Chinese skincare vocab: reading ingredients (part 1)
Skincare ingredients can get quite complicated (especially when trying to understand it in Chinese), so here's part of a vocab list to decode your labels and making sense of what’s actually in your products:
尿囊素 - niào náng sù - allantoin
变性乙醇 - biàn xìng yǐ chún - alcohol denat
杏仁油 - xìng rén yóu - almond oil
芦荟 - lú huì - aloe vera
果酸 - guǒ suān (or α-羟基酸 - α-qiǎngjī suān) - alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) (apparently there are a few ways to say this in Chinese)
Hi, are you starting to learn Mandarin? Do you like learning primarily through context? Do you want to watch videos to learn?
Check out vidioma.com! vidioma.com has been updated, and now has a login option to track hours watched on 1 account on multiple devices. Reddit user lekowan made vidioma.com to make it easier to find Comprehensible Input Mandarin lessons, the site has CI Lessons from youtube embedded, and ranked by difficulty. The site is free and will remain free, and you can click the youtube videos to go directly to the youtube channels (and the views from the embedded videos go directly to the youtube creator). The site has hours tracking which could be helpful for tracking study time, links a ton of amazing youtube creators I follow, and the sort-by-difficulty feature is quite useful. The website is exploring ways to show progress that are motivating/useful to users. The Approach page is basically the same as Dreaming Spanish Method page (which I recommend reading instead, because it's more in depth - the summary is DS Method is ALG with less severe restrictions/directions. When people say the CI Method they mean 'Dreaming Spanish Method'... comprehensible input is such a broad term, it encompasses CI Lessons and much more. I won't get into the weeds here, but CI Lessons for beginners are lessons designed to be understandable through visuals, and then for intermediate learners they're designed to be understandable based on the words you know and visuals - so like Graded Readers but audio-visual. DS Method is based on learning from CI Lessons until you can extensively watch/read/listen to materials for native speakers and then continuing to learn with those). You can use vidioma and CI Lessons on youtube in any way you want though! They're great extensive listening practice, to use alongside other study resources!
Other resources I recommend:
Mandarin Input Media spreadsheet I made! Looking for lessons and learner podcasts? Check the first sheet. Looking for other media in Chinese understandable at various levels? Check the other sheets. For those unfamiliar with the Levels Dreaming Spanish Method uses, Level 2=HSK 2, Level 3=HSK3-4, Level 4=HSK4-5, Level 5=HSK5-6, Level 6=HSK6+, Level 7=HSK7-9. If you are also unfamiliar with HSK levels, then just start at Level 1 and know that the stuff in further levels is going to have more unique words and be generally more 'difficult.' If you are Upper Beginner/Lower Intermediate, around HSK4 and feel you can start to engage with media made in Mandarin, I recommend checking out Level 3 and 4 stuff.
Heavenly Path Comprehensible Reading Guide - start with this to learn how to read. Heavenly Path general site has lots of webnovel recommendations labelled by difficulty. If you are HSK4/Lower Intermediate/Level 3-4 (Dreaming Spanish method), then start with the Webnovels and Books for Newcomers recommendations.
r/ALGMandarin Resources page. (Includes the spreadsheet I made, and many of the youtubers linked here are also on vidioma.com)
r/ALGhub Beginner Aural Resources Chinese - Mandarin page. Note that if you ever want to try out Automatic Language Growth, these resources were linked because they're the best fit for ALG (which has stricter requirements).
Comprehensible Input Wiki - Chinese page. This is the main page I look for resources on, as youtubers who make CI Lessons tend to be added here. Please add resources you find, if you know how to edit a Wiki.
Recommended Path for Beginners:
I recommend starting with vidioma.com for starting to learn words/grammar and building listening skills, and Heavenly Path Comprehensive Reading Guide when you're ready to start learning to read.
Apps to get started: I suggest downloading Pleco app for a Dictionary (free), and using the Clip Reader tool to paste in Chinese text when you want to read a lot. You can eventually purchase Graded Readers inside Pleco, or other tools, as you continue studying. I suggest downloading Readibu app (free) when you start reading more. I suggest downloading Google Translate or another translation app you like, for when you want to quickly look something up and need to handwrite the hanzi or use OCR, because you do not know the pinyin yet.
Use whatever you like to learn 1000-3000 common words and basic grammar. (Want to copy what I did? For words: I studied 2000 words from this Spoonfed Chinese anki deck, I read Tuttle's Learning Chinese Characters (HSK 1-3) book to study hanzi, then a hanzi mnemonics anki deck until I felt I didn't need it. For grammar: I read the all of the Grammar Exercises linked on this HSK Course page, and referenced AllSet Learning Chinese Grammar Wiki when I wanted to read more about certain grammar points. For pronunciation: I used Pinyin Pronunciation Guide, YoYo Chinese's Pinyin Chart, and Tone Pair Chart. For hanzi: I read these 4 Hacking Chinese articles to learn about hanzi - part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4. I read Tuttle's Learning Chinese Characters (HSK 1-3) book to study hanzi, then a hanzi mnemonics anki deck. For tones: I watched this video, and watched the other stuff linked in my tones tag on this blog.)
Next: Then use Mandarin Input Media spreadsheet when you need to find more learner resources, or start trying to watch shows/cartoons and read novels. After learning the basics (1000-3000 common words, basic grammar) you should be around HSK 4/Level3-4 and can start using learner resources recommended for that level (intermediate), and can start trying to watch/read easier media for native speakers (cartoons, daily life shows, stories for children, daily life manhua, easier webnovels).
口味最“奇怪”的4种糖果 -> the four candies with the strangest flavours.
1、星空棒棒糖 -> planet lollipops
星空棒棒糖有名的高颜值糖果，大部分的女生都有买过，或是男生情人节买来送女朋友都有了解过。-> Planet lollipops are popular for their appearance, lots of women have already purchased them before, or men who, on Valentine's day gifted it to their girlfriends, have understood.
它的味道你尝过后就会觉得“这是什么沙雕玩意儿，我吃了塑料吗？”，有这种感觉并不奇怪，星空棒棒糖大部分都是甜苦甜苦的味道，有些还带着塑料的气味，吃完就怀疑人生，估计这个糖果也就只能当做摆设。-> After tasting its flavour, you will think: "what is this sand sculpture-like thing, am I eating plastic?" Having this kind of feeling isn't exactly strange, planetary lollipop largely have a bittersweet flavour, some lollipops even have a plastic odour, after eating it, you'll question your life, seems like this kind of candy is only used for decoration.
2、榴莲糖 -> durian candy
...打开包装就是浓浓的榴莲味，吃到嘴里就感觉是三里往外都是这个榴莲味 -> upon opening the package are the dense/strong durian smells, eating them makes you feel that the durian smell is everywhere within a 3 mile radius.
3、姜汁糖 -> ginger candy
姜汁糖里面就是有大量的姜味，吃的第一口还是上面糖味，含一会后姜味就显露出来了，你会有一种姜辣的感觉，一直猛吸气想要减少这个辣味，没想到后面越吃越辣，让人有点受不了，吃到一半就吐了，这种一般都是家里的老人才会买，老人很喜欢这种甜辣的感觉，甚至吃起来还想喝一两口小酒。-> Within ginger candy is a considerable amount of ginger flavour, after eating the first bite, the first taste is sweet, after sucking on it for a bit, the ginger flavour will come out and you get have a spicy ginger feeling. Keep inhaling sharply, wanting to reduce this spiciness, not knowing that more and more spiciness will follow, intolerable, spat it out halfway through, this kind of candy will typically be bought by a family's older individuals, elders really like this kind of spicy-sweet feel, to the point of also wanting to drink a couple gulps of liquor.
世界上最好吃的十种甜点，吃过六种，算我服！-> 10 of the world's most delicious desserts, eaten 6 types, count me in!
1、布朗尼蛋糕--美国 -> Brownie--America
布朗尼蛋糕属于重油蛋糕的一种，但它和一般重油蛋糕的区别在于通常较薄且较结实，不像普通蛋糕那样松松的, 而且一定是巧克力口味 -> Brownies are considered a type of pound cakes, but they are different from regular pound cakes in that they are usually on the thinner and sturdier side, unlike the regular cakes which are fluffier, and brownies need a chocolate flavour.
2、提拉米苏--意大利 -> Tiramisu--Italy
提拉米苏是一种带咖啡酒味儿的意大利甜点 -> tiramisu is a type of coffee-flavour containing Italian dessert.
10、乳酪蛋糕--阿拉伯 -> Cheesecake--Arabic
这类蛋糕介于蛋糕和甜点之间，因而越来越受人关注 -> this type of cake is a cross between cakes and desserts, and because of this, more and more people have given it attention.
突然，虽然，忽然. and the other 然's can often get mixed up, so here's a quick explanation of some of the most common ones!
突然 (Túrán): This means suddenly or unexpectedly
居然 (Jūrán): This kind of means suddenly, but more in the sense of "surprisingly" or to suggest disbelief at something that happened.
忽然 (Hūrán): This also means suddenly or unexpectedly, but it has a more stronger connotation.
既然 (Jìrán): This is a conjunction meaning "since" or "now that"
既然the weather is great, let's go out!
既然 you aren't busy, let's go watch a movie.
不然 (Bùrán): This means "otherwise" or "or else";
You should study, 不然 you won't do well on the exam.
虽然 (Suīrán): This means although or even though.
虽然 I'm not good at singing, I still like to go to the karaoke.
当然 (Dāngrán): 当然 means certainly or definitely and can be used as a reply:
Can you help me with A? 当然!
自然 (Zìrán): This can mean nature or naturally.
China's 自然 is very beautiful.
She speaks Chinese 得很自然.
仍然 (Réngrán): This can mean "still" or "yet".
I仍然 haven't read that book.
依然 (Yīrán): Similar to 仍然, this also means still" or "yet" but it's usually used in more formal and literary works, whereas 仍然 is more often used in spoken language.
果然 (Guǒrán): 果然 can be used to mean "indeed" or "as expected"
This movie is 果然 interesting.
竟然 (Jìngrán): This is an adverb used to suggest surprise or something unexpected.
He竟然forgot her birthday.
显然 (Xiǎnrán): This means "clearly" or "obviously".
This soup 显然 hot.
偶然 (Ǒurán): This means "accidentally" or "by chance".
We 偶然 met at the same cafe.
How many other 然's do you know about? Drop a comment!
Another 50+ crime, suspense, & mystery cdrama vocab words
This is a follow-up to my post from last summer sharing 50+ fundamental vocab words. I just finished 《隐秘的角落》 The Bad Kids and 《沉默的真相》 The Long Night, plus I watched 《猎罪图鉴》 Under the Skin last year. So let's take a deeper dive with 50+ more words!
Definitions are adapted from MDBG. I tried adding standard 国语 pronunciation too but might have overlooked some. 请多多指教！
Sometimes (by which I mean “most of the time”), I’ll look at Weibo and not have a clue what anyone is talking about. Not because I don’t have a solid grasp on the Chinese language, but because I both don’t have a solid grasp on the Chinese language and everyone is spewing slang for certain words and slang for other slang. It’s rather vertigo-inducing. In my journey to further understand the realm of Chinese internet culture, I thought it would be an interesting endeavor to make a post (maybe multiple) about it so anyone who’s intrigued can join the ride!
This post will be centered on fandom-centric jargon; in particular, terms that are utilized to describe people and actions in fandom contexts.
There are way, way more words out there than what I have listed. I just chose whichever ones I thought of as the most pertinent. Enjoy!
– Nouns
粉丝 [fěn sī] – transliteration of the English word, “fans.” The first character, 粉 [fěn], is then isolated and attached to other terms to signify a [____type of] fan (as will be seen in the next couple of words). Not entirely relevant, but this is also the word for glass/cellophane noodles.
男友粉 [nán yǒu fěn] | 女友粉 [nǚ yǒu fěn] – “boyfriend fan” and “girlfriend fan” respectively. They treat a celebrity as if they’re a boyfriend or girlfriend.
亲妈粉 [qīn mā fěn] – “biological mom fan.” Refers to someone who treats a celebrity as if they’re her own child. She’s very caring, dotes a lot, and likes to show off the celebrity’s accomplishments.
后妈粉 [hòu mā fěn] – “stepmom fan.” She will not hesitate to drag or criticize whichever celebrity she likes. But, should someone else attempt to do the same, she won’t take it well.
事业粉 [shì yè fěn] – “career fan.” A fan whose primary interest lies in the professional work of their celebrity.
颜粉 [yán fěn] – “face fan.” This fan likes a celebrity for their looks.
路人粉 [lù rén fěn] – “passerby fan.” They like a celebrity, but haven’t fallen far enough down the fandom pit to actively follow them.
白嫖粉 [bái piáo fěn] – a fan who likes a celebrity but doesn’t support them financially. For example, they will stream an artist’s music for free, but are ultimately unwilling to spend any money to buy albums or similar merchandise. The term 白嫖 [bái piáo] apparently originated in the prostitution industry to refer to a client who would take services without paying: here, 白 [bái] means “without compensation,” and 嫖 [piáo] refers to the client.
脑残粉 [nǎo cán fěn] – “idiot fan.” This is someone whose love for a celebrity leads them to become irrational and more than a little crazy. (I feel slightly offended right now.)
死忠粉 [sǐ zhōng fěn] – “diehard fan.” This is close to a word-for-word translation – literally, the Chinese characters indicate someone who’s loyal until death.
墙头粉 [qiáng tóu fěn] – “top-of-the-wall fan.” This compares a fan to 墙头草 [qiáng tóu cǎo] (the grass that grows atop of stone walls), which itself is used to refer to someone who is easily swayed by any wind or force that might come swirling by. This fan hops between celebrities with little loyalty, easily changing preference and priority between numerous people.
黑粉 [hēi fěn] – “dark fan.” An anti-fan.
爱豆 [ài dòu] – transliteration of the English word, “idol.” If you’re into literal but pointless translations, this word means “love bean.” …That’s actually pretty cute…
本命 [běn mìng] – “my life.” You would use this to refer to whoever is your top favorite celebrity; your ultimate bias.
彩虹屁 [cǎi hóng pì] – “rainbow fart.” Doesn’t this one provide mental images of utmost pleasantness? “Rainbow farts” are compliments, but are so over-the-top or full of praise that someone listening would think the subject is an angel who’s paying a visit from the highest level of heaven. The name comes from the idea that a celebrity could rip the smelliest and loudest of all farts, but their fans would still make it out to be as beautiful as a rainbow.
– Verbs
吃瓜 [chī guā] – “to eat melon.” When someone follows a topic online, e.g. a forum thread, but only observes from the sidelines and does not actively contribute to whatever is going on, then they’re “eating melon.” It’s the equivalent of lurking.
打call [dǎ call] – to support/encourage. This term comes from Japanese fan culture phenomenon コール [kōru], where fans would attend live performances and support those onstage via fanchants, lightsticks, etc.
爬墙 [pá qiáng] – “to climb a wall.” If you originally like one celebrity, start liking another one, and switch your fangirl/fanboy priorities over to this second celebrity, then you’ve “climbed a wall.” (Note: offline, this is also used as slang for when someone has an affair, lol.)
圈粉 [quān fěn] – “to round up fans.” If some form of media that you’ve stumbled across (whether it be a video, a GIF in the replies on Twitter, etc.) converted you into becoming a fan of someone, then congrats! You’ve been rounded up; herded into that celebrity’s fanbase like an unsuspecting sheep. This is a general term for anything of a celebrity’s that strongly appeals to both existing fans and potential ones, but applies especially to the latter.
溜粉 [liū fěn] – “to string fans along.” Like what it sounds, this describes people who spread false rumors to boost a celebrity’s popularity (it’s sometimes the celebrity themselves who does it). An example would be if you see one of your favorite actors is slated to be in an upcoming drama, and you get super hyped…only to find out later that they’re not on the official cast list. Or they’re just making a cameo appearance.
That’s all I got for now. If you have any interesting terms that I didn’t include, I’d love to learn about them! Hope you found this fun and/or helpful!
bit of a long one today, found an interesting article on the taiwanese accent written by 小熊 on zhihu and thought i'd translate some! (not a direct translation, pulled in some info from other sources & my own comments on it as well)
what is the taiwanese accent?
first, there's a distinction to be made between taiwanese mandarin and a taiwanese accent. taiwanese mandarin combines hokkien and japanese, has less “standard” pronunciation, and is most often used by the older generation; for example:
“你要不要氣高雄玩？” -- 去 [qù] -> 氣 [qì]
“素這樣子噢？” -- 是 [shì] -> 素 [sù]
“這就素台灣狗蟻啦” -- 口音 [kǒuyin] -> 狗蟻 [gǒuyǐ]
otoh, the taiwanese accent is the way of speaking that many find warm/sweet (many tv series will have at least One Female Character playing up this accent to act cute). the accent has the following characteristics:
(1) linking sounds (連音)
people will frequently combine two words into a single breath, like:
“真的假的” -> “zhenn假的”
“不要這樣子啦” -> “不要 jiàng子啦”
“那樣很討厭耶” -> "niàng很討厭耶"
(2) less obvious retroflex (不明顯的捲舌)
because hokkien does not have retroflex sounds, tw accent falls somewhere in the middle of curling and not curling the tongue, making “zh, ch, sh” (and r) sound like “z, c, s”:
“你要不要癡？” -- 吃 [chī] -> 疵 [cī]
“四不四！” -- 是 [shī] -> 四 [sī]
“额且啊⋯⋯” -- 而 [ér] -> 額 [é]
taiwanese do not use 兒化 (i.e. adding "兒” to the ends of words like 一點兒， 好玩兒)
(3) no distinction between “ang, eng, ing” and “an, en, in”
"這個婉路真的很難用耶" -- 網 [wǎng] -> 婉 [wǎn]
“蒸的啦，不是假的” -- 真 [zhēn] -> 蒸 [zhēng]
"幫我喂鯨魚” -- 金 [jin] -> 鯨 [jing]
---
difference in speaking styles
in addition to differences in pronunciation, there are also differences in speaking habits. in particular, taiwanese like to use:
(1) reduplication
people will commonly repeat words -- IKEA Taiwan memed this back in 2022 by putting up a bunch of posters with duplicated words to describe the items, since IKEA's chinese name uses duplicates too (宜家家居).
“這個包包真好看”
"要乖乖的快去睡覺覺噢”
(2) final particles (喔，啊， 啦， 嘛)
hokkien uses modal particles at the end of sentences much more frequently than mandarin, so the tw accent also adopts this way of speaking. mainlanders might find it to be overly emotional lol
"好冷”，“特別冷” -> "好冷噢~~”, “天啊~這麽這麽冷拉"
(3) raised and trailing sounds
while mainlanders tend to lower the ending sound of a sentence, taiwanese tend to make the last sound louder/longer
(4) please 請, thank you 謝謝, sorry 對不起, excuse me 不好意思
netizens, and even BBC Travel have noticed that taiwanese tend to apologize a lot with 不好意思, which i guess makes taiwan (+ japan) like the canada of the east...basically, politeness is very important!
the hokkien equivalent of this, which is also used very frequently, is 歹势 [pai sei], which you say twice in succession to mean sorry or ask for forgiveness (saying it only once means "unlucky"). you can hear it used at the beginning of eggplantegg's waves wandering.
(5) 和
和 is pronounced hàn in Taiwan, as opposed to hé
(6) huh? 蛤?
蛤? = huh? what did you say? hokkien equivalent = 什麼？[sah-mih]
