China Trash Sorting: 垃圾分类, the 4 Bins, and What to Say
China’s 垃圾分类 rules in 2026: what the four bins mean, how fines work in Shanghai and other cities, and the question to ask when you’re not sure.
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Tipping in China: 小费 and Why Nobody Expects It
Tipping in China in 2026: who gets 小费, who doesn’t, and the exact phrases to tip or politely decline. Restaurants, DiDi, hotels, spas, and tour guides covered.
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Shared Apartments in China: 合租, Roommates, and What to Say
合租 shared flats in China: finding roommates, 分摊 bill-splitting, 隔音 noise rules, the WeChat 群, and five phrases that keep the peace.
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Chinese Milk Tea: 奶茶店 Ordering, Toppings, and What to Say
奶茶店 ordering in China: the sugar scale (三分糖, 无糖), ice dials (少冰, 去冰), toppings (珍珠, 椰果), and the three-word script — 大杯三分糖少冰.
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Massage in China: 足疗, 按摩, and What to Say
足疗 foot spas and 按摩 shops in China: prices, what’s legit, the booking exchange 有什么套餐?, and the pressure words 轻一点 and 重一点.
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Gym Culture in China: 私教, 年卡, and What to Say
Chinese gyms are sales floors: 年卡 annual membership pitches, 私教 trainer packages, and the two protective lines 我先看看 and 我再想想.
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Square Dancing in China: 广场舞, 晨练, and How to Join In
At 7pm every Chinese plaza becomes a dance floor: 广场舞 groups, 音响 at full volume, and a social scene that welcomes anyone who can copy the moves. How to join, what to say, and the 晨练 morning shift.
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Queuing in China: 排队, 让座, and Public Etiquette
排队 in 2026 China: metro security lines, restaurant 取号 number systems, 别插队, and the 让座 seat-giving rule on buses — queue etiquette with the phrases and tones.
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Chinese University Cafeterias: 食堂 Meals, Cards, and What to Say
食堂 is the great equalizer of Chinese campus life: window lines, meal cards, and 阿姨 portion math. Point, say 这个, tap your card — the whole canteen script with tones.
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Matchmaking in China: 相亲, 相亲角, and the Questions You’ll Get
相亲 (blind dates) runs China’s unofficial dating system — parents, friends, and park corners all play matchmaker. Here’s how setups work, and how to answer 你有对象吗 without dying inside.