Noun Specifiers

In Chinese Mandarin language, Specifiers (SP) are a special group of Noun modifiers. Here are some commonly used Specifiers: 
这 - zhè (zhèi) - this 
那 - nà (nèi) - that 
每 - měi - each, every 
哪 - nǎ (něi) - which?

Specifier is normally followed by a number, a measure word and a noun itself:

SP + NU + M + N

However, a noun may be omitted when it is understood from the context. 这 and 那 can stand alone as a subject (without a measure word).

If the number is "one", it may be omitted, too.

Big Numbers (101 - 99,999,999)

While Westerners count using hundreds and thousands, the Chinese use 万 (10,000). That is why 4,000,000 is not "four thousand thousand" but 400 万.

"Sleeping In Hot Weather" Joke (With Grammar Points)

A: 这么热，你怎么睡得着啊？ 
zhè me rè, nǐ zěn me shuì de zháo a 
It is so hot! How can you get to sleep? 

B: 热晕过去就睡着了。 
rè yūn guò qù jiù shuì zháo le 
Faint from heat and then fall asleep. 

See below the grammar notes for this joke!

Aspects In Chinese (Summary)

Chinese language does not use "tenses". "How is the past tense formed?" or "What is the past tense in Chinese?" are actually non-sensical questions. 

To distinguish past, present and future, Chinese use either auxillary verbs or general context (time words). To refer to events in the past, "grammatical aspects" are used. There is a number of particles to indicate distinctions of aspect: 

The translations provided are based on the supposition that the point of view is "now". To shift to the past of future point of view, it is necessary to use time words. E. g., 
昨天他写信。– zuó tiān tā xiě xìn – Yesterday he wrote letters (a basic statement). 
昨天他写了两封信。 – zuó tiān tā xiě le liǎng fēng xìn – Yesterday he wrote two letters.

"Cherry Picking" Joke (With Grammar Notes)

樱桃什么时候摘最适合啊？ 
yīng táo shén me shí hòu zhāi zuì shì hé a 
When is best time to pick cherries? 

没人的时候。。。 
méi rén de shíhòu... 
When there is nobody around… 

Grammar Points

Expressing "It Seems" With 好像。。。似的

好像。。。似的 is one of the sentence structures meaning "to seem":

Chinese Verbs For Taking Different Vehicles: 骑 / 坐 / 开

In Mandarin Chinese, the action of taking a vehicle of some kind is described with one of the verbs: 坐 (zuò), 骑 (qí) or 开 (kāi). 

坐 (zuò) is mosty used for vehicles with seats (in which passengers can sit down), e. g., buses, ships, planes and trains. 

骑 (qí) means "to straddle". This verb is used for bicycles, motorcycles and horses. 

"But" and "However" In Chinese

There are many ways to express "but" ("however") in Chinese language. 

趁 – Stroke Order & Examples of Usage

趁 (chèn) is a commonly used Chinese preposition meaning “to grab” or “to take advantage of” a favorable situation or a good opportunity to do something.

不但...而且 - Not Only...But Also

不但 (bú dàn) is widely used in Chinese complex sentences to indicate "not only". 

Fiancée's Age Joke (With Grammar Explanations)

你的未婚夫知道你的年龄吗？ 
nǐ de wèi hūn fū zhī dào nǐ de nián líng ma
Does you fiance know your age? 

是的，他知道一部分。 
shì de tā zhī dào yī bù fèn 
Yes, partly.

Using 想 (xiǎng) To Express Desire

In Chinese language, 想 (xiǎng) basically means "to think", "to reckon" or "to miss", but it also acts as an auxiliary verb expressing modality. 

In this case 想 is translated as "want to…" or "would like to…". 
The grammar pattern is as follows: 
Subject + 想(xiǎng) + Verb (Object) 
The verb provides the main content of the clause, while 想 expresses the desire to do something. 

Examples: 

Question Words In Chinese

Mandarin Question Words

Here is the most commonly used question words list:

Placement of Question Words in Chinese

In English, question words are usually placed at the beginning of the sentence. In Chinese, you do not need to change the word order. Just place a question word instead of the thing/person/place, etc. you want to ask about.

Forgetful Surgeon Joke (With Grammar Explanations)

病人：“医生，你把剪刀留在我肚子里了。”
bìng rén: yīshēng, nǐ bǎ jiǎndāo liú zài wǒ dù zi lǐ le 
Patient: "Doctor, you have left a pair of scissors in my stomach." 

医生：“没关系，我还有一把。”
yī shēng: méi guān xì wǒ hái yǒu yī bǎ 
Doctor: "It does not matter, I have another one."

Grammar Points

Ordinal Numbers | Количественные числительные

In Chinese language, ordinal numbers are formed by just adding the prefix: 
第 (dì) + cardinal number 

Порядковые числительные в китайском языке образуются по простой формуле: 
第 (dì) + количественное числительное 

 E. g.: 

• 第一 (dìyī) - the first - первый 
• 第十 (dìshí) - the tenth - десятый

The Completed Action Aspect Marker | Маркер завершенного действия

In the examples below 了 is used as an aspect marker of the completed action or change of state. When you need to deny that an action has been completed, 了 is omitted. The negative sentence is made by putting 没(méi) before the verb. 

了 часто используется в вопросах и утвердительных предложениях для выражения завершенности действия или изменения состояния. При отрицании используется 没, а 了 опускается. 

连 - even - даже

The grammar pattern with 连 is used when a speaker wants to add emphasis on something. See how it works below. 

Грамматическая конструкция с 连 используется, когда говорящий хочет сделать на чем-то акцент. Смотрите примеры в таблице. ‪

The particle 着 (zhe) for expressing ongoing actions | Частица 着 (zhe) для выражения продолжающегося действия

Passive Voice | Пассивный залог

The passive voice is not commonly used in Mandarin Chinese but it is important to know how it may be composed.

Пассивный залог употребляется в китайском не так часто, но нужно знать, как он образуется.

Talking A Period Of Time | Разговариваем о периодах времени

This post will help you to talk about periods of time and answer such questions as:
- How long are you going to learn Chinese?
- How long have you been studying English?
etc.

Этот пост поможет вам обсуждать периоды времени и отвечать на такие вопросы, как например:
- Как долго вы собираетесь учить китайский язык?
- Сколько времени вы учите английский язык?