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HSK 2 Chinese Culture Lesson

Chopsticks

筷子

Kuàizi

7:05 min video · 16 sentences · 6 key words

Transcript with pinyin and English

Hide the English to test yourself.
  1. 你好，今天我们说筷子。Nǐ hǎo, jīntiān wǒmen shuō kuàizi.Hello, today we talk about chopsticks.
  2. 在中国，人们常用筷子吃饭。Zài zhōngguó, rénmen chángyòng kuàizi chīfàn.In China, people often use chopsticks to eat.
  3. 筷子是两个小棍子，一般是树做的。Kuàizi shì liǎng gè xiǎo gùnzi, yìbān shì shù zuò de.Chopsticks are two small sticks, usually made from trees.
  4. 你用过筷子吗？Nǐ yòng guò kuàizi ma?Have you ever used chopsticks?
  5. 筷子很老，有三千年的历史。Kuàizi hěn lǎo, yǒu sān qiān nián de lìshǐ.Chopsticks are old, with three thousand years of history.
  6. 以前，人们叫它“箸”。Yǐqián, rénmen jiào tā “zhù”.In the past, people called it 'zhu'.
  7. 后来，人们才叫它筷子。Hòulái, rénmen cái jiào tā kuàizi.Only later did people call it kuaizi.
  8. 日本和越南也用筷子。Rì běn hé yuè nán yě yòng kuàizi.Japan and Vietnam also use chopsticks.
  9. 大卫第一次用筷子，吃得很慢。Dà Wèi dì yī cì yòng kuàizi, chī de hěn màn.David used chopsticks for the first time and ate very slowly.
  10. 李老师说：“手放在中间。”Lǐ lǎoshī shuō: “Shǒu fàng zài zhōngjiān.”Teacher Li said, 'Put your hand in the middle.'
  11. 他学了一会儿，就吃到饺子了。Tā xué le yíhuìr, jiù chī dào jiǎozi le.He practiced a while and then got a dumpling.
  12. 他高兴地说：“真好吃！”Tā gāoxìng de shuō: “Zhēn hǎochī!”He said happily, 'So tasty!'
  13. 吃饭的时候，也有一些好习惯。Chīfàn de shíhou, yě yǒuyìxiē hǎo xíguàn.When eating, there are also some good habits.
  14. 不要把筷子放在米饭上。Búyào bǎ kuàizi fàng zài mǐfàn shàng.Don't stand your chopsticks in the rice.
  15. 这样做，好像是给老人送终。Zhèyàng zuò, hǎoxiàng shì gěi lǎorén sòng zhōng.Doing this seems like a farewell for the dead.
  16. 现在，筷子还是中国人的好朋友。Xiànzài, kuàizi háishi zhōngguó rén de hǎo péngyou.Today, chopsticks are still a good friend of Chinese people.

About this lesson

This lesson teaches what chopsticks are, how long China has used them, how to use them well, and the manners that go with them.

How to practise

  1. Read what you will learn on the first card, then follow the lesson section by section with pinyin and English.
  2. Repeat every sentence out loud in the 跟读 · Your turn pause: you learn the facts and the words together.
  3. At the end, check the recap and answer the question in the YouTube comments.

筷子 Kuàizi

Chopsticks

In this lesson

  • How old chopsticks are
  • The main table manners

Key takeaways

  • Chopsticks have three thousand years of history.
  • They were once called zhu.
  • Never stand chopsticks upright in rice.

Your turn: What do you use to eat in your culture, and are there table manners to follow?

Key words 生词

ChinesePinyinEnglishLevel
筷子kuàizichopsticksHSK 2
箸zhùold word for chopsticks
饺子jiǎozidumplingHSK 2
习惯xíguànhabitHSK 2
历史lìshǐhistoryHSK 4
棍子gùnzistickHSK 7-9

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