The Best, Most Useless Chinese Phrases You Will Never Forget

I took Chinese for two years at William and Mary before studying abroad this fall at Peking University. With that said, I would like to share with you some of the most obscure phrases and characters I have learned while studying Mandarin.

Electron: 电子 (dianzi)

Fat Auntie Stationary Shop: 胖啊姨 文具店 (panganyi wenjudian)

My Heart Goes Pit-A-Pat (from our onomatopoeia unit): 我的心扑通扑通 (wode xin putong-putong)

Paper-Cut For Window Decoration: 窗花 (chuanghua)

Swindler: 骗子 (pianzi)

Textile: 纺织 (fangzhi)

To Put On Airs: 摆架子 (baijiazi)

Treasure-House: 宝库 (baoku)

When In Rome, Do As The Roman’s Do: 入乡随俗 (ruxiangsuisu)

Wheelbarrow: 小车 (xiaoche)

My favorite Chinese phrase by far is ‘my heart goes pit-a-pat.’ I have taught most of my William and Mary friends this very simple, vital, phase. I sincerely hope I will be able to use it in conversations while  in China.

Categories: Student Blogs, Study Away
1 Comment
  1. Robert

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