HSC Chinese Continuers (NSW) flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

孝顺

Filial piety; the Confucian virtue of respecting and caring for parents and elders, often shown through obedience, financial support, and attention to their needs.

独生子女

Only child, referring to children born under China’s former one-child policy; often associated with high parental expectations and the 'little emperor' phenomenon.

面子

Face or social prestige; the importance of maintaining dignity and reputation in social interactions, which can lead to indirect communication and avoidance of direct refusal.

压力

Pressure or stress, commonly related to study, work, or family expectations; in texts, it is often linked to health and the need for balance.

春节

Spring Festival or Chinese New Year; the most important traditional festival, involving family reunions, red envelopes (红包), fireworks, and special foods.

中秋节

Mid-Autumn Festival; a harvest festival celebrated with mooncakes, family gatherings, and moon viewing, symbolising reunion and gratitude.

唐人街

Chinatown; an ethnic enclave in a non-Chinese city where Chinese immigrants and their descendants maintain cultural traditions, businesses, and community organisations.

方言

Regional dialect or topolect; a variety of Chinese spoken in a specific area, such as Cantonese or Hokkien, which may differ significantly from Standard Mandarin.

高考

National College Entrance Examination in mainland China; a high-stakes exam that strongly influences university admission and is often a source of intense pressure.

尊老爱幼

Respect the elderly and care for the young; a traditional value emphasising intergenerational harmony and social responsibility within Chinese communities.

可持续发展

Sustainable development; economic and social progress that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

人工智能

Artificial intelligence; the simulation of human intelligence by machines, often discussed in texts about technological change, employment, and ethics.

城市化

Urbanisation; the population shift from rural to urban areas, associated with infrastructure development, changing lifestyles, and challenges such as housing and congestion.

人口老龄化

Population ageing; the increasing proportion of elderly people in a society, leading to concerns about healthcare, pensions, and the workforce.

移动支付

Mobile payment; the use of smartphones to pay for goods and services, widely adopted in China through apps such as Alipay and WeChat Pay.

文化融合

Cultural integration or blending; the process by which different cultural elements combine, often discussed in the context of globalisation and migration.

因此

Therefore; a conjunction used to introduce a result or consequence, often appearing in listening and reading passages to signal cause-effect relationships.

不过

However; but; a contrastive discourse marker that often introduces a qualification or unexpected turn in spoken Chinese.

留言

A message or note left for someone; a common text type in listening tasks, often involving informal language and specific details such as time and place.

通知

Notice or announcement; a formal text type giving information about events, changes, or instructions, typically including who, what, when, and where.

首先

Firstly; a sequencing word used to introduce the first point in a list or argument, helping listeners and readers follow structure.

启事

Notice or announcement, often in a public setting, such as a lost-and-found or recruitment notice; it usually states the purpose and contact details.

总之

In summary; in short; a concluding connective that signals the writer is about to summarise the main point.

显然

Obviously; clearly; an evaluative adverb that indicates the writer’s stance and often introduces an inference or opinion rather than a neutral fact.

值得

Worth; deserving; an evaluative verb used to express opinion about value or merit, e.g., 值得考虑 (worth considering).

另一方面

On the other hand; a cohesive device used to introduce a contrasting or complementary point in an argument.

称呼

Form of address; the salutation used at the beginning of a letter or speech, chosen according to the relationship and level of formality.

祝语

Closing wishes; the polite formula at the end of a letter, such as 祝好 or 此致敬礼, appropriate to the recipient and context.

把字句

The 把 construction; a sentence pattern where 把 precedes the object to emphasise how it is affected by the action, e.g., 我把作业做完了.

被字句

The 被 construction; a passive sentence pattern indicating that the subject is affected by an action, often with a negative or unexpected outcome.

不但…而且…

Not only… but also…; a paired conjunction used to add emphasis and link two related ideas, often in argumentative or descriptive writing.

日记

Diary; a personal text type that typically includes the date, weather, and personal reflections, written in an informal and reflective tone.