Chinese Language and Culture Club

Chinese Language and Culture Club

Open to all online and incoming tutors!

Free online Chinese classes

These recorded classes are designed to be fun, introducing interesting aspects of Chinese culture, while also teaching you some useful language skills! Note that they are run by the Lopair team rather than professional teachers, so are more of a fun introduction rather than formal learning.

"The Chinese language and culture activities are really interesting and provide a valuable insight into life in China." - Alex

Introductions

LEvel: Beginner

This quick review session covers the content from our first class (sadly not recorded!) on basic introductions as well as discussing some important features of Chinese including characters, tones and pinyin. 

Vocabulary

  • I/ me 我 Wǒ
  • You 你 Nǐ
  • Hello 你好 Nǐ hǎo
  • Thank you 谢谢 Xièxiè
  • Goodbye 再见 Zàijiàn
  • Passport 护照 Hùzhào

Phrases

  • What's your name? 你叫什么名字？Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?
  • My name is ____ . 我叫 ____ 。Wǒ jiào ____ .
  • This is my ____ . 这是我的 _____。Zhè shì wǒ de _____

Names

LEvel: Beginner

This Chinese language and culture class explains the differences between western and Chinese names as well as how to create your own Chinese name.

Vocabulary

  • First name 名字 míngzi
  • Surname 姓 xìng
  • Full name 姓名 xìngmíng
  • Order (of words) 顺序 Shùnxù
  • Number of words 词数 Císhù
  • Married surname 随父姓 Suífūxìng

Phrases

  • What's your name? 你叫什么名字？Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
  • My name is... 我叫... Wǒ jiào...

Numbers

LEvel: Beginner

Our Chinese class this week focused on numbers, including how to count 1 to 9, combining digits together to count up to 99,999 and applying this understanding to real life situations.

Vocabulary

  • Zero 零 Líng
  • One 一 Yī
  • Two 二 Èr
  • Three 三 Sān
  • Four 四 Sì
  • Five 五 Wǔ
  • Six 六 Liù
  • Seven 七 Qī
  • Eight 八 Bā
  • Nine 九 Jiǔ
  • Ten 十 Shí
  • Hundred 百 Bǎi
  • Thousand 千 Qiān
  • Ten thousand 万 Wàn

Examples

  • 86: 八十六 Bāshíliù
  • 2476： 二千四百七十六 Èrqiān sìbǎi qīshíliù
  • 56309： 五万六千三百零九 Wǔ wàn liùqiān sānbǎi líng jiǔ

Time

LEvel: Beginner

This Chinese class introduces some important words relating to time, the days of the week and how to arrange a time to meet with a friend.

Vocabulary

  • Week 星期 xīngqī
  • Monday 星期一 xīngqīyī
  • Tuesday 星期二 xīngqīèr
  • Wednesday 星期三 xīngqīsān
  • Thursday 星期四 xīngqīsì
  • Friday 星期五 xīngqīwǔ
  • Saturday 星期六 xīngqīliù
  • Sunday 星期天 xīngqītiān
  • Time 时间 shíjiān
  • Day 天 tiān
  • Two days ago 前天 qiántiān
  • Yesterday 昨天 zuótiān
  • Today 今天 jīntiān
  • Tomorrow 明天 míngtiān
  • Day after tomorrow 后天 hòutiān

Phrases

  • Do you have time? 你有时间吗？Nǐ yǒu shíjiān ma？
  • I do (not) have time 我(没)有时间 Wǒ (méi) yǒu shíjiān.
  • When do you have time? 你什么时候有时间 Nǐ shì shénme shíhòu yǒu shíjiān
  • I have time on ___ . 我 ___ 有时间。Wǒ ____ yǒu shíjiān

Measure Words

LEvel: Beginner

This Chinese class introduces the top ten measure words in Chinese and how to use them in sentences.

Vocabulary

  • 个 gè - General measure word
  • 只 zhī - Measure word for animals and body parts
  • 条 tiáo - Measure word for long, thin or narrow objects
  • 双 shuāng - Measure word for a pair
  • 辆 liàng - Measure word for vehicles with wheels
  • 张 zhāng - Measure word for flat objects
  • 本 běn - Measure word for stacks of paper
  • 家 jiā - Measure word for places where people gather
  • 瓶 píng - Measure word for a bottle
  • 杯 bēi - Measure word for a cup
  • 件 jiàn - Measure word for clothes, gifts and situations

Using in a phrase - "qualifier/ quantity + measure word + object"

  • A phone: 一个手机 (yí gè shǒujī)
  • Five cats: 五只猫 (wǔ zhī māo)
  • A pair of chopsticks: 一双筷子 (yī shuāng kuàizi)
  • Three train tickets: 三张火车票 (sān zhāng huǒchē piào)

Chinese Zodiac Animals

Level: Beginner

This lesson introduces some delicious Chinese traditional foods, particularly focusing on some specialities from Hangzhou. You will also learn how to order food in a restaurant!

Vocabulary

  • Zodiac 生肖 shēngxiào
  • Animals 动物 dòngwù
  • Rat 鼠 shǔ
  • Ox 牛 niú
  • Tiger 虎 hǔ
  • Rabbit 兔 tù
  • Dragon 龙 lóng
  • Snake 蛇 shé
  • Horse 马 mǎ
  • Sheep 羊 yáng
  • Monkey 猴 hóu
  • Chicken 鸡 jī
  • Dog 狗 gǒu
  • Pig 猪 zhū

Chinese Food

Level: Beginner

This lesson introduces some delicious Chinese traditional foods, particularly focusing on some specialities from Hangzhou. You will also learn how to order food in a restaurant!

Vocabulary

  • Dumplings 饺子 Jiǎozi
  • Sticky rice dumplings 粽子 Zòngzi
  • Glutinous rice balls 汤圆 Tāngyuán
  • Mooncake 月饼 Yuèbǐng
  • Sweet and sour spare ribs 糖醋排骨 Táng cù páigǔ
  • Red braised pork 东坡肉 Dōng pō ròu
  • Beggar's chicken 叫花鸡 Jiào huā jī
  • Sister Song's fish broth 宋嫂鱼羹 Sòng sǎo yú gēng

Phrases

  • Welcome 欢迎光临 Huānyíng guānglín
  • Can I have the menu please? 可以看下菜单吗？Kěyǐ kàn xià càidān ma?
  • I would like to have ___ . 我想要 ____。 Wǒ xiǎng yào ____ .
  • Bill please! 买单！Mǎidān！
  • Thanks you 谢谢 Xièxiè

Travel to Beijing

Level: Beginner

This language and culture class shares some of the most popular sights and activities in Beijing, as well as teaching some useful phrases to discuss your trip to Beijing.

Vocabulary

  • Beijing 北京 Běijīng
  • The Palace Museum 故宫 Gùgōng
  • The Forbidden City 紫禁城 Zǐjìnchéng
  • The Great Wall 长成 Chángchéng
  • Peking Roast Duck 北京烤鸭 Běijīng kǎoyā
  • Beijing Opera 京剧 Jīngjù
  • Tiananmen Square 天安门 Tiān'ānmén

Phrases

  • Do you like (Beijing)? 你喜欢(北京)吗？ Nǐ xǐhuān (běijīng) ma?
  • I (don't) like (Beijing). 我(不)喜欢(北京)。Wǒ (bù) xǐhuān (běijīng).

Qipao dress

Level: Intermediate

This language and culture class introduces the traditional qipao dress, including important stylistic features.

Vocabulary

  • Qipao 旗袍 Qípáo
  • Collar 领子 Lǐngzi
  • Front part 前襟 Qiánjīn
  • Length 衣长 Yī cháng
  • Look 看 Kàn
  • Stitches 针脚 Zhēnjiǎo
  • Twisted buttons 盘扣 Pán kòu
  • Pattern 图案 Tú'àn
  • Back 后背 Hòu bèi
  • Uniform 制服 Zhìfú

Phrases

  • I wear a qipao 我穿旗袍 Wǒ chuān qípáo
  • I want to buy a qipao 我想买旗袍 Wǒ xiǎng mǎi qípáo

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Level: Intermediate

This language and culture class introduces traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), including background theories, diagnosis methods and different therapies. 

Vocabulary

  • Yin 阴 yīn
  • Yang 阳 yáng
  • Black 黑 hēi
  • White 白 bái
  • Inflammation 上火 shànghuǒ
  • Look 看 kàn
  • Listen 听 tīng
  • Ask 问 wèn
  • Take pulse 切 qiè
  • Chinese herbal medicine 中药 zhōngyào
  • Acupuncture 针灸 zhēnjiǔ
  • Massage 按摩 ànmó
  • Cupping 拔火罐 báhuǒguàn

Kung Fu

Level: Intermediate

This class introduces the culture and language of Kung Fu, including a summary of the intensive training regime, famous Chinese martial artists and different Kung Fu styles.

Vocabulary

  • Martial arts 武术 wǔshù
  • Kungfu 功夫 gōngfu
  • Family 家 jiā
  • Sect 派 pái
  • School 门 mén
  • Training 训练 xùnliàn
  • Basic 基本功 jīběngōng
  • Form 专项 zhuānxiàng
  • Routine 套路 tàolù
  • Weapons 武器 wǔqì

Digital Life in China

Level: Intermediate

This language and culture class by guest speaker Windham discusses the influence of digital technologies on daily life, including unusual digital innovations in China and useful Chinese words in four key daily life categories.

Vocabulary

  • Clothes 衣服 yīfu
  • Online shopping 网购 wǎnggòu
  • Live broadcast 直播 zhíbō
  • Internet celebrity 网红 wǎnghóng
  • Popular style 爆款 bàokuǎn
  • Food 食物 shíwù
  • Check-in (on social media) 打卡 dǎkǎ
  • Eat in 堂食 tángshí
  • Take away 外带 wàidài
  • Delivery 外卖 wàimài
  • Scan code 扫码 sǎomǎ
  • Accommodation 住所 zhùsuǒ
  • Housemaid 阿姨 āyí
  • Lucky draw 摇号 yáohào
  • Short term rental 短租 duǎnzū
  • VR viewing VR看房 VR kànfáng
  • Travel 旅行 lǚxíng
  • DIY travel 自由行 zìyóuxíng
  • Homestay 民宿 mínsù
  • High speed rail 高铁 gāotiě
  • Ride hailing 网约车 wǎngyuēchē