yes-no question-"吗"

 "yes-no" question

It is formed by adding the modal particle"吗" to the end of statement.
The answer is “yes”, just repeat the verb. If the question can be answered “No.”, it need to add“不 (bù) in front of Verb


Example1 :
sentence :  你会讲英语吗？
pinyin:     ni hui jiang yingyu ma?
English:    Can you speak English? 

Answer Ｉ:   会， 我会讲英语。
Pinyin:       hui, wo hui jiang yingyu
English：     Yes, I can

Answer II:  不会，我不会讲英语
Pinyin:      buhui, wo bu hui  jiang yingyu
English:      no, I can not


Example `2:
Question: 你喜欢游泳吗？　
Pinpin: ni xihuan youyong ma?
English: Do you like swimming?

Answer I: 喜欢
Pinyin:   xihuan
English: yes, I do

Answer II: 不 喜欢 
Pinyin: bu xihuan
Enlish: no, I do not


Example `3 
Question: 你要学中文吗？　
Pinin:  ni yaoxue zhongwen ma?
English: Do you want to learn Chinese?

Answer I: 要学
Pinyin: yaoxue
English: Yes, I do

Answer II: 不要学
Pinyin: 　bu yaoxue
Enlgish: No I do not.

Duan Wu Jie (端午节)

Dragon Boat Festival is called Duan Wu Jie (端午节) in Chinese. Jie （节） means festival. The festival is celebrated on the 5th of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar （12 June 2013）.

Background

Many People believe that Duan Wu Jie originated in ancient China based on the suicide of the poet and statesman of the Chu kingdom, Qu Yuan in 278 BCE.

 Qu Yuan

Qu Yuan was minister of the State of Chu. His wisdom and intellectual ways antagonized other court officials, thus they accused him of false charges of conspiracy and was exiled by the king. During his exile, Qu Yuan composed many poems to show his love and passion for his country， until he heard that the Chu State was defeated by the strong Qin State. He was so despaired that he ended his life by flinging himself into the Miluo River.

On hearing of Qu Yuan's death, all the local people nearby were in great distress. Fishermen searched for his body by sailing their boats down the river and other people threw food such as eggs and food like zongzi (粽子) into the river to attract fish and other animals from destroying Qu Yuan's body. Later, many people imitated these acts to show their respect for this great patriotic poet and this practice continues today.

Customs

Dragon Boat Racing 

Eating Zongzi (pyramid-shaped glutinous rice wrapped in reed or bamboo leaves)

Hanging Mugwort Leaves

Hello, How are you

您好 and 你好

- “您”is a more polite form of “你”。 
-  It is usually used for seniors or people of an older generation or a higher rank. 
-  It can also be used for people of same age in order to sound more formal and polite.

Pinyin	Chinese	The same meaning in English
Nin Hao	您好	How are you
Ni hao	你好	How are you