how to improve chinese essay writing

Improve Chinese Essay Writing- A Complete How to Guide

• Last updated: June 6, 2019
• Learn Chinese

Writing can reflect a writer’s power of thought and language organization skills. It is critical to master Chinese writing  if you want to take your Chinese to the next level. How to write good Chinese essays? The following six steps will improve Chinese essay writing:

Before You Learn to Improve Chinese Essay Writing

Before you can write a good essay in Chinese, you must first be accustomed with Chinese characters. Unlike English letters, Chinese characters are hieroglyphs, and the individual strokes are different from each other. It is important to be comfortable with writing Chinese characters in order to write essays well in Chinese. Make sure to use Chinese essay writing format properly. After that, you will be ready to improve Chinese essay writing.

Increase Your Chinese Words Vocabulary

With approximately 100,000 words in the Chinese language, you will need to learn several thousand words just to know the most common words used. It is essential to learn as many Chinese words as possible if you wish to be a good writer. How can you enlarge your vocabulary? Try to accumulate words by reading daily and monthly. Memory is also very necessary for expanding vocabulary. We should form a good habit of exercising and reciting as more as we can so that to enlarge vocabulary. Remember to use what you have learned when you write in Chinese so that you will continually be progressing in your language-learning efforts.

Acquire Grammar,Sentence Patterns and Function Words

In order to hone your Chinese writing skills , you must learn the grammar and sentence patterns. Grammar involves words, phrases, and the structure of the sentences you form. There are two different categories of Chinese words: functional and lexical. Chinese phrases can be categorized as subject-predicate phrases (SP), verb-object phrases (VO), and co-ordinate phrases (CO). Regarding sentence structure, each Chinese sentence includes predicate, object, subject, and adverbial attributes. In addition, function words play an important role in Chinese semantic understanding, so try to master the Chinese conjunction, such as conjunction、Adverbs、Preposition as much as you can. If you wish to become proficient at writing in Chinese, you must study all of the aspects of grammar mentioned in this section.

Keep a Diary Regularly to Note Down Chinese Words,Chinese Letters

Another thing that will aid you in becoming a better writer is keeping a journal in Chinese. Even if you are not interested in expanding your writing skills, you will find that it is beneficial for many day-to-day tasks, such as completing work reports or composing an email. Journaling on a regular basis will help you form the habit of writing, which will make it feel less like a chore. You may enjoy expressing yourself in various ways by writing; for instance, you might write poetry in your journal. On a more practical side of things, you might prefer to simply use your journal as a way to purposely build your vocabulary .

Persistence in Reading Everyday

In addition to expanding your view of the world and yourself, reading can help you improve your writing. Reading allows you to learn by example; if you read Chinese daily, you will find that it is easier to write in Chinese because you have a greater scope of what you can do with the vocabulary that you’ve learned. Choose one favorite Chinese reading , Read it for an hour or 2,000 words or so in length each day.

Whenever you come across words or phrases in your reading that you don’t understand, take the time to check them in your dictionary and solidify your understanding of them. In your notebook, write the new word or phrase and create an example sentence using that new addition to your vocabulary. If you are unsure how to use it in a sentence, you can simply copy the sample sentence in your dictionary.

Reviewing the new vocabulary word is a good way to improve your memory of it; do this often to become familiar with these new words. The content of reading can be very broad. It can be from novels, or newspapers, and it can be about subjects like economics or psychology. Remember you should read about things you are interested in. After a certain period of accumulation by reading, you will greatly improve your Chinese writing.

Do Essay Writing Exercise on a Variety of Subjects

As the saying goes, “practice makes perfect.” In order to improve your China Essay Writing , you should engage in a variety of writing exercises. For beginners, you should start with basic topics such as your favorite hobby, future plans, favorite vacation spot, or any other topic that you can write about without difficulty.

For example :《我的一天》( Wǒ de yì tiān, my whole day’s life  ),《我喜欢的食物》( Wǒ xǐhuan de shíwù, my favorite food  ),《一次难忘的旅行》( yí cì nánwàng de lǚxíng, an unforgettable trip  ) etc.

Generally the writing topics can be classified into these categories: a recount of an incident,a description of something/someone, a letter, formulate your own opinion on an issue based on some quote or picture etc.

Takeaway to Improve Chinese Essay Writing

Keep an excel spreadsheet of 口语(Kǒuyǔ, spoken Chinese) –书面语(Shūmiànyǔ, written Chinese) pairs and quotes of sentences that you like. You should also be marking up books and articles that you read looking for new ways of expressing ideas. Using Chinese-Chinese dictionaries is really good for learning how to describe things in Chinese.

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This is fascinating article, thank you!

Thank you so much for sharing this type of content. That’s really useful for people who want to start learning chinese language. I hope that you will continue sharing your experience.

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20 tips and tricks to improve your Chinese writing ability

Introduction.

Mastering Chinese writing can be a daunting task, but with the right tips and tricks, you can enhance your skills and become a proficient writer. Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience, these 20 expert-approved techniques will help you improve your Chinese writing ability.

Understand the Basic Strokes

Chinese characters are made up of various strokes. Understanding the basic strokes is crucial for writing accurately and fluently. Start by familiarizing yourself with the eight fundamental strokes, such as horizontal, vertical, and dot strokes. Practice each stroke individually to develop muscle memory and improve your overall writing speed and accuracy.

Next, learn about compound strokes, which are combinations of basic strokes. Recognizing and replicating compound strokes is essential for mastering complex characters. By practicing the basic and compound strokes consistently, you will gain a solid foundation for writing Chinese characters effectively.

Building a Solid Foundation of Characters

To become a skilled Chinese writer, it’s essential to build a solid foundation of characters. Begin by learning the most frequently used characters, known as high-frequency characters. These characters appear frequently in written Chinese and will greatly enhance your reading and writing abilities.

Use flashcards or mnemonic techniques to memorize characters efficiently. Break down complex characters into radicals, which are smaller components with their own meanings. Understanding radicals will help you decipher the meaning of unfamiliar characters and remember them more easily.

Effective Use of Radicals

Radicals play a crucial role in Chinese characters. They provide hints about the character’s meaning or pronunciation. Learning common radicals will enable you to recognize and understand a wide range of characters. Additionally, radicals can help you organize characters into groups based on their shared components, making it easier to remember and write them accurately.

Practice identifying radicals in different characters and create associations between radicals and their meanings. Use online resources or dictionaries to explore the meanings and variations of radicals, enhancing your understanding of Chinese characters.

Employ Proper Stroke Order

Correct stroke order is essential for writing Chinese characters neatly and legibly. Follow the standard stroke order guidelines to ensure consistency and improve your writing speed. Proper stroke order also helps you recognize characters more quickly and understand their structure.

Study stroke order rules for different strokes and practice writing characters in the correct sequence. Utilize online tools or apps that provide animated stroke order demonstrations to refine your technique. By mastering stroke order, you’ll develop a more natural and fluent writing style.

Expand Your Vocabulary

Expanding your vocabulary is crucial for improving your writing abilities. Aim to learn new words regularly and incorporate them into your writing practice. Start with common words and gradually progress to more advanced vocabulary.

Read Chinese texts, such as newspapers, books, and online articles, to encounter new words in context. Use flashcards or vocabulary apps to review and reinforce your knowledge. The more words you learn, the more varied and expressive your writing will become.

Practice Regularly

Consistent practice is key to improving any skill, and Chinese writing is no exception. Set aside dedicated study time each day to practice writing characters. Use writing exercises or workbooks to reinforce what you’ve learned.

Engage in daily writing activities, such as journaling or creating short stories, to apply your knowledge and develop fluency. Consider finding a language exchange partner or joining a writing group to receive feedback and guidance on your writing.

Read Chinese Literature

Reading Chinese literature can significantly enhance your writing ability. Expose yourself to a variety of texts, including novels, poems, and essays. Pay attention to the writing style, sentence structure, and vocabulary used by the authors.

Analyze and reflect on the works you read, noting any techniques or phrases that resonate with you. Emulating successful writers will help you develop your own unique writing voice and improve your overall writing skills.

Use Technology to Your Advantage

Take advantage of technology to improve your Chinese writing ability. Use language learning apps that offer writing exercises and interactive lessons. Many apps also provide instant feedback on your writing, allowing you to identify and correct mistakes.

Explore online forums or language exchange platforms to connect with native speakers and receive guidance on your writing. Utilize Chinese input methods on your computer or smartphone to practice writing characters digitally. Technology can be a powerful tool in your journey to becoming a proficient Chinese writer.

With these 20 tips and tricks, you now have a roadmap to improve your Chinese writing ability. From understanding the basic strokes to expanding your vocabulary and utilizing technology, each technique plays a crucial role in your development as a skilled writer.

Embrace the journey of learning Chinese writing, and remember that consistent practice and dedication are the keys to success. By following these expert-approved techniques, you’ll gain confidence in your writing abilities and see significant progress in no time. Whether your goal is to excel in exams, communicate effectively in Mandarin, or simply appreciate the beauty of this ancient script, you now have the tools you need to succeed. So, let’s embark on this journey together and unlock the secrets to becoming a skilled Chinese writer.

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7 Tips to Help You Improve Your Chinese Writing Skills

Dec 16, 2020 | Guest Blogs & Media

Learning a foreign language involves two important aspects: learning to speak in the target language and learning to write. When it comes to learning Chinese, both these aspects can be very difficult for English speakers. Learning vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation so that you can express your thoughts in Chinese decently is challenging enough. When you write, however, the task becomes even more difficult because the Chinese writing system is completely different from that in English or any other language of European origin.

First, let’s make it clear that writing doesn’t necessarily mean handwriting. Writing is just a process of creating written text, no matter how you do it. If we consider writing in this context, it will be not that different from speaking Chinese, with the only difference that you should write things down instead of saying them. Nevertheless, you need to know the rules of Chinese writing, be able to create logically correct sentences, and choose the right words and characters depending on the context.

Here are some tips that will help you improve your Chinese writing skills so that you will know what things you should focus on and what common mistakes you need to avoid.

1. Read in Chinese

Reading and writing are two interconnected skills. If you don’t read enough, you won’t know what proper Chinese writing looks like, and you won’t be able to write well. First, reading can help you develop a better feel for the Chinese language. Secondly, it will enable you to memorize the right sentence structure and improve your style.

It’s also important to choose the right content for reading. If you already have some basic writing skills, think of how you’re going to use Chinese and choose sources accordingly. For example, if you need it for work, you may read articles and books related to your industry. If you’re a beginner, choose anything that you can read: newspapers, educational articles, or even children’s books.

2. Don’t translate word by word

When learning some European languages, you may think in English and then translate your thoughts. Sometimes, you can even translate word by word and use the same word order. For example, this approach may sometimes work when learning Swedish. Although translating word by word is generally a bad practice, some languages enable you to use it from time to time.

This is not the case with the Chinese language. If you try to translate something directly, you will fail with a 99% probability, the result will look terrible and sound awkward. You cannot simply write English sentences with Chinese characters so we recommend that you always think of the general meaning first and then communicate it in Chinese, using the right sentence structure and vocabulary.

3. Don’t focus on details and translate the general meaning first

When it comes to writing in Chinese, the biggest challenge is that it’s almost impossible to provide a precise translation and to create a well-written Chinese text at the same time. Therefore, your task is to balance translation and grammar properly.

We recommend that you translate the general meaning first. Don’t be afraid of using clumsy constructions and don’t think of how it will sound in Chinese. Once you’ve communicated the right meaning, forget about the original text and work on the Chinese translation. Modify and polish it, add idioms, and make sure that the final text will look well and be grammatically correct. While editing the Chinese translation, you may need to change the original meaning a little, but there’s nothing wrong with it.

4. Always check the context

When working with similar languages, you may often write a lot of text and then look up just a few words to translate your thoughts properly. You won’t be able to write this way in Chinese because you need to take into account many factors. You cannot simply look for a dictionary translation and expect that a certain word is used in the same way as the corresponding English word.

First of all, you should make sure that the Chinese word has the same meaning in this context. Secondly, you should check how this word is used in sentences so that you can also use it properly. Besides, you should think of how this word will look when used with other words from the sentence.

5. Write what you know and avoid what you don’t

It’s important not to lose your motivation and not to get discouraged by the fact that you don’t know how to write something. Sometimes, you can communicate the right meaning by using words that you know, instead of trying to get it exactly right and getting stuck.

For example, you may want to write that rooms in China are small, without knowing how to write “small” or “in.” In this case, you may either give up or approach this task creatively. For instance, you can say “not big” instead of “small,” while using “in” may be unnecessary, and your sentence may look better without it. For example, the sentence “中国的房间不大” communicates the right meaning and doesn’t require you to use unknown words.

6. Don’t over complicate your writing

Sometimes, people who learn Chinese think that their writing will look more impressive if they use complex sentences and difficult words. Such an approach can turn your writing into a complete disaster. If your Chinese is far from perfect, we recommend that you keep it simple and focus on delivering the right meaning. As your knowledge expands, your written Chinese will also become less colloquial, but it’s a continuous process that takes a lot of patience.

7. Practice, practice, practice!

Practice makes perfect, so make it a habit to write a little every day, on any topic you like – from describing how your day went to inventing stories with new words.

Wrapping Up

Although learning Chinese can be very challenging, you will be able to improve your writing skills if you focus on the right aspects and avoid some common mistakes. For instance, you should always pay attention to the context so that you can choose the right words. You should also read in Chinese as often as you can. Don’t try to impress your readers with overcomplicated sentences and practice a lot. Practice makes perfect, or as the Chinese say, 熟能生巧!

by Rhonda Martinez

Rhonda Martinez is a content writer at  legitwritingservices.com , a website that publishes reviews of essay writing services and articles dedicated to studying and essay writing. Rhonda writes in-depth articles and loves analyzing information. She contributes to a bunch of different language learning blogs and never stops learning languages herself.

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How to Become a Rockstar Chinese Writer

The importance of learning Chinese writing

Nowadays more and more people are beginning to   learn Chinese. For the most part, they are only focusing on learning how to speak Chinese. But concerning using this language, they also need to learn Chinese writing. Writing can reflect a writer’s power of thought and language organization skills. It is critical to master Chinese writing if you want to take your Chinese to the next level.

How to write good Chinese essays? The following five steps will improve your Chinese writing.

Become familiar with the Chinese Character Writing

In order to write a good Chinese essay, a fundamental step is to be familiar with Chinese characters. Chinese characters are different when you compare them to English letters. Chinese characters are hieroglyphs and   each stroke of a Chinese character is different from the next stroke. Familiarity of Chinese character writing is indispensable for anyone who wants to write nice Chinese essays.

Increase Your Vocabulary

The Chinese language includes 100,000 vocabulary words. If you want to just know the most used words you still need to learn several thousand words. A good writer needs to acquire as many words as possible. How can you enlarge your vocabulary? The best method is to listen, read and learn as much Chinese as possible. Don’t forget to apply what you have learned to your Chinese writing so that you can make continual progress.

Acquire Grammar and Sentence Patterns

Chinese grammar and   sentence patterns need to be acquired in order to improve your Chinese writing. Generally speaking, grammar consists of words, phrases and sentence structure. In terms of single words, Chinese words can be classified as lexical and functional words. In terms of phrases, Chinese phrases can be divided into CO (co-ordinate phrases), SP (subject-predicate phrases), and VO (verb-object phrases). In terms of sentence patterns, a Chinese sentence includes subject, predicate, object, adverbial, attribute and complementary. All of the above grammar points are necessary to study if you want to learn how to write in Chinese.

Persistence in Reading Everyday

Reading can broaden one’s horizon, and it can aid their writing. Reading everyday is a great way to help people learn how to have good Chinese writing ability. The content of reading can be very broad. It can be from novels, or newspapers, and it can be about subjects like economics or psychology. Remember you should read about things you are interested in. After a certain period of accumulation by reading, you will greatly improve your Chinese writing.

Do Writing Exercise on a Variety of Subjects

Practice makes perfect. Apply this proverb in Chinese writing. You need to do a lot of writing exercises to make your Chinese writing excellent. It has been suggested to begin with simple subjects, like personal hobbies, future dreams or anything else that can be understood easily. Students with more experience can write about more complicated topics like economics, politics and society. You should consider all these aspects, because doing writing exercise on a variety of subjects can help improve a person’s writing ability.

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should add some pictures to make it interesting!

Hi Deynika. Thanks for your advice, we will try to add some interesting pictures in our posts.

I love chinese writing and it is a lot interesting. Can you send a list of chinese words to improve vocabulary? Thanks

You can check out our blog, it introduces many interesting words, slang and useful expressions. In addition, we offer many video lessons to help you improve vocabulary. Hope it will help.

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The Guide to Writing Your First Mandarin Essay

When you want to be able to make writing your first Mandarin essay nice and easy, it pays to put plenty of thought and effort into the preparation. As the old saying goes ‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail.’ To give you plenty of food for thought we’ve put together everything you need to know to get things moving. All you need to do is work through the following steps, and you’ll be submitting your essay in no time at all.

Check you understand the basics

There are so many things you have to think about when writing an essay, particularly when it’s not in your native language. But as with any cognitively demanding task, the process for getting started is always the same. Check you understand the following basics and you’ll be heading in the right direction:

• Do you know what the question means?
• Have you made a note of the final submission date?
• Make sure you read some past examples to get a feel for what’s expected of you
• Do you understand the question that has been set?
• Do you know who you can talk to if you need advice along the way?
• Are there any restrictions on the dialect you should be aware of?

Once you can write the answers to the above down on a single side of the paper, you are ready to tackle the main part of the problem: putting pen to paper.

Set aside time to write

The chances are that you’re not going to be able to pen the entire essay in a single sitting, and that’s okay. It’s nothing to be ashamed of or to worry about, and it’s natural that you need to work across multiple days when writing your first essay.

If you want to be able to make great progress, the most important thing is sticking to a routine. You need to have consistency in your application, and you need to be able to know when you are at your most productive. It’s no good staying up late one night and then carrying on early the next morning. You’d be far better off writing for the same amount of time but on two successive afternoons. Think about how your studies fit in with the rest of your daily life, and then choose the time that seems most appropriate. If you box it off and decide it’s only for writing, you’ll be in a great routine before you even know it.

Clear space so you can focus

As well as having time to write each day, you need a place to write too. The world is full of distractions (most of them are digital and social) so that means you’re going to want to keep yourself to yourself, and your phone in a different room. It might seem a little boring or uncomfortable at first, but you need to practice the habit of deep work. It’s what will allow you to create the most in the shortest time — ideal if you want to have plenty of time leftover to spend doing the other things that matter to you.

Have a daily word count in mind

Telling yourself that you want to write an essay today is one thing, but if you’re really going to push yourself to stick to your goal then you need to get quantitative. If you have a word count in mind that you need to hit, then it will prevent you from giving up and throwing in the towel the minute you start having to think and concentrate more than feels normal. Just like working out in the gym, it’s the temporary moments of extra effort that really drive the big differences. It’s when you’ll see the biggest improvement in your writing ability, and the lessons you teach yourself will stay with you for years to come. Ideal if you want to become a fluent Mandarin writer, as well as an engaging face-to-face speaker.

Read widely to provide context

When you’re immersed in an essay it can be all too easy to become blinkered and fail to pay attention to everything else that’s going on around you. Of course, you want to be focused on the task at hand, but you don’t want to be single-minded to the point of ignoring other great learning resources that are just a click away.

Reading widely is one of the best ways to improve your essay writing because it exposes you to techniques and approaches used by the best of the best. You’re not expected to be able to instantly write like a native speaker after an hour of reading. But what you will be able to do with consistent application is build up confidence and familiarity with written Mandarin. Over time this will reflect on the quality and depth of your writing as you gradually improve and take onboard lessons you’ve learned.

Take a break before you proofread

Last but not least, you need to remember that essay writing is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s all about taking the time to get things written before you hand them in, not racing through to try and finish on time. If you want to get the most out of your writing you need to take a day off between finishing your draft and proofing it. That way your brain will have had plenty of time to reflect on the work you’ve produced, and you’ll be able to spot many more little mistakes and places for improvement than you would if you proofed right away.

Final Thoughts

Writing Mandarin is a challenging task that will test your language skills and make you think hard about how to apply what you’ve learned so far. It might be slow going to begin with, but that’s great as it means you’re pushing your limits and building on your existing skills. If you want to be able to master Mandarin, you need to persevere and stay the course. Once you do, you’ll start to improve a lot faster than you expect.

By Diana Adjadj | A Super Chineasian

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How to improve your Mandarin Chinese writing

It takes practice to improve your Chinese writing skills, and you are already practicing if you are learning the Chinese language. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a writer, you put more ideas into your thoughts than you think. At the very least, you will send messages in Mandarin to your Chinese friends. If your work requires it, you can also write things such as emails, reports, presentations, newsletters, all in Mandarin Chinese.

Yet many people have difficulty with writing in Chinese, which seems to be a real challenge. However, learning various techniques to improve your writing skills is not as difficult as you think. You can take some simple steps to improve your Chinese writing skills and impress people with your Chinese articles in the short term.

Table of Contents

Read and expand your Chinese vocabulary

Reading materials in the Chinese language is useful in many ways. This is a great way to learn about different writing styles and how to use Chinese words in context correctly. Then you can learn new Chinese words with example Chinese sentences from books, not just word lists.

Tip: Choose a Chinese book or article which you are interested in. Studying should not be boring. Read each text several times to make sure you understand how to use new words and new words in the text.

Recommended book: Stories of Chinese People’s Lives (中国人的生活故事) Each selected Chinese essay in the book is marked with difficulty ranging from HSK4 to HSK6 according to the differences in new words, sentence length, cultural points, etc. Through reading the series of books, readers can not only intuitively understand Chinese society, folk customs, and culture, but also learn brand-new, fresh, and practical Mandarin Chinese language knowledge.

Improve your Chinese grammar

Grammar is very important because it can make or break the quality of your Chinese writing. For example, “我去上海搬家” and “我搬家去上海”. The sentences have the same characters, but different meaning because of the sequence. You may make readers confuse the meaning if you are not clear about grammar. This makes reading hard work. So always use the proper structure. Also remember to use punctuation. Punctuation is a great way to make your Chinese writing clear and smooth.

Tip: Always proofread your Chinese writing twice. The first time look for general errors, especially those grammatical structures that are very different from your native language like “Ba-sentence” (which can be used to request or order others to do something), and the second time, try to look for those errors related to the specific grammatical point you are currently learning.

Find a Mandarin writing partner

If you can find a Chinese study group on social media, the chances are pretty good that there is at least one other person who is also thinking about how to become a better writer. Although writing is often considered an individual activity, it will be helpful because your partner may find mistakes that you overlooked. Besides, finding a writing partner is also a good way to take responsibility and motivate each other.

Read Chinese aloud

Reading your fresh Chinese articles aloud can help you determine whether they flow smoothly. If they sounds unnatural, add some longer sentences to break the steady, monotonous rhythm. For example, you can change a short sentence “吃饭以后，我去洗澡，这是我的习惯” into a longer sentence“我的习惯是吃了饭就洗澡”. A good Chinese essay always combines long and short sentences to make them sound smooth. If you find yourself in trouble, you may have found a sentence that is too complex and needs to be rewritten. I always recommend reading your work aloud because it works!

Just do it!

Writing in Chinese as a foreigner can be daunting. However, the best way to improve is to take a pen and paper or sit in front of a computer and write. You can start writing from HSK1 for enjoyment, but it’ll be a really useful practice starting from HSK5 . Be prepared to write multiple versions of each text, because even for professional writers, the first draft is not perfect. Remember, practice makes perfect, so now is the best time to sit down and start your Chinese writing!

Take inspiration from these Chinese short stories with PDF

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7 Tips to Improve Your Chinese Writing Skills

Posted by Lilian Li 9463

Read the Chinese writing below and tell me how you think when you finish the reading. 大家好。我中文的名字是顾思。我二十年龄了。我工作在一所中学校，各个的目的。有时候一个替代老师， 平时当一个“学校后照顾”员。

Do you find it pleasant to read? If your answer is yes and you would also write a Chinese article like that, well, it means that your Chinese writing needs to improve! The writing above is a counter example, then how to improve your Chinese writing effectively? This article lists seven practical tips for all the Chinese learners, learn it now.

Tip 1: Expand Your Chinese Vocabulary

You can’t express yourself well if your vocabulary is limited. There is no accurate number to tell how many words the Chinese language has, and don’t ask me how many vocabularies should you learn, a good writer should expand vocabulary as much as possible. Except for vocabulary in the dictionary, you also need to learn the new buzzwords which could make your content fresh and interesting. If you have to write a large number of articles on the same topic, then increase the perfectly interchangeable words, like “美丽”, “漂亮”, “好看” are all can be used to describe the beauty .

Tip 2: Study Chinese Grammar Well

Only when you have acquired a good knowledge of Chinese grammar can you write correctly. Chinese grammar is hard and different from other languages that a lot of Chinese learners could make the mistake in the writing. Let’s get back to the sentence “我中文的名字是顾思。” in the counter example at the beginning of this article, follow Chinese grammar rules and the correct expression should be “我的中文名字是顾思”. Check out the Chinese grammar course to find out why and learn more.

Tip 3: Read Chinese Regularly

Reading is a great way to learn different styles of writing and e

xpand vocabulary. Don’t read very fast, make sure you really understand. Extract the good sentences and words during the reading are good habits.

Tip 4: Watch Movies with Chinese subtitles

Now, most Chinese movies have both Chinese subtitles and English subtitles, then watching movie become an interesting way to improve Chinese writing. In addition, a movie is a good way to get to know the life and manner of Chinese that can make your Chinese writing truthfulness.

Tip 5: Keep Writing Every day

There’s a Chinese saying 熟能生巧 means practice makes perfect. This one goes without saying, just write, write, write!

Tip 6: Check Your Chinese Writing

After finishing the writing, check one or two times by yourself to find out the easy overlook errors, then ask your teacher or Chinese friends to help if possible. Another good way to get your writing checked by others is to ask help on italki, a lot of Chinese teachers there are likely to help. It’s easy to make the same mistake, therefore, pay attention to the error and master the correct version, take notes if you’re not sure you won’t make mistakes again.

Tip 7: Try Not to Use Translator

Language Translator is a robot that it isn’t smart enough to translate the language fluently. It's okay to translate words, phrases, and common used short sentence, but for the long sentences and complex expressions, you have to write it manually to make it readable. Again, don’t rely on language translator! Here are all the keys to improving your written Chinese! If you have better ideas, welcome to share with us in the comments section!

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• Keats School

6 Ways to Improve Your Mandarin Chinese Writing Skills

Keats blog offers great information about chinese language learning, chinese culture, mandarin chinese, and information about china..

• September 26, 2021
• 1 Step 1. Improve the quality of INPUT
• 2 Step 2. Train your mind to do critical thinking
• 3.1 Way 1. Increase the input of Chinese materials with good quality
• 3.2 Way 2. Set a high screening criterion for the Chinese input materials
• 3.3 Way 3. Input in a more efficient way
• 3.4 Way 4. Set up the connection between the obtained knowledge and new things and remain critical thinking.
• 3.5 Way 5. Try to write in high frequency and insist on writing
• 3.6 Way 6. Learn to write both stories and opinions

Writing is the output of the brain after full processing of the input information. We can say that good Mandarin Chinese writing skills should be the last stage of your Chinese language learning. It is a sign of fully mastering of the Chinese language.

Based on this, we can tell that the three core elements to improve Mandarin writing skills are: input, thinking, and output. Input is the prerequisite, thinking is the essence, and output is the result. If you want to learn Chinese writing and improve your writing ability, these three elements are indispensable. To successfully improve your Mandarin Chinese writing skills, you would have to follow the next steps:

Step 1. Improve the quality of INPUT

Only when we continue to get high-quality input can we store enough writing materials in our minds. Only by continuously mastering new knowledge, gaining new perspectives, and generating new thinking can the content be output in a long-term, stable, and high-quality manner in our mind.

Step 2. Train your mind to do critical thinking

Whether you can think deeply is the key to writing a great article.

Step3. Strengthen your ability the output

To achieve these three stages, I’m listing out the following six ways to help you improve your Mandarin writing skill.

Way 1. Increase the input of Chinese materials with good quality

Quantitative changes can produce qualitative changes. In the case of equivalent thinking and expression skills, a person who reads 50 books a year must write good content more consistently and with high quality than a person who reads only two or three books a year.

Reading 50 books a year may seem a little difficult at first glance, but the actual difficulty is persistence. The key to this approach is continuity and stability. You don’t have to spend three or four hours a day reading.  All you need to do is just insist on reading for 1 hour a day. It’s straightforward to set aside an hour a day. You only need to develop the habit of persisting in reading.

Way 2. Set a high screening criterion for the Chinese input materials

Don’t waste time reading junk articles or books, because reading has a cost. The cost of reading a book = the monetary cost of buying a book + the time and opportunity costs of reading. Choosing a worthless book, or a book that you cannot read, not only wastes the money to buy the book but, more importantly, wastes time because, at the same time, you can do other things that may be more meaningful. Therefore, to improve your input standards is to choose good books and good articles to read.

Besides, it is also necessary to uninstall those social media apps that are not nutritious on the mobile phone to avoid them grabbing your attention and consuming your time.

Way 3. Input in a more efficient way

If you read many Chinese books and articles, and the reading standard is not low, but you still feel that your progress is slow, then your Chinese reading is invalid.

To input more efficiently, we must remember a major premise: reading is not the goal; absorption its content is. Your reading goal shouldn’t be like I have to finish reading a few articles today, and I have to finish reading a book this week but should be reading this article to solve a problem, learn a technique, and think about a topic.

Way 4. Set up the connection between the obtained knowledge and new things and remain critical thinking.

When you’re learning a new thing, it is better to think about it first: Is this new knowledge point similar to what you have learned? This is the method of establishing knowledge connection, which allows you to understand the knowledge you have obtained more thoroughly and systematically. This way can also effectively train your critical thinking.

A critical mind can bring you unique opinions. If you want to find out different things and share with everyone in ordinary things, you need critical thinking and unique insights. We don’t have to be writers, but our writing also needs to be thoughtful. Insights and viewpoints, curiosity, and observation of things are all necessary for good Chinese writing.

Way 5. Try to write in high frequency and insist on writing

Writing is craftsmanship, and the most important thing about writing is the impulsive feeling about writing.

The generation and maintenance of the impulsive feeling about writing come from continuous writing.

You don’t have to write five thousand or ten thousand words at every turn. You can write shorter, one or two hundred words, but it’s better to write a little every day.

Way 6. Learn to write both stories and opinions

If you want to improve your Chinese writing ability, you must temper your Chinese narrative ability, that is, your ability to write stories.

People are born to love to read stories. From ancient times to the present, from children to adults, we have always been like this. A good story requires good language structure and expression. This can only be achieved if one can truly use a language proficiently.

If you want to improve your Chinese writing ability, you also need to hone your ability to express your opinions in Chinese. Your Chinese writing can only be considered successful if your views can be expressed clearly and fluently in Chinese.

It’s about time to enroll in the best Chinese learning program   to temper your Chinese writing skills now! Keats School would be your best choice!

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Which chinese language program is right for you, rients's story at keats kunming, my second hometown, over 7300+ students have studied at keats.

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

All teachers are really lovely. The teaching level at Keats is so much higher. I really love the city. It is very comfortable to get around. I fully recommend Keats. It is a great place to study Chinese in China . We are looking forward to coming back again later this year.

Claudia | Australia

I’ve been at Keats school and Kunming now for one month doing the one-on-one Chinese lessons with two different teachers. I really enjoy it. Both of my teachers are very friendly and patient. They really helped me to improve my Chinese, both of my reading and speaking. I really enjoy studying Chinese in Kunming as well. This city is really beautiful and the weather is nice, the air is clean. It’s one of the best cities in China to study Chinese .

Ivo | Switzerland

They really care about what our interests are, what questions we have, what requirements we have. Then they adjust our Chinese language program content according to the situations. One teacher and one student, so it is easy to keep your focus for the 6 hours of immersion Mandarin lessons . It is very convenient to study, live and eat in one building.

星河明 | Japan

I took the one-on-one Intensive Chinese class for 6 hours a day. The classes are very interesting. The teachers are caring and the content the teacher teaches me is suitable for my level. It is an easy way to learn Mandarin . I have a lot of time practicing Chinese in class. The food is great here. I have improved my Chinese through this program at Keats.

Small Group Chinese Class

The place is very cool. I am with a great group of people in my class, so coming to classes is very enjoyable. It is fun, we have a lot of discussions, games, activities. Our teachers are also very good, very supportive. Learning Chinese is intimidating at the start because you have so many questions. But I would advise coming to Keats because the atmosphere for learning is great . It is very relaxing. I would recommend the school.

Amauri | USA

The teachers at Keats know how to read the students and how to help students learn Chinese language easily . They know the level of the students. I am a slow learner, but they managed to adapt to my learning. They made the class very fun, very exciting. I am pleased that not only I got to learn the culture and the language, but I also got to make amazing friends, really unbelievable , Chinese friends and European friends, American friends, from all over the world.

Sully | France

All my classmates stay together for one year and we improved so much! The teachers at Keats are all very great. They like to organize a lot of activities to help us learn Chinese . I like Keats! I like Kunming!

Andrew | USA

I am a graduate student working on my doctorate degree at Columbia University. We were able to really focus on speaking especially interview-style speaking and we are able to really up my Chinese reading and writing skills , so when I go back to Columbia, I can take formal Chinese classes. It has been a really good experience and I really love my teacher.

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How to improve Chinese writing skills?

Whether you're learning Chinese as a second language or striving to enhance your proficiency in writing, there are several strategies that can help to improve your Chinese writing skills.

Chinese writing is a fascinating and intricate system of communication that has evolved over thousands of years. Whether you're learning Chinese as a second language or striving to enhance your proficiency in writing, there are several strategies and techniques that can help you master this beautiful script. In this article, we'll explore valuable tips on improving Chinese writing , which can benefit learners of all levels.

• Master the Basics: Before diving into complex Chinese characters and sentences, it's essential to establish a solid foundation. Start with the basics, such as stroke order and pinyin pronunciation. Understanding stroke order not only makes your writing more accurate but also improves your handwriting. Pinyin, the Romanization of Chinese characters, helps with pronunciation and understanding character components.
• Learn Radicals: Chinese characters are made up of radicals, which are fundamental components that give clues about the character's meaning and pronunciation. Learning common radicals can simplify the process of memorizing characters and enhance your understanding of their structure. Recognizing radicals is like unlocking the puzzle of Chinese writing .
• Practice Regularly: Like any skill, consistent practice is key to improving your Chinese writing . Dedicate time each day to write characters and sentences. You can use traditional pen and paper or digital tools designed for Chinese writing practice. Repetition helps reinforce memory and improve your writing speed.
• Expand Your Vocabulary: A rich vocabulary is essential for effective Chinese writing . Read Chinese books, newspapers, and articles to expose yourself to a wide range of words and sentence structures. Make a habit of jotting down unfamiliar characters and phrases, and then practice writing them to reinforce your memory.
• Embrace Calligraphy: Chinese calligraphy is not just an art form but also a valuable tool for improving your writing skills. The deliberate strokes and balance required in calligraphy help you develop precision and elegance in your Chinese writing . Consider taking calligraphy classes or watching tutorials online to refine your technique.
• Write in Context: Chinese writing is not just about individual characters but also about constructing meaningful sentences and paragraphs. Practice writing in different contexts, such as diary entries, essays, or creative stories. This will help you understand how characters work together to convey ideas and emotions.
• Seek Feedback: Constructive feedback is invaluable when it comes to improving your Chinese writing . Join language learning communities, enroll in classes, or find a language exchange partner who can review your writing and provide suggestions for improvement. Learning from others' mistakes and successes can accelerate your progress.
• Use Technology: Modern technology offers numerous tools and resources for improving your Chinese writing . Language learning apps, online dictionaries, and writing aids can be valuable companions on your learning journey. They provide instant feedback on your writing and offer resources for further study.

Improving your Chinese writing is a rewarding endeavor that requires dedication, patience, and practice. By mastering the basics, learning radicals, expanding your vocabulary, embracing calligraphy, writing in context, seeking feedback, and using technology, you can make significant strides in your Chinese writing skills. Remember that Chinese writing is not just about characters on paper; it's a gateway to understanding Chinese culture, history, and expression. So, take these tips to heart and embark on a fulfilling journey to enhance your Chinese writing abilities.

Try TutorABC Chinese . With patented AI-matching technology pairing you with certified teachers and materials that suit your learning needs and goals. Classes are available 24/7, super flexible. Each student has an educational advisor to guide and help them along their Chinese learning journey.

With intuitive materials and engaging activities, learning Chinese becomes an enjoyable adventure. Join TutorABC Chinese and embark on a transformative experience where culture and language come together in the most exciting and effective way. 

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9 Tips to Improve Your Chinese Composition Writing

• Primary School Chinese Composition

Composition writing is a challenging but key part of the Chinese examination, as it constitutes 20% of the PSLE Chinese grade. Many students struggle with this task as their Chinese proficiency is lacking.

Aiming for a better composition score? Check out our tips below on how to excel in your Chinese composition.

But before you go on reading… You might want to download a pdf copy of this article as it is quite long!

Click the blue download button, enter your email, and the pdf file will be delivered to your inbox! (Remember to check spam!)

Click here to Download

Tip 1: Learn From Past Mistakes

Your past compositions are precious; don’t throw them out! Analyse your mistakes, and identify two to three areas you need to work on. If you have multiple areas to work on, prioritise the ones that will lead to the biggest gain in marks (e.g. between writing out of point and confusing homophones, fix the content issue first as that is more major).

Here are some common mistakes and recommendations on how to address them.

Tip 2: Determine the Theme of Your Composition

Be it the introduction, the body, or the conclusion, your composition should revolve around a theme. Never let your content not go out of point (离题), or your marks will suffer greatly.

Always start by analysing the picture or title to determine the theme. For example, if the title is “这件事改变了我(2023 St Nicholas’ Prelims)”，the central idea would be about an incident and how it has changed you as a person. Generally, it is easier for students to deviate from the theme for title-based compositions, especially if they do not plan their story.

That said, picture compositions can be tricky too: A few themes may be possible as it depends on how you choose to conclude the story (picture 6). For instance, in 2020’s PSLE, an old lady who was counting money at the bus stop fell down unexpectedly. Her notes were strewn all over the floor. Picture 5 shows two schoolgirls helping the old lady up while a youth was trying to pick up the lady’s belongings. Was he planning to steal the money? Or was he a kind-hearted youth trying to help pick up the notes? You need to write in a way consistent with the theme you have chosen.

Tip 3: Choose Your Question Wisely

Consider whether the picture composition (看图作文) or title-based composition (命题作文) is more manageable for you.

There are a few things to consider:

• How well do you understand the pictures? Do you have the appropriate vocabulary to describe key events and details depicted in the pictures? How complex are the pictures? E.g. does the location change multiple times?
• How well do you understand the key phrase in the title? For instance, if the title is “一件让我印象最深刻的事”, ensure you understand the meaning of 印象 and 深刻if you decide to write this particular question.
• Which question do you resonate most with? Do you have any personal experience similar to that in the pictures/what you plan to write for the title-based composition? If so, you will find it easier to complete the essay.

Remember you only have fifty minutes, so play to your strengths and make a decision within the first three minutes. Do not change your mind thereafter, or you will not have sufficient time to complete your composition!

Tip 4: Choose The Correct Point of View

For picture compositions, do not write in the first person if the character is not present in all pictures. In such instances, no matter whose perspective you adopt in your writing, there will be gaps in the story (the narrator cannot be all-knowing). Thus, you should write in the third person.

For title-based compositions, pay attention to the wording. Titles such as “这件事让我明白了耐心的重要(PSLE 2022)” and “一份我最珍惜的礼物(PSLE 2021)” must be written in the first person.

Tip 5: Plan Before You Write

“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Before you start writing, craft an outline of your story. This need not be in prose form. It can be simply key words that give you clarity on your story structure. Whilst the stronger ones can wing it without a written plan (they usually have the plan in their heads), everyone else should refer to a plan while writing. The time spent making a written plan should be no more than five minutes, but it goes a long way in enhancing efficiency in your composition writing.

For picture-based compositions, your plan should at least cover the following:

• Introduction (开头)
• Conclusion (结尾)

For title-based compositions, use the guiding questions to help you plan.

For example, for 一份我最珍惜的礼物 (PSLE 2021), the outline could be:

Introduction （开头）

• Describe the present you cherish the most. What is it? Describe its appearance. How is it special?

介绍你最珍惜的礼物（这是什么礼物？外观如何？如何特殊？）

• How did you get this present? Who gave it to you?

你怎么得到这份礼物？是谁送的？

• Why did you get this present?

为什么会得到这份礼物？

• Why do you cherish it so much? What is its significance?

你为什么珍惜这份礼物？它有什么象征意义？

Conclusion （结尾）

• Restate how much you cherish this present. Sum up the main points in the body text (e.g. What does it represent? How did it help you grow/change your life?). 再次表明你有多珍惜这份礼物。总结一下以上的要点（如：它代表了什么？如何让你成长/对你的生活有什么积极影响？

Tip 6: Start With a Relevant Introduction

Do not memorise good introductions you have been given and use it word-for-word without thinking. There is no point in including the most beautifully worded description of the weather if the entire story happens indoors and the weather has no influence over the development of the story. Relevance is key.

Likewise, do not try to use a “one-size-fits-all” introduction, such as: “Ring!” The alarm went off…… If you must use a sound, make sure the sound is linked to some event at the story. Else, your introduction will either be excessively long, or appear irrelevant, or have logical gaps as you jumped from the alarm ringing right into the thick of the action.

Whether you start by directly describing the scene/activity (开门见山), by using a flashback, or any other method, what matters most is that your introduction is relevant to the theme.

For flashbacks, note that the ending will need to address the flashback, or bring the readers back to the present (前呼后应). This method will usually add to the word count, so it is not recommended for weaker students who may not have time to complete the essay or check their work.

Tip 7: Flesh Out Your Conclusion

Avoid a situation of having a magnificent start but a skinny end to the story (龙头蛇尾). Kudos to students who take time to craft a killer introduction. However, if the conclusion is weak and abrupt, your readers will end up feeling disappointed.

It is insufficient to simply state how the problem was resolved or what happened at the end. You should also highlight how the characters felt, what lessons the character(s) learnt, what plans they have for the future, and, the most important of them all, highlight the theme. A simple way to address the theme would be to use a relevant proverb, for example:

所谓“天下无难事，只怕有心人”，只要我们勇于挑战自己，世上就没有任何能难倒我们的事。

Tip 8: Revise for Paper 2 and Composition Writing Together

Don’t let your efforts to revise for Paper 2 go to waste! Make sure you master the terms in the textbooks. Make a list of those that are versatile enough to apply to most compositions. For example, transition phrases like “不知不觉 (unknowingly)” and “光阴似箭 (time flies)” can be used in almost any story to describe how time has passed unknowingly or quickly.

Besides mastering terms, make an effort to apply sentence structures and literary devices mentioned in the textbook in your writing. For instance, in Lesson 8 of the Primary 6 Chinese textbook, you can get insights on what similes are and reference the examples in the textbook (6B textbook, p. 23: 美美像一阵风一样冲过来。打针一点儿也不痛，就像蚂蚁轻轻咬了一下。) Even the conjunction questions in Paper 2 can come in handy, if you learn to vary your sentence beginnings by using different connectors.

Tip 9: Keep a Word Bank

Start building a Chinese vocabulary word bank if you do not already have one. Collate the good phrases  and idioms used by others. You can start noting down good phrases from the textbook and also from the comprehension passages you have completed. Browse through your classmates’ work and other model compositions and highlight away!

Examples include (bolded):

• 我准备乘坐巴士去学校时，突然下起 倾盆大雨 。
• 老师听到我们说的话后，他 怒气冲冲 地离开了教室。

For new or unfamiliar phrases, write the entire sentence down for context. Try constructing a similar sentence on your own (get someone who is proficient in Chinese to check this if you can!). Flip through the past year questions and see if you can apply this new phrase to any of the pictures/titles!

Be disciplined and make it a point to compile the phrases regularly. As your word bank grows, you will be empowered with a list of handy phrases which you can then accurately use in your compositions.

When it comes to composition writing, it takes time, practice, and patience to improve. Apply the tips we shared above, and with tenacity and perseverance, you will see the fruits of your labour. 

See more related articles and information on Writing Samurai:

• 9 Tips for PSLE Chinese Oral Exams
• 9 Exam Smart Tips for PSLE Chinese Paper 2
• Top 30 Websites and Apps for Chinese Language Learning

You might want to download a pdf copy of this article for future reference!

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Hacking Chinese

A better way of learning mandarin, 36 samples of chinese handwriting from students and native speakers.

Unlike most other languages, handwriting in Chinese can be regarded as a separate skill. Learning to write by hand is not easy; learning to write well is even harder. In an earlier article, I discussed handwriting in details, including how to improve it as a student.

How to improve your handwriting in Chinese

I have collected more than thirty examples of handwriting in Chinese, most of them from students of different ages from various countries across the world. I also gather some examples from native speakers to show as a reference.

The examples below are presented roughly in the order of time spent learning the language, with beginners at the start and native speakers at the very end. Counting study time in years can be very misleading , but since there is no better way of sorting the samples, I chose to do that anyway.

The purpose of this article is not to make a systematic study of student handwriting, although that would be interesting. Apart from time spent learning, another important factor is what the student’s writing looks like in her native language. I have seen enough student handwriting to feel confident when I say that there’s a lot of positive transfer going on, so someone who writes neatly in their native language are likely to write neatly in Chinese too. Beginners of this kind might write neatly but with incorrect strokes and so on, but penmanship still carries over to learning Chinese.

Speaking of penmanship, it should be mentioned that there is probably a strong selection bias at work here. While not all who submitted their handwriting write well, I think it’s safe to assume that people who like handwriting are more likely to have submitted photos of their handwriting when I asked for it. In other words, the average student probably writes worse than the below photos show.

Chinese handwriting from 36 people, using exactly the same tex

Escape: A text adventure game for Chinese learners

Simplified Chinese:

你被关在一个小房间里。你并不记得发生了什么，也不知道为什么被关在这里。你以前从房门的窗口那儿得到食物，但是你用力敲门或者大叫都没有用。你决定一定要逃跑，要不然情况可能会变更不好。

Traditional Chinese:

你被關在一個小房間裡。你並不記得發生了什麼，也不知道為什麼被關在這裡。你以前從房門的窗口那兒得到食物，但是你用力敲門或者大叫都沒有用。你決定一定要逃跑，要不然情況可能會變更不好。

A big thank you to everyone who contributed!

Chinese handwriting after a year of studying (or less)

The first submission comes from the US, and also include  some information about the student. I collected some submissions years ago, so “since the beginning of 2016” actually means less than a year of studying!

August from Suriname submitted the below sample. He’s 71 and has studied Chinese for one year.

Thomas Walker on Twitter writes: “Here is my effort. Been studying Chinese for about 8 months. Your site has been a massive help, keep up the good work!”

Chinese handwriting after studying between one and five years

A student from the US sent in the below photo of his handwriting, saying that he’s 51 years old and has been learning Chinese for a little more than one year.

This is from a 22-year-old Belgian student. She has been studying Chinese for little more than a year:

The next submission is from a 27-year-old Bulgarian student who has studied Chinese for three semesters in Wuhan:

From @fenma on Twtitter : “two years, self, no class, no visit, HSK3”:

A student from France submitted the following sample, saying “I’m around HSK3, with two years living in China where I self practiced writing despite everybody telling me it’s useless (it’s not; it was super useful every single day, whether teaching my Chinese pupils or writing some unknown OCR resistant character in the street in Pleco). I would practice every day with a cheap calligraphy marker (to force myself to write slowly and purposefully; the difference with using a pen/pencil is like night and day, for learning purposes) in a 10RMB kids hanzi practice book bought in Carrefour and I could totally feel the difference very quickly. I used a pen and wrote as fast as I could to give you something a bit more realistic.”

Next is a sample from a Peruvian student. She’s 24 and has studied Chinese for roughly three years:

The last sample in this category comes from 35-year-old Norwegian, who has studied four years of Chinese, mostly self-studying:

Chinese handwriting after having studied for five to ten years

Dr. Chuck on Twitter writes: “I haven’t tried learning how to speak it yet, but I’ve studied the traditional writing for fun in my spare time over the past 5 years. My closet is a graveyard of graph paper!”

Joey on Twitter writes: “I’ve been studying for a little over 5 years now. Hope this helps!”

MissFitti on Twitter writes: “I have been learning Mandarin for my BA and MA in Italy and I am now teaching it at Secondary in England. 5 years at uni in total, and lived in china for 1 year and 6 months :)”

A student from Scotland sent me the below sample of his handwriting. He says  he’s been working in China for over five years, and have studied Chinese, but had very little teaching on how to write characters. Just like the rest of us, he mainly uses phones and computer for writing Chinese:

A student from the US submitted the below photo with this comment: “I have been studying, and I use the word studying loosely, Chinese for about 5-6 years.  […] My reading skills far outweigh my listing, speaking, and as you can see from my attached text, writing skills. […] Thanks for all you do. I truly appreciate you.”

Brandon Rivington on Twitter writes: “I tried to make it as natural as possible. I’ve been studying Chinese for about 7 years. I look forward to reading the article!”

The next sample comes from a 36-year-old student from Spain, who has learnt Chinese for about nine years:

And another submission from Spain, from someone who is two years younger, but has also studied for about nine years:

A Polish student submitted the below photo of his handwriting and said: “I’m 24 years old and I’ve been learning Chinese for about 9 years. 3 years ago I passed HSK5 and I’m planning to pass HSK6 the next year.”

Chinese handwriting after studying for ten years or more

Anna K. on Twitter writes: “Studied Chinese 10+ years, taught it one year. Thanks for your excellent blog and work!”

Here’s a submission from Melbourne, Australia (information included). She has been learning for 12 years.

TranslationRaven writes on Twitter: “Studied Chinese for 12 years in school, didn’t read or write for 8 years after that. Returned to Asia and got my teaching diploma in Chinese after those 8 years. Not sure how I’d categorize myself, haha”

Miriam from Germany submitted the below sample:

David Hull 胡大衛 on Twitter writes: “Always been very self-conscious about my sloppy handwriting. Picked up Chinese late- in my mid 20s. Studied in PRC and US. I haven’t been writing by hand for years (except on the blackboard). I’m an asst Prof of Chinese now. Started in the army program at the Defense Language Institute in ’96 (we didn’t do much writing at all). I didn’t have a chance to formally study again until ’01, and by then it was almost all typed.”

The last sample in this category comes from the US. She has 26 years of formal and informal studying behind her:

Chinese handwriting from native speakers

Now, let’s move on to native speakers. For people who find some of these difficult to read, please check this article for some advice on how to proceed: Learning to read handwritten Chinese

Learning to read handwritten Chinese

A student, who grew up speaking Chinese with her mother and took a few years of Chinese in school, but then forgot most about it, sent in the following sample. She also writes that “this may be the most I’ve ever written by hand, I do everything digitally now, I practice my writing skills by writing to my mother on my cellphone.”

Vicky Lee on Twitter writes: “I am a little bit shamed to write the Chinese like this? It is only recognizable but far from being beautiful.”

Female native speaker, 30 years old:

This is from a 22-year-old native speaker (male):

A native speaker from China, submitted this through Facebook Age ~50. “You are very appreciated to promote Chinese culture.”

A native speaker who grew up in Malaysia, now in her fifties:

And another native speaker from Beijing (male, around 50):

Here’s another native speaker who teaches English near Shanghai (age unknown):

Native speaker, female, age around 50:

Native speaker, age unknown:

And an extra submission, provided after the article was published, so actually number 37: “Age 28, live in China mainland, written by Lamy Safari”, originally posted here .

Conclusion: Chinese handwriting in the 21st century

I’m not sure if any conclusion can be drawn from the samples shown above; that wasn’t really the intention. If you have some thoughts you want to share after checking them out, please leave a comment!

How good your handwriting is depends on many things, including how good your penmanship is in your native language. Time spent practising and how much you care are two other important factors. If you don’t think your handwriting is very good because you haven’t practised enough, that’s nothing to be ashamed of. In this electronic era, writing neatly by hand is not an essential skill for most students.

For those of you who want to improve your handwriting, I conclude here by linking to the previous article :

https://www.hackingchinese.com/how-to-improve-your-chinese-handwriting/

16 comments

The actor 黄轩 posts poems handwritten by his fans on 微博 the blog is called 瞬间MomentX, I find handwritten notes or artistic shop signs very difficult to read

This is fascinating! Thank you so much for this compilation. There’s something very touching about seeing hand-written notes, it’s hard to explain.

Most of the learners’ notes are easy to read, but on the other hand some of the natives’ notes are hard to decipher for the non-native eye. It can’t only be a question of speed, surely…

Thomas Walker is by far the best, in my opinion.

I totally agree. I would be interested to learn his methods. Pen thickness seems to be a major factor. Depending on the day, I can write well with a 0.4mm pen, other days, I need a 0.7mm one.

Thomas Walker’s is awesome – but the Australian teacher lady is really impressive, too (and she’s not working on handwriting grid paper.) Her English handwriting looks exactly like a teacher – she’s obviously used to being very tidy in her writing.

Maybe their chinese handwriting is correlated to their english handwriting. They seem to have similar style.

Yes, that’s a good point. I realised too late that I should have asked people to write the same passage in English as well.

Native here. Yes, our Chinese handwriting and English handwriting (that is, for those of us who can write English) pretty much correlates to each other in style

Age 28, live in China mainland, written by Lamy Safari:

https://igonejack.blogspot.com/2020/01/sample-of-chinese-handwriting.html

Thank you for your submission! I added your writing to the article and I will also mention it on social media, including a link to your page.

Hi, I’m studying in the UK and I have a few people I know from China. I’ve seen what they write a couple of times … it’s some kind of horror. I mean that it is very difficult, I do not envy them. Recently, I read an essay about stereotypes, and still, I will say that they are so true. People who have studied Chinese, tell me how long you have been learning this beautiful language, how long you have been learning to write in Chinese because as far as I understand, one wrong dash and you are writing about something completely different. This is tin, the most difficult language.

Learning to read and write Chinese characters certainly takes a long time, probably longer than learning any other written language. However, we don’t have to exaggerate the difficulty. A misplaced stroke will almost never influence the comprehensibility of what you write. There are specific cases where certain characters differ only in one stroke (position, length, relationship to other strokes), but these aren’t very common, and in context, it’s practically never an issue. That doesn’t make the writing system easy to learn, but it’s not impossible!

As a native Chinese/Cantonese speaker, I can conclude that people who learn Chinese writes better than natives haha

The range of handwriting among the two groups certainly overlaps! I think this is because penmanship is a completely different skill from other aspects of writing (such as composition). I have had beginner student of Chinese who write very good-looking characters from day one, although of course they still struggle with things that require knowledge of characters, such as how long certain strokes should be, which strokes should touch or cross certain other strokes and so on.

These all say the exact same thing, and it doesn’t make sense, or seems like a crazy person wrote it. If you’re going to scam people, put more effort into it.

I’m afraid I don’t understand your comment. They’re all the same because I asked people to write a specific passage; the first subheading even says “Chinese handwriting from 36 people, using exactly the same tex”, so what did you expect? The whole point is to use the same text so people can compare how different people write the same thing. Also, what scam?

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Tips for improving your Chinese essay writing

Writing can reflect a writer's power of thought and language organization skills. It is critical to master Chinese writing if you want to take your Chinese to the next level. How to write good Chinese essays? The following six steps will improve Chinese essay writing:

Before You Learn to Improve Chinese Essay Writing

Before you can write a good essay in Chinese, you must first be accustomed with Chinese characters. Unlike English letters, Chinese characters are hieroglyphs, and the individual strokes are different from each other. It is important to be comfortable with writing Chinese characters in order to write essays well in Chinese. Make sure to use Chinese essay writing format properly. After that, you will be ready to improve Chinese essay writing.

Increase Your Chinese Words Vocabulary

With approximately 100,000 words in the Chinese language, you will need to learn several thousand words just to know the most common words used. It is essential to learn as many Chinese words as possible if you wish to be a good writer. How can you enlarge your vocabulary? Try to accumulate words by reading daily and monthly. Memory is also very necessary for expanding vocabulary. We should form a good habit of exercising and reciting as more as we can so that to enlarge vocabulary. Remember to use what you have learned when you write in Chinese so that you will continually be progressing in your language-learning efforts.

Acquire Grammar,Sentence Patterns and Function Words

In order to hone your Chinese writing skills, you must learn the grammar and sentence patterns. Grammar involves words, phrases, and the structure of the sentences you form. There are two different categories of Chinese words: functional and lexical. Chinese phrases can be categorized as subject-predicate phrases (SP), verb-object phrases (VO), and co-ordinate phrases (CO). Regarding sentence structure, each Chinese sentence includes predicate, object, subject, and adverbial attributes. In addition, function words play an important role in Chinese semantic understanding, so try to master the Chinese conjunction, such as conjunction, Adverbs, Preposition as much as you can. If you wish to become proficient at writing in Chinese, you must study all of the aspects of grammar mentioned in this section.

Keep a Diary Regularly to Note Down Chinese Words,Chinese Letters

Another thing that will aid you in becoming a better writer is keeping a journal in Chinese. Even if you are not interested in expanding your writing skills, you will find that it is beneficial for many day-to-day tasks, such as completing work reports or composing an email. Journaling on a regular basis will help you form the habit of writing, which will make it feel less like a chore. You may enjoy expressing yourself in various ways by writing; for instance, you might write poetry in your journal. On a more practical side of things, you might prefer to simply use your journal as a way to purposely build your vocabulary.

Persistence in Reading Everyday

In addition to expanding your view of the world and yourself, reading can help you improve your writing. Reading allows you to learn by example; if you read Chinese daily, you will find that it is easier to write in Chinese because you have a greater scope of what you can do with the vocabulary that you’ve learned. Choose one favorite Chinese reading , Read it for an hour or 2,000 words or so in length each day.

Whenever you come across words or phrases in your reading that you don’t understand, take the time to check them in your dictionary and solidify your understanding of them. In your notebook, write the new word or phrase and create an example sentence using that new addition to your vocabulary. If you are unsure how to use it in a sentence, you can simply copy the sample sentence in your dictionary.

Reviewing the new vocabulary word is a good way to improve your memory of it; do this often to become familiar with these new words. The content of reading can be very broad. It can be from novels, or newspapers, and it can be about subjects like economics or psychology. Remember you should read about things you are interested in. After a certain period of accumulation by reading, you will greatly improve your Chinese writing.

Do Essay Writing Exercise on a Variety of Subjects

As the saying goes, “practice makes perfect.” In order to improve your China Essay Writing, you should engage in a variety of writing exercises. For beginners, you should start with basic topics such as your favorite hobby, future plans, favorite vacation spot, or any other topic that you can write about without difficulty.

For example:《我的一天》( Wǒ de yì tiān,my whole day’s life ),《我喜欢的食物》( Wǒ xǐhuan de shíwù,my favorite food ),《一次难忘的旅行》( yí cì nánwàng de lǚxíng, an unforgettable trip ) etc.

Generally the writing topics can be classified into these categories: a recount of an incident,a description of something/someone, a letter, formulate your own opinion on an issue based on some quote or picture etc.

Takeaway to Improve Chinese Essay Writing

Keep an excel spreadsheet of 口语(Kǒuyǔ, spoken Chinese) –书面语(Shūmiànyǔ, written Chinese) pairs and quotes of sentences that you like. You should also be marking up books and articles that you read looking for new ways of expressing ideas. Using Chinese-Chinese dictionaries is really good for learning how to describe things in Chinese.

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How to Write a Chinese Essay?

However, this is not an option.

Chinese essay writing is an important part in GCE O level Higher Chinese Language or Chinese Language exam.

Then, what are the students suppose to write in an essay?   For GCE O level Chinese exam in May 2017, many parents complained about the essay questions set were too difficult ( link ).  However, this is the direction we are heading in O level Chinese and the students need to level up necessarily.

Before we even talk about what to write, we must first know what will be tested.

For GCE O level Chinese exam , essay writing is in section 2 of Paper 1.

In this section, students are expected to choose to write 1 out of 3 questions, and the 3 questions will be  in one of the following categories:

• 情景文 (Scenario essay writing)
• 说明文 (Expository)
• 议论文 (Argumentative)
• 材料作文 (Material essay writing)

Each category would need students to write the essay using different skill set. Students need to master the required skill set in order to write essays that meet the criteria.

For 情景文 , students need to use the skills of writing 记叙文 and characters descriptions ; for 说明文 , they need to use the skills of expository essay writing ;  议论文 needs the 3 key elements; as for 材料作文 , depending on the question, students will either need to use the skills for 记叙文 or 议论文 .

When students are clear with all these skills, they will find Chinese essay writing a lot more easier.  When equipped with these necessary writing skills , they will be able to focus more on acquiring their language skills.

With our help, we are confident that our students are able to master all these essential Chinese essay writing skills.

Call 97690373 today to register for our class.

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5 Tips to improve your Chinese

by Rui Zhi Dong

1. Practice

I believe the most efficient way to keep on your top of your Chinese is to practice, practice, practice! This is definitely easier said than done, but it really comes down to self will and motivation. The more you practice, the easier it will become to learn new characters. You need to practice every aspect of Chinese - reading, writing, speaking - in order to see progress.

2. Every day, not every week

Organise your week so that you allocate time to practice Chinese. It's easy to put it off and tell yourself to do double the amount of study to make up for today, but when tomorrow comes around you will probably postpone it again. It's much more effective to do a little everyday than one big weekly session. Start with 15 minutes a day (while you're waiting for the pasta to cook!) and slowly work yourself up to longer study sessions. You'll retain more of what you have learnt by doing a little every day.

3. Cultural immersion

Enjoy learning Chinese! There are some fantastic Chinese dramas and movies. Chinese reality TV shows are also extremely entertaining! Chinese TV shows and movies generally always have subtitles on them so it is a great way to test your character knowledge too! It's a good idea to learn a few Chinese songs too so you can go to a karaoke bar when you visit China!

4. Pen Pal/Study Buddy

Having a pen pal will drastically improve your Chinese. You will constantly be thinking about sentence structure and how to phrase things. Your pen pal will be able to teach you common phrases that may not necessarily be in the textbook. It's great to practice with a friend too to practice your speaking. When you start feeling stressed out by speaking only in Chinese, you can use English words here and there, just as long as you're constantly using some Chinese!

5. Let it all out

A fantastic way to improve your Chinese is to keep a Chinese journal and write about anything in there in Chinese. Even if you can't remember the characters, you can write out the pinyin. The most important thing to gain from this exercise is to think in Chinese. Sometimes when I'm at home alone I will say what I'm doing out loud in a language I'm trying to learn. For example when I'm cooking I'll say what ingredients I need and how I'm going to cook my meal!

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Achieving coherence

“A piece of writing is coherent when it elicits the response: ‘I follow you. I see what you mean.’ It is incoherent when it elicits the response: ‘I see what you're saying here, but what has it got to do with the topic at hand or with what you just told me above?’ ” - Johns, A.M

Transitions

Parallelism, challenge task, what is coherence.

Coherence in a piece of writing means that the reader can easily understand it. Coherence is about making everything flow smoothly. The reader can see that everything is logically arranged and connected, and relevance to the central focus of the essay is maintained throughout.

 

Pronouns are useful cohesive devices because they make it unnecessary to repeat words too often. Consider the following:

Repetitious referencing: 

When Gillette first invented disposable razor blades, he found it very hard to sell  the disposable razor blades .  He found it very hard to sell the disposable razor blades  because nobody had marketed a throw-away product before.

When Gillette first invented disposable razor blades, he found it very hard to sell  them .  This  was because nobody had marketed a throw-away product before.

Pronouns as cohesive devices 

This following presentation shows how pronouns can be used effectively to achieve coherence within a text and some common problems of use.  

Repetition in a piece of writing does not always demonstrate cohesion.   Study these sentences:

So, how does repetition as a cohesive device work?

When a pronoun is used, sometimes what the pronoun refers to (ie, the referent) is not always clear. Clarity is achieved by  repeating a key noun or synonym . Repetition is a cohesive device used deliberately to improve coherence in a text.

In the following text, decide ifthe referent for the pronoun  it   is clear. Otherwise, replace it  with the key noun English  where clarity is needed.

English has almost become an international language. Except for Chinese, more people speak it ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select3" ).html( document.getElementById( "select3" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' ));  than any other language. Spanish is the official language of more countries in the world, but more countries have English ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select4" ).html( document.getElementById( "select4" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' ));  as their official or unofficial second language. More than 70% of the world's mail is written in English ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select5" ).html( document.getElementById( "select5" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' ));  It ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select6" ).html( document.getElementById( "select6" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' ));  is the primary language on the Internet. (p.23). Text source: Oshima, A. and Hogue. A. (2006).  (4th ed.). NY: Pearson Education

Click here to view the revised text.

Suggested improvement

English has almost become an international language. Except for Chinese, more people speak it (clear reference; retain)  than any other language. Spanish is the official language of more countries in the world, but more countries have English ( it is replaced with a key noun) as their official or unofficial second language. More than 70% of the world's mail is written in English ( it is replaced with a key noun).  It (clear reference; retain) is the primary language on the Internet.

Sometimes, repetition of a key noun is preferred even when the reference is clear. In the following text, it is clear that it  refers to the key noun gold , but when used throughout the text, the style becomes monotonous.

Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics. First of all,  has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion. Therefore,   is suitable for jewellery, coins and ornamental purposes.   never needs to be polished and will remain beautiful forever. For example, a Macedonian coin remains as untarnished today as the day it was minted 23 centuries ago. Another characteristic of   is its usefulness to industry and science. For many years,   has been used in hundreds of industrial applications, such as photography and dentistry. Its most recent use is in astronauts’ suits. Astronauts wear heat shields made from  for protection when they go outside spaceships in space. In conclusion,  is treasured not only for its beauty but also its utility. (p.22). Text source: Oshima, A. and Hogue, A. (2006).  (4th ed.). NY: Pearson Education

Improved text: Note where the key noun gold is repeated. The deliberate repetition creates interest and adds maturity to the writing style.

Gold , a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics. First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion. Therefore, it is suitable for jewellery, coins and ornamental purposes. Gold never needs to be polished and will remain beautiful forever. For example, a Macedonian coin remains as untarnished today as the day it was made 23 centuries ago. Another important characteristic of gold is its usefulness to industry and science. For many years, it has been used in hundreds of industrial applications. The most recent use of gold is in astronauts’ suits. Astronauts wear gold -plated shields when they go outside spaceships in space. In conclusion, gold is treasured not only for its beauty but also its utility.

Pronoun + Repetition of key noun

Sometimes, greater cohesion can be achieved by using a pronoun followed by an appropriate key noun or synonym (a word with a similar meaning).

In the two main studies, no dramatic change was found in the rate of corrosion.  could be due to several reasons.   Generally speaking, crime rates in Europe have fallen over the past two years.   has been the result of new approaches to punishment. When a group of school children was interviewed, the majority said they preferred their teachers to be humorous yet kind. However,  were not as highly rated by teachers.

Transitions are like traffic signals. They guide the reader from one idea to the next. They signal a range of relationships between sentences, such as comparison, contrast, example and result. Click here for a more comprehensive list of Transitions (Logical Organisers) .

Test yourself: How well do you understand transitions?

Which of the three alternatives should follow the transition or logical organiser in capital letters to complete the second sentence?

Using transitions/logical organisers

Improve the coherence of the following paragraph by adding transitions in the blank spaces. Use the italicised hint in brackets to help you choose an apporpriate transition for each blank. If you need to, review the list of Transitions (Logical Organisers)   before you start.

First, CDs brought digital sound into people's homes. Then DVD technology brought digital sound and video and completely revolutionised the movie industry. Soon there will be 1. ( ) revolution: Blu-ray *BDs. A Blu-ray disc will have several advantages. 2. ( ), it has an enormous data storage capacity. A single-sided DVD can hold 4.7 gigabytes of information, about the size of an average 2-hour movie. A single-sided BD, 3. ( ) can hold up to 27 gigabytes, enough for 13 hours of standard video. A 4. ( ) advantage is that a BD can record, store, and play back high-definition video because of its larger capacity. A double-layer BD can store about 50 gigabytes, enough for 4.5 hours of high-definition video. The cost will be the same. 5. ( ), a BD has a higher data transfer rate - 36 megabits per second - than today's DVDs, which transfer at 10 megabits per second. 6. ( ), a BD can record 25 gigabytes of data in just over an hour and a half. 7. ( , because of their storage capacity and comparable cost, BDs will probably take over the market when they become widely available. (p.31). Text source: Oshima, A. and Hogue, A. (2008).  4th ed.). NY: Pearson Longman Ltd.

Using transitions

Choose the most appropriate transition from the options given to complete the article:

There are three separate sources of hazards related to the use of nuclear reactions to supply us with energy. Firstly ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select14" ).html( document.getElementById( "select14" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); , the radioactive material must travel from its place of manufacture to the power station. Although ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select15" ).html( document.getElementById( "select15" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); the power stations themselves are solidly built, the containers used for the transport of the material are not. Unfortunately, there are normally only two methods of transport available, namely ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select16" ).html( document.getElementById( "select16" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); road or rail, and both of these involve close contact with the general public, since ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select17" ).html( document.getElementById( "select17" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); the routes are bound to pass near or through heavily-populated areas.  Secondly ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select18" ).html( document.getElementById( "select18" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); , there is the problem of waste. All nuclear power stations produce wastes which in most cases will remain radioactive for thousands of years. It is impossible to de-activiate these wastes; consequently ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select19" ).html( document.getElementById( "select19" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); , they must be disposed of carefully. For example ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select20" ).html( document.getElementById( "select20" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); , they may be buried under the ground, dropped into disused mineshafts, or sunk in the sea. However ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select21" ).html( document.getElementById( "select21" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); , these methods do not solve the problem; they merely store it, since ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select22" ).html( document.getElementById( "select22" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); an earthquake could crack open the containers. Thirdly ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select23" ).html( document.getElementById( "select23" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); , there is the problem of accidental exposure due to a leak or an explosion at the power station. As with the other two hazards, this is extremely unlikely. Nevertheless ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select24" ).html( document.getElementById( "select24" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); it can happen. Separately, and during short periods, these three types of risk are no great cause for concern. Taken together, though ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select25" ).html( document.getElementById( "select25" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); , and especially over much longer periods, the probability of a disaster is extremely high. (p. 62). Text source: Coe, N., Rycroft, R., & Ernest, P. (1983).  Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Overusing transitions

While the use of appropriate transitions can improve coherence (as the previous practice activity shows), it can also be counterproductive if transitions are overused. Use transitions carefully to enhance and clarify the logical connection between ideas in extended texts. Write a range of sentences and vary sentence openings. 

Study the following examples:

: If people stopped drinking, they might be able to prevent the onset of liver disease. , governments permit the production and sale of alcohol.  , they should help in preventing this disease.  , government resources are limited.  : If people stopped drinking, they might be able to prevent the onset of liver disease. Governments permit the production and sale of alcohol.  They should help in preventing this disease. Government resources are limited.  If people stopped drinking, they might be able to prevent the onset of liver disease. The government should help in preventing this disease  they permit the production and sale of alcohol. Government resources,  , are limited.

Identifying cohesive devices

1.  Repetition of key noun                   

2.  Repetition of key noun                    

3.  Pronoun + Repetition                      

4.  Repetition with synonym                 

5.  Pronoun                                       

6.  Pronoun

7.    Transition

8.    Transition

9.    Repetition of key noun  

10.   Pronoun

11.   Pronoun + Repetition

 

Write the name of the cohesive device - pronoun , repetition  or  transition  - in the space after each underlined word or phrase before the blank.

The Sinking of the Titanic

In 1912, the Titanic, the largest and best equipped transatlantic liner of   pronoun ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select26" ).html( document.getElementById( "select26" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); time, hit an iceberg on   pronoun ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select27" ).html( document.getElementById( "select27" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); first crossing from England to America and sank. Of the 2,235 parrengers and crew, only 718 survivived. Research has shown that a number of factors played an important part in the   repetition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select28" ).html( document.getElementById( "select28" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); .  transition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select29" ).html( document.getElementById( "select29" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); , the  repetition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select30" ).html( document.getElementById( "select30" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); carried only sixteen lifeboats, with room for about 1,100 people.   pronoun ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select31" ).html( document.getElementById( "select31" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); was clearly not enough for a ship of the  repetition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select32" ).html( document.getElementById( "select32" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); size.   transition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select33" ).html( document.getElementById( "select33" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); , the designer of the   repetition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select34" ).html( document.getElementById( "select34" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); originally planned to equip the   repetition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select35" ).html( document.getElementById( "select35" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); with forty-eight   repetition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select36" ).html( document.getElementById( "select36" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); ;   transition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select37" ).html( document.getElementById( "select37" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); , in order to reduce   pronoun ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select38" ).html( document.getElementById( "select38" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); costs for building the   repetition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select39" ).html( document.getElementById( "select39" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); , the owners of the   repetition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select40" ).html( document.getElementById( "select40" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); decided to give   pronoun ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select41" ).html( document.getElementById( "select41" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); only sixteen  repetition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select42" ).html( document.getElementById( "select42" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); . A   transition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select43" ).html( document.getElementById( "select43" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' ));    repetition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select44" ).html( document.getElementById( "select44" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); was that the   repetition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select45" ).html( document.getElementById( "select45" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); crew were not given enough time to become familiar with the   repetition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select46" ).html( document.getElementById( "select46" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); , especially with   pronoun ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select47" ).html( document.getElementById( "select47" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); emergency equipment.   transition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select48" ).html( document.getElementById( "select48" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); , many   repetition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select49" ).html( document.getElementById( "select49" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); left the   repetition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select50" ).html( document.getElementById( "select50" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); only half-full and many more people died than needed to. The   transition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select51" ).html( document.getElementById( "select51" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' ));    repetition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select52" ).html( document.getElementById( "select52" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); in the  repetition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select53" ).html( document.getElementById( "select53" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); was the behaviour of the   repetition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select54" ).html( document.getElementById( "select54" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); officers on the night of the   repetition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select55" ).html( document.getElementById( "select55" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); . In the twenty-four hours before the   repetition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select56" ).html( document.getElementById( "select56" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); ,  pronoun ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select57" ).html( document.getElementById( "select57" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); received a number of warnings about  repetition ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select58" ).html( document.getElementById( "select58" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); in the area, but  pronoun ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select59" ).html( document.getElementById( "select59" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); took no precautions.   pronoun ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); tmpAr.push( ' ' ); jQuery( "#select60" ).html( document.getElementById( "select60" ).innerHTML + tmpAr.join( '' )); did not change direction or even reduce speed. (p. 22). Source: Pakenham, K.J. (1998).   Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Using cohesive devices - pronouns and repetition

Read through the text below and consider how you might use pronouns and repetition (either with a key noun or synonym) to replace the bolded  expressions. Write your revised text in the submission box. 

Facebook did not invent social networking, but the company has fine-tuned into a science. When a newcomer logs in, the experience is designed to generate something Facebook calls the aha! moment.   is an observable emotional connection, gleaned by videotaping the expressions of test users navigating   for the first time. Facebook has developed a formula for the precise number of aha! moments users must have before   are hooked. Company officials will not say exactly what that magic number is, but everything about Facebook is geared to reach   as quickly as possible. So far, at least, Facebook has avoided the digital exoduses that beset   predecessors, MySpace and Friendster.  is partly because Facebook is so good at making  indispensable. Losing Facebook hurts. Source: Fletcher, D. (2010, May 31). Friends without borders.  , 21, 16-22.

Write the revised text here:

Click here to view a suggested answer.

Suggested answer :

The Aha! Moment

Facebook did not invent social networking, but the company has fine-tuned it ( pronoun-first person ) into a science. When a newcomer logs in, the experience is designed to generate something Facebook calls the aha! moment. This ( pronoun-determiner ) is an observable emotional connection, gleaned by videotaping the expressions of test users navigating the site ( repetition with synonym ) for the first time. Facebook has developed a formula for the precise number of aha! moments users must have before they ( pronoun-third person )  are hooked. Company officials will not say exactly what that magic number is, but everything about the site ( repetition with synonym ) is geared to reach it as quickly as possible.

So far, at least, Facebook has avoided the digital exoduses that beset its ( pronoun-possessive )  predecessors, MySpace and Friendster. This is partly because Facebook is so good at making itself ( pronoun-reflexive ) indispensable. Losing Facebook hurts.

Cohesion between paragraphs

So far, we have looked at cohesion within paragraphs. In longer texts of several paragraphs, a combination of pronouns, transition and reptition can be used to maintain logical flow and connection between paragraphs.

The extract presented here consists of four paragraphs of an expository essay entitled Sustainable Development from a Historical Perspective: The Mayan Civilisation . Note how the bolded expressions at the start of the second, third and fourth paragraphs provide cohesive links to the paragraph preceding them.

Click to view  Cohesion between paragraphs.

Sometimes known as parallel structures or balanced constructions, parallelism is the use of similar grammatical forms or sentence structures when listing or when comparing two or more items.

When used correctly, parallelism can improve the clarity of your writing.

): :  The elderly residents enjoy many recreational activities: swimming, *read and *to garden. : The elderly residents enjoy many recreational activities:  ,  , and  .   :    The academic conversation group consists of students from China, Japan, Korea and *some Germans. :  The academic conversation group consists of students from  , , , and   :    This paper discusses the main features of the AST system, the functionalities, and *the system also has a number of limitations. :  This paper discusses the  , , and

Parallelism in extended texts

The following excerpt from Bertrand Russell's famous prologue to his autobiography has some classic examples of parallelism:

:   The computer is both fast and *it has reliability

: The computer is both   and .

:   The problem with electronic banking is neither the lack of security nor *the fact that you pay high interest rates.

: The problem with electronic banking is neither   nor  .

:   The aim of the new law is not only to reduce the incidence of boy racing but also *setting up new standards for noise tolerance in the whole neighbourhood.

: The aim of the new law is not only  ... but also   new standards for noise tolerance in the whole neighbourhood.

Correcting faulty parallel constructions

Correct the faulty parallel constructions ( bold ) in the following sentences. 

1.   The researcher wanted to find out where the new immigrants came from and to talk about their future plans.

2.  The earthquake victims were both concerned about water contamination and the slow response from the government also made them angry.

3.  An ideal environment for studying includes good lighting, a spacious room, and the furniture must be comfortable.

4.  Computers have changed the way people live, for their work, and how they use their leisure time.

5. Houses play an important role not only to provide a place to live, but also for giving a sense of security.

Write your corrections here:

Click here to view the suggested answers.

Suggested answers :

1   The researcher wanted to find out where the new immigrants came from and what their future plans were.

2.  The earthquake victims were both concerned about water contamination and angry at the the slow response from the government.

3.  An ideal environment for studying includes good lighting, a spacious room, and comfortable furniture.

4.  Computers have changed the way people live, work, and use their leisure time.

5. Houses play an important role not only to provide a place to live, but also to give a sense of security.

Recognising parallel structures

Read through the text and underline the examples of parallel structures (there are five of them). If you can, write the type of grammatical form used in each case. The first one has been done for you as an example.

Write out the entire paragraph in the submission box if it is easier.

Now you try :

Not only have geneticists found beneficial uses of genetically engineered organisms in agriculture, but they have also found ( 1. paired conjunctions ) useful ways to use these organisms advantageously in the larger environment. According to the Monsanto company, a leader in genetic engineering research, recombinant DNA techniques may provide scientists with new ways to clean up the environment and with more efficient methods of producing chemicals. By using genetically engineered organisms, scientists have been able to produce natural gas. This process will decrease society's dependence on the environment and will reduce the rate at which natural resources are depleted. In other processes, genetically engineered bacteria are being used both to extract metals from their geological setting and to speed the breakup of complex petroleum mixtures which will help to clean up oil spills. (p. 523).

Source: Rosen, L.J. (1995). Discovery and commitment: A guide for college writers. Mass.: Allyn and Bacon.

Write your answer here.

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