From that day, the three people often met together, Bai Suzheng and Xu Xian were getting along better and better, they soon married and set up business for running a drug store. The white snake was full of sympathy. The poor people were cost-free when they were cured of a disease in the drug store, therefore, their business get brisk day by day. And more and more patients went to see the white snake. Since she had a kind heart and often dressed in white the snake was called Lady White.

On a Dragon Boat Festival (duān wǔ jié 端午节), Xu offered an herb drink to White Snake. Resisting the effect of the herb in vain, White Snake turned back to a snake, which shocked Xu to death. To resurrect Xu, White Snake stole a magic herb from the Magic Mountain. With this herb, she brought Xu back to life.

Xu then went to the Jinshan Temple (jīn shān sì 金山寺) to thank god. There the monk Fa Hai (fǎ hǎi 法海) told him that the snake he saw on the Dragon Boat Festival was actually his wife. The frightened Xu was persuaded to stay in the temple. White Snake went to beg Fa Hai to return her husband to her but Fa showed no mercy on her. Desperately, White Snake fought with Fa Hai and summoned up a surging flood to Jianshan Temple. Unfortunately, she lost the battle due to the pregnancy.

After White Snake had given birth to a baby boy, Fa Hai arrived to capture her and put her under a pagoda. White Snake remained there until her son grew up, passed the officialexamination with high honors, and returned to beg for her release. Xiaoqing defeated the Monk Fahai and forced him to retreat into the stomach of a crab and helped Lady White out of the bottom of Leifeng Pagoda. From then on, Lady White was reunited with Xu Xian.

白娘子和许仙（白蛇传）

      传说，有一条白蛇修炼了一千年，终于修成人形，化为美丽端庄的白娘子，另一条青蛇修炼了五百年，也化为富有青春活力的小青姑娘。她们二人结伴来到西湖游玩，当她们来到断桥时，白娘子在人群中看见一位清秀的白面书生，心中暗生情意。小青便悄悄地作法，降下大雨。白面书生许仙打着伞来到湖边乘船，正好看见白娘子和小青被大雨淋得很狼狈，许仙忙把自己的伞递过去让她们避雨，自己却躲得很远，任凭雨淋。白娘子看见许仙这样老实腼腆，心里更喜欢了，许仙也对美丽的白娘子产生了爱慕之情。在小青的撮合下，许仙和白娘子成了亲，并且在西湖边上开了一家药店，治病救人，乡亲们都很喜欢他们。

      但是金山寺的法师法海却认为白娘子是妖精，会祸害民间。他悄悄地告诉许仙，白娘子是白蛇化身而成，还教许仙怎样识别白蛇。许仙将信将疑。转眼端午节到了，老百姓都喝雄黄酒避邪，许仙按照法海教的办法，逼迫白娘子喝雄黄酒。白娘子这时候已经怀孕，她推却不了许仙，喝了酒后，马上现出蛇的原形，许仙立刻被吓死了。白娘子为了救活许仙，不顾自己怀孕，千里迢迢来到昆仑圣山偷盗起死回生的灵芝草。白娘子与守护灵芝草的护卫拼命恶战，护卫被白娘子感动了，将灵芝赠给她。许仙被救活以后，知道白娘子真心爱自己，夫妻更加恩爱。

      可是法海还是容不下白蛇在人间生活。他将许仙骗进金山寺，强迫他出家为僧。白娘子和小青非常愤怒，率领水族士兵攻打金山寺，想救出许仙。她们不断作法，引发洪水，金山寺被洪水包围，这就是传说中很有名的“水漫金山”。法海也大显法力，白娘子因为临产，打不过法海，只得在小青的保护下逃跑。

      多年后，小青修炼得道，重回西湖，她打败了法海，将西湖水吸干，将雷峰塔掀倒，终于救出了白娘子。

Now I know, this is a tough rule for some people. Because, most of your life, learning Chinese, you have been told to learn grammar rules. In middle school, In high school, In university, In language school, everywhere in the world; grammar, grammar, grammar. So, my first question to you is: Did it work? Was it successful?

If you are watching this TOPIC, you have studied Chinese before in school, somewhere. And probably, you focused on grammar rules. So, my question is: Can you speak Chinese easily, quickly and automatically right now? If the answers no, Why not? Because you have studied Chinese for many years already. Why can’t you speak Chinese quickly, easily and automatically, why not?

Well, it’s not your fault actually. The reason, the answer for most people is that you study grammar rules too much. You focused on, grammar rules. Why? Because your teachers told you to do this.

Why is it bad to study grammar rules? Well because, when you study grammar rules, when you focus on grammar rules, you focus on analyzing Chinese. In other words, you think about Chinese. You think about the sentence structure,  subject,  predicate, object everything.

Now for writing Chinese, that’s Okay. Why? Because when you write Chinese you have time. You can go slowly. You can write very slowly, you can think about it, you can erase your mistake, it’s okay. You don’t need to write fast. But for speaking, there is no time. You do not have time to think about rules, the sentence structure in Chinese when you listening and speaking. There is no time. Someone asks you a question, you must answer immediately. You have no time to think about propositions, you have no time to think about subject, predicate, object everything., all the stuff you learned, there is no time.

How do native speakers learn grammar? Well, I am a native Chinese speaker and I can tell you, I never studied grammar rules. Not until high school. And we studied grammar rules for writing. In college native speakers study grammar rules again, why? For writing. But for speaking, we don’t. So how do we learn grammar rules? We learn through listening. Through hearing correct grammar again and again a lot of correct grammar.

So the best way to learn Chinese grammar is through imput. Another word, Chinese coming in mostly through your ears. But reading is also okay but don’t read textbooks, don’t read grammar books. Just read easy Chinese books, easy novels. But most of all listening. Now, in the next TOPIC that you get, I will tell you exactly how to learn grammar and easy way and effortless way, without studying rules. Not just writing. But for now, for today,I want you to remember that "Do Not Study Grammar Rules" If you focus on grammar rules it will hurt your speaking. Your speak will more slowly, your understanding will be more slowly.

So if you have grammar books, throw away! Put  them in a trash, good bye grammar books. If you want, you can burn it. Burn them in a fire. Because, they are useless. They will not help you with your Chinese speaking or your Chinese learning or listening. So good bye grammar books. No more grammar rules yeaaa. That shoud make you happy.  Okay, good enough.

"亲 (qīn) Dear" is a special word used as a greeting in Taobao sales transactions. Actually, "亲 (qīn) dear" is short for "亲爱的(qīn’ài de) dear." "亲 (qīn) Dear" which is used by Taobao sellers means "亲爱的顾客 (qīn’ài de gùkè) dear customer" or "亲爱的朋友 (qīn’ài de péngyou) dear friend." In this way, not only will the sellers build trust when doing business online, but they will also create a very harmonious shopping atmosphere. The word "亲 (qīn) dear" helps the sellers create very friendly images, and some customers even call the sellers "亲 (qīn) dear" back.

Now, "亲 (qīn) dear" is not only used on the internet, people today use this greeting in daily life, for example: "亲，能帮我个忙吗？(Qīn, néng bāng wǒ ge máng ma?) Dear, could you please do me a favor?" Using the word "亲 (qīn) dear" can make relations more friendly and casual. Today, you also can see "亲 (qīn) dear" frequently used in TV shows and other types of popular media.

Examples:

        Qīn, nǐjuéde zhè tiáo qúnzi zěnmeyàng?
Lisa: 亲，你觉得 这   条    裙子  怎么样？

        Dear, how about this dress?

        Wǒ hěn xǐhuan, jiàqián yě piányi.
Anne: 我很    喜欢， 价钱    也  便宜。

        I love it, and this dress is also very cheap.

男：亲爱的，我爱你！嫁给我好吗？

Nán:Qīnàide,wǒ ài nǐ! Jiàgěi wǒ hǎoma?

M: Darling,I love you! Will you marry me?

女：好的！

Nǚ: Hǎode!

F:  yes!

情人节快乐！

Qíngrénjié kuàilè!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

服务员:
Would you like to order now?  

kě yǐ diǎn cài le ma ？
可 以点 菜了 吗 ？ 

客人:
I think I’m having some trouble here.  

wǒ yù shàng diǎn má fán le 。
我 遇 上 点 麻 烦 了 。 

服务员:
How may I help you?  

wǒ néng bāng shàng máng ma ？
我 能 帮 上 忙 吗 ？

客人:
I would love to try Chinese food， but I just can’t read the menu.  

wǒ xiǎng diǎn zhōng guó cài ，kě shì wǒ dú bù dǒng cài dān ā 。
我 想 点 中 国 菜 ，可 是 我 读 不 懂菜 单啊。

服务员:
Just point at the pictures of those you are interested in and I’ll explain them to you.  

nà nín duì shén me cài gǎn xìng qù jiù zhǐ shén me cài ，wǒ lái gěi nín yī yī jiě shì 。
那 您 对 什 么 菜 感 兴 趣 就指 什 么 菜，我 来 给您一 一 解 释 。

客人:
Good idea. Let’s try that.  

hǎo zhǔ yì ，wǒ men shì shì 。
好 主 意 ，我 们 试 试 。

This is the traditional symbol for the forces of yin and yang, sometimes described as two fish swimming head to tail. The left half is yin and the right half is yang. Taken literally, yin and yang mean the dark side and sunny side of a hill.

People commonly think of yin and yang as opposing forces. However, it is really more appropriate to view them as complementary pairs. The Chinese believe problems arise not when the two forces are battling, but when there is an imbalance between them. Floods, divorce, or even a fire in the kitchen – all can be attributed to disharmony in the forces of yin and yang.
How does the concept of yin and yang relate to food?
A basic adherence to this philosophy can be found in ANY Chinese dish, from stir-fried beef with broccoli to sweet and sour pork. There is always a balance in color, flavors, and textures.

However, belief in the importance of following the principles of yin and yang in the diet extends further.
Certain foods have yin properties, while others have yang properties – Cooling or warm, fat or non-fat, high-calorie or low- calorie, and etc.

Almost no foodstuff is purely yin or yang – it’s more that one characteristic tends to dominate. It also reinforces that it is not so much the individual ingredients, as the the balance and contrast between ingredients in each dish, that is important. Interestingly, cooking methods also have more of a yin or yang property, as the list below demonstrates

Cooking Methods:

Types of Foods: 

Chinese food emphasizes on consuming a diet that contains a healthy balance between yin and yang. You’ll find most Chinese dishes are made of a mixture of ingredients and each meal is made up of a combination of dishes.

龙年 (lóngnián): n. the Year of the Dragon
本命年 (běnmìngnián): n. one’s year of birth in relation to the Chinese Zodiac

China’s celebration of the lunar New Year, the renowned Spring Festival, is less than a month away. As the zodiac’s limelight shifts to a different animal each year, 2012 has been designated "龙年 (lóngnián) the Year of the Dragon." If your birth year also happens to be in the Year of the Dragon, it is your "本命年 (běnmìngnián). You’ve got quite a few concerns to be conscious of.
In Chinese culture, your "本命年 (běnmìngnián)" will align with one of 12 animals in the "生肖 (shēngxiào) Chinese Zodiac." Your sign will align with the present year’s animal every twelve years, namely at the age of twelve, twenty-four, thirty-six and so on. However, according to traditional Chinese culture, if your animal sign is the same as the current lunar year’s, it’s considered an unlucky year. That’s why people also call it "槛儿年 (kǎnrnián) threshold year," that is thought difficult to get through.

Key Learning Points:
龙年 (lóngnián): n. the Year of the Dragon

Example: 
Lóngnián kuài dào le, zhù dàjiā shìshìshùnxīn, tiāntiānkāixīn.
龙年        快     到 了， 祝  大家  事事顺心,  天天开心。
The Year of the Dragon is coming! I hope everything goes well with you and you find a bit of happiness everyday.

春节       chūnjié       The Spring Festival
农历       nónglì         lunar calendar
正月       zhēngyuè    lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
除夕       chúxī          New Year’s Eve

初一       chūyī           the beginning of New Year
元宵节    yuánxiāojié  The Lantern Festival
过年      guònián        have the Spring Festival
对联      duìlián          poetic couplet

春联      chūnlián       Spring Festival couplets
剪纸      jiǎnzhǐ          paper-cuts
买年货   mǎiniánhuò  special purchases for the Spring Festival

年画      niánhuà       New Year paintings

敬酒      jìngjiǔ         propose a toast
灯笼     dēnglóng     lantern: a portable light
烟花     yānhuā        fireworks
爆竹     bàozhú       firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)

红包     hóngbāo     red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
灯谜     dēngmí       riddles written on lanterns
灯会     dēnghuì      exhibit of lanterns
守岁     shǒusùi       staying-up

拜年    bàinián      pay New Year’s call; give New Year’s greetings; New Year’s visit
去晦气  qùhùiqì     get rid of the ill- fortune
祭祖宗  jìzǔzōng    offer sacrifices to one’s ancestors
压岁钱  yāsuìqián   gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
辞旧岁  cíjiùsuì       bid farewell to the old year

a

啊: placed at the end of a sentence to express admiration or affirmation, for example:

duō hǎo de dì fɑnɡ a

多 好 的 地 方 啊！
What a place!

nǐ kě yào xiǎo xīn a

你 可 要 小 心 啊！
Do be careful!
Or to indicate a question, for example:

nǐ men nǎ tiān qù lǚ xínɡ a

你 们 哪 天 去 旅 行 啊？
When are you going to start on your journey?
啊can also be placed in the sentence to pause for a second and draw attention to the following sentences, for example:

nǐ a lǎo zhè yànɡ xià qu kě bù xínɡ
你 啊 ，老 这 样 下 去 可 不 行！
Look! You can’t go on like this.
Or placed after a repetitive verb to indicate that it is a very long process:

tā men zǒu a zǒu a yì zhí zǒu dào hé biān
他 们 走 啊，走 啊，一 直 走 到 河 边。
They went on and on till they came to a river.

ya

呀: ah; oh

ya xià xuě le
呀，下 雪 了！
Oh, it’s snowing!

shuí ya
谁 呀？
Who is it?

zhēn shānɡ xīn ya
真 伤 心 呀！
Woe is me!

ò
哦: Oh; ah; I see

ò   wǒ dǒnɡ le
哦，我 懂 了。
Oh! I see. Oh! Now I understand.

ò   zhēn de
哦？真 的？
Oh, you do?

ma

吗: placed at the end of a sentence to indicate a question

shì ma

是 吗？
That so?

ké yǐ ma

可 以 吗？
Would you?

tánɡ cù yú hǎo chī ma

糖 醋 鱼 好 吃 吗？
How do you like the sweet and sour fish?

ma
嘛: to indicate it is obvious

zhè yě bù nénɡ ɡuài tā  tóu yì huí ma
这 也 不 能 怪 他，头 一 回 嘛。
He’s not to blame. After all, it was the first time he’d done it.
Or, placed at the end of a sentence to draw attention to the following sentences:

nǐ ma jiù bú yònɡ qīn zì qù le
你 嘛，就 不 用 亲 自 去 了。
As for you, I don’t think you have to go in person.

 

Many chinese learners take hsk tests,.HSK can not only test your chinese level, and also can benefit you a lot.

The HSK Certificate serves

1) to certify that the holder has obtained the required Chinese Proficiency to enter a college or university as an undergraduate or graduate student.

2) to certify that the holder can be exempt from studying Chinese courses depending on the level of certification.

3)as a basis for the employment institutions to evaluate the Chinese proficiency of their employees.

Application Requirements

According to the regulations made by the Ministry of Education in China, any foreign student who wants to apply for undergraduate programs in universities in China must take HSK and receive at least one of the following certificates (Mandarin Course in Beijing):

1. Intermediate level C required for admission to a college or university of arts, such as Chinese literature, history, philosophy, etc. and Chinese medicine.

2. Elementary level C required for admission to a college or university of science or technology.

(The best way to learn Chinese is to learn Chinese in China, while the most convenient way to learn Chinese is to learn Chinese online )