West Connecticut Mandarin Academy 康西華語學苑

West Connecticut Mandarin Academy 康西華語學苑 We are committed to making learning Mandarin fun and meaningful with customized curriculum tailored to meet students' needs! 開心學華語！快乐学中文！

昨晚正忙著用自製酸白菜做火鍋底、烤著法國麵包、炸著豬排之際，赫然發現有隻蟋蟀跑到爐灶旁湊熱鬧，著著實實地還原「秋」字最原始的由來！想著：再兩天就是美國慶祝秋收、全家團圓的感恩節，也太應景了！秋是重要且最具代表性的季節：「各有千秋」、「萬世千...
11/22/2022

昨晚正忙著用自製酸白菜做火鍋底、烤著法國麵包、炸著豬排之際，赫然發現有隻蟋蟀跑到爐灶旁湊熱鬧，著著實實地還原「秋」字最原始的由來！想著：再兩天就是美國慶祝秋收、全家團圓的感恩節，也太應景了！

秋是重要且最具代表性的季節：「各有千秋」、「萬世千秋」、「如隔三秋」
秋是忙碌的：「多事之秋」，不僅要「溜溜秋秋」「明察秋毫」還要防止被人「打秋風」，深怕「秋後算賬」，只落得「老氣橫秋」的印象
秋季是歡愉的：「望穿秋水」好不容易等到「秋高氣爽」

在這個西方的中秋節來臨之際，願大家春風得意、健康嚇嚇叫、千秋大業、冬盡春來！

The significance of Thanksgiving in the U.S. is equivalent to the Moon Festival in Asia. Both festivals are celebrated in fall, the harvesting season. Apparently, it's widely accepted that there is no other better time than now for the family reunion feast to be completed with food freshly reaped.
秋, pronounced qīu (Chiu), is the modern Chinese character for "fall". The 火 part represented the heat originally and has been used to describe the ripeness of crops since 2000+ years ago. In Mandarin Chinese, 秋 appears to be the most significant season, which is used to represent the year and "thousand autumns" (千秋）means eternal! Very Cool!

Happy Thanksgiving!

香瓜、甜瓜、苦瓜、酸辣黃瓜；冬瓜、西瓜、南瓜、還有北瓜呢！哈密瓜（網紋甜瓜）、澎湖絲瓜（稜角絲瓜），還有韓國香瓜，到處都有瓜！用「腦袋瓜」猛一想，「瓜」真的在華人生活中扮演著不可或缺的重要角色，從吃的（瓜果、瓜子），到用的（瓜瓢、菜瓜布、絲...
11/18/2022

香瓜、甜瓜、苦瓜、酸辣黃瓜；
冬瓜、西瓜、南瓜、還有北瓜呢！
哈密瓜（網紋甜瓜）、澎湖絲瓜（稜角絲瓜），還有韓國香瓜，到處都有瓜！

用「腦袋瓜」猛一想，「瓜」真的在華人生活中扮演著不可或缺的重要角色，從吃的（瓜果、瓜子），到用的（瓜瓢、菜瓜布、絲瓜露）通通離不開；連「瓜子臉」也從不退流行！

造些句吧！

「瓜田李下」，還是別有任何「瓜葛」，像個「傻瓜」等著「吃瓜」，到時權益被「瓜分」可就不好了！

把秘笈背得「滾瓜爛熟」，待「瓜熟蒂落」之時，就準備「瓜瓞綿綿」吧！

What can you or what do you expect to see under the trellis? 瓜! 瓜 represents most of fruits in two taxonomy families, they are Caricaceae (papaya family) and Cucurbitaceae (cucumber family). With that being said, once you've recognized this character, it would be easy for you to hunt down the Mandarin names of papaya, cucumber, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, pumpkin, gourd, or loofa! Mandarin Chinese is quite scientific!

「米酒」、「米蘭」、「米其林」，「玉米」、「百米」、「篷來米」。「一種米養百種人」【一种米养百样人】『米』的多樣性除了老天爺賞賜以及賢人們育種，再加上各種發酵反應產生各式產品，豐富我們的生活，滿足我們的味蕾！它的發音也正巧是許多語言常用的，...
11/16/2022

「米酒」、「米蘭」、「米其林」，
「玉米」、「百米」、「篷來米」。
「一種米養百種人」【一种米养百样人】

『米』的多樣性除了老天爺賞賜以及賢人們育種，再加上各種發酵反應產生各式產品，豐富我們的生活，滿足我們的味蕾！
它的發音也正巧是許多語言常用的，因此也廣泛地在翻譯詞上見其蹤影。毫米、微米都還有使用漢語本義詞（毫-3、微-6），但納米(nanometer-9) 或皮米(picometer-12) 就直接音譯，學點外來語吧！

Can you see a few grains flying in this pictogram, 米?
米, pronounced mǐ, mainly means hulled or husked uncooked rice, and sometimes may refer to other seeds, such as corns (玉米 "jade rice") and peanuts (花生米).
Fun fact: 米老鼠("rice mouse") is Micky Mouse's Mandarin name simply because the 1st syllable of Micky is the same as the rice in Mandarin. Similar reasoning applies to another definition for 米 as meters (so-called loanword transcription).

當個「領頭羊」在這種滿「羊蹄甲」的「羊腸小徑」上「牧羊」，還是得謹慎，不要「羊入虎口｜成了「代罪羔羊」，但求到時還可以「亡羊補牢」！據說「羊水」是古語，來源不可究，但卻跟其英文同義詞(amniotic fluid, 源自於古希臘語) 有著相...
11/15/2022

當個「領頭羊」在這種滿「羊蹄甲」的「羊腸小徑」上「牧羊」，還是得謹慎，不要「羊入虎口｜成了「代罪羔羊」，但求到時還可以「亡羊補牢」！
據說「羊水」是古語，來源不可究，但卻跟其英文同義詞(amniotic fluid, 源自於古希臘語) 有著相同的淵源: 羊！是巧合還是「羊頭狗肉」？ 就別鑽牛角尖了（跑錯棚了，該去『牛棚』才對），就此打住，別讓看倌們看穿「羊質虎皮」才好！

The look of 羊 tells it all, don't you think so? 羊, pronounced yáng, means goat/ sheep/ antelope and most words derived from it have very positive meanings all because of 羊 denotes beauty, gentleness, luck, and peace. However, it may sometimes
refer to weakness especially when it coexists with 虎 (tiger).
Interestingly, 羊水 (lamb water) actually means amniotic fluid as 羊膜 (lamb membrane) appears to have the same origin as amnion, which is from Ancient Greek ἀμνίον "little lamb."

細數各界「執牛耳」之「牛鬼蛇神」，是否「多如牛毛」的「牛人」似乎都有「牛脾氣」，還是這樣的解讀有點「牛頭不對馬嘴」？別「吹牛」，「牛皮癬」是自身免疫系統失調，目前醫學尚未有方法可以根治，「再牛」的醫術也只能緩解症狀，所以實踐「庖丁解牛」仍為...
11/14/2022

細數各界「執牛耳」之「牛鬼蛇神」，是否「多如牛毛」的「牛人」似乎都有「牛脾氣」，還是這樣的解讀有點「牛頭不對馬嘴」？

別「吹牛」，「牛皮癬」是自身免疫系統失調，目前醫學尚未有方法可以根治，「再牛」的醫術也只能緩解症狀，所以實踐「庖丁解牛」仍為上道！（註：此番「牛刀小試」實屬「對牛彈琴」也乎？）

感覺不論生活在何處，「牛」真的在我們實質或精神生活層面有著舉足輕重的地位，想想『牛頓』雖沒去念『牛津大學』卻也悟出
「地牛」...，不，是地心引力，讓我們的科學發展不致停留在「蝸行牛步」現象！

What animal do you see from this word "牛“? I bet you got it with your first instinct, it does represent either a cow or a bull or both. Yes, Mandarin is much easier and simpler in this regard! Interestingly, snails in Mandarin also contain the character of 牛 as “蝸牛”！Also, do you recall that "holding the cow/bull ears ( 執牛耳)" refers to the acknowledged leaders?
牛 could also be used to describe someone who is awesome, powerful or stubborn when used as an adjective. Simple, but not easy!🧐
Beware! The meaning of the "beef show" is far different from "show me the beef," ask your Mandarin friends for details!

好！好嗎？好不？好嘛！好了嗎？好好！好的！「好意」跟「好意思」！「好吃」還是「好吃懶做」？「好看」跟「要人好看」！這麼一個美好的字，單是字義就搞得好不複雜，讓好為人師的好事者好生難受啊！還是好好學習，就會練就一身好本領！"好,“ prono...
11/11/2022

好！好嗎？好不？好嘛！好了嗎？好好！好的！
「好意」跟「好意思」！「好吃」還是「好吃懶做」？「好看」跟「要人好看」！
這麼一個美好的字，單是字義就搞得好不複雜，讓好為人師的好事者好生難受啊！還是好好學習，就會練就一身好本領！

"好,“ pronounced hǎo (same as "how" with the 3rd tone, a higher pitch ending) is an ideogrammic compound of 女 and 子.
Here are a few traditional interpretations of this "good" word:

1. 女 (female) + 子 (child): it is widely accepted that being a new mom is a good thing
2. 女 (female) + 子 (guy): the love between a boy and a girl is a good thing
3. 女+子 (women): the beauty of women

Knowing this word is pretty helpful! Saying it in all occasions to express positive feeling, well done, beautiful...etc.. When say this word twice, i.e. 好好(how how), might mean "really good," or "great great! "Pretty cool, right?
It could also mean "prefer" or "like" when pronounced in 4th tone (ending with lower pitch, like saying "no" with anger).

「子」字在當代華語中使用的頻率絕對是數一數二的，除了最基本的孩子、子目錄、烏魚子，以及古聖先賢的諸位夫子乃至於現今白話中最常使用的尾字，舉凡桌子、櫃子、襪子、鼻子、腳丫子、爪子、兔子到書呆子都有他/牠/它的蹤跡。遙想當年連胡適先生的『「老子...
11/10/2022

「子」字在當代華語中使用的頻率絕對是數一數二的，除了最基本的孩子、子目錄、烏魚子，以及古聖先賢的諸位夫子乃至於現今白話中最常使用的尾字，舉凡桌子、櫃子、襪子、鼻子、腳丫子、爪子、兔子到書呆子都有他/牠/它的蹤跡。
遙想當年連胡適先生的『「老子」都不「老子」呀！』既便在若干「甲子」後，仍讓許多「學子」的「腦子」晃了「一下子」！

Do you know, thousands of years ago, the current female symbol ♀ was the character for the child/ son/ used in Ancient China? "子" is the modern form. In addition to its original meaning as a descendent, "子," one of the most commonly seen characters in Mandarin, may not possess any meaning when used as a suffix for objects, body parts, or animals with the exception of the titles for teachers. In a way that expresses respect when attached to the teacher's surname, e.g., 孔子 (Confucius).

傳統既定女性溫柔婉約的形象在「女」字上完整呈現，很有趣的是這個跪拜禮幾乎是亞洲限定，現代醫學對偶爾為之的「正坐」（跪坐）賦予了養生、保健的正面註解，或許間接提醒這華夏文化並非僅止於禮，您覺得呢？Look at this beautiful ...
11/09/2022

傳統既定女性溫柔婉約的形象在「女」字上完整呈現，很有趣的是這個跪拜禮幾乎是亞洲限定，現代醫學對偶爾為之的「正坐」（跪坐）賦予了養生、保健的正面註解，或許間接提醒這華夏文化並非僅止於禮，您覺得呢？
Look at this beautiful character "女" showing a girl sitting on her knees, I bet you've figured out its meaning. Yes, it does mean female and can be seen in many characters that are associated with female, such as daughters, girls, or goddess.

「石」的本意即為那最堅硬的地殼基層與山崖本體。因此，不難理解博大精深又深入淺出的華語中所有算得上石頭的詞彙均帶有「石」，「寶石學」似乎就比較容易入門，您覺得呢？還記得度量衡單位嗎？「秉石斗升合勺撮」「噸石衡斤兩錢克」這個蛋，喔不，是「石」（...
11/07/2022

「石」的本意即為那最堅硬的地殼基層與山崖本體。因此，不難理解博大精深又深入淺出的華語中所有算得上石頭的詞彙均帶有「石」，「寶石學」似乎就比較容易入門，您覺得呢？
還記得度量衡單位嗎？「秉石斗升合勺撮」「噸石衡斤兩錢克」
這個蛋，喔不，是「石」（要『發蛋音』）代表著一百公升（當體積單位用）或是一百公斤（當重量單位用）。

Do you see "a rock falling from a cliff" or "a sort of rock platform in the cave" from the word, 石? Tell us what you see!
石 does mean rocks and you can spot it in all stone related phrases, including those precious rocks, e.g., jewels (寶石), diamonds (鑽石) or fossil (化石)and fossil oil (石油)!
Interestingly, this word is also used as a unit of volume or weight when pronounced as the egg (蛋dàn) in Mandarin.

簡單兩筆畫的「刀」存在於各類工具中，材料從石頭、金屬、塑膠、瓷器...林林總總，連雷射或放射線（伽瑪刀）都被極佳地應用做成各種不同的「刀」。人人都要學會『捉刀』，畢竟『刀子嘴豆腐心』還是讓人『心如刀割』啊，不如『刀下留人』，致力到耄耋之際還...
11/04/2022

簡單兩筆畫的「刀」存在於各類工具中，材料從石頭、金屬、塑膠、瓷器...林林總總，連雷射或放射線（伽瑪刀）都被極佳地應用做成各種不同的「刀」。

人人都要學會『捉刀』，畢竟『刀子嘴豆腐心』還是讓人『心如刀割』啊，不如『刀下留人』，致力到耄耋之際還讓人稱讚『寶刀未老』如何？

還有，連續升息，您看得清『美刀』的走向嗎？

Could you spot a holder at the hook with the curvy blade in "刀," which means a knife (you bet!) or one-edge swords in Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and Korean with just a bit discrepancy. As it was used as a currency 2000+ years ago, plus its pronunciation is similar to the 1st syllable of "dollars," the slang definition for 刀 would be dollars.

「耳」除了在與之相關的基本生理構造、功能、疾病的詞彙中出現蹤跡，形狀像耳朵的，如「木耳」跟「貓耳朵」帶上「耳」字不稀奇，連代表年紀的「耳順」、、意味著領袖地位的「執牛耳」也都跟「耳」沾上邊，想當然「耳」，有更多翻譯的詞彙也都用上這個耳字，像...
11/03/2022

「耳」除了在與之相關的基本生理構造、功能、疾病的詞彙中出現蹤跡，形狀像耳朵的，如「木耳」跟「貓耳朵」帶上「耳」字不稀奇，連代表年紀的「耳順」、、意味著領袖地位的「執牛耳」也都跟「耳」沾上邊，想當然「耳」，有更多翻譯的詞彙也都用上這個耳字，像是能量/功的單位『焦耳』、國家名如『土耳其』、種族名.....！
曾幾何時，「大飽耳福」的現代說法可是「耳朵懷孕了！」

耳, another pictograph shows an important organ, may need a bit imagination to figure it out as it has transformed from its oracle bone script. Did you get it? 耳 means ears or hearing related when used in phrases.
Interestingly, cat ears (貓耳朵) could be referring to a famous Chinese pasta while holding the cow ears ( 執牛耳) may stand for taking a leading position.

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