HSC Chinese Extension flashcards

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

比喻

A rhetorical device meaning metaphor or simile, used to compare two things for vivid effect; in text analysis, identify the tenor and vehicle and explain the comparison's purpose.

拟人

Personification, attributing human qualities to non-human entities; in literary analysis, explain how it creates empathy or highlights a theme.

排比

Parallelism, the repetition of similar grammatical structures in successive phrases; it creates rhythm and emphasis and is common in persuasive Chinese speeches.

主题

Theme, the central idea or message of a text; a strong theme statement is an arguable claim about the text's meaning, not a single topic word.

人物塑造

Characterisation, the techniques an author uses to develop characters, including direct description, dialogue, actions, and relationships with others.

叙事视角

Narrative point of view, the perspective from which a story is told (first person, third person limited, omniscient); it shapes what the reader knows and how they judge events.

正式语体

Formal register, used in official letters, essays, and reports; it features honorifics like 您, complete sentence structures, and avoidance of colloquialisms.

书信格式

Letter format in Chinese: date, salutation (e.g., 亲爱的…/尊敬的…), body paragraphs, closing (e.g., 此致 敬礼), and signature; informal letters may omit some elements.

连接词

Connectives such as 首先, 其次, 然而, 因此, and 总之; they create cohesion and guide the reader through the argument's structure.

把字句

The 把 construction, which places the object before the verb to emphasise how it is handled or affected, e.g., 我把作业做完了 (I finished the homework).

被字句

The passive construction with 被, indicating that the subject is affected by an action, e.g., 他被老师批评了 (He was criticised by the teacher).

成语

A four-character Chinese idiom with metaphorical meaning, such as 一举两得 (kill two birds with one stone); appropriate use demonstrates advanced vocabulary and cultural knowledge.

议论文结构

Argumentative essay structure: introduction with thesis, body paragraphs with claims and evidence, counter-argument refutation, and conclusion; connectives signal each stage.

略读

Skimming, a reading strategy for quickly identifying the gist, main idea, and text type by focusing on titles, topic sentences, and repeated keywords.

扫读

Scanning, a reading strategy for locating specific information such as names, dates, or numbers by moving the eyes quickly over the text.

推断

Inference, drawing a conclusion not explicitly stated by using textual clues such as tone words, context, and implied cause and effect.

文本类型

Text type, the category of a text (e.g., letter, news report, advertisement, instruction) recognised by its layout, register, and characteristic language features.

作者意图

Author's purpose, the reason a text was written (to inform, persuade, entertain, warn); identified through content, register, and audience addressed.

主旨

Main idea, the central point of a passage; a correct main-idea answer covers the whole text rather than a single supporting detail.

听力笔记

Listening note-taking, using abbreviations, symbols, and keywords to record key information while audio plays, rather than writing full sentences.

话语标记

Discourse markers such as 首先, 另外, 不过, and 总的来说; they signal the structure of spoken text and help listeners locate main points.

声调

Tone, the pitch contour that distinguishes meaning in Chinese; there are four main tones plus a neutral tone, and tone sandhi occurs in context.

量词

Measure word, required between a number or demonstrative and a noun, e.g., 一本书 (one book), 一辆车 (one car); each noun selects an appropriate measure word.

了

Aspect particle marking a completed action or a change of state, e.g., 我吃了饭 (I have eaten); it is not a tense marker like English past tense.

过

Aspect particle indicating that an action has been experienced at least once, e.g., 我去过中国 (I have been to China).

春节

Spring Festival, the most important Chinese festival, celebrated with family reunions, red envelopes, fireworks, and special foods such as dumplings and fish.

孝

Filial piety, the Confucian value of respect and care for parents and ancestors; it underpins many Chinese family and social expectations.

面子

Face, a cultural concept involving social reputation and dignity; giving face (给面子) and saving face influence communication and conflict avoidance.

关系

Guanxi, the network of social connections and reciprocal obligations that facilitates cooperation and trust in Chinese society.

跨文化意识

Intercultural awareness, the ability to recognise and compare cultural assumptions, including one's own, without judging one culture as superior to another.

刻板印象

Stereotype, an overgeneralised belief about a group; critical reflection requires avoiding phrases like 所有中国人 and recognising diversity within cultures.

反思性写作

Reflective writing, which combines personal experience, analysis of that experience, and a conclusion about changed understanding or learning.