
What we’re about
* Currently, our activities focus on language learning (listening and conversational practice, particularly in Mandarin and Cantonese) and Chinese culture (especially music, poems, movies, regional cuisines, art, calligraphy, history)
* Use your computer to plan ahead.
Look at our monthly calendar to find activities that appeal to you:
https://www.meetup.com/austin-chinese-language-and-culture/events/calendar/
RSVP a week in advance if you can. Otherwise, do so at least a day before the event.
If no one signs up for an event, it will probably be cancelled a couple of days before.
* Use the app to check messages (Event Chats and Direct Messages) a day or two before any event for possible discussion.
If you won't be able to attend, update your RSVP before the event starts.
If the host needs to make a schedule change, s/he should do so before the event start time, preferably at least a day in advance.
* Participate regularly.
If we don't see you for a few weeks, you'll probably be removed from the group. Nothing personal--our events probably just don't fit your interests or schedule.
* We're here to learn and improve.
Participate in online activities using headphones and from a quiet location.
Be open to information/strategies that may challenge your practices.
We invite discussion based on research/experience.
* Please do not advertise, attack, campaign, proposition, proselytize, or solicit.
If anyone contacts you through Meetup to do any of these, please let us know.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- [cameras on] pre-intermediate listening & usage:Link visible for attendees
Participants should already
understand how pinyin notation expresses the precise pronunciation of Mandarin Chinese, including the "melody";
be familiar with a few hundred words;
be able to ask and answer questions like these:
"Do you like to dance/eat/sing/swim?" "I like to sing." "I don't like to dance."
"Who is she?" "She's my friend."
"What is this?" "This is a book/cup/fruit."
"What time are we going to see a movie?" "Tomorrow, at 7:30 in the evening."
"Where is David?" "He's at home."
"Why do you study Chinese?" "Because I would like to speak Chinese."and have a general idea of the "golden rule" of basic sentence structure
subject [+ time] [+ location] [+ manner] + verb [+ duration] [+ object]---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
my favorite resources
---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
"lighten up" and "tighten up"
Do you pronounce "wo" like "whoa"? (You should NOT! 😂)---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
HSK Level 3 audio translated
第十六七八九课,课文一二三四五 (Lesson MM, Text N)起来 qǐlai to stand up; [verb complement indicating initiation or completion of an action or state or expressing initial judgment]
带 dài band; belt; ribbon; to wear (articles that are draped, placed, set, or tied on); to bring; to carry; to take along
一直 yīzhí in a straight line; all along; continuously
终于 zhōngyú at last; in the end; finally
几乎 jīhū almost
主要 zhǔyào main; principal
会议 huìyì meeting; conference极 jí extremely; pole; utmost
成绩 chéngjì achievement; grades; performance record
起飞 qǐfēi [of an aircraft] to take off
体育 tǐyù physical education
一共 yīgòng altogether; in sum; in total; including everything锻炼 duànliàn to toughen; to engage in physical exercise; to work out; to develop one's skills; to train oneself
季节 jìjié season; period
个子 gèzi height; stature; build; size
请假 qǐngjià to request leave
留学 liúxué to study abroad---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
supplementary listeningPrinceton University Press textbook audio materials
[first-year] Chinese Primer Oh China!
[second-year] A New China A Trip to China
Intermediate Reader of Modern ChineseYouTube
Blabla
张峻豪/Zhāng Jùnháo 随便跳舞/"random dance"podcasts
TeaTime Chinese
Why Chinese?
pineapple war
Shanghai
education
Xinjiang
《故乡》(上)
《故乡》(下)
movies & TV
dancing
Mulan
VR in edu
simplified
再见,爷爷
my childhood
大象来了
languages
知音 ("soulmate")
summer plans
regional cuisines
上海话
面子文化Chillchat
pǔtōnghuà
春节
中文怪异
孤单
十二生肖
颜色
拿手菜 ("signature dish")
你最喜欢的中国菜
选择困难 ("decision fatigue")
极简主义 ("minimalism")
宇宙 (universe)
grammar---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
Use calendar view to see other upcoming events at a glance. - (cameras on, please) [novice+] Let's learn basic Chinese words/phrases!Link visible for attendees
In this online activity series for novice learners, we'll present some basic words/phrases, explain/discuss how to pronounce them, and take turns repeating them aloud.
During the meeting, please
[1] be in a distraction-free, quiet environment;
[2] use headphones/headset to minimize audio feedback;
[3] pay close attention to melody, rhythm, and sounds.---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
my favorite resources
Immersive Chinese incremental lessons (first 20 lessons free; $15 gets you lifetime access to all 160)What about apps? If your main goal is to be able to understand and speak some Mandarin, I would suggest the following three that focus on listening. The first two are available free of charge through many local public libraries!
Mango Languages is basically audio examples/flashcards, interspersed with text and audio explanatory notes. You may record yourself and play back both your sample and the native speaker's.
Pimsleur puts the focus on speaking. Compared with other programs, they give more detailed descriptions/explanations of pronunciation.
SuperChinese is essentially a combination of audio flashcards, with some multiple-choice and matching exercises for feedback. If you record yourself, it will give you a pronunciation score. It's the only app I've seen that has some parts only in audio and some questions that actually test comprehension.
---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
pronunciation tips
Běijīng: It really is "jing", not "zhing".
Zhōngguó: more like "joong-gwo", -not- "zhoong-gwaw", -not- "choong-gwaw".
"Wo" should not sound like "whoa"?! 😂---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
review
Zhè shì shénme? "What is this?"
Zhè shì shuǐ. "This is water."
Nà shì shénme? "What is that?"
Nà shì mǐfàn. "That is rice."Wǒ yǒu shǒujī. "I have (a) cell phone."
Wǒ méiyǒu chē. "I don't have (a) car/vehicle."
Yǒu méiyǒu xiāngjiāo? "Are there bananas?"; "Do you have bananas?"Tā shì shéi? "Who is s/he?"
Tā shì wǒ māmā; bàba; gēgē; dìdì; jiějiě; mèimei.
"S/he is my mom; dad; big brother; little brother; big sister; little sister;"
Tā shì wǒ de péngyǒu. "S/he is my friend."
Nà shì wǒ de péngyǒu de chē. "That is my friend's car."Xiànzài jǐ diǎn [zhōng]? What time is it (now)?
yī diǎn [zhōng] one o'clock
sān diǎn [zhōng] three o'clockchī to eat
píngshí normally; ordinarily; usually
Nǐ [píngshí] jǐ diǎn chī zǎocān? What time do you [normally] eat breakfast?
Wǒ zǎoshang bā diǎn chī zǎocān. I eat breakfast at 8 in the morning.
Nǐ [píngshí] jǐ diǎn chī wǎncān? What time do you [normally] eat dinner?
Wǒ wǎnshang qī diǎn chī wǎncān. I eat dinner at 7 in the evening.jǐ gè a few; several; how many?
jǐ wèi "Table for...?"; How many (are in your group)?
Duōshǎo qián? How much money (does it cost)?
Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén? How many people are in your family?hěn [default modifier for predicate adjectives] quite; [UK] rather
Wǒ de péngyǒu hěn gāo; kāixīn; piàoliang; shuài. My friend is quite tall; happy; beautiful; handsome/cool.Nǐ hǎo ma? How are you?
[Nǐ] zěnmeyàng? How's it going [for you]?[Wǒ] hěn hǎo [I am] quite well.
[Wǒ] hěn bùcuò [I'm] not bad at all.Xièxie! Thanks!
zhīdào to know
[Wǒ] bù zhīdào. [I] don't know.
Ó, wǒ zhīdàole! Oh, I get it! (I know *now*!)zài to be located at/in/on
Nǐ zài nǎlǐ? Where are you?
Wǒ jiù zài zhèlǐ! I'm (right) here!zài jiā at home
zài bàngōngshì at the office
zài gōngyuán at/in a/the parkzài... [ne] to be in the process of
Wǒ zài chī wǎncān [ne]. I'm [right in the middle of] eating dinner.
zài kàn diànyǐng; zài tīng yīnyuè; zài xué Zhōngwén; zài zuòfàn watching movies; listening to music; learning/studying Chinese; cooking [a meal]zuò to do; to make
Nǐ zuò shénme? What do you do?
Nǐ zài zuò shénme ne? What are you doing?Jīntiān shì jǐ yuè jǐ hào? What is today's *date*? (lit. "Today is which month, which number?")
Jīntiān shì shí-èr yuè sānshíyī hào. Today is December 31st.Jīntiān shì xīngqí jǐ? What day [of the week] is it [today]?
Jīntiān shì xīngqísān. Today is Wednesday.
Jīntiān shì xīngqítiān. Today is Sunday.cóng Běijīng dào Shànghǎi from Beijing to Shanghai
Nǐ cóng nǎlǐ lái? Where did you come from?hǎochī delicious
hǎokàn good-looking
hǎowán enjoyable; funyòng to use; using
hǎoyòng easy to use; user-friendly
yǒuyòng useful ("to have use")zěnme shuō? How (does one) say (it)?
yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō? How (does one) say (it) in Chinese?
yòng kuàizǐ chīfàn to eat using chopsticks
yòng bǐ xiězì to write [Chinese characters] using a penxǐhuān to like
Wǒ xǐhuān ___. "I like ___."
Nǐ xǐhuān ___ ma? "Do you like ___?"zuì the most; "-est"
zuì xǐhuān de favoriteyùndòng exercise; movement; sport
Nǐ zuì xǐhuān de yùndòng shì shénme? "What is your favorite exercise/sport?"
Wǒ zuì xǐhuān de yùndòng shì ___. "My favorite exercise/sport is ___."pǎobù to run
yóuyǒng to swim
dǎ lánqiú to play basketball
dǎ wǎngqiú to play tennis
tī zúqiú to play soccer
dǎ páiqiú to play volleyballyánsè color
Nǐ zuì xǐhuān de yánsè shì shénme? "What is your favorite color?"
Wǒ zuì xǐhuān de yánsè shì ___. "My favorite color is ___."hēisè black
hóngsè red
huángsè yellow
báisè white
lánsè blue
jīnsè gold
lǜsè green
zǐsè purplenew
hǎo ma? Okay?
hǎo a! Okay! (Let's do that!)shì ma? Is that so?
shì a! Yes! That's right!---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
Use calendar view to see other upcoming events at a glance. - [in-person] family-style legit Chinese breakfast!Breakfast House 早点见面, Austin, TX
We'll share dishes selected from their menu and split the bill equally. We'll aim to keep the cost under $25/person, incl. tax + tip.
蔥油餅 cōng yóubǐng scallion pancakes
牛肉捲餅 niúròu juànbǐng "Chinese beef burrito"
蔥花蛋餅 cōnghuā dànbǐng scallion egg crepe
肉鬆蛋餅 ròusōng dànbǐng pork floss egg crepe皮蛋瘦肉粥 pídàn shòu ròu zhōu rice porridge w/preserved egg
綠豆白米粥 lǜdòu báimǐ zhōu rice porridge w/green mung beans
番薯白米粥 fānshǔ báimǐ zhōu rice porridge w/sweet potato豆漿 dòujiāng soy milk
鹹豆花 (豆腐腦) xián dòuhuā (dòufu nǎo) salty/savory tofu pudding
油條 yóutiáo "oily stick"/"Chinese crullers"燒餅 shāobǐng sesame seed flatbread
韭菜餡餅 jiǔcài xiànbǐng Chinese-chive-stuffed pan-fried "latkes"涼菜三拼 liángcài sān pīn three cold-dish combination
(may include choice of some of the following:)
麻辣牛筋 málà niú jīn beef tendon w/Sichuan peppercorns
夫妻肺片 fū qī fèi piàn marinated beef slices
涼馬鈴薯 liáng mǎlíngshǔ shredded potato
涼拌海帶絲豆芽 liángbàn hǎidài sī dòuyá shredded seaweed and bean sprout salad
麻辣海帶絲 málà hǎidài sī shredded seaweed w/Sichuan peppercorns
涼拌豆乾絲 liángbàn dòugān sī chilled pressed bean curd strips
紅油腐竹 hóngyóu fǔzhú bean curd sheet in chili oil
滷蛋 (3) lǔ dàn spiced soy sauce stewed eggs
拌黃瓜 bàn huángguā "smashed" cold cucumber salad
泡菜 pàocài pickled cabbage/"kimchi"
拌青菜 bàn qīngcài assorted greens (baby bokchoy)
拌豬耳 bàn zhū ěr chilled pig ear
香酥花生 xiāngsū huāshēng crispy fried peanuts
口水雞 kǒushuǐ jī "mouth-watering" cold mala chili oil cold chicken w/chopped peanuts and cilantro麻辣牛肉湯麵 málà niúròu tāngmiàn spicy beef noodle soup
打鹵麵 dǎ lǔ miàn thickened spiced soy sauce stew noodles---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
Use calendar view to see other upcoming events at a glance. - [in-person] family-style legit Cantonese-style lunch!First Chinese BBQ, Austin, TX
This will be a family-style dinner. Specifically, I'll plan a menu to include a variety of grains, meats, and vegetables. We'll share all of the dishes and split the bill equally.
Here's a list of dishes from which I'll most likely order:
poached chicken w/ginger-scallion sauce (if available)
soy-sauce-marinated chicken
roast duck
Cantonese-style BBQ pork101. Fresh Shrimp Wonton Noodle Soup
107. Home Made Beef Stew Noodle
115. Subgum Fresh Bean Curd Soup216. Chinese Mushroom with Chinese Broccoli
418. Beef Flat Noodle ("chow fun"/"haw fun"/"gon chow ngau haw")
602. Double Cooked Sliced Pork with VegetableA1. Salted Fish & Chicken Fried Rice
A3. Salted Fish & Eggplant Hot Pot
A10. Peeled Shrimp with Egg
A11. Oyster Fried with Egg
A15. Oyster with Ginger & Green Onion
A20. Fresh Squid with Vegetable
A25. Beef with Bitter Melon
A35. Crispy Tofu Stuffed with Shrimp
A36. Chinese Style Steak---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.--- ---.---
Use calendar view to see other upcoming events at a glance.