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Chinese Vocab

Not sure of the correct Chinese word to use? Want another example of how to use a Chinese expression in context? Perhaps you would like to know more about regional differences. This is the place for you! You can browse the topics, do a search in the top right corner of this page, or start a new conversation. Don’t be shy!

Writing characters out of the specific lessons.

Hello! I was wondering if it would be good or not to write characters without the specific writing lesson in order to know more characters.Could anyone that already tried it tell me how it's going? It would be of much help.Thank you!

1 reply - Last post by Margaret-RocketLanguages - February 27, 2024

Writing on a notebook

Hello! I was wondering yesterday about my methods of learning. I have a notebook, that is currently being used to write what I have been doing, or some specific characteristic of Chinese. But I thought that maybe it would be interesting to write some word...

2 replies - Last post by Petros Stauros - January 22, 2024

Play It

Hello, I hope you are all well.When i go to use “Play It” about the time I open my mouth the recording is already closed.  I'm talking milliseconds here, LOL.  I don't think this is how it is supposed to work.  I am using a Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) phone. ...

1 reply - Last post by Margaret-RocketLanguages - May 15, 2023

How to save flashcards

Does anyone know how to save the flashcards so that I can review the ones that were difficult for me?

2 replies - Last post by Sabine91 - December 25, 2022

Older sister/Jie jie as 姐姐 vs. 姊姊

Hi, I noticed that older sister, jie jie is listed at 姐姐 in 2.9 and 9.1 and that in 7.8 it shows the characters for older sister as 姊姊.  Are both characters correct/used older sister? Thank you in advance for any clarification!

2 replies - Last post by Jo Jo - August 30, 2022

Introducing myself as Australian and not American

I'm just starting to learn Chinese and I want to know how to introduce myself as an Australian but the system assumes Im an American student. I've already asked the help centre but they weren't able to help.  I also sent an email to Lin Ping but no reply....

5 replies - Last post by Mirage - August 19, 2022

overall

I was very enthusiastic of your teaching method for Chinese, and particularly appreciated your very witful "language and culture section". Much better than Duolingo or Busuu, which I had started following too.Everything was magnificent at the beginning......

1 reply - Last post by Eleanor-Rocket-Chinese-Tutor - August 30, 2021

First 100 Hanzi Radicals Flashcards

I just created a new custom flashcard set entitled, " First 100 Hanzi Radicals Flashcards" on Oct. 27, 2016.  It has not been proofread by any of our fluent students or  teachers yet.  Please let me know of any errors which I will correct immediately. I ...

2 replies - Last post by Eleanor-Rocket-Chinese-Tutor - May 17, 2021

Where is the "le"?

Lesson 2.8 is about the past and the use of “le”.Did they forget the “le” in this sentence: Shàng gè yuè,wǒ kāishǐ qù jiànshēnfángIn the same lesson, does this word is ok, or the “guo” is wrong:qùguò

1 reply - Last post by Eleanor-Rocket-Chinese-Tutor - May 3, 2021

Where is my Toolbox?

On the left side, I see My badges, my forum, my notes, my vocab, Ideas, Rocket News, +More Resources. No sign of "My Toolbox", which would let me access "My Phrase Finder".  How can I locate "My Toolbox"?  Thanks.  Mike

2 replies - Last post by marieg-rocket languages - October 28, 2020

What does 夏雪年

Hi All, I know its literal means Summer Snow year, but does it have an idiom like best time or worst times or something?

1 reply - Last post by Eleanor-Rocket-Chinese-Tutor - March 30, 2020

Vocabulary not highlighting lesson text

The vocabulary tool appears to only be working on an intermittent basis.  Within the last week, the lesson text is oftentimes not highlighted with the saved off vocabulary words.  Yesterday the highlighting was initially off and them magically reappeared....

12 replies - Last post by nóng fū - March 26, 2020

Hanyu vs. Zhongwen

When talking about the Chinese language, is it better to use the word hanyu or zhongwen? For example, if I want to say that I am a Chinese student, which phrase is better: a. 我是汉语学生. (Wo shi hanyu xuesheng). b. 我是中文学生. (Wo shi zhongwen xuesheng).

2 replies - Last post by Erubar - July 22, 2018

How Best to Reinforce Previous Lessons

I find that as proceed through lessons, I feel like I start to forget vocabulary I learned in previous lessons.  Is there a recommended systematic approach for continuously reinforcing the items learned from previous lessons?  Thank you!

6 replies - Last post by Erubar - April 26, 2018

Interactive Audio Lesson vocabulary turned off

I'm working in the Platinum Level 3 Interactive Audio Lessons and all of the vocabulary that I have designated and defined are no longer being highlighted and there are no definitions associated with these characters or pinyin.  This just started yesterda...

2 replies - Last post by nóng fū - November 8, 2017

flashcards for Rocket Writing Lessons, module 1

I manually imported a set I created on Quizlet two years ago. It has all of the words used in the writing lessons plus additional words that I thought I would want to learn right away. https://members.rocketlanguages.com/members/chinese/flashcard/collect...

10 replies - Last post by Robert-C7 - April 12, 2017

"Good Morning" in Chinese

Edit: I asked another native speaker. She told me "你早" is an appropriate way to say "good morning," but it's colloquial. Can anyone confirm if "你早" is actually correct? The first lesson teaches "你早" as a way to say "good morning." However, I asked a nat...

2 replies - Last post by Lin-Ping - March 12, 2017

Hanzi Radicals Part 2: 101 - 214

I just created the Part 2 set of Hanzi Radicals: 101 to 214.  From the card count it appears that I missed two.  I will check. Hanzi Radicals Part 3 : 101 - 214 米     mǐ     rice 鼠     shǔ     rat 辶     chuò     walk 臼     jiù     mortar 鼻     bí     no...

0 replies - Last post by David K - November 14, 2016

我只是做了一组新的抽认卡的“四边。- Flashcards available for the Four Sides

你好同学。 我只是做了一组新的抽认卡的“四边" 我希望你能找到他们是有用的。 再见, 大卫 Nǐ hǎo tóngxué. Wǒ zhǐshì zuòle yī zǔ xīn de chōu rèn kǎ de “sìbiān." Wǒ xīwàng nǐ néng zhǎodào tāmen shì yǒuyòng de. Zàijiàn, dà wèi Hello Fellow Students.   I just made a new set of Flashcards for "The F...

0 replies - Last post by David K - October 26, 2016

I just created a Custom Flashcard set of the First 25 Chinese Radicals, and another for Basic Strokes.

如果您在自定义闪卡部分浏览你会发现我的第一个25中国的激进派和所谓的基本汉字另一个文件笔画。 请让你找到他们,如果你看到任何错误是有用的还是我。 我还没有发现如何进入音频呢。 祝你好运   Rúguǒ nín zài zì dìngyì shǎn kǎ bùfèn liúlǎn nǐ huì fāxiàn wǒ de dì yīgè 25 zhōngguó de jījìn pài hé suǒwèi de jīběn hànzì lìng yī gè wénjiàn bǐhuà. Qǐng r...

0 replies - Last post by David K - October 23, 2016

le vs guo

Can someone explain or refer me to a site that explains the difference between le and guo when dealing with past time?  Also the difference in position of le, i.e. right after the verb or near/at the end of the sentence.  Thanks very much.  Mike

1 reply - Last post by Robert-C7 - October 1, 2016

Orange County

Let me see if I got this right. 橙子 (chéngzi) = orange 县 (xiàn) = county 加州 (jiāzhōu) = California so, to say Orange County, California, I drop the 子 in orange and say 加州橙县 (jiāzhōu chéng xiàn) where 橙县 (chéng xiàn)) = Orange ...

3 replies - Last post by Robert-C7 - August 23, 2016

Correct pronunciation of shì?

When I pronounce the word "shì" in Chinese, the vowel sounds more like the "e" in the French words "ne" and "le." But other American Chinese learners have corrected me and said "shì" should be pronounced like "sher" with a hard emphasis on the "r" sound. ...

2 replies - Last post by Lin-Ping - August 23, 2016

Should the PinYin of "我不如你忙。 Wǒ bù rú nǐ máng。" more correctly be "Wǒ bùrú nǐ máng." ?

In Lesson 1.7 "bù rú" is separated into two words whereas every where else I've seen it, "bùrú" is one word not two.  Is this a misprint, or is there some meta-rule working here as like in the adjacent 3rd tones changing the second tone? 我不如你忙。 Wǒ bù rú ...

5 replies - Last post by Robert-C7 - August 19, 2016

My Vocab Chinese giving wrong definition

When I save a word it picks up the wrong tone, hence wrong word. eg. Section 1.1 Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi? Saving jiào  defines it as foot (jiǎo) instead of 'called' This is happening too often, becomes annoying and gives wrong "my vocab" list.

9 replies - Last post by David K - August 11, 2016

Correct pronunciation of hěnhǎo

In the practice box in the "Hear It" section of 1.0 Dave seems to pronounce hěnhǎo as "herhow" when Lin and everywhere else it is pronounced "HenHow" like the English "hen".  Is this a regional dialect or an error?  我也很好。谢谢。 Wǒ yě hěnhǎo。Xièxie。 I'm also...

2 replies - Last post by Margaret-RocketLanguages - August 9, 2016

Export vocab

Hi, I cannot get legible text when i export my vocab to a csv / excel file. I get words / phrases like: ""Nǐmen yǒu shénme chá", "What tea do you have?","" How do I fix this? i presume it's an excel issue not a Rocket issue.

4 replies - Last post by krisb - March 2, 2016

日 (rì, mì)=sun; day; daytime; 月 (yuè)=moon; month; What do you think 明(míng) mean?

日 (rì, mì)=sun; day; daytime; 月 (yuè)=moon; month;  What do you think 明(míng) mean?

2 replies - Last post by John-H8 - November 25, 2015

田(tián)=field, arable land, cultivated;木(mù)tree; wood, lumber; wooden; What do you think 果(guǒ) mean?

田(tián)=field, arable land, cultivated;木(mù)tree; wood, lumber; wooden; What do you think 果(guǒ) mean?

4 replies - Last post by John-H8 - November 10, 2015

禾 (hé) =grain; 山 (shān)=mountain; What do you think 秈 (xiān) mean?

禾 (hé) =grain; 山 (shān)=mountain;  What do you think 秈 (xiān) mean?      

2 replies - Last post by John-H8 - November 7, 2015

宀(mián)=roof;豕(shǐ)=pig; What do you think 家(jiā) mean?

宀(mián)=roof;豕(shǐ)=pig; What do you think 家(jiā) mean?  

2 replies - Last post by John-H8 - November 4, 2015

木(mù)=tree; wood, lumber, wooden;一(yī)=one; a, an; alone; What do you think 本(běn)​ mean?

木(mù)=tree; wood, lumber, wooden;一(yī)=one; a, an; alone; What do you think 本(běn) mean?  

3 replies - Last post by John-H8 - October 31, 2015

天(tiān)=day / sky ; 气(qì)=air; What do you think 天气(tiānqì) mean?

天(tiān)=day / sky ; 气(qì)=air; What do you think 天气(tiānqì) mean?

2 replies - Last post by John-H8 - October 30, 2015

牛(niú)=cow, ox, bull; 奶(nǎi)=milk, woman's breast, nurse; What do you think (niúnǎi) mean?

牛(niú)=cow, ox, bull; 奶(nǎi)=milk, woman's breast, nurse; What do you think 牛奶  (niúnǎi) mean?  

3 replies - Last post by Robert-C7 - October 29, 2015

vocabulary

I find the vocabulary list after each lesson does not contain the new words in that lesson.  All he new words in each lesson should be given along with all words of previous lessons.  this will make the lessons easier.  

1 reply - Last post by Robert-C7 - September 21, 2015

What time is it Lesson 1.8

Can anyone explain Lesson 1.8 What time is it: Xiànzài xiàwǔ liǎng diǎn。which translate into: Now it's 2 o'clock in the afternoon. My question is why is it liǎng diǎn and not èr diǎn. I'm so confused and I've read through the lesson, and don't see anythin...

4 replies - Last post by Robert-C7 - August 25, 2015

Difference in using 小 (xiao) and 少 (shao)

Just wondering what the key difference is in using these since they both seem to mean "small , little " etc. thanks

3 replies - Last post by Lin-Ping - July 28, 2015

How to differentiate "ta" as he/her in conversation

Hello. It seems to me, as a noob, that there is no clear distinction in the description of "he" or "her" when using "ta": eg. "Ta shi Yingguoren" could refer to either gender. I see that the characters are different, and get that, but not the spoken wor...

9 replies - Last post by Lin-Ping - July 28, 2015

How to practice vocabulary in Rocket Chinese

Is there some way in the program to practice vocabulary I have saved? I'd like to be able to review the words like flash cards or in a game. Is that possible?

2 replies - Last post by Karen--277 - July 5, 2015

putonghua or hanyu

I've heard the Mandarin language called both Putonghua and Hanyu. What is the difference between these two words? Are they interchangeable ? Thanks!

10 replies - Last post by barryh - July 3, 2015

Dental Terms

What is the correct way to say....?  dental supplies impression material dental drill dental instruments Thanks!!!  

3 replies - Last post by Alan-A14 - February 28, 2015

Zuótiān wǎnshàng vs. Zuó wǎn

Rocket Chinese (and other language courses) seems to prefer "zuótiān wǎnshàng" (昨天晚上) for saying last night. Google Translate thinks "zuó wǎn" (昨晚) is sufficient. Which one is the best way to say last night? Is the second (zuó wǎn) correct or less desi...

2 replies - Last post by Robert-C7 - January 29, 2015

冫(bīng)=ice; 中(zhōng)=central,center, middle; What do you think 冲(chōng) means?

冫(bīng)=ice; 中(zhōng)=central,center, middle; What do you think 冲(chōng) means?

3 replies - Last post by Chance-E - December 28, 2014

大(dà)=big; 田(tián)=field; What do you think 奋(fèn) means?

大(dà)=big; 田(tián)=field; What do you think 奋(fèn) means?

2 replies - Last post by John-H8 - November 7, 2014

Pronunciation of èr

I was looking at another site for learning Mandarin and they pronounced èr (two) as in the word "earth." In Rocket Chinese and other places it sounds more like "are." Is èr pronounced differently in different parts of China or in other Chinese-speaking co...

2 replies - Last post by Jeanne--18 - October 29, 2014

王(wáng)=king, ruler, royal;八(bā)=eight; all around; what does 兲(tiān) mean?

王(wáng)=king, ruler, royal;八(bā)=eight; all around; what does 兲(tiān) mean?

2 replies - Last post by John-H8 - October 22, 2014

人(rén)=man, people; 二(èr)=two,twice; What do you think 夫(fū) mean?

人(rén)=man, people; 二(èr)=two,twice; What do you think 夫(fū) mean?

2 replies - Last post by John-H8 - October 5, 2014

冰(bīng)=ice, 箱(xiāng)=box; What do you think 冰箱(bīngxiāng) mean?

冰(bīng)=ice, 箱(xiāng)=box; What do you think 冰箱(bīngxiāng) mean?

2 replies - Last post by John-H8 - September 29, 2014

订(dìng)=to agree, 位(wèi)=seat; What do you think 订位(dìngwèi) mean?

订(dìng)=to agree, 位(wèi)=seat; What do you think 订位(dìngwèi) mean?

2 replies - Last post by John-H8 - September 27, 2014

好(hào)=good, 走(zǒu)=to walk, to go; What do you think 好走 (hàoZǒu) mean?

好(hào)=good, 走(zǒu)=to walk, to go; What do you think 好走 (hàoZǒu) mean?

2 replies - Last post by John-H8 - September 26, 2014

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