Language learning with a smile is something we should all aspire to and, as everybody knows – laughter is the best medicine! You might be surprised to know that even with a foundation level knowledge of Chinese (as well as a few helpful pointers in English) you can study through simple jokes.
Simple Jokes in Chinese
1. ABCD
Q: 谁比较高？A还是C？[誰比較高？ A還是C？]
A: C, 因为，A比C低。[C, 因為，A比C低。]
Q: Shuí bǐ jiào gāo？Ahái shì C？
A: C, yīn wéi，A bǐ Cdī。
Q: Which is higher/taller, A or C?
A: C because, A is lower than C.
This joke plays on the fact that ABCD sounds like A 比 C 低 (A bǐ Cdī), or ‘A is lower than C’ in Chinese.
2. Spiderman
Q: 请 问 蜘 蛛 人 是 什 么 颜 色 ？[請 問 蜘 蛛 人 是 什 麼 顏 色 ？]
A: 红 色 ？[紅 色 ？]
R: 错 ！ 是 白 色 的 ， 因 为 “S-pi-der-man”! [錯 ！是 白 色 的 ， 因 為 “S-pi-der-man”!]
Q: Qǐngwèn zhīzhū rén shì shénme yánsè?
A: Hóngsè?
R: Cuò! Shì báisè de, yīnwèi”S-pi-der-man”!
Q: What colour is Spiderman?
A: Red?
R: No! White, because he’s ‘shi-bai-de-man’.
‘Shi bai de’ means ‘is white’ in Chinese.
3. Man and Wife
一个小孩儿问他的爸爸：“爸爸，结婚 需要 花 多少钱？” [一個小孩兒問他的爸爸：“爸爸，結婚 需要 花 多少錢？”]
爸爸说：“儿子，我 不知道。 我 还在付款!” [爸爸說：“兒子，我 不知道。 我 還在付款!”]
Yī gè xiǎo hái ér wèn tā de bà ba: “bà ba, jié hūn xū yào huā duō shǎo qián?”
Érzi, wǒ bù zhīdào. Wǒ hái zài fùkuǎn!
A little kid asks his Father, “Dad, how much does it cost to get married?”
The Father said: “Son, I don’t know. I’m still paying”.
That one needs little explanation!
With telling jokes, practice makes perfect, so be sure to practice these on your language partners next week. Got a simple joke in Chinese that you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you on our social media channels!
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Why not read our blog on 10 facts on the history of tea in China?
