Chinese Culture

Learning Chinese is like trying to untangle a bowl of noodles with chopsticks — messy, slippery, but oh-so-rewarding when you finally get it. A friend once told me they started learning Chinese to avoid the dreaded “Why did that taxi driver laugh when I said ‘píngguǒ’ (apple)?” moments. (Hint: You probably said “pìgǔ” 屁股, which

Have you ever heard a friend tell this story? You’re at a bustling dim sum restaurant, ready to impress your friends with your Mandarin skills. You confidently order “shāo mài” (烧卖) — except the waiter brings you a plate of “xiǎo mài” (小麦), which turns out to be… wheat porridge. Cue confused stares and a very