“Calling a Deer a Horse” 指鹿为马

“Calling a deer a horse” means to deceive for ill gain.

Calling a Deer a Horse (指鹿为马)

The Chinese idiom “calling a deer a horse” (指鹿为马 – zhǐ lù wéi mǎ) goes all they way back to the first Chinese Dynasty, the Qin Dynasty.  A figure by the name of Zhao Gao (赵高 — Zhào Gāo) receives the credit for this four word Chinese idiom, a 成语 chéngyǔ. Read More…

Mandarain Companion’s “Secret Garden” 《秘密花园》

When I first learned about Mandarin Companion, they had just published their first graded reader “The Secret Garden” 《秘密花园》.   I was delighted to be able to read this Chinese adaptation of  Frances Hodgson Burnet’s novel because it brought back memories of elementary school when my teacher read this story to us. Read More…

Funny Chinese Commercial: Meeting her parents for the first time….

How to respond when grilled by prospective in-laws.

当你第一次见女朋友父母时

Learn while you laugh

This commercial (广告) makes light of a time when a Chinese daughter introduces her boyfriend to her parents for the first time.    It can certainly be a harrowing experience to get approval. Read More…