LC Mandarin Chinese key terms

The pitch pattern of a Mandarin syllable; Mandarin has four main tones plus a neutral tone. Tone changes meaning entirely, so learners must memorize each syllable's tone with the word.

The official romanization system for Standard Mandarin, using Latin letters plus tone marks to represent pronunciation. It is the standard tool for learning sounds, typing Chinese, and looking up dictionary entries.

A regular change in a syllable's tone caused by the tone of a neighboring syllable, such as two third tones in a row where the first becomes second tone. Recognizing it prevents mishearing common phrases.

A northern Mandarin feature in which a syllable is pronounced with an r-coloured ending, often marked by 儿 in writing. It can change meaning or add a familiar, diminutive tone, and appears often in fast speech.

Words that sound the same but have different meanings and often different characters, such as 是 and 事. Listening questions often test whether you can pick the right meaning from context.

The surrounding words and situation that determine the intended meaning of an expression. In reading, context helps you guess unfamiliar words and choose between possible interpretations of a sentence.

How fast a speaker talks. Exam audio may speed up or include natural fillers, so practice with recordings at different speeds and learn to catch key words even when some sounds blur.

The important words in a spoken passage that carry the main information, such as names, numbers, places, and verbs. Identifying them while listening helps you answer questions without understanding every single word.

A fast reading technique for locating specific information, such as a date, name, or number, without reading every word. Move your eyes quickly over the text looking for the target form.

Reading quickly to get the general idea of a passage rather than every detail. Look at titles, first sentences, and repeated words to predict what the text is mainly about.

The central point or overall message of a text. Main-idea questions ask what the passage is mostly about, so avoid answers that mention only a small detail.

A conclusion you draw from evidence in the text rather than from a direct statement. Inference questions ask what the writer suggests, implies, or would probably agree with.

A Chinese character with more than one pronunciation, each linked to a different meaning, such as 行 (xíng/háng). Readers must use the word's context to choose the correct reading.

A component of a Chinese character that often hints at meaning or sound, such as 氵 for water or 木 for wood. Recognizing components helps you guess the meaning of unfamiliar characters.

A word required between a number or demonstrative and a noun, such as 个, 本, or 张. Mandarin uses different measure words for different categories of objects, and choosing the wrong one is a common error.

A particle with two main uses: after a verb to mark a completed action, and at the end of a sentence to show a change of state. Its position and context determine the meaning.

An aspect particle placed after a verb to show that an experience has happened at least once in the past, as in 我去过中国. It is not used for a single completed event.

An aspect particle after a verb showing that an action or state continues, as in 门开着 or 他笑着说. It often describes a background condition rather than a completed action.

A sentence pattern in which 把 moves the object before the verb to show how something is handled or affected, as in 我把书放在桌子上. The verb must be followed by a result or complement.

A passive sentence pattern using 被 before the agent, as in 杯子被弟弟打破了. It often carries a sense of something unfortunate or unexpected happening to the subject.

A word placed after a verb to show the result of the action, such as 完, 好, 到, or 见. For example, 看见 means to succeed in seeing, not just to look.

A complement showing the direction of an action, such as 来, 去, 上, 下, 进, 出. Combined with verbs, they form expressions like 走进来 or 拿出来.

A two-character verb whose parts can be separated by other words, such as 见面 becoming 见他的面 or 睡觉 becoming 睡了一觉. You cannot simply add an object after the whole verb.

A fixed four-character expression with a set meaning, often drawn from classical stories. 成语 are common in written Chinese and formal speech, and their meaning cannot usually be guessed from the characters alone.

The formal style of Chinese used in writing and formal speeches, in contrast to everyday spoken language. It uses fuller structures, classical expressions, and vocabulary that rarely appears in casual conversation.

Polite language used to show respect, such as 您 for 'you', 请 for 'please', and respectful titles like 王老师. Choosing appropriate honorifics is important in formal and first-meeting situations.

The words used to address people, such as 先生, 女士, 老师, or 阿姨. Chinese address terms reflect age, relationship, and status, and using the wrong one can sound rude.

A cultural concept referring to a person's social reputation and dignity in the eyes of others. Giving someone face means showing respect and avoiding public embarrassment, which shapes many communication choices.

The personal connections and networks that shape social and business life in Chinese culture. Maintaining good 关系 involves reciprocity, favours, and long-term trust rather than a single transaction.

The most important traditional Chinese festival, marking the lunar new year. Families gather for reunion dinners, set off fireworks, give red envelopes, and exchange greetings such as 新年快乐.

A red paper envelope containing money, given at festivals, weddings, and special occasions as a blessing. During Spring Festival, adults traditionally give them to children and younger relatives.

Dumplings made of a thin dough wrapper around a meat or vegetable filling, boiled or fried. They are traditionally eaten in northern China at Spring Festival and other family gatherings.

The twelve-animal cycle used in the Chinese lunar calendar, with each year linked to an animal such as rat, ox, or tiger. People often ask which animal sign corresponds to someone's birth year.

Cultural beliefs about lucky and unlucky numbers. Four (四) sounds like 'death' and is often avoided, while eight (八) sounds like 'prosper' and is considered lucky, influencing phone numbers and prices.

A piece of writing produced for an exam or class, usually organized around a clear topic with an introduction, body, and conclusion. Chinese exams often set a title and a minimum character count.

A short plan listing the main points of a piece of writing in order. Making one before you write helps keep the essay organized and prevents you from drifting off topic.

The number of Chinese characters in a piece of writing. Exam tasks often require a minimum or maximum count, and going far outside the range can lose marks.

The marks used to separate sentences and show tone, such as 。，、？！ and “”. Chinese punctuation differs from English in shape and spacing, and correct use affects clarity and marks.

A group of sentences about one main point, usually starting on a new line with an indent. Clear paragraphing helps the reader follow your argument and is expected in exam essays.

A sentence that states the main point of a paragraph, often placed at the beginning. It guides the reader and helps you check that every other sentence supports the same idea.