Lessons
Unit 1: Foundations — Pinyin, Tones & Characters
Lesson 1: Pinyin & the Four Tones
Pinyin is the romanization system that spells Chinese sounds with the Latin alphabet. Every syllable has an initial (beginning consonant) and a final (the rest). For example, mā = initial m + final a.
Mandarin is tonal: the pitch pattern changes a word's meaning entirely. There are four main tones plus a neutral tone:
| Tone | Mark | Contour | Example (ma) | Meaning |
|---|
| 1st — high flat | ā | High and level, like singing a note | mā 妈 | mother |
| 2nd — rising | á | Rises, like asking "what?" | má 麻 | hemp |
| 3rd — dipping | ǎ | Falls then rises, like "well…" | mǎ 马 | horse |
| 4th — falling | à | Sharp fall, like a command "Stop!" | mà 骂 | to scold |
| Neutral | a | Light, quick, unstressed | ma 吗 | (question particle) |
Tone pairs matter more than single tones in real speech: practice 2-3 combos like nǐ hǎo (你好, hello). Special rules: two 3rd tones in a row → the first becomes 2nd tone (nǐ + hǎo → ní hǎo); 不 (bù, not) becomes 2nd tone before another 4th tone (bú shì).
Worked example: Say mǎi (买, 3rd tone, "to buy") vs. mài (卖, 4th tone, "to sell") — one tone flip turns a customer into a shopkeeper! This is why tones are non-negotiable.
Try it yourself: say the mā/má/mǎ/mà series five times, exaggerating each contour.
Listen to this lesson
Narrated audio version: Introduction to Mandarin Chinese.
Lesson 2: 20+ Essential Characters
Chinese characters are built from radicals (meaning components) and strokes written in a fixed order: top to bottom, left to right, horizontal before vertical. Learn characters as character + pinyin + meaning triples, and look for radicals you recognize.
| Character | Pinyin | English | Character | Pinyin | English |
|---|
| 我 | wǒ | I, me | 你 | nǐ | you |
| 他 | tā | he, him | 她 | tā | she, her |
| 是 | shì | to be | 不 | bù | not |
| 好 | hǎo | good | 人 | rén | person |
| 大 | dà | big | 小 | xiǎo | small |
| 中 | zhōng | middle; China | 国 | guó | country |
| 学 | xué | to study | 校 | xiào | school |
| 老 | lǎo | old | 师 | shī | teacher |
| 生 | shēng | to be born; life | 水 | shuǐ | water |
| 火 | huǒ | fire | 山 | shān | mountain |
| 日 | rì | sun; day | 月 | yuè | moon; month |
| 有 | yǒu | to have | 没 | méi | not have |
Notice how characters combine: 中国 (Zhōngguó, China) = 中 (middle) + 国 (country) = "Middle Country." 好 (hǎo, good) = 女 (woman) + 子 (child) — a lovely etymology. 学生 (xuéshēng, student) = 学 (study) + 生 (born) = "study-born."
Worked example: Read 老师 (lǎoshī, teacher): 老 (old) + 师 (teacher/master). Stroke order for 我: left-falling stroke, horizontal, then the right side top-to-bottom. Write each new character 10 times following correct stroke order.
Try it yourself: cover the pinyin column and quiz yourself on all 24 characters.
Lesson 3: Basic Grammar — Word Order, 是/有, Measure Words
Chinese grammar is refreshingly simple: no verb conjugations, no genders, no plurals. Time is shown with time words (昨天 zuótiān, yesterday; 明天 míngtiān, tomorrow) instead of tense changes.
Word order is Subject–Verb–Object, like English: 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ, I love you). Time and place come before the verb: 我在学校学习 (wǒ zài xuéxiào xuéxí, "I at school study" = I study at school).
Two "to be / to have" verbs: 是 (shì) links two nouns — 我是学生 (wǒ shì xuéshēng, I am a student). 有 (yǒu) means "to have/exist" — 我有书 (wǒ yǒu shū, I have a book). Never use 是 with adjectives: 我很好 (wǒ hěn hǎo, I am very good) — no 是!
Measure words (量词) go between a number and a noun — English has a few ("a sheet of paper"), Chinese has them for everything: 一个人 (yí ge rén, one person — 个 is the all-purpose measure word), 三本书 (sān běn shū, three books — 本 for bound items), 两只猫 (liǎng zhī māo, two cats — 只 for animals). Pattern: number + measure word + noun.
Worked example: "I have three Chinese books" → 我有三本中文书 (wǒ yǒu sān běn Zhōngwén shū). 有 (have) + 三 (three) + 本 (measure word for books) + 中文書 (Chinese book).
Try it yourself: write "I am a teacher", "She has two cats", "We study at school" in Chinese.
Lesson 4: Dialogue — First Conversations
Dialogue: 在学校 (At school)
李明：你好！我叫李明。你叫什么名字？
Lǐ Míng: Nǐ hǎo! Wǒ jiào Lǐ Míng. Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
"Hello! I'm called Li Ming. What are you called?"
王芳：你好，李明！我叫王芳。我是学生。你呢？
Wáng Fāng: Nǐ hǎo, Lǐ Míng! Wǒ jiào Wáng Fāng. Wǒ shì xuéshēng. Nǐ ne?
"Hello, Li Ming! I'm called Wang Fang. I am a student. And you?"
李明：我也是学生。我学习中文。你有中文书吗？
Lǐ Míng: Wǒ yě shì xuéshēng. Wǒ xuéxí Zhōngwén. Nǐ yǒu Zhōngwén shū ma?
"I'm also a student. I study Chinese. Do you have a Chinese book?"
王芳：有，我有三本书。明天见！
Wáng Fāng: Yǒu, wǒ yǒu sān běn shū. Míngtiān jiàn!
"Yes, I have three books. See you tomorrow!"
Key patterns: 我叫… (wǒ jiào…, I'm called…), …吗? (ma — turns a statement into a yes/no question), 你呢? (nǐ ne?, and you?), 也 (yě, also — goes before the verb).
Worked example: Turn 你是学生 (nǐ shì xuéshēng, you are a student) into a question two ways: (1) add 吗 → 你是学生吗？ (2) use the A-not-A form → 你是不是学生？ (nǐ shì bu shì xuéshēng?). Both mean "Are you a student?"
Try it yourself: memorize this dialogue and perform it with a partner, swapping in your own names.
Unit 2: Speaking, Characters, Time & Quantity
Lesson 5: Speaking Practice & Study Strategies
Speaking prompts:
- Introduce yourself: 你好！我叫…。我是学生。我学习中文。 (30 seconds, focus on tones)
- Describe your family: 我家有四个人：爸爸、妈妈、弟弟和我。 (My family has four people…)
- Role-play buying fruit: 这个多少钱？ (zhège duōshao qián?, How much is this?) — 五块。 (wǔ kuài, five yuan.)
- Talk about your day using time words: 早上我去学校，下午我学习，晚上我看书。
- Tone drill: record yourself saying mā má mǎ mà and check each contour.
Study strategies: (1) Learn characters with spaced repetition (apps like Anki) — 10 new characters a day beats 70 once a week. (2) Always learn the tone with the word — a toneless word is a wrong word. (3) Shadow native audio: listen and repeat simultaneously to absorb rhythm. (4) Write characters by hand — muscle memory dramatically improves recognition.
Try it yourself: learn 5 new characters today using the triple method (character + pinyin with tone + meaning), then use each in a sentence.
Lesson 6: More Characters & Radicals — Building Vocabulary by Family
Characters are built from radicals (部首, bùshǒu) — components that hint at meaning or sound. Learning radicals lets you guess new characters. The water radical 氵 appears in 河 (hé, river), 海 (hǎi, sea), 泪 (lèi, tears), 洗 (xǐ, to wash). The hand radical 扌 appears in 打 (dǎ, to hit), 拍 (pāi, to pat), 抱 (bào, to hug). The mouth radical 口 appears in 吃 (chī, to eat), 喝 (hē, to drink), 唱 (chàng, to sing). The heart radical 忄 appears in 情 (qíng, feeling), 怕 (pà, to fear), 快 (kuài, fast/happy).
30 more essential characters: 家 (jiā, home/family), 学 (xué, to study), 校 (xiào, school), 生 (shēng, to be born/life), 先 (xiān, first), 老 (lǎo, old), 师 (shī, teacher), 友 (yǒu, friend), 爱 (ài, to love), 喜 (xǐ, to like), 欢 (huān, happy), 笑 (xiào, to laugh), 说 (shuō, to speak), 读 (dú, to read), 写 (xiě, to write), 听 (tīng, to listen), 看 (kàn, to look), 想 (xiǎng, to think/want), 知 (zhī, to know), 道 (dào, way), 时 (shí, time), 间 (jiān, between), 年 (nián, year), 月 (yuè, month/moon), 日 (rì, day/sun), 天 (tiān, sky/day), 气 (qì, air), 车 (chē, vehicle), 店 (diàn, shop), 钱 (qián, money).
Stroke order rules: (1) top before bottom: 三 (sān) — top stroke first. (2) left before right: 好 (hǎo) — 女 before 子. (3) horizontal before vertical: 十 (shí) — horizontal first. (4) outside before inside: 国 (guó) — box before 玉. (5) close the box last: 国 — the bottom stroke closes the frame last. (6) center before sides: 小 (xiǎo) — center dot/stroke, then the two side strokes. Following stroke order makes characters look right and helps you memorize them, because your hand learns the pattern.
Worked example — guessing by radical: You know 好 (hǎo, good) = 女 (woman) + 子 (child): "a woman and child together = good." When you meet 妈 (mā, mother), the 女 radical tells you it relates to women, and 马 (mǎ) hints at the sound mā. Radicals + phonetics = educated guessing.
Try it yourself: write the 10 characters with the 氵radical you can find in a text, and for each, say whether the radical hints at meaning. Then practice stroke order for 学, 家, and 爱.
Lesson 7: Time, Aspect & Tense — 了, 过, 在, 会, 要
Chinese verbs do not change form for tense. Instead, aspect particles and time words show when things happen. 了 (le) marks a completed action or a change: 我吃饭了 (wǒ chī fàn le — I have eaten / I ate). 过 (guò) marks experience — "have ever": 我去过中国 (wǒ qù guò Zhōngguó — I have been to China). 在 (zài) + verb marks ongoing action: 我在看书 (wǒ zài kàn shū — I am reading). 会 (huì) marks future ability or likelihood: 明天会下雨 (míngtiān huì xià yǔ — It will rain tomorrow). 要 (yào) marks intention or near future: 我要回家 (wǒ yào huí jiā — I'm going home / I want to go home). 没 (méi) negates past actions: 我没去 (wǒ méi qù — I didn't go).
Time words come before the verb (after the subject): 今天 (jīntiān, today), 明天 (míngtiān, tomorrow), 昨天 (zuótiān, yesterday), 现在 (xiànzài, now), 以前 (yǐqián, before), 以后 (yǐhòu, after), 每天 (měitiān, every day), 有时候 (yǒu shíhòu, sometimes). Examples: 我每天七点起床 (wǒ měitiān qī diǎn qǐchuáng — Every day I get up at 7). 他昨天没来 (tā zuótiān méi lái — He didn't come yesterday). Duration: 我学了三年中文 (wǒ xué le sān nián Zhōngwén — I have studied Chinese for three years) — note 了 comes after the verb, and the duration follows.
Word order with time and place: Subject + Time + Place + Verb: 我明天在学校见你 (wǒ míngtiān zài xuéxiào jiàn nǐ — I'll see you at school tomorrow). This pattern — time before place before verb — is one of the most important in Chinese grammar.
Worked example: "我以前没去过北京, 但是明年要去。" (Wǒ yǐqián méi qù guò Běijīng, dànshì míngnián yào qù.) = "I have never been to Beijing before, but next year I'm going." 没…过 = never experienced; 要 = plan.
Try it yourself: write six sentences — two with 了, one with 过, one with 在, one with 会, one with 要 — about your week. Include a time word in each.
Lesson 8: Measure Words, Numbers & Money
Chinese requires a measure word (量词, liàngcí) between a number and a noun: 一个人 (yí gè rén — one person), 两本书 (liǎng běn shū — two books), 三张纸 (sān zhāng zhǐ — three sheets of paper). The general measure word 个 (gè) works for people and many things, but common nouns have their own: 本 (běn) for books, 张 (zhāng) for flat things (paper, tables, photos), 只 (zhī) for animals, 条 (tiáo) for long thin things (rivers, roads, pants), 件 (jiàn) for clothing items, 辆 (liàng) for vehicles, 杯 (bēi) for cups of drink, 碗 (wǎn) for bowls, 双 (shuāng) for pairs. Using the wrong measure word sounds like saying "a sheet of dog" in English — understandable but wrong.
Numbers: 1–10: 一二三四五六七八九十. 11 = 十一 (shí yī), 20 = 二十 (èr shí), 99 = 九十九 (jiǔ shí jiǔ), 100 = 一百 (yì bǎi), 1,000 = 一千 (yì qiān), 10,000 = 一万 (yí wàn) — Chinese counts in units of ten thousand, so 100,000 = 十万 (shí wàn). Note: 两 (liǎng) replaces 二 before measure words: 两个人 (liǎng gè rén — two people), not 二个人. Money: 块 (kuài) = yuan (colloquial), 毛 (máo) = jiao (1/10 yuan), 分 (fēn) = fen (1/100 yuan): 三块五 (sān kuài wǔ — 3.50 yuan). Prices: 这个多少钱? (zhège duōshǎo qián? — How much is this?)
Age and dates: 你多大了? (nǐ duō dà le? — How old are you?) 我十四岁 (wǒ shí sì suì — I am 14 years old). Dates: year + 年 + month + 月 + day + 号/日: 2026年10月14日 (2026 nián 10 yuè 14 rì — October 14, 2026). Days of the week: 星期一…星期日 (xīngqī yī…rì — Monday…Sunday).
Worked example: "我买了两杯咖啡, 一共二十块。" (Wǒ mǎi le liǎng bēi kāfēi, yígòng èr shí kuài.) = "I bought two cups of coffee, twenty yuan in total." 杯 is the measure word for cups; 一共 = in total.
Try it yourself: role-play a market dialogue: ask the price of three items (using measure words), bargain with 太贵了! (tài guì le! — too expensive!), and agree on a price.
Unit 3: Comparisons, Complex Sentences & Travel
Lesson 9: Adjectives, Comparisons & Complements
Chinese adjectives can act as predicates without "to be": 她很高 (tā hěn gāo — She is tall). Note 很 (hěn) here is often just a grammatical link, not "very" — "tā gāo" alone sounds incomplete. For real emphasis use 非常 (fēicháng, extremely), 特别 (tèbié, especially), or 太 (tài, too): 她非常漂亮 (tā fēicháng piàoliang — She is very beautiful). Negation: 不 (bù): 她不高 (tā bù gāo — She is not tall). Adjective + 的 (de) modifies a noun: 漂亮的裙子 (piàoliang de qúnzi — a beautiful dress).
Comparisons with 比 (bǐ): A + 比 + B + adjective: 北京比上海大 (Běijīng bǐ Shànghǎi dà — Beijing is bigger than Shanghai). Add 更 (gèng, even more), 得多 (de duō, much more), or 一点 (yì diǎn, a little): 他比我高得多 (tā bǐ wǒ gāo de duō — He is much taller than me). "As…as": A + 跟/和 + B + 一样 + adjective: 我跟他一样高 (wǒ gēn tā yíyàng gāo — I am as tall as he is). Superlative: 最 (zuì): 这是最好的学校 (zhè shì zuì hǎo de xuéxiào — This is the best school).
Result complements: Verb + 得 (de) + adjective shows how well an action is done: 他说中文说得很好 (tā shuō Zhōngwén shuō de hěn hǎo — He speaks Chinese very well). Result complements show the outcome: 我听懂了 (wǒ tīng dǒng le — I understood by listening), 我看完了 (wǒ kàn wán le — I finished reading). Direction complements: 上来 (shàng lái, come up), 下去 (xià qù, go down), 进来 (jìn lái, come in), 出去 (chū qù, go out).
Worked example: "我姐姐比我高, 但是我跑得比她快。" (Wǒ jiějie bǐ wǒ gāo, dànshì wǒ pǎo de bǐ tā kuài.) = "My older sister is taller than me, but I run faster than her." 比 comparison + 得 complement in one sentence.
Try it yourself: compare three family members using 比, 一样, and 最, and describe how well each does something using a 得 complement.
Lesson 10: Complex Sentences — 因为…所以, 如果…就, 虽然…但是, 把
Chinese links clauses with paired conjunctions. 因为…所以 (yīnwèi…suǒyǐ — because…therefore): 因为下雨了, 所以我没去 (yīnwèi xià yǔ le, suǒyǐ wǒ méi qù — Because it rained, I didn't go). 如果…就 (rúguǒ…jiù — if…then): 如果明天不下雨, 我们就去公园 (rúguǒ míngtiān bù xià yǔ, wǒmen jiù qù gōngyuán — If it doesn't rain tomorrow, we'll go to the park). 虽然…但是 (suīrán…dànshì — although…but): 虽然他很累, 但是他继续工作 (suīrán tā hěn lèi, dànshì tā jìxù gōngzuò — Although he was tired, he kept working). Note: Chinese keeps both halves of the pair, unlike English which drops one.
The 把 (bǎ) construction moves the object before the verb to emphasize what happens to it: 我把书放在桌子上 (wǒ bǎ shū fàng zài zhuōzi shàng — I put the book on the table). Use 把 when the object is definite and the verb has a result (a complement, 了, or a location). Compare: 我吃了苹果 (wǒ chī le píngguǒ — I ate the apple) vs. 我把苹果吃了 (wǒ bǎ píngguǒ chī le — I ate the apple [up] — emphasizing disposal of the apple). 被 (bèi) marks passive: 我的书被他拿走了 (wǒ de shū bèi tā ná zǒu le — My book was taken by him).
Expressing ability, obligation, and desire: 会 (huì — can, learned skill): 我会游泳 (wǒ huì yóuyǒng — I can swim). 能 (néng — can, ability/permission): 我能来 (wǒ néng lái — I can come). 应该 (yīnggāi — should): 你应该学习 (nǐ yīnggāi xuéxí — You should study). 必须 (bìxū — must): 你必须去 (nǐ bìxū qù — You must go). 想 (xiǎng — want): 我想当医生 (wǒ xiǎng dāng yīshēng — I want to become a doctor).
Worked example: "因为我想考上大学, 所以每天把作业做完以后, 我就复习中文。" = "Because I want to get into university, every day after I finish my homework, I review Chinese." 因为…所以 + 把 + 就 in one sentence.
Try it yourself: write six complex sentences — one each with 因为…所以, 如果…就, 虽然…但是, a 把 sentence, a 被 sentence, and one with 应该.
Lesson 11: Culture, Festivals & Idioms — 成语
Festivals: 春节 (Chūnjié, Spring Festival / Chinese New Year) — the most important holiday: families reunite, eat dumplings (饺子, jiǎozi), give red envelopes (红包, hóngbāo), and set off fireworks. 中秋节 (Zhōngqiūjié, Mid-Autumn Festival) — families eat mooncakes (月饼, yuèbǐng) and admire the full moon, China's symbol of reunion. 端午节 (Duānwǔjié, Dragon Boat Festival) — dragon boat races and sticky rice dumplings (粽子, zòngzi) honor the poet Qu Yuan. 清明节 (Qīngmíngjié) is for honoring ancestors.
Etiquette: greet with a nod or handshake; use both hands when giving or receiving a business card or gift; do not stick chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice (it resembles incense at funerals); the host orders generously and guests should try every dish; tea is poured for others before yourself. Dialects: Mandarin (普通话, pǔtōnghuà) is the official language, but Cantonese, Shanghainese, Hokkien, and many others are spoken at home by hundreds of millions.
Chengyu (成语) are four-character idioms, usually with a classical story behind them: 马马虎虎 (mǎ mǎ hǔ hǔ) — "horse horse tiger tiger" = so-so, careless. 对牛弹琴 (duì niú tán qín) — "playing music to a cow" = wasting good words on someone who doesn't appreciate them. 一心一意 (yì xīn yì yì) — "one heart, one mind" = wholeheartedly. 画蛇添足 (huà shé tiān zú) — "drawing legs on a snake" = ruining something by adding unnecessary extras. Using one chengyu well in an essay impresses native readers enormously.
Worked example — chengyu in context: "他学习一心一意, 所以成绩很好。" (Tā xuéxí yì xīn yì yì, suǒyǐ chéngjì hěn hǎo.) = "He studies wholeheartedly, so his grades are very good." One idiom replaces a whole clause.
Try it yourself: retell the story behind 画蛇添足 in Chinese (6–8 sentences), and write one paragraph in Chinese about how your family celebrates a festival.
Lesson 12: Travel & Directions — 旅行和问路
Travel Chinese starts with getting around. Key words: 旅行 (lǚxíng, travel), 车站 (chēzhàn, station), 票 (piào, ticket), 车 (chē, vehicle), 飞机 (fēijī, aeroplane), 酒店 (jiǔdiàn, hotel), 房间 (fángjiān, room), 路 (lù, road), 市场 (shìchǎng, market), 地址 (dìzhǐ, address). To ask directions: 这条路去哪儿？ (Zhè tiáo lù qù nǎr?, Where does this road go?), 车站离这儿多远？ (Chēzhàn lí zhèr duō yuǎn?, How far is the station from here?), 我要去北京。 (Wǒ yào qù Běijīng, I want to go to Beijing.)
Giving directions: 一直走 (yìzhí zǒu, go straight), 往右拐 (wǎng yòu guǎi, turn right), 往左拐 (wǎng zuǒ guǎi, turn left), 在十字路口 (zài shízì lùkǒu, at the crossroads), 在拐角 (zài guǎijiǎo, at the corner), 附近 (fùjìn, nearby), 远 (yuǎn, far), 前面 (qiánmiàn, in front). Direction verbs take the polite 请 (qǐng, please) with strangers. Buying tickets: 一张票。 (Yì zhāng piào, One ticket.), 多少钱？ (Duōshao qián?, How much?), 车几点来？ (Chē jǐ diǎn lái?, At what time will the train/bus come?)
Place words: 旁边 (pángbiān, beside), 前面 (qiánmiàn, in front of), 后面 (hòumiàn, behind), 中间 (zhōngjiān, between), 上面 (shàngmiàn, above), 下面 (xiàmiàn, below), 到 (dào, up to / to): 到车站多少钱？ (How much is it to the station?) Measure words return here: 一条路 (one road — 条 for long things), 一张票 (one ticket — 张 for flat things).
| Character | Pinyin | English | Character | Pinyin | English |
|---|
| 旅行 | lǚxíng | travel | 车站 | chēzhàn | station |
| 票 | piào | ticket | 车 | chē | vehicle |
| 飞机 | fēijī | aeroplane | 酒店 | jiǔdiàn | hotel |
| 房间 | fángjiān | room | 路 | lù | road |
| 十字路口 | shízì lùkǒu | crossroads | 地址 | dìzhǐ | address |
| 一直走 | yìzhí zǒu | go straight | 往右拐 | wǎng yòu guǎi | turn right |
Worked example 1: 请问，车站怎么走？ (Qǐngwèn, chēzhàn zěnme zǒu?) = "Excuse me, how do I get to the station?" — 一直走，然后在十字路口往右拐。车站就在前面。 (Go straight, then turn right at the crossroads. The station is right in front.)
Worked example 2: 我想要一个房间，住两个晚上。 (Wǒ xiǎng yào yí gè fángjiān, zhù liǎng gè wǎnshang.) = "I want a room for two nights." 住 (zhù, to stay) + duration.
Worked example 3: 学校在庙的后面，市场的旁边。 (Xuéxiào zài miào de hòumiàn, shìchǎng de pángbiān.) = "The school is behind the temple, beside the market." Two place words in one sentence.
Try it yourself: write a 6-line dialogue asking for directions from the station to a hotel, using 一直走，往右拐，往左拐，十字路口，多远. Answers: a correct dialogue includes a polite question (请问…), two direction steps, and a distance question with answer (多远？— 不远。).
Real-world application — at the hotel: Check in: 你好，我叫…。我订了一个房间。房间多少钱？早餐几点？ (Hello, my name is… I booked a room. How much is the room? At what time is breakfast?) Practise this check-in speech until it flows.
Vocabulary: 旅行 (lǚxíng, travel), 车站 (chēzhàn, station), 票 (piào, ticket), 车 (chē, vehicle), 飞机 (fēijī, aeroplane), 酒店 (jiǔdiàn, hotel), 房间 (fángjiān, room), 路 (lù, road), 十字路口 (shízì lùkǒu, crossroads), 地址 (dìzhǐ, address), 一直走 (yìzhí zǒu, go straight), 往右拐 (wǎng yòu guǎi, turn right).
Unit 4: Daily Life, Health & Advanced Grammar
Lesson 13: Food, Restaurants & Shopping — 吃饭、饭馆和买东西
Ordering food: 我想要一个套餐。 (Wǒ xiǎng yào yí gè tàocān, I want a set meal.), 这个辣吗？ (Zhège là ma?, Is this spicy?), 请拿水来。 (Qǐng ná shuǐ lái, Bring water, please.), 买单。 (Mǎi dān, The bill, please — literally "buy the bill".) Restaurant words: 菜单 (càidān, menu), 早餐 (zǎocān, breakfast), 午餐 (wǔcān, lunch), 晚餐 (wǎncān, dinner), 素食 (sùshí, vegetarian food), 肉 (ròu, meat), 服务员 (fúwùyuán, waiter).
At the market: 这个多少钱？ (Zhège duōshao qián?, How much is this?), 来一斤土豆。 (Lái yì jīn tǔdòu, Give me a jin (half-kilo) of potatoes.), 便宜一点儿吧。 (Piányi yì diǎnr ba, Make it a bit cheaper — bargaining!), 太贵了！ (Tài guì le!, Too expensive!), 便宜 (piányi, cheap), 新鲜 (xīnxiān, fresh), 熟 (shú, ripe/cooked). Quantities: 一斤 (yì jīn, one jin = 500g), 半斤 (bàn jīn, half a jin), 一打 (yì dǎ, a dozen), 一包 (yì bāo, a packet).
Cooking verbs: 做饭 (zuò fàn, to cook), 切 (qiē, to cut), 混合 (hùnhé, to mix), 煮 (zhǔ, to boil), 炒 (chǎo, to stir-fry), 味道 (wèidao, taste), 盐 (yán, salt), 糖 (táng, sugar), 辣椒 (làjiāo, chilli), 姜黄 (jiānghuáng, turmeric). Food words: 米饭 (mǐfàn, cooked rice), 面条 (miàntiáo, noodles), 蔬菜 (shūcài, vegetables), 水果 (shuǐguǒ, fruit), 牛奶 (niúnǎi, milk), 酸奶 (suānnǎi, yoghurt), 茶 (chá, tea).
| Character | Pinyin | English | Character | Pinyin | English |
|---|
| 早餐 | zǎocān | breakfast | 素食 | sùshí | vegetarian food |
| 买单 | mǎi dān | bill (to ask for) | 一斤 | yì jīn | one jin (500g) |
| 半斤 | bàn jīn | half a jin | 太贵了 | tài guì le | too expensive |
| 便宜 | piányi | cheap | 新鲜 | xīnxiān | fresh |
| 做饭 | zuò fàn | to cook | 切 | qiē | to cut |
| 味道 | wèidao | taste | 米饭 | mǐfàn | cooked rice |
Worked example 1 — ordering: 服务员：你想吃什么？顾客：我想要素食套餐。再来一杯水。 = "Waiter: What would you like to eat? Customer: I want the vegetarian set meal. Another glass of water too."
Worked example 2 — bargaining: 这个芒果多少钱？— 一斤二十块。— 太贵了！便宜一点儿吧。— 好，十五块。 = "How much are these mangoes? — Twenty yuan a jin. — Too expensive! Make it cheaper. — OK, fifteen yuan."
Worked example 3 — cooking: 先把土豆切一下，然后在油里炒。盐根据味道放。 = "First cut the potatoes, then stir-fry them in oil. Add salt according to taste." Imperatives in recipes use plain verb forms.
Try it yourself: write a restaurant dialogue (8 lines) for two people ordering starters, main course, drinks, and asking for the bill. Answers: a complete dialogue includes 你想吃什么？, a drink order, 买单, and a polite closing (饭很好吃，谢谢).
Real-world application — market day: At a market, buy three items: ask prices, compare two stalls (这个比那个便宜 — this is cheaper than that), bargain politely, and pay. Play both shopper and vendor.
Vocabulary: 早餐 (zǎocān, breakfast), 素食 (sùshí, vegetarian food), 买单 (mǎi dān, bill), 一斤 (yì jīn, one jin), 半斤 (bàn jīn, half a jin), 太贵了 (tài guì le, too expensive), 便宜 (piányi, cheap), 新鲜 (xīnxiān, fresh), 做饭 (zuò fàn, to cook), 切 (qiē, to cut), 味道 (wèidao, taste), 米饭 (mǐfàn, cooked rice).
Lesson 14: Health, Body & Weather — 健康、身体和天气
Body parts: 头 (tóu, head), 眼睛 (yǎnjing, eye), 鼻子 (bízi, nose), 嘴 (zuǐ, mouth), 牙齿 (yáchǐ, tooth), 耳朵 (ěrduo, ear), 头发 (tóufa, hair), 脸 (liǎn, face), 脖子 (bózi, neck), 肩膀 (jiānbǎng, shoulder), 手 (shǒu, hand), 手指 (shǒuzhǐ, finger), 心脏 (xīnzàng, heart), 脑 (nǎo, brain), 肚子 (dùzi, stomach), 腿 (tuǐ, leg), 膝盖 (xīgài, knee), 背 (bèi, back).
Saying you are ill: 我发烧了。 (Wǒ fā shāo le, I have a fever.), 我咳嗽。 (Wǒ késou, I have a cough.), 我感冒了。 (Wǒ gǎnmào le, I have caught a cold.), 我头疼。 (Wǒ tóu téng, My head aches.), 我肚子不舒服。 (Wǒ dùzi bù shūfu, My stomach is upset.), 我生病了。 (Wǒ shēng bìng le, I am ill.), 我不舒服。 (Wǒ bù shūfu, I am not feeling well.) At the doctor: 医生：怎么了？— 我发烧两天了。 (What's wrong? — I have had a fever for two days.) Advice: 你应该休息。 (You should rest.)
Weather and seasons: 今天天气怎么样？ (Jīntiān tiānqì zěnmeyàng?, How is the weather today?), 今天很热。 (Jīntiān hěn rè, It is very hot today.), 很冷。 (Hěn lěng, It is very cold.), 下雨了。 (Xià yǔ le, It is raining.), 阴天。 (Yīn tiān, It is cloudy.), 晴天。 (Qíng tiān, It is sunny.), 刮风了。 (Guā fēng le, The wind is blowing.) Seasons: 夏天 (xiàtiān, summer), 冬天 (dōngtiān, winter), 雨季 (yǔjì, rainy season), 春天 (chūntiān, spring), 秋天 (qiūtiān, autumn).
| Character | Pinyin | English | Character | Pinyin | English |
|---|
| 头 | tóu | head | 眼睛 | yǎnjing | eye |
| 手 | shǒu | hand | 肚子 | dùzi | stomach |
| 心脏 | xīnzàng | heart | 发烧 | fā shāo | to have a fever |
| 咳嗽 | késou | cough | 头疼 | tóu téng | headache |
| 天气 | tiānqì | weather | 夏天 | xiàtiān | summer |
| 冬天 | dōngtiān | winter | 下雨 | xià yǔ | to rain |
Worked example 1: 医生：怎么了？病人：我从昨天开始发烧，头疼。医生：你应该休息，吃药。 = "Doctor: What's wrong? Patient: I have had a fever since yesterday and a headache. Doctor: You should rest and take medicine."
Worked example 2: 今天天气很好 — 晴天，但是不热。 = "Today the weather is very nice — it is sunny, but not hot." 但是 (dànshì, but) joins the contrast.
Worked example 3: 雨季下雨，所有的东西都变绿了。 = "In the rainy season it rains and everything becomes green." 变 (biàn, to become) shows a change of state.
Try it yourself: (1) Translate: "I have a cough and my stomach is upset." Answer: 我咳嗽，肚子不舒服。 (2) Describe today's weather in 3 Chinese sentences using 热，下雨，阴天 as they apply.
Real-world application — at the clinic: Role-play a doctor visit: greet, describe two symptoms with 我…, answer 从什么时候开始？ (Since when?) with 从昨天开始, and repeat the doctor's advice (你应该休息).
Vocabulary: 头 (tóu, head), 眼睛 (yǎnjing, eye), 手 (shǒu, hand), 肚子 (dùzi, stomach), 心脏 (xīnzàng, heart), 发烧 (fā shāo, to have a fever), 咳嗽 (késou, cough), 头疼 (tóu téng, headache), 天气 (tiānqì, weather), 夏天 (xiàtiān, summer), 冬天 (dōngtiān, winter), 下雨 (xià yǔ, to rain).
Lesson 15: School, Work & Opinions — 学校、工作和看法
School vocabulary: 作业 (zuòyè, homework), 考试 (kǎoshì, exam), 分数 (fēnshù, marks/grade), 课 (kè, class), 假期 (jiàqī, holiday/break), 图书馆 (túshūguǎn, library), 实验室 (shíyànshì, laboratory), 课程表 (kèchéngbiǎo, timetable), 科目 (kēmù, subject). Work: 工作 (gōngzuò, work/job), 办公室 (bàngōngshì, office), 会议 (huìyì, meeting), 老板 (lǎobǎn, boss), 工资 (gōngzī, salary).
Opinions: 我觉得… (Wǒ juéde…, I think…), 在我看来… (Zài wǒ kànlái…, In my opinion…), 我同意。 (Wǒ tóngyì, I agree.), 我不同意。 (Wǒ bù tóngyì, I disagree.), 这是真的… (Zhè shì zhēn de…, It is true that…). Hobbies: 我喜欢打板球。 (I like playing cricket.), 我的爱好是看书。 (Wǒ de àihào shì kàn shū, My hobby is reading books.)
Sequencing a day: 首先 (shǒuxiān, first), 然后 (ránhòu, then), 之后 (zhīhòu, afterwards), 早上 / 下午 / 晚上 (morning/afternoon/evening), 以前 (yǐqián, before), 以后 (yǐhòu, after), 最后 (zuìhòu, in the end), 总是 / 从不 / 有时候 / 经常 (always / never / sometimes / often).
| Character | Pinyin | English | Character | Pinyin | English |
|---|
| 作业 | zuòyè | homework | 考试 | kǎoshì | exam |
| 分数 | fēnshù | marks, grade | 课程表 | kèchéngbiǎo | timetable |
| 科目 | kēmù | subject | 工作 | gōngzuò | work, job |
| 会议 | huìyì | meeting | 我觉得… | wǒ juéde… | I think… |
| 在我看来… | zài wǒ kànlái… | In my opinion… | 我同意 | wǒ tóngyì | I agree |
| 经常 | jīngcháng | often | 以后 | yǐhòu | after |
Worked example 1: 早上我起床，然后去学校，晚上做作业。 = "In the morning I get up, then I go to school, and in the evening I do homework." Sequence words organize the routine.
Worked example 2: 我觉得数学很难，但是在我看来历史很有意思。 = "I think math is difficult, but in my opinion history is very interesting." Two opinion frames in one sentence.
Worked example 3: 我爸爸在办公室工作，每个星期一他都有一个会议。有时候他回家很晚。 = "My father works in an office and has a meeting every Monday. Sometimes he comes home late."
Try it yourself: write your daily routine in 8 sentences using 首先，然后，之后，晚上 and three verbs; then add two opinion sentences with 我觉得… and 在我看来…. Answers: check that time words come before the verb and that opinion clauses use the right word order.
Real-world application — class discussion: Debate with a partner: 你觉得学生应该在课上用手机吗？ One argues yes (在我看来，应该，因为…), the other no (我不同意，因为…). Use at least three opinion frames each.
Vocabulary: 作业 (zuòyè, homework), 考试 (kǎoshì, exam), 分数 (fēnshù, marks/grade), 课程表 (kèchéngbiǎo, timetable), 科目 (kēmù, subject), 工作 (gōngzuò, work/job), 会议 (huìyì, meeting), 我觉得… (I think…), 在我看来… (In my opinion…), 我同意 (I agree), 经常 (jīngcháng, often), 以后 (yǐhòu, after), 首先 (shǒuxiān, first).
Lesson 16: Advanced 把/被 & Complements — 把字句、被字句和补语
把 (bǎ) in depth: the 把 construction (Lesson 10) moves a definite object before the verb: Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + Result. The result can be a complement (我把书放在桌子上 — I put the book on the table), 了 (我把苹果吃了 — I ate the apple up), or a direction (他把球扔出去了 — He threw the ball out). 把 is required when the object is definite AND the action changes it. You cannot use 把 with a bare verb: 我把书看 is wrong; 我把书看完了 (I finished reading the book) is right.
被 (bèi) in depth: the passive: Subject + 被 + (Agent) + Verb + Result. 我的书被他拿走了。 (My book was taken by him.) 窗户被风吹开了。 (The window was blown open by the wind.) Without an agent: 作业被做完了。 (The homework was finished.) 被 often carries an unhappy feeling — 他被批评了 (He was criticized) — so use it carefully for good news; for neutral passives, Chinese often prefers an active sentence or the 把 construction.
Complements: (a) Potential complements — Verb + 得/不 + complement: 听得懂 (tīng de dǒng, can understand by listening), 听不懂 (tīng bu dǒng, cannot understand), 看得见 (can see), 做得完 (can finish). (b) Degree complement — Verb + 得 + adjective: 他跑得很快 (He runs very fast). (c) Result complement — Verb + result: 听懂 (understand by listening), 看完 (finish reading), 学会 (learn successfully), 找到 (find).
| Character | Pinyin | English | Character | Pinyin | English |
|---|
| 把书放在桌子上 | bǎ shū fàng zài zhuōzi shàng | put the book on the table | 被他拿走了 | bèi tā ná zǒu le | was taken by him |
| 听得懂 | tīng de dǒng | can understand (by listening) | 听不懂 | tīng bu dǒng | cannot understand |
| 看得见 | kàn de jiàn | can see | 做得完 | zuò de wán | can finish |
| 跑得很快 | pǎo de hěn kuài | runs very fast | 学会 | xué huì | learn successfully |
| 找到 | zhǎo dào | find | 看完 | kàn wán | finish reading |
Worked example 1: 我把作业做完了，然后把书包放在椅子上。 = "I finished my homework, then put my schoolbag on the chair." Two 把 sentences: each has a definite object + verb + result.
Worked example 2: 他的中文听得懂，但是写不出来。 = "He can understand spoken Chinese, but he cannot write it." Potential complements 听得懂 / 写不出来 (cannot write out) contrast ability.
Worked example 3: 我的手机被弟弟弄坏了。 = "My phone was broken by my younger brother." 被 passive with agent 弟弟 + result 弄坏了.
Try it yourself: complete with the right form: (1) 我把书_____ (看完)。 Answer: 看完了. (2) 他跑_____很快。 Answer: 得. (3) 我的作业_____ (被) 做完了。 Answer: 被. Then write two 把 sentences and one 被 sentence about your day.
Real-world application — "what happened" retelling: Tell a partner what happened to your things today using 被 (我的笔被…) and what you did with them using 把 (我把…放在…). Keep the objects definite and the results clear.
Vocabulary: 把书放在桌子上 (put the book on the table), 被他拿走了 (was taken by him), 听得懂 (can understand by listening), 听不懂 (cannot understand), 看得见 (can see), 做得完 (can finish), 跑得很快 (runs very fast), 学会 (learn successfully), 找到 (find), 看完 (finish reading).
Unit 5: Fluency, Culture & Idioms
Lesson 17: Formal vs. Informal & Reported Speech — 正式和非正式、转述
Registers: Chinese shifts between 口语 (kǒuyǔ, spoken/colloquial) and 书面语 (shūmiànyǔ, written/formal). Colloquial: 你吃饭了吗？ (Have you eaten? — a greeting), 没事儿 (méi shìr, no problem), 挺好的 (tǐng hǎo de, pretty good). Formal: 请问… (May I ask…), 感谢您的帮助。 (Thank you for your help.), 我写信是为了… (I am writing to…). Formal writing uses full forms (没有 not 没), titles (尊敬的…, respected…), and closings (此致，敬礼, with respect).
Reported speech: 他说… (tā shuō…, he said…) shifts perspective. Direct: "我明天去市场。" → Reported: 他说他明天去市场。 (He said he would go to the market tomorrow.) Direct: "我今天要学习。" → 他说他今天要学习。 Time words shift in formal retelling: 今天 → 那天 (that day), 明天 → 第二天 (the next day), 这里 → 那里 (there). Questions: 他问我去不去。 (He asked me whether I am going.) — the A-not-A form stays inside the report.
Polite requests and refusals: soften with 请 (please), 可以吗？ (is that OK?), 麻烦你… (sorry to trouble you…): 麻烦你把窗户关一下，可以吗？ (Could you close the window, please?) Refuse gently: 不好意思，我今天不行。 (Sorry, I can't today.) 谢谢，不过… (Thanks, but…) — a polite no always comes with a reason and thanks.
| Character | Pinyin | English | Character | Pinyin | English |
|---|
| 口语 | kǒuyǔ | spoken language | 书面语 | shūmiànyǔ | written language |
| 请问 | qǐngwèn | May I ask… | 感谢您的帮助 | gǎnxiè nín de bāngzhù | Thank you for your help |
| 他说… | tā shuō… | He said… | 他问我去不去 | tā wèn wǒ qù bu qù | He asked me whether I am going |
| 麻烦你… | máfan nǐ… | Sorry to trouble you… | 不好意思 | bù hǎoyìsi | Sorry / excuse me |
| 此致，敬礼 | cǐzhì, jìnglǐ | With respect (letter closing) | 尊敬的… | zūnjìng de… | Respected… |
Worked example 1: Colloquial: 你吃了吗？— 吃了，你呢？ Formal: 您吃过饭了吗？— 吃过了，谢谢。 Same greeting, different register: 你 → 您, 了 → 过, plus 谢谢.
Worked example 2: Direct: "我明天要考试。" → Reported: 他说他第二天要考试。 明天 → 第二天; pronoun shifts to the reporter's viewpoint.
Worked example 3 — formal letter opening: 尊敬的王老师：您好！我写信是为了问一下中文课的时间。感谢您的帮助。此致，敬礼，小明。 = "Respected Teacher Wang: Hello! I am writing to ask about the time of the Chinese class. Thank you for your help. With respect, Xiao Ming."
Try it yourself: (1) Report: "我明天去市场。" Answer: 他说他第二天去市场。 (2) Soften this request: 把窗户关上。 Answer: 麻烦你把窗户关一下，可以吗？ (3) Write a 4-line formal note asking a teacher a question.
Real-world application — news retelling: Read a short news paragraph, then retell it to a partner using reported speech: 新闻说…，校长说…，科学家说…
Vocabulary: 口语 (kǒuyǔ, spoken language), 书面语 (shūmiànyǔ, written language), 请问 (qǐngwèn, May I ask…), 感谢您的帮助 (Thank you for your help), 他说… (He said…), 他问我去不去 (He asked me whether I am going), 麻烦你… (Sorry to trouble you…), 不好意思 (Sorry / excuse me), 此致，敬礼 (With respect), 尊敬的… (Respected…).
Lesson 18: More Idioms & Proverbs — 更多的成语和谚语
Chengyu (Lesson 11) reward a second round. Study idioms: 熟能生巧 (shú néng shēng qiǎo, practice makes perfect — literally "familiarity gives birth to skill"). 学无止境 (xué wú zhǐjìng, learning has no end). 一举两得 (yì jǔ liǎng dé, kill two birds with one stone — "one move, two gains"). Character idioms: 半途而废 (bàn tú ér fèi, to give up halfway). 坚持不懈 (jiānchí bù xiè, to persist unremittingly). 自言自语 (zì yán zì yǔ, to talk to oneself).
Proverbs (谚语, yànyǔ): 吃一堑，长一智。 (Chī yí qiàn, zhǎng yí zhì, A fall in a pit, a gain in wisdom — learn from mistakes.) 好记性不如烂笔头。 (Hǎo jìxìng bùrú làn bǐtóu, A good memory is worse than a rotten pen — write things down.) 冰冻三尺，非一日之寒。 (Bīng dòng sān chǐ, fēi yí rì zhī hán, Three feet of ice doesn't freeze in one day — great results take time.) 三个臭皮匠，顶个诸葛亮。 (Sān gè chòu píjiàng, dǐng gè Zhūgě Liàng, Three cobblers can beat one Zhuge Liang — teamwork beats genius.)
Using chengyu well: one chengyu in a paragraph is elegant; five in a row sounds comic. Chengyu belong in speech, stories, and essays with a light touch — never forced. When you meet a new chengyu, learn (a) its characters, (b) its story, (c) one example sentence — exactly the pattern in this lesson.
| Character | Pinyin | English | Character | Pinyin | English |
|---|
| 熟能生巧 | shú néng shēng qiǎo | Practice makes perfect | 学无止境 | xué wú zhǐjìng | Learning has no end |
| 一举两得 | yì jǔ liǎng dé | Kill two birds with one stone | 半途而废 | bàn tú ér fèi | Give up halfway |
| 坚持不懈 | jiānchí bù xiè | Persist unremittingly | 自言自语 | zì yán zì yǔ | Talk to oneself |
| 吃一堑，长一智 | chī yí qiàn, zhǎng yí zhì | Learn from mistakes | 好记性不如烂笔头 | hǎo jìxìng bùrú làn bǐtóu | Write things down |
| 冰冻三尺，非一日之寒 | bīng dòng sān chǐ, fēi yí rì zhī hán | Great results take time | 三个臭皮匠… | sān gè chòu píjiàng… | Teamwork beats genius |
Worked example 1: 他每天练习中文，熟能生巧，现在说得很好。 = "He practises Chinese every day; practice makes perfect, and now he speaks very well." The chengyu replaces a whole explanation.
Worked example 2: 不要半途而废，要坚持不懈。 = "Don't give up halfway; persist unremittingly." Two chengyu, opposite meanings, one piece of advice.
Worked example 3: 我上次考试不好，但是吃一堑，长一智，这次我会认真准备。 = "I did badly in the last exam, but learn from mistakes — this time I will prepare carefully."
Try it yourself: match the idiom to its meaning: (1) 熟能生巧 — (a) practice makes perfect. Answer: (a). (2) 半途而废 — (b) to give up halfway. Answer: (b). (3) 一举两得 — (c) kill two birds with one stone. Answer: (c). Then write two sentences using any two idioms.
Real-world application — idiom journal: Watch a Chinese drama episode and write down every chengyu you hear. Next class, explain two of them to a partner in Chinese — first the characters, then the story, then the real meaning.
Vocabulary: 熟能生巧 (shú néng shēng qiǎo, Practice makes perfect), 学无止境 (xué wú zhǐjìng, Learning has no end), 一举两得 (yì jǔ liǎng dé, Kill two birds with one stone), 半途而废 (bàn tú ér fèi, Give up halfway), 坚持不懈 (jiānchí bù xiè, Persist unremittingly), 自言自语 (zì yán zì yǔ, Talk to oneself), 吃一堑，长一智 (Learn from mistakes), 好记性不如烂笔头 (Write things down), 冰冻三尺，非一日之寒 (Great results take time), 三个臭皮匠，顶个诸葛亮 (Teamwork beats genius).
Lesson 19: Conversation — Debate, Interview & Storytelling — 对话：辩论、采访和讲故事
Fluent conversation needs connectors that link ideas: 而且 (érqiě, besides), 但是 (dànshì, however), 另一方面 (lìng yì fāngmiàn, on the other hand), 比如 (bǐrú, for example), 也就是说 (yě jiù shì shuō, that is), 相反 (xiāngfǎn, in contrast), 所以 (suǒyǐ, therefore), 虽然 (suīrán, although), 同时 (tóngshí, while), 因为 (yīnwèi, because), 于是 (yúshì, so). Debates use stance phrases: 在我看来… (In my opinion…), 我相信… (Wǒ xiāngxìn…, I believe…), 我的意思是… (Wǒ de yìsi shì…, What I mean is…), 一方面…另一方面… (Yì fāngmiàn… lìng yì fāngmiàn…, On the one hand… on the other hand…).
Interview language: 你能告诉我们…吗？ (Nǐ néng gàosu wǒmen… ma?, Can you tell us about…?), 你对…有什么看法？ (Nǐ duì… yǒu shénme kànfǎ?, What is your opinion on…?), 当…的时候，你做了什么？ (Dāng… de shíhou, nǐ zuò le shénme?, When … happened, what did you do?), 首先… (Shǒuxiān…, Firstly…), 最后… (Zuìhòu…, Finally…). Storytelling: open with scene-setting (有一天…), narrate events (突然，我听见一个声音…), and close with reflection (从那以后，我总是…). Time words + aspect particles (了, 过, 在) from Lesson 7 are the engine of storytelling.
Repair strategies: when you get stuck, use …用中文怎么说？ (… yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō?, How do you say … in Chinese?), 我的意思是… (I mean…), 请再说一遍。 (Qǐng zài shuō yí biàn, Please say that again.), 我不太懂。 (Wǒ bù tài dǒng, I don't quite understand.), 你能说慢一点儿吗？ (Nǐ néng shuō màn yì diǎnr ma?, Can you speak more slowly?). Fluent speakers repair constantly — asking for help is a skill, not a failure.
| Character | Pinyin | English | Character | Pinyin | English |
|---|
| 而且 | érqiě | besides | 但是 | dànshì | however |
| 另一方面 | lìng yì fāngmiàn | on the other hand | 比如 | bǐrú | for example |
| 在我看来 | zài wǒ kànlái | In my opinion | 你对…有什么看法？ | nǐ duì… yǒu shénme kànfǎ? | What is your opinion on…? |
| …用中文怎么说？ | … yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō? | How do you say … in Chinese? | 我的意思是… | wǒ de yìsi shì… | What I mean is… |
| 突然 | tūrán | suddenly | 从那以后 | cóng nà yǐhòu | since then |
Worked example 1 — debate: 在我看来，学校校服是个好主意，因为没有比较。但是，另一方面，校服限制自由。所以，我觉得校服应该是自愿的。 = "In my opinion, school uniforms are a good idea because there is no comparison. However, on the other hand, uniforms limit freedom. Therefore, I think uniforms should be optional."
Worked example 2 — storytelling: 有一天下午，我在回家的路上走。突然，我看见一只迷路的狗。我把它带到医生那儿，从那以后，它是我最好的朋友。 = "One afternoon I was walking home. Suddenly I saw a lost dog. I took it to the doctor, and since then it has been my best friend." Time words set the scene; events move the story.
Worked example 3 — interview: 你对中文音乐有什么看法？— 首先，我很喜欢。而且，它帮助我学习词语。最后，我推荐每天听一首歌。
Try it yourself: tell a 6-sentence story about a surprise, using 有一天…, 在…的时候，突然…，从那以后…. Answers: a good story uses time words for background, events for the surprise, and a closing reflection.
Real-world application — mock interview: In pairs, interview each other about a hobby: ask three questions (你什么时候开始的？你为什么喜欢？你有什么建议？), answer with connectors, and end with 最后…. Record it and listen back for connector use.
Vocabulary: 而且 (érqiě, besides), 但是 (dànshì, however), 另一方面 (lìng yì fāngmiàn, on the other hand), 比如 (bǐrú, for example), 在我看来 (zài wǒ kànlái, In my opinion), 你对…有什么看法？ (What is your opinion on…?), …用中文怎么说？ (How do you say … in Chinese?), 我的意思是… (What I mean is…), 突然 (tūrán, suddenly), 从那以后 (cóng nà yǐhòu, since then).
Lesson 20: Literature & Capstone — Li Bai, Du Fu & Your Essay — 文学和期末作文
Reading — Li Bai (701–762): the "Immortal Poet" (诗仙, shīxiān) of the Tang dynasty. His 静夜思 (Jìng Yè Sī, Quiet Night Thoughts) is the most memorized poem in China — twenty characters every schoolchild knows: "床前明月光，疑是地上霜。举头望明月，低头思故乡。" (Chuáng qián míng yuè guāng, yí shì dì shang shuāng. Jǔ tóu wàng míng yuè, dī tóu sī gùxiāng.) — "Before my bed, the bright moonlight; I suspect it is frost on the ground. I lift my head to gaze at the bright moon; I lower it, thinking of home." Four lines, five characters each, one feeling: homesickness.
Reading — Du Fu (712–770): the "Sage Poet" (诗圣, shīshèng), whose poems record war, poverty, and compassion. Where Li Bai is wine and moonlight, Du Fu is duty and grief — and together they define Tang poetry. Both poets use the simplest words: 床, 月, 光, 霜, 头, 故乡 — bed, moon, light, frost, head, hometown. Great Chinese writing, like great Hindi writing, uses simple words for big feelings.
Capstone essay: write a 250-word essay in Chinese on "为什么学习其他语言很重要？" (Why is it important to learn other languages?). Structure: introduction (首先…), two body paragraphs (one with a personal example using 了/过, one with a hypothetical using 如果…就), and a conclusion (最后…). Use at least: one 把 sentence, one 被 sentence, three connectors, and two chengyu from Lesson 18. Exchange essays with a partner and give feedback with 我觉得… and 我同意….
| Character | Pinyin | English | Character | Pinyin | English |
|---|
| 诗歌 | shīgē | poetry, poem | 诗人 | shīrén | poet |
| 诗句 | shījù | verse, line of poetry | 作文 | zuòwén | essay, composition |
| 作者 | zuòzhě | author | 作品 | zuòpǐn | work (of literature) |
| 故事 | gùshi | story | 奖 | jiǎng | award, prize |
| 最后 | zuìhòu | in conclusion, finally | 教育 | jiàoyù | education |
Worked example 1: Li Bai: "举头望明月，低头思故乡。" = "I lift my head to gaze at the bright moon; I lower it, thinking of home." Two verbs — 举 (lift) and 低 (lower) — carry the whole poem's movement.
Worked example 2: Du Fu's poems use the same plain words as Li Bai's, but for a different feeling: where Li Bai writes of wine and moonlight, Du Fu writes of war and the suffering of ordinary people.
Worked example 3 — essay sentence: 如果大家都学习另一种语言，他们会更好地了解其他文化，所以世界会更和平。 = "If everyone learned another language, they would understand other cultures better and therefore the world would be more peaceful." Hypothetical 如果…就 + connectors in an essay frame.
Try it yourself: (1) Translate: "If everyone learned another language, they would understand other cultures better." Answer: 如果大家都学习另一种语言，他们会更好地了解其他文化。 (2) Write the introduction (3 sentences) of your capstone essay using 首先 and one 把 sentence.
Real-world application — poetry recital: Memorize Li Bai's 静夜思 (four lines), recite it aloud with feeling, and explain in Chinese (4–5 sentences) what it means to you. This is your graduation performance for the course.
Vocabulary: 诗歌 (shīgē, poetry/poem), 诗人 (shīrén, poet), 诗句 (shījù, verse/line of poetry), 作文 (zuòwén, essay/composition), 作者 (zuòzhě, author), 作品 (zuòpǐn, work of literature), 故事 (gùshi, story), 奖 (jiǎng, award/prize), 最后 (zuìhòu, in conclusion), 教育 (jiàoyù, education).