Watch with purpose

The most important advice: Watch with focus. Don’t turn on the TV only to start texting or TikTokking. If the TV show becomes background noise, you won’t learn. Sit down and watch with as few distractions as possible. It’s far better to actively watch for fifteen minutes than passively for an hour. This is made much easier if you…

Find a show you enjoy watching

If you enjoy a show, you’ll learn much more as your attention won’t wander as easily. Whether you like reality shows, historical dramas, or crime thrillers, there are plenty of shows for you to try. Here’s a list of Chinese TV shows you might enjoy. Don’t force yourself to watch something you find boring. You might still learn, but over time you will come to resent watching and look for other things to do instead.

Take notes and imitate

When you come across a word, phrase, or sentence that you find useful or interesting, pause the show, repeat it out loud, and try to imitate the pronunciation and intonation. This is where passive learning becomes active learning. Take the time to focus and listen to tricky sentences several times. You might take an hour to watch a twenty minute show, but it will be a quality hour of learning. Additionally,  jot down any new vocabulary or phrases. Review them later and incorporate them into your language learning routine, such as through flashcards (Anki is my favourite) or dedicated practice sessions. 

Start with subtitles

Begin by watching the TV show with subtitles in your native language. This will help you understand the storyline and context. Once context is established and as you become more comfortable, switch the subtitles to Chinese. This should be easy as almost all Chinese TV shows are subtitled to allow people from all regions of China to understand speakers who might talk with an unfamiliar Chinese accent or dialect. 

Repeat episodes

Revisit episodes you’ve already watched to reinforce what you’ve learned. Repetition is crucial for language learning, and by rewatching episodes, you’ll notice improvements in comprehension and pick up on details you missed previously. If you enjoyed a series or even a particular epsiode, note it down and watch it again after a few months. If you’ve been watching other shows and actively learning inbetween viewings, you’ll be amazed at how much more you can understand on the second watching.

Do not solely rely on TV

Remember that while TV shows can be a valuable tool, they should be combined with other language learning activities to develop a well-rounded skill set. Regular practice, consistency, and exposure to the language in various contexts will be much more beneficial than only watching TV. Don’t neglect other forms of media either such as podcasts, music or books. 

Thanks for reading!

By following the tips and techniques above, you can make the most of your TV viewing time and transform it into a powerful language learning opportunity. As each episode goes by, you’ll notice your Chinese language skills improving, bringing you one step closer to your goal of fluency. We wish you happy studying!

The post How to catapult your fluency by watching Chinese TV appeared first on HSKReading.com.

Want to go to the zoo to see pandas? Learn how to invite people to go with you. Happy studying!

我们一起去动物园吧

小明: 小红，我们一起去动物园吧！

小红: 好主意！我喜欢动物。什么时候去？

小明: 明天早上你有空吗？

小红: 当然有空！我很期待看到大熊猫。

小明: 我也想看大熊猫！我们明天早上九点见面，好吗？

小红: 好的，九点在动物园门口见面。

问题

小明和小红明天打算去哪里？

a) 公园

b) 动物园

c) 超市

d) 学校

小红最期待在动物园看到什么动物？

a) 小狗

b) 大熊猫

c) 小鸟

d) 小猫

Important words

A few words from the above Mandarin passage with further examples of their use.

主意

好主意！ – Good idea!

我们可以一起做晚饭，好主意吧！ – We can cook dinner together, what a good idea!

喜欢

我喜欢吃水果。 – I like to eat fruit.

他喜欢看电影。 – He likes to watch movies.

她喜欢唱歌和跳舞。 – She likes singing and dancing.

明天

明天我要去买东西。 – Tomorrow I’m going to go shopping.

你明天有空吗？我们可以一起出去玩。 – Are you free tomorrow? We can go outside together.

明天天气会很热。 – Tomorrow will be hot, remember to bring sunscreen.

The post Let’s go to the zoo appeared first on HSKReading.com.

A longer dialogue about eating healthy food.

健康饮食的小对话

小明: 小红，你知道吗？最近我开始注重健康饮食了。

小红: 真的吗？那你都吃些什么？

小明: 我尽量多吃蔬菜水果，还有一些健康的蛋白质，比如鱼和鸡肉。

小红: 听起来很不错啊！我也想吃得更健康，但不知道从哪里开始。

小明: 没关系，我们可以一起制定一个健康饮食计划。你可以从减少糖分和油脂开始，增加蔬菜和全谷类食品的摄入。

小红: 那听起来很有挑战性，但我愿意尝试。你有什么好的食谱推荐吗？

小明: 我可以分享一些简单又健康的食谱给你，比如水煮蔬菜和烤鸡胸肉。我们还可以一起去市场购买新鲜的食材。

小红: 太好了！我期待我们一起迈向更健康的生活方式。

问题

1 – 在对话中，以下哪个选项没有被提到作为健康饮食计划的一部分？

a) 蔬菜和水果

b) 鱼和鸡肉

c) 含糖的零食

d) 全谷类食物

2 – 小明建议从哪一点开始吃得更健康？

a) 多吃糖和油脂

b) 增加蔬菜摄入

c) 避免全谷类食物

d) 吃加工零食

The post I’ve started eating healthy food appeared first on HSKReading.com.

Learn how to ask if someone has time, or if someone is busy. Great for making plans.

你有空吗？

小明：小红，你最近忙不忙？

 小红：和平时一样，不怎么忙，怎么了？

 小明：我最近开始喜欢打乒乓球，想找你一起打。

 小红：周六下午我有空，但还不会打乒乓球。

 小明：没关系，我可以教你。

问题

1 – 小明最近喜欢干什么？

a. 写书法

b. 打篮球

c. 画画

d. 打乒乓

2 – 小红什么时候有空？

a. 周六早上

b. 周六晚上

c. 周六下午

d. 周六中午

Important words

A few words from the above Mandarin passage with further examples of their use.

最近 

最近我开始学习法语。 – Recently, I started learning French.

最近的天气非常炎热。 – The weather has been extremely hot recently.

我最近买了一本有趣的书。– I recently bought an interesting book.

开始 

我刚刚开始学习吉他。 – I just started learning to play the guitar.

他们开始准备晚餐了。 – They started preparing dinner.

一起 

我们一起去公园散步吧！– Let’s go for a walk in the park together!

我们一起准备晚餐。 – Let’s prepare dinner together.

我们一起看电影吗？– Shall we watch a movie together?

The post Do you have time to play? appeared first on HSKReading.com.

Poor Xiaoming is late to work, but why?

你怎么迟到了？

老板：小明，你今天怎么迟到了半个小时？

小明：老板，对不起，今天雨下得太大，堵车了。

老板：下雨的时候要早点出门，知道了吗？下次不要再这样了。

小明：好的老板，我知道了。

问题

1 – 小明迟到了多久？

a. 二十分钟

b. 三十分钟

c. 二十五分钟

d. 三十五分钟

2 – 今天为什么堵车了？

a. 不知道

b. 红绿灯坏了

c. 下雨

d. 车坏了

Important words

A few words from the above Mandarin passage with further examples of their use.

迟到

你为什么迟到了？– Why were you late?

对不起，我迟到了，因为路上有点堵车。- Sorry, I was late because there was some traffic on the road.

下次我会早点出门，不会再迟到了。– Next time, I will leave earlier and won’t be late again.

堵车

今天下雨了，所以路上堵车了。– There was a traffic jam on the road today because it rained.

堵车的时候要耐心等待。– You need to be patient when there’s a traffic jam.

The post Why are you late? appeared first on HSKReading.com.

This Mandarin dialogue contains key sentence structures you’ll repeatedly hear  in Chinese conversations.

Remember to review articles often. It’s the secret to becoming fluent!

你爸爸是干什么的？

小明：我爸爸昨天才回到家，他从新加坡给我带了礼物。

小红：为什么你爸爸前几天不在家？

小明：因为他出差了。

小红：你爸爸是干什么的？

小明：他是一个公司的经理，经常不在家。

问题

1 – 小明的爸爸什么时候回到家的？

a. 前天

b. 前两天

c. 昨天

d. 今天

2 – 小明的爸爸是干什么的？

a. 厨师

b. 老师

c. 司机

d. 经理

Important words

A couple of words from the above Mandarin passage with further examples of their use.

出差

你知道我爸爸去哪里出差了吗？– Do you know where my dad went on a business trip?

我爸爸出差去了另一个城市。– My dad went on a business trip to another city.

经理  

我爸爸是一家公司的经理。– My dad is a manager in a company

你认为当经理是一份好工作吗？– Do you think being a manager is a good job?

The post What does your father do? appeared first on HSKReading.com.

This Chinese dialogue has lots of useful sentences to be learnt! It’s a fairly informal conversation.

你妈妈在哪里工作？

小明：小红，你妈妈做菜可真好吃。

小红：是啊，我妈妈是厨师。

小明：真的吗？你妈妈在哪里工作？

小红：她在一个西餐厅工作，她做的牛排特别好吃。

小明：那个西餐厅在哪？我想和女朋友一起去吃。

小红：就在市中心。

问题

1 – 她的妈妈在哪里工作？

a. 学校

b. 医院

c. 中餐厅

d. 西餐厅

2 – 她的妈妈做什么特别好吃？

a. 猪肉

b. 鸡肉

c. 牛排

d. 意面

The post What does your mother do? appeared first on HSKReading.com.

能打折吗？

小明：老板，买单。

经理：好的，您一共消费了300元。

小明：老板，我经常来这里吃饭，您看能不能便宜一点儿？打个折。

经理：那行，就给你打个九折，270元吧。以后常来。

小明：好的，谢谢老板，您的店可以用支付宝吗？

经理：支付宝、微信、现金都可以。

问题

1 – 打了几折？

a. 八

b. 九

c. 六

d. 七

2 – 小明想用什么来买单？

a. 支付宝

b. 微信

c. 刷卡

d. 现金

The post Can you give me a discount? appeared first on HSKReading.com.

回家一个月

妈妈：你每天都在家干什么？也不出去跟朋友玩。

我：不是您让我在家陪你们的吗？

妈妈：那你也不能每天都在家啊！你要和别人沟通，交流。每天在家就知道玩游戏。

我：我知道了。

妈妈：你知道你为什么会感冒吗？就是因为在家玩手机玩太多了。现在就去跑步吧。

我：那好吧。

问题

1 – 妈妈说我在家只会干什么？

a. 睡觉

b. 打游戏

c. 做家务

d. 和她吵架

2 – 妈妈觉得我为什么会感冒？

a. 不运动

b. 天气冷

c. 玩手机

d. 打游戏

The post Home for a month appeared first on HSKReading.com.

回家一星期

妈妈：八点钟了，该起床吃早餐了！

我：妈妈，才八点，还很早，我再睡一会儿。

妈妈：已经不早了，吃完早餐再睡吧。

我：好的。

吃完早餐后

妈妈：你的房间太脏了，该扫地了，不要睡了。每天都出去跟朋友玩，也不在家陪陪我们。

我：那好吧。

问题

1 – 妈妈早上几点叫我起床？

a. 五点

b. 八点

c. 七点

d. 九点

2 – 妈妈说我什么时候可以再睡觉？

a. 吃早餐前

b. 不可以

c. 洗澡后

d. 吃早餐后

The post Home for a week appeared first on HSKReading.com.