some woman are considered as cats: we/they have varied personalities and are seen as gentle, elegant but also sly, elusive creatures with a high level of self-esteem. That could also describe a cat, don’t you think? The Chinese like to liken the two anyways.

Cat saying #4: Cats as men and fish as women

猫改不了偷腥

māo gǎi bù liǎo tōu xīng.

A cat cannot stop stealing fish.

Photo credit: Serena (Flickr)

Eating fish is most likely inscribed in a cat’s DNA: it’s pretty sure that all the cats in this world like the smell of fish. Well, expect for Nincha, who doesn’t like fish. But that’s another story. So, for most cats, fish are a fatal attraction, and they can’t resist the sight of fresh fish.

The Chinese tend to think some men are the same, and won’t ever be satisfied with one girl, be she his girlfriend or his wife. This cat quote is therefore used to refer to those men who are married or have a girl friend, but are still ready and open to seducing others.

Cat saying # 5: of cats and rats

不论白猫黑猫,抓到老鼠就是好猫

bù guǎn hēi māo bái māo

 bái māo hēi māo, zhuā dào lǎo shǔ de jiù shì hǎo māo.

No matter if it is a white cat or a black cat, a cat that can catch rats is a good cat.

This is a very popular saying in China because it is linked to a special era: the 70s and to Deng Xiaoping, who frequently used this proverb to emphasize the importance of participating to bring about social change.

The idea behind this saying is: the truth can only be tested in practice, we should try before jumping to any conclusions.

Cat proverb #6: of cats and rats (2)

猫哭老鼠

māokūlǎoshǔ

A cat is crying for a rat.

Cats and rats don’t match? Source – Kantsuu.com

Everyone knows that cats eat rats so how can a cat be sad for a rat? Impossible, right? Especially considering the lousy trick the rats pulled on cats in the zodiac race to fame…So this Chinese cat proverb means the same as “crocodile tears” in English. It is used to describe fake compassion or sympathy.

So there you have, 6 Chinese expressions that are about cats! It’s funny how different cultures share some of the same cat sayings and beliefs about cats, don’t you think? Use these Chinese cat quotes in your daily life to impress your cat loving friends and remember: enjoy the fun the cats bring you!

Yanjie and 

The Nincha Team

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