[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"daily-2026-07-09":3},{"date":4,"status":5,"dateLayer":6,"allowQuiz":18,"podcastTopicKey":36,"bundle":37},"2026-07-09","published",{"dateStr":4,"gregorianEn":7,"gregorianZh":8,"weekdayEn":9,"weekdayZh":10,"lunar":11,"lunarLabelZh":19,"lunarLabelEn":20,"zodiacAnimalEn":21,"zodiacAnimalZh":22,"zodiacYearEn":23,"ganzhiYear":24,"solarTermToday":25,"currentSolarTerm":26,"nextSolarTerm":30,"festivals":35},"July 9, 2026","2026年7月9日","Thursday","星期四",{"year":12,"month":13,"day":14,"isLeapMonth":15,"monthName":16,"dayName":17,"inRange":18},2026,5,25,false,"五月","廿五",true,"五月廿五","25th day of the 5th lunar month","Horse","马","Year of the Horse","丙午",null,{"zh":27,"en":28,"dateStr":29},"小暑","Minor Heat","2026-07-07",{"zh":31,"en":32,"dateStr":33,"daysAway":34},"大暑","Major Heat","2026-07-23",14,[],"daily-2026-07-09",{"hook":38,"quiz":75,"word":145,"bands":161,"grammar":181,"dateLayer":196},{"tier":39,"noteEn":40,"source":41,"article":42,"titleEn":43,"titleZh":44,"category":41,"keyWords":45,"insightEn":60,"references":61,"allowGamify":18,"cultureLink":68,"titleZhPinyin":71,"todaySentenceEn":72,"todaySentenceZh":73,"todaySentencePinyin":74},8,"Chinese Chess, or Xiàngqí (象棋), is a popular strategy game often played in parks across China, where players compete on a board divided by a 'river'.","micro-culture","Chinese Chess, known as Xiàngqí (象棋), is a beloved pastime that has deep roots in Chinese culture. The game is played on a board divided by a symbolic 'river', with each side representing an army [1]. The objective is to capture the opponent's 'general', similar to the king in Western chess. Xiàngqí is not just a game but a reflection of strategic thinking and patience, cherished by players of all ages.\n\nThe origins of Xiàngqí are steeped in history, with influences from ancient military strategies. It is believed to have been developed during the Warring States period, evolving over time to the version we see today [2]. The game is played with pieces that represent different military roles, such as soldiers, cannons, and elephants, each with its own movement rules. This diversity in piece roles adds a layer of complexity and excitement to the game.\n\nXiàngqí is often played in parks, where people gather to watch and participate in matches. These gatherings are social events, allowing players to showcase their skills and engage in friendly competition. The game is not only a test of strategic ability but also a way to connect with others and enjoy a shared cultural tradition. On July 9, 2026, a day in the Year of the Horse, it’s a perfect occasion to celebrate the spirit of Xiàngqí and its role in bringing communities together.","Chinese Chess","象棋",[46,48,52,56],{"en":43,"hanzi":44,"pinyin":47},"xiàngqí",{"en":49,"hanzi":50,"pinyin":51},"river","河","hé",{"en":53,"hanzi":54,"pinyin":55},"general","将军","jiāngjūn",{"en":57,"hanzi":58,"pinyin":59},"strategy","策略","cèlüè","Xiàngqí is a cultural symbol of strategy and social interaction in China.",[62,65],{"n":63,"text":64},1,"UNESCO inscription: Traditional games and sports, 2010",{"n":66,"text":67},2,"Zhouyi (Book of Changes), an ancient Chinese text on strategy",{"category":69,"label":70},"traditions","The Cultural Significance of Xiàngqí","xiàng qí","Let's play chess together.","我们一起下棋。","Wǒmen yīqǐ xià qí.",{"items":76,"reflectionPrompt":144},[77,88,97,106,114,119,128,136],{"id":78,"kind":78,"type":79,"prompt":80,"options":81,"explainEn":86,"answerIndex":87},"meaning","mc","What does 棋 mean?",[82,83,84,85],"Chess","Board","Piece","Strategy","棋 refers to chess or any strategy game.",0,{"id":89,"kind":89,"type":79,"prompt":90,"options":91,"explainEn":96,"answerIndex":87},"pinyin","How is 棋 pronounced?",[92,93,94,95],"qí","qī","chí","jī","The correct pinyin is qí, with a second tone.",{"id":98,"kind":98,"type":79,"prompt":99,"options":100,"explainEn":105,"answerIndex":87},"translate","How do you write \"chess\" in Chinese?",[101,102,103,104],"棋","旗","骑","期","棋 is the correct character for chess.",{"id":107,"kind":107,"type":79,"prompt":108,"options":109,"audioText":73,"explainEn":113,"answerIndex":87},"listening","Listen. What does the sentence mean?",[72,110,111,112],"We are walking together.","We are studying together.","We are cooking together.","The sentence translates to 'Let's play chess together.'",{"id":115,"kind":115,"type":115,"accept":116,"answer":101,"prompt":117,"explainEn":118},"fill",[101],"他在公园里下___。(He is playing ___ in the park.)","棋 is the correct word for chess in this context.",{"id":120,"kind":120,"type":79,"prompt":121,"options":122,"explainEn":127,"answerIndex":87},"reading","我喜欢下棋。 — What does this sentence mean?",[123,124,125,126],"I like playing chess.","I like going to the park.","I like drawing.","I like reading books.","The sentence means 'I like playing chess.'",{"id":129,"kind":129,"type":79,"prompt":130,"options":131,"explainEn":135,"answerIndex":87},"culture","Which piece in Xiàngqí is similar to the king in Western chess?",[132,21,133,134],"General","Cart","Cannon","The general is the equivalent of the king in Xiàngqí.",{"id":137,"kind":137,"type":137,"prompt":138,"ordered":139,"explainEn":143},"order","Arrange into a correct sentence",[140,141,142,101],"他","喜欢","下","The correct sentence is '他喜欢下棋.' meaning 'He likes playing chess.'","What strategy games do you enjoy, and why?",{"faq":146,"pos":156,"slug":157,"hanzi":101,"level":158,"pinyin":92,"meaning":159,"audioUrl":160},[147,150,153],{"answer":148,"question":149},"Besides chess, 棋 can refer to various strategic board games like Go (围棋) and other chess-like games.","What other games can 棋 refer to?",{"answer":151,"question":152},"You can use it in phrases like '我喜欢下棋' (I like to play chess) or '他是一个棋迷' (He is a chess enthusiast).","How do I use 棋 in a sentence?",{"answer":154,"question":155},"No, 棋 can generally refer to any strategic game, not just chess.","Is 棋 only used for chess?","n","hsk-7/%E6%A3%8B-qi2",7,"chess; any strategy game","https://mandarintemple.com/wp-content/uploads/katemt_audio/q/Qi/qi2.wav",{"1-2":162,"3-4":166,"5-6":171,"7-9":176},{"en":123,"pinyin":163,"explainEn":164,"sentenceZh":165},"Wǒ xǐhuān xià qí.","A simple sentence about enjoying chess.","我喜欢下棋。",{"en":167,"pinyin":168,"explainEn":169,"sentenceZh":170},"This is an exciting game of chess.","Zhè shì yī chǎng jīngcǎi de qíjú.","Describes an interesting chess match.","这是一场精彩的棋局。",{"en":172,"pinyin":173,"explainEn":174,"sentenceZh":175},"His chess skills are very high.","Tā de qíyì hěn gāo.","Praises someone's chess abilities.","他的棋艺很高。",{"en":177,"pinyin":178,"explainEn":179,"sentenceZh":180},"Strategizing in the chess game.","Zài qíjú zhōng yùnchóu wéiwò.","A nuanced expression about planning strategy in chess.","在棋局中运筹帷幄。",{"title":182,"pattern":183,"examples":184,"explainEn":194,"usageNote":195},"Using '下' with games","下 + noun",[185,186,190],{"en":72,"zh":73,"pinyin":74},{"en":187,"zh":188,"pinyin":189},"Can you play Xiàngqí?","你会下象棋吗？","Nǐ huì xià xiàngqí ma?",{"en":191,"zh":192,"pinyin":193},"He likes to play Go.","他喜欢下围棋。","Tā xǐhuān xià wéiqí.","This pattern is used to indicate playing a game, typically a board game or strategy game.","Use '下' before a game noun to express playing that game.",{"lunar":197,"dateStr":4,"festivals":198,"weekdayEn":9,"weekdayZh":10,"ganzhiYear":24,"gregorianEn":7,"gregorianZh":8,"lunarLabelEn":20,"lunarLabelZh":19,"zodiacYearEn":23,"nextSolarTerm":199,"solarTermToday":25,"zodiacAnimalEn":21,"zodiacAnimalZh":22,"currentSolarTerm":200},{"day":14,"year":12,"month":13,"dayName":17,"inRange":18,"monthName":16,"isLeapMonth":15},[],{"en":32,"zh":31,"dateStr":33,"daysAway":34},{"en":28,"zh":27,"dateStr":29}]