It’s becoming gradually more popular across the world - so you may have heard of it or even tried it before! Let’s learn some key words about bubble tea and how to order one in Mandarin. 1. 珍珠奶茶 zhēn zhū nǎi chá = bubble tea 》 珍珠 zhēn zhū - pearl，奶 nǎi (牛奶 niú nǎi) - milk ， 茶 chá - tea 2. 一杯 yī bēi - one cup 3. 冰的 bīng de / 热的 rè de - iced / hot 4. 冰量 bīng liàng - ice level 》 正常冰 zhèng cháng bīng - regular ice / 去冰 qù bīng - no ice / 少冰 shǎo bīng - less ice 5. 甜度 tián dù - sweetness level 》 少糖 shǎo táng - less sweet /半糖 bàn táng - half sweet / 正常糖 zhèng cháng táng - regular sweet (aka full sweet) 6. (Additions you can add) 珍珠 zhēn zhū - pearls / 椰果 yē guǒ - coconut jelly / 布丁 bù dīng - pudding / 仙草 xiān cǎo - grass jelly / 奶盖 nǎi gài - cheese lid (aka slightly sweetened cream cheese topping) 7. 加 jiā - to add e.g. 加 椰果 ( add coconut jelly / with added coconut jelly) How to order: 嗨，我想要一杯。。。。 / 来一杯。。。。(去冰，少糖，加 椰果) 谢谢！ Hāi, wǒ xiăng yào yī bēi…. / lái yī bēi…….….. xiè xiè! Hi, I’d like / may I have a cup of……. (Put the specifics here) With added….. thanks! Below you’ll see some examples from a bubble tea shop menu > take a look and see what catches your eye! Let me know your order in Mandarin!

Here’s a website I have used for reading practice in Chinese in the past. There are short stories, children’s stories and fables etc., so it’s a bit more interesting than reading ‘regular’ passages. You can also see the English translation and hover over the characters for their pinyin and English meaning. A great resource and a good step to take before trying to read novels or longer short stories in Mandarin! https://chinesereadingpractice.com/category/beginner/

A short post about Christmas in Chinese! Christmas is not a national holiday in China, nor is it widely celebrated as a religious festival there (although there are Chinese Christians who will celebrate it as such). It’s most celebrated as a commercial holiday. One way that people celebrate Christmas is by gifting apples, often with messages carved into them or with decorations. I’ve attached some images below! This is because of a play on words, which are very common in Mandarin!: 平安夜 píng ān yè = peaceful night = Christmas Eve. 苹果 píng guǒ = apple. Both characters for píng in these words shared the same component 平. (The one in apple just has the ‘grass’ radical on top of it too). These Christmas apples are known as 平安果 (Peace apples). Some other Christmas key words: 过 guò - to pass/celebrate 庆祝 qìng zhù - to celebrate 圣诞节 shèng dàn jié - Christmas 祝你 zhù nǐ - wish you 圣诞快乐 shèng dàn kuài lè - Christmas happy > Happy Christmas 和家人一起 hé jiā rén yī qǐ - with family 送礼物 sòng lǐ wù - give presents/gifts 吃圣诞大餐 chī shèng dàn dà cān - eat Christmas dinner 教堂 jiào táng - church So, to everyone celebrating Christmas, 我祝你们 圣诞快乐！🎄🎉

Looking for something new… My favourite is Scissor Seven, a TV series on Netflix.

大家好 I’m a big fan of Chinese dramas, especially ones surrounding youth! I find they use easier to understand Mandarin, so I tend to follow it a lot easier! Here is a short list: A few favourites would have to be: Hidden Love When I Fly Toward You Time and Him are Just Right Falling into your smile (And so many more! If anyone want to chat CDramas, message me!!) As for music, I love JJ Lin, Zhao LuSi, Jay Chou, The8, The9, R1SE and more! Happy watching/listening!