Hey fellow Mandarin learners, today we’ll break down a short online post in Chinese about romance. The post was made on Weibo, a popular social media site in China similar to Twitter.
Native speakers see posts like this every day. If you want to be like them, read what they read.
Lets get started.
Step 1: Listen & Read
Listen to the speaker reading out the sign and follow along with the characters & pinyin below. Listen to as many times as you like.
This may seem intimidating because you may not understand much at first but don’t worry! This is to help you get used to the sounds. We’ll get into the translation in the next step.
zěnme huì zhèyàng,
怎么会这样,
怎麼會這樣,
yǎnshén zhōng kànchū diǎnr chǒng nì,
眼神中看出点儿宠溺,
眼神中看出點兒寵溺,
liǎ rén zhè cp gǎn hǎo jué!
俩人这cp感好绝!
倆人這cp感好絕!
Step 2: English Translations
Read the English translations and vocabulary list and check how much you understood.
zěnme huì zhèyàng,
怎么会这样,
怎麼會這樣,
How can this be,
yǎnshén zhōng kànchū diǎnr chǒng nì,
眼神中看出点儿宠溺,
眼神中看出點兒寵溺,
There's a hint of doting in their eyes. (as in adoring or pampering someone )
liǎ rén zhè cp gǎn hǎo jué!
俩人这cp感好绝!
倆人這cp感好絕!
The chemistry between these two is amazing! (Note: "cp" refers to "couple", often used in fan fiction or online discussions to refer to a desired or popular romantic pairing.)
Vocabulary List:
Access the full lesson with vocabulary lists, a study tracker, audio pronunciation, real video examples, flashcard review and more here:
Step 3: Repetition
Most people stop after reading the translation, but they miss the most important step: repetition. This will help you improve your reading and speaking.
Read the characters out loud with the pinyin. Focus on getting the correct tones. Go back to the original audio in Step 1 if you need to hear it again.
zěnme huì zhèyàng,
怎么会这样,
怎麼會這樣,
yǎnshén zhōng kànchū diǎnr chǒng nì,
眼神中看出点儿宠溺,
眼神中看出點兒寵溺,
liǎ rén zhè cp gǎn hǎo jué!
俩人这cp感好绝!
倆人這cp感好絕!
Step 4: Final Test
Bring things full circle and read the original text one more time without pinyin. This will prepare you for the real world.
How does it feel compared to when you first read it?
Congrats! You just read a real-world Chinese sign!
I used this simple but powerful 4-step method to help me get fluent in Mandarin, consume native content and speak with locals confidently.
See you again next week for another real-world breakdown.
When you’re ready, here are some ways I can help you:
The Chinese Companion: An all-in-one Chinese study space to help you stay motivated, consistent and never forget what you study.
The Monthly Signs: Access full lessons of real signs with vocab lists, audio pronunciation, real video examples, flashcard review and more!
Real Talk Mandarin Course: Interactive courses for beginner, intermediate & advanced students using real-life material, live lessons & personalized feedback.