How This Introvert Learns Languages
Language learning is tough. Especially for people who are naturally quiet. I don’t enjoy talking. Yet I love learning languages. Because I do it my way.
Category: musings
外国人，但不是外人 – Foreigner, But Not Outsider
Some time ago, a Westerner introduced himself to me as a 外人 wàirén. I thought, oh, he means 外国人 wàiguórén, and corrected him. It’s normal for foreigners to make mistakes, and in this case, given that the...
背猫走天涯 Kitty Back Ride
I’ve been seeing this photo circulating around, and every time it never fails to make me feel like pinching the faces of these little cuties. They sure warrant a dedicated piece! What came to mind the moment...
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle 减少购买、重复使用、回收再造
Learn the 3R’s from a famous Chinese painter of the last century! 减少购买、重复使用、回收再造 reduce, reuse, recycle 減らす、再使用、再循環 新阿大 (xīn ādà) New for the eldest 一番目は新品 旧阿二 (jiù ā’èr) Old for the second 二番目は古着 破阿三 (pò āsān) Torn for the...
Mandarin’s Many Names
(Edited on 2014/04/27) 汉语、普通话、华语、国语、中国话、北京话、中文、华文…… Oh Mandarin! Why do you call yourself by so many names? Confused? This post hopes to help clarify! I hope this was helpful! To simplify, 中 zhōng、汉 hàn、华 huá all mean Chinese (erm,...
I love you – the Chinese way
Are you aware that for the Chinese, it’s double Valentine’s this year? CNY ends today, the 15th of the first month. This day is called 元宵节 (Yuánxiāo Jié) or 灯节 (Dēng Jié – Lantern Festival). It is...
Bilingualism slows onset of Alzheimer’s
Learning a new language can indeed be quite a tedious task. But if the conclusion of this study is anything to go by, it seems that all the effort spent memorizing and drilling would eventually be a...
What Time Is It Now? 现在几个字？
I was asked by someone from Beijing about the meaning of ‘几个字儿’ that Singaporeans so often use. To begin with, Singaporeans don’t say ‘几个字儿’. It should be ‘几个字jǐ gè zì*’. There’s no retroflex ending ‘儿’ since it...
对猫拉琴 – Playing the Cello to the Cat
I got the little musical cow on a trip to Japan when I was still in university. The beautiful pair of cats was a gift from a student when he was on holiday somewhere. I thought these...
Chinese is an easier language to learn
Finally got down to revamping this blog. Well, as with many other things in life, you can find lots of reasons for things you do or not do, but if they end up sounding like mere excuses...
