Chinese Language Lesson: Learn More Chinese Measurements for Chinese Math

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I haven't posted a Chinese language lesson for some time. As I said, I didn't like Chinese lessons because of the focus on too much memorization (read here). I found this photo on Facebook. One of the biggest problems of Chinese education back in my day was that you had to learn Amoy before learning Mandarin. The process itself is a red tape. Why not learn Mandarin being introduced in the language you're most comfortable with? For example, why not teach Mandarin to Filipinos using their language or in English? 

HSK Online

For starters, here are some measurement units for Chinese mathematics. One problem with Chinese mathematics was that we had to learn Chinese first, before learning it. I'm talking about introducing Chinese to people who have zero background. It would be good to introduce these measurements first before teaching them how to solve problems. 

What I find strange is that the Chinese word for meter also means... rice? Yes, funny but true. However, using Google translate, one can find a synonym for meter is ä»ªè¡¨ (YíbiÇŽo). It turns out that English isn't hte only language where one word can have multiple meanings. Take for example the word bootleg. Bootleg originally meant stolen liquor. Later, bootleg is used to describe unauthorized production. The word train can mean the vehicle or to teach. The word bark can mean a dog's sound or the tree's skin. Chinese words can also have multiple meanings too!

Once again, please practice the modern Bopomofo first. Sure, Bopomofo is a term used to describe Zhuyin. However, Pinyin still makes the same first four sounds. Even Bopomofo is spelled in Pinyin. Learn some Pinyin first to get it done right! 

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