Mei Blog
This blog is my stage outside the chat. I unpack the language the way I’d tell a smart friend: honestly, with real-life examples, and zero textbook boredom. Binge the posts or drop in before a lesson.
You can also argue with me in the comments. Ask, doubt, try your own phrasing — I reply myself. This blog is for people who want to sound human, not just “finish the unit”.
mǎ hǔ hǔ), your brain probably conjures an image of a horse, another horse, and a confused tiger. Logically, that phrase should be about a zoo escape, not a casual “so-so” response to “How are you?” This is the beautiful, maddening reality of untranslatable expressions. They don’t follow the rules of grammar or logic;…
Read more →Let’s be honest: the Chinese in your textbook is like a suit and tie—perfect for a job interview, but you’d look ridiculous wearing it to a house party. When I first moved to China, I had a flawless grasp of grammar and a vocabulary that could discuss the nuances of economic policy. Then a friend called me 小可爱 (xiǎo…
Read more →Let’s be honest: when you first open a Chinese textbook, the verbs look like a wall of bricks. But here’s the secret — you can survive a week in Shanghai with just four of them. Not “survive” like a caveman pointing at noodles. I mean actually chat, bargain, and make friends. These are 是 (to be), 有 (to have), 做 (to…
Read more →Let me paint a scene. You’re scrolling through WeChat, and a friend sends you a meme that’s supposed to be hilarious. But when you read the Chinese caption—这个梗我不懂了 (this meme, I don’t get it)—you feel nothing. Not a chuckle. Not even a smirk. The joke is dead on arrival. This is the curse of literal translation. When…
Read more →Hey, it’s Mei! If you’ve ever laughed at a clever meme in English, then tried to explain it to your Chinese friend and watched their face go completely blank, you already know the pain—and the comedy—of memes getting lost in translation. As a Chinese teacher, I collect these moments like rare Pokémon. They’re not just…
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