Earlyworm

05/12/2023

Ever noticed a term popping up in Chinese discussions that doesn't quite translate to English? The term is '内卷' (nèi juǎn) (often shortened to '卷'), sometimes translated as 'involution'. This concept, born out of socio-economic pressures, is increasingly shaping the Chinese cultural and business landscape.

Recently, a peculiar manifestation of this phenomenon caught our attention. Chinese hot pot restaurants, a staple in Chinese dining, have started to offer free desserts. 🍲🍨

This might seem like a simple marketing strategy, but there's more beneath the surface. The hot pot industry, finding it hard to differentiate, has plunged into a cycle of 'nèi juǎn', competing to offer larger, better, and more innovative desserts, even to the point of offering unlimited free desserts.

The term '内卷' isn't just about hot pot and desserts though, it's a lens to understand a wide range of trends in China. It's been used in discussions around workplace culture, education, technology, and more.

At Earlyworm, we've seen '内卷' appear in 41 different articles across our extensive library of over 150,000 articles, offering a unique look into various facets of Chinese society. Our mission is to bring you the most current and varied collection of Chinese articles, helping you stay informed and deepen your understanding of China.

Check out the article that inspired this post: https://buff.ly/3I4aFWk

Stay curious. Stay informed with Earlyworm. 🐛

Download the app for iOS: https://buff.ly/3Htvj1C

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05/02/2023

🏯 Explore Classical Chinese phrases still used today with Earlyworm! Today's phrase: 无中生有 (wúzhōngshēngyǒu)

🔹 无中生有 (wúzhōngshēngyǒu) comes from the classical Chinese text 兵法 (Bīng Fǎ) or "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu, describing the strategy of creating opportunities and advantages out of seemingly unfavorable situations.

🔹 Today, the phrase often refers to fabricating stories or lies. For example: 他喜欢无中生有，别相信他说的话 (Tā xǐhuan wúzhōngshēngyǒu, bié xiāngxìn tā shuō dehuà) - He likes to create stories out of thin air, don't believe what he says.

🔗 In our content library, you'll find this phrase used in articles like '元宇宙不存在：谁在贩卖未来？' (Yuán yǔzhòu bù cúnzài: Shéi zài fànmài wèilái?) - 'The Metaverse Doesn't Exist: Who's Selling the Future?' [https://buff.ly/3Nphd5o] and 'AI“入侵”短视频，慌了谁' (AI "rùqīn" duǎnshìpín, huāngle shéi) - 'AI "Invades" Short Videos, Who's Panicking?' [https://buff.ly/3LrYtPW]

📚 Earlyworm's content library currently has 136 articles with 无中生有 and over 150,000 articles in total. Discover more Classical Chinese phrases tailored to your learning level! Download now: https://buff.ly/3Htvj1C

05/01/2023

Discover Lesser-Known Chinese Idioms (成语) with Earlyworm 🐛

Embark on a language learning journey with Earlyworm's comprehensive content library! Today, we're diving into the intriguing chengyu 狐假虎威 (hújiǎhǔwēi), which literally means 'the fox exploits the tiger's might,' signifying someone who bullies others by flaunting their connections.

Example: 他只是狐假虎威，别害怕他 (Tā zhǐshì hújiǎhǔwēi, bié hàipà tā) - He's just a bully exploiting his connections, don't be afraid of him.

📖 The story behind 狐假虎威: A cunning fox encountered a tiger and convinced it not to eat him, claiming to be sent by the heavens to rule over all animals. The fox suggested the tiger walk behind as they passed other animals, observing their fear. The animals, terrified of the tiger, also appeared to fear the fox. The tiger didn't realize the animals were scared of him, not the fox. The fox avoided being eaten by exploiting the tiger's might.

Discover 狐假虎威 (hújiǎhǔwēi) in context within our library, below are 2 examples:

Article 1 - from 虎嗅, titled "第一批开始怀念大厂的年轻人" https://buff.ly/3LmDj5H
Article 2 - from 国学生活, titled "杨绛：离开位子，你是谁？" https://buff.ly/42dO69s
Enhance your understanding of Chinese idioms and challenge yourself with Earlyworm!

04/28/2023

Did you know that immersive reading can transform your Chinese language learning experience? 🌟 By engaging with authentic content, you can naturally pick up vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structures in context. In our latest blog post, we discuss the benefits of immersive reading and how Earlyworm's unique approach combines it with traditional methods like flashcards. Get ready to boost your Chinese language skills and learn more in our blog post:

Learning a new language can be challenging, and traditional methods like flashcards and quizzing often don't provide the immersive experience needed to truly master a language. Enter Earlyworm, an innovative language-learning platform that harnesses the power of immersive reading to help you learn C

04/23/2023

💡 Language Tip: One common sentence structure in Chinese is Subject + Verb + Object (SVO), similar to English. However, Chinese also frequently uses the Subject + Verb + Complement (SVC) structure, where the complement describes the result, possibility, or degree of the verb's action. For example, "他学汉语学得很好" (Tā xué hànyǔ xué de hěn hǎo) - "He learns Chinese very well."

Earlyworm's diverse content selection, from independent bloggers to major news outlets, exposes you to a wide range of sentence structures in real-life contexts. By regularly reading with Earlyworm, you'll naturally become more familiar with these structures and improve your Chinese comprehension skills.

What are your favorite strategies for learning Chinese sentence structures? Share your tips in the comments!

04/22/2023

🌟 Did you know that the Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, has a history of over 2000 years in China? This colorful celebration takes place on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month and features exciting dragon boat races, delicious zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), and various traditional customs.

The festival commemorates the life and death of the famous Chinese scholar and poet, Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Miluo River to protest against political corruption. To this day, the Dragon Boat Festival serves as a reminder of his unwavering commitment to his principles.

🤔 Do you have a favorite Chinese cultural fact or story to share? Tell us in the comments below! We'd love to learn more!

04/21/2023

📘 Are you looking for effective ways to improve your Chinese language skills without leaving home? Check out the HackingChinese blog, where they discuss immersive learning and comprehensible input in this insightful article: https://buff.ly/3mUOPNK

Have you tried any of these immersive learning techniques? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below! 🌏

🐛 Don't forget, Earlyworm can also help you practice reading with comprehensible input, making your language learning journey even more enjoyable and effective! Give it a try today! 💡

You don't have to go abroad to learn Chinese. The main difference between staying at home and going abroad is that it requires less effort to learn once you're there (although it still requires quite a lot of effort). This means that you can learn Chinese at home, provided that you are determined en...

04/21/2023

🏀 Explore the CBA's Negative Match Incident with the Earlyworm app! We've identified this trending topic in China and provided language-leveled summaries for an immersive reading experience. Check it out below!👇

Two Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) teams have come under fire for allegedly engaging in negative play during their playoff games. The Basketball Association has imposed severe punishments on the teams, sparking widespread discussion and a strong sense of distrust among fans.

Dive into this trending topic and more with the Earlyworm app, where you can read articles and language-level adjusted summaries that cater to your language proficiency. Download the app now! 📲

🔗 Related Articles:

https://buff.ly/3KZEV5w
https://buff.ly/3AePnko
https://buff.ly/3USy1mP

04/20/2023

📚 Discover the Secrets of Immersive Language Learning with Earlyworm! 🐛

In our latest blog post, we explore the benefits of immersive reading for language learners and how Earlyworm's personalized content helps you improve your Chinese reading skills. Don't miss these valuable insights! ✨

👉 https://buff.ly/3KQd33o

Are you looking to improve your Chinese reading skills and immerse yourself in the language? Look no further! Earlyworm is a content-first, immersive language learning app designed to make learning Chinese enjoyable and effortless. Say goodbye to flashcards and quizzes, and embrace the world of real

04/19/2023

🌟 Language Tip: Harness the Power of Context Clues in Chinese 🌟

Whether you're a beginner or an advanced Chinese learner, using context clues is a vital strategy for understanding new words and improving your reading comprehension. Context clues allow you to infer the meaning of unfamiliar words based on the surrounding text, making your language learning experience more immersive and engaging.

Consider this example sentence: "她拿起遥控器，打开了电视机." You might not know the word "遥控器" (yáokòngqì). However, by examining the context, such as "拿起" (pick up) and "打开了电视机" (turned on the TV), you can infer that "遥控器" refers to a device used to control the TV, in this case, a remote control.

Earlyworm's personalized content is designed to help you strengthen your context clue skills in Chinese. Our tailored articles cater to various language levels, exposing you to real-world language and offering opportunities to encounter new vocabulary in context. Enhance your Chinese reading skills with Earlyworm and unlock the true power of context clues! 📚🐛

01/09/2023

This is your weekend roundup for the top trends from across the Chinese blogosphere for the weekend of 1/7-1/9.

12/13/2022

This is your weekend roundup for the top trends from across the Chinese blogosphere for the weekend of 12/10 - 12/12.