HSC Chinese Extension key terms

A text's central idea or message, the point the author most wants readers to take away after finishing it.

The broader topic or recurring concern a text explores, such as family obligation or rural migration, rather than its single controlling claim.

A position a writer or speaker argues for and defends with evidence, often stated near the start of an expository or persuasive piece.

The evidence, examples, statistics or testimony used to support a claim and persuade a reader to accept it.

The reasoning process that links evidence to a claim, showing why the support offered should convince a reader.

A concrete object, place or action used to stand for a larger abstract idea, such as a river representing continuity across generations.

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses and creates a picture, often repeated to build mood or meaning.

Deliberate choices of language, such as metaphor, repetition or rhetorical questions, made to shape how an audience responds.

The attitude a writer or speaker conveys through word choice and sentence structure, for example ironic, nostalgic or urgent.

The techniques an author uses to build a character, including description, dialogue, action and what other characters say about them.

The standpoint from which a story is told, such as first person, third-person limited or omniscient, which shapes what readers can know.

The arrangement of a text's parts, including its opening, development, turning point and resolution, and how these parts connect.

An early hint or detail planted in a text that prepares readers for a later development, making the outcome feel earned.

The surrounding circumstances of a text or utterance, including historical setting, audience and situation, which affect how meaning is made.

The shared history, values and customs a text assumes its audience knows, which shape how its references and behaviour are understood.

The beliefs a text or culture treats as important, such as respect for elders, harmony or individual ambition, often revealed through conflict.

An oversimplified generalisation about a group of people that ignores individual variation and can distort cross-cultural interpretation.

The level of formality in language chosen for a particular situation, ranging from casual conversation to formal written prose.

The formal, written register of Chinese, marked by fuller sentence structures and vocabulary that differs from everyday speech.

A fixed four-character Chinese expression with a settled meaning, often allusive, used to compress an idea and add elegance.

A traditional saying that expresses common wisdom or folk experience, frequently quoted to support an argument or set a tone.

A text type that states a position and defends it with reasons and evidence, aiming to persuade rather than merely inform.

A text type that explains how something works or what something is, organised logically and usually neutral in tone.

A text type that recounts events, often in time order, with characters, setting and a narrator's point of view.

A written message addressed to a named recipient, with conventions such as salutation, body and closing that vary by relationship and purpose.

A spoken text written for delivery to an audience, using direct address, repetition and rhetorical questions to hold attention.

To state the main points of a text briefly and in your own words, leaving out supporting detail while keeping the sense intact.

To reach a conclusion not stated directly by drawing on clues in the text and on background knowledge.

A word or phrase central to a passage's meaning, often repeated, which readers identify to locate the main idea quickly.

Brief notes taken while listening, recording key points, names and figures so they can be used to answer questions afterwards.

The meaning a speaker intends beyond the literal words, such as a hint, complaint or refusal conveyed indirectly.

The romanised spelling system for Mandarin, using letters and tone marks to represent pronunciation.

The pitch pattern of a Mandarin syllable, which distinguishes meaning between otherwise identical sounds.

A regional variety of Chinese that differs from standard Mandarin in pronunciation and vocabulary, often carrying local identity.

The simplified character forms used in mainland China and Singapore, created by reducing strokes of traditional characters.

Communication between people from different cultural backgrounds, requiring awareness of differing norms, expectations and interpretations.

Critical thinking about your own assumptions and responses, including how your cultural position shapes your reading of a text.