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In Chinese phone etiquette, this simple word, which means "hello," is often used when answering the phone, instead of immediately identifying oneself.
What is "wéi" (喂)?
In the 1950s, the Chinese government introduced simplified characters to help increase literacy, which led to this bifurcation between simplified and traditional forms.
What are "Simplified Characters" and "Traditional Characters"?
In both Mainland China and Taiwan, colleges and universities typically operate on this type of academic system.
What is the semester system?
This traditional Chinese dress, known for its close fit, high collar, and slit skirt, is still worn at weddings and formal parties today.
What is a qipao?
This network of trains in China, referred to as 高铁 (gāotiè), now has more track in service than the rest of the world combined.
What is the high-speed rail system?
This Chinese messaging app, known for its text, voice messages, and calls, has become a major communication tool worldwide.
What is WeChat (微信, Wēixìn)?
This type of writing, still used in calligraphy today, was traditionally written from top to bottom and from right to left.
What is traditional Chinese writing?
The fall semester at Chinese colleges usually starts in late August or early September and ends in this month.
What is mid-January?
In the early 20th century, Chinese men’s formal attire included this long robe, which has since disappeared from city streets but remains in popular period dramas.
What is a changpao (long gown)?
Before the high-speed rail network, the train journey from Beijing to Shanghai used to take as long as this many hours.
What is seventeen hours?
In China, when dialing a cell phone number, this prefix, often required in other countries, is not needed before the eleven-digit number.
What is the area code?
In Mainland China, after a 1955 government mandate, this direction of writing has become standard for most writing, including signs and books.
What is left to right writing?
This holiday allows Chinese college students to take advantage of their winter break to go home and celebrate.
What is Chinese New Year?
Until the 1990s, Chinese men commonly wore this high-collared jacket, which is still worn by Chinese leaders at some formal occasions.
What is the Zhongshanzhuang (Sun Yat-sen suit)?
In addition to traveling by train, many people in China return home for the Chinese New Year via this mode of transport.
What is long-distance bus?
This term refers to the Chinese language, specifically the language of the Han people, and is often used in reference to Mandarin in Mainland China.
What is "Hànyǔ" (汉语)?
The "Four Treasures of the Study" includes this tool, which is used to write and is traditionally paired with ink and paper.
What is a writing brush (毛笔, máobǐ)?
Chinese semesters are typically about this many weeks longer than American college semesters.
What is three weeks?
In Mainland China, prices are usually fixed at large department stores and supermarkets but are negotiable at these smaller shops.
What are street-side stalls or small shops?
Known for their outgoing personalities, these drivers in Beijing are often willing to discuss current events and ordinary Chinese people’s lives with passengers.
Who are taxi drivers?
This language, known as Standard Chinese, is called 普通话 (Pǔtōnghuà) in Mainland China, 国语 (Guóyǔ) in Taiwan, and 华语 (Huáyǔ) in Southeast Asia.
What is Mandarin?
This type of traditional paper, used for writing and painting, is named after a city in Anhui Province.
What is Xuanzhi (宣纸)?
This is the term used for the National Higher Education Entrance Examination in China, which is taken by millions of applicants each year.
What is Gaokao (高考)?
his term, used for both male and female taxi drivers and bus drivers, originally referred to a skilled craftsman or master worker.
What is shifu?
This major holiday in China, determined by the lunar calendar, involves the largest human migration in the world as millions travel home to reunite with their families.
What is Chinese New Year (Chūn Jié)?