chinese essay paper pdf

Free printable resources to help you write better Chinese

Chinese character practice paper containing a grid that resembles the character for rice, 米.

A4 Paper: PDF | PNG US Paper: PDF | PNG

Chinese character practice paper containing a grid that resembles the character for field, 田.

Remove the stabilizers and go freestyle in the empty grid.

Essay Paper

The standard 20x20, 400 character essay writing paper for knuckling down and writing your Chinese homework.

Another Mandarin Poster Resource

Free printable Chinese character writing grids

Download these FREE Chinese character writing grids in three different sizes and three different styles.

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Chinese Radicals provide helpful hints to the meaning and sound of many characters. Learning the most common Chinese Radicals will help you memorize and recall Chinese characters faster! Don't wait! Learn these radicals now to start learning Chinese faster!

Large Writing Grids

These large Chinese Character writing grids are great for learners who are just getting started writing simplified and traditional Chinese characters.

Medium Writing Grids

These medium Chinese Character writing grids are great for transitioning from the large grids to the smaller grids for practicing your simplified and traditional Chinese characters.

Small Writing Grids

These small Chinese Character writing grids are great for more experienced writers practicing small versions of your simplified and traditional Chinese characters.

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• The Fine Print

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Chalk Academy

Printable Chinese Writing Worksheets

If the thought of writing Chinese characters freaks you out, you aren’t alone! Learning Chinese requires tons of practice for children and adults alike. As you gradually develop muscle memory, try to be patient with the writing process and make it as enjoyable as possible. I hope that our printable Chinese writing worksheets can help, and keep scrolling for more tips that have motivated our family along the way.

Decades ago, I learned how to write Chinese characters in middle school and promptly forgot. Then, a few years ago, I started learning again with the best study buddy – my daughter! This time, the process has been much more positive .

Chalk Academy is reader-supported. Some of the links are affiliate links. When you buy something through an affiliate link, we may earn a very small commission at no additional cost to you. More details here .

When to use Chinese writing worksheets

The order of learning a second language generally follows the first language. Just as a baby learns to observe, listen, and talk first, a solid verbal language foundation sets the stage for written language learning. This is especially true with children.

Keep in mind that learning to write is much, much slower than other aspects of language. However, many adults learn to read and write while learning to understand and speak Chinese. While writing can help absorb information into long-term memory, it shouldn’t bog you down from the other parts of language.

In modern times, despite the benefits of handwriting, we don’t need to write Chinese physically. We can still communicate via texting and typing while avoiding writing altogether. So, if you’re learning Chinese as a second language, keep this in mind as you consider your language goals among other life priorities.

What kids should do before using Chinese worksheets

When teaching young children how to write, you might want to wait before using printable Chinese worksheets.

Build fine motor skills and confidence

First and foremost, fine motor skills are the prerequisite to writing. To strengthen pencil grasp, everyday activities like picking up small objects and collecting treasures at the park prepare children for future writing.

Giving kids room to scribble and doodle without worrying about being “correct” also prepares their confidence with using paper.

Explore Chinese stroke order

Without any pressure, kids can learn basic strokes with Chinese stroke order flashcards . A fun and popular strategy is to let kids use their fingers to draw words on sand or in a salt writing tray .

Discover the special meaning of handwriting

If Chinese writing worksheets are the sole exposure to writing, then learning can be quite dreadful. Don’t make this mistake!

Instead, the focus should be on the purpose of handwriting – the way it connects people and brings us closer.

Surprise your child with a special handwritten note in Chinese on their door or lunchbox. Have fun making special handmade Christmas cards or playing tic-tac-toe for writing practice .

Explore this : How I Taught My Child 1000 Chinese Characters as a Non-Fluent Speaker

Blank versus grid Chinese writing worksheets

There are 3 main types of Chinese writing worksheets:

• Blank squares
• 田字格 (Field Grid Paper) The shape of the grid guidelines looks like the Chinese character for field 田.
• 米字格 (Rice Grid Paper) The shape of the grid guidelines looks like the Chinese character for rice 米.

Some learners get distracted by dotted guidelines and need the freedom of a blank square. Others may find the background lines helpful for figuring out where to put each part of the Chinese character. We prefer blank or field grid Chinese writing worksheets.

7 Quick tips for a positive Chinese writing experience

Learn chinese writing with a study buddy.

What better way to encourage a child to practice writing if I also work on it?  God knows I need to improve, too!  

So, if you’re learning with your child, have “mommy and me” or “daddy and me” Chinese writing worksheets. One stack for you and another for your kid! Your actions speak louder than any advice you give to your child.

Small, frequent doses

Write the same Chinese word only a few times, but repeat it every few days for retention.

Writing the same Chinese word for an entire page can be sooooo boring!

Bigger is better for beginners!

Use big writing grids!  Even as an adult learner, I prefer the large writing grids to the standard small size.  It’s much easier to see each stroke, especially for more complex Chinese characters .

Freedom of utensil choice

Let your child choose her writing utensil of choice! The standard pencil is convenient for erasing and making corrections. But if your child likes certain colors or glittery pens, why not let them enjoy it while writing Chinese?

Grade with hearts and smiles

Rather than “grading” writing, my daughter’s self-assessment is by drawing a “heart” or “smiley face” next to the character that looks best. This is an uplifting strategy that you can try in any language! Many thanks to our Chinese teacher for this wonderful idea.

Encourage your child or student to reflect on their work and develop self-awareness without being judged. 

Relax while writing Chinese

Take breaks so the shoulders, arms, hands, and wrists can relax and stretch.  I used to journal a lot during high school, and that, coupled with piano practice, resulted in severe wrist tendonitis.

So let’s teach our children to have healthier habits starting from a young age!

Printable Blank Chinese writing worksheets for kids and adults, too! ( 田字格 | Field Grid Paper)

Choose the grid size that works best for your learning needs!

• Extra small

If you want to save paper, consider putting these printable Chinese worksheets in these reusable dry-erase pockets .

What if your child hates Chinese writing worksheets?

The good news is that Chinese writing worksheets are not the end-all, be-all of learning Chinese.

Besides the pictures in this article, my children have rarely used the Chinese writing worksheets I created.

We’ve had fun painting Chinese characters on magic water calligraphy cloths .

We’re huge fans of dictation, copywork, and progress over perfection.

And no matter your child’s age or developmental stage, remember that the fundamental purpose of language is connection.

Chinese writing worksheet generator websites

Want to make personalized Chinese worksheets? Check out these websites:

• Paid: Arch Chinese , Hanzi Grids
• Free: Chinese Worksheet Generator

More tips for learning Chinese writing

EXPLORE : Chinese Writing Activities That Make Learning Fun for Kids

DISCOVER : Fun Ways to Teach Chinese Stroke Order Rules

PLAY : Tic-Tac-Toe Games for Chinese Writing Practice

LEARN : Fun Ways to Practice Reading and Writing with Handmade Cards

Dr. Betty Choi is a Harvard-trained pediatrician and mother on a mission to connect families through language and play. Chalk Academy was inspired by her trials and triumphs with relearning a heritage language and raising bilingual children in a monolingual community. Dr. Choi's advice has been featured in PBS, Parents, Healthline, The Atlantic, and VeryWell.

Hi all, Does anybody know about Chinese font (simplified) that has dotted lines? I am looking for a Chinese font (simplified) that has dotted lines, (like KG Primary Dots), so children can trace the lines.

Hi Betty, Thank you so much for all your resources! I find myself coming back to your website time and time again to inspire myself on my journey to teach my children Chinese/Cantonese as well.

This is a resource for the previous comments who are looking for a free website to generate a worksheet. I hope it is okay to post this here: https://chinese.gratis/tools/chinese-grid/ The user inputs however many characters they want, then select how many boxes and what style of grid. It doesn’t include stroke order, and I think the character’s are a bit off centered, but it is free. Hope that helps!

Hi Evonne! Thank you so much for the recommendation! Blessed New Year to your family!

Nice information. Seems need to pay to use Arch website worksheet. Any free ones to generate writing worksheet ??

Do you need a paid subscription to Arch Chinese to generate writing worksheets?

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Ling-Ling Chinese

Learn Chinese in a Fun Way

Chinese Worksheets 中文作业

By Ling-Ling Lisa Shih

From Ling-LingChinese.com

This post includes the following sections:

• Blank Worksheets for Chinese Character Worksheets.
• Flash Cards for commonly used words.
• Information about the Radicals and Basic Strokes.
• Chinese character, vocabulary worksheets, and text worksheets.
• Oral performance sheets
• Grammar worksheets 

1. Blank Chinese Character Writing Worksheets

  Chinese Character Writing Sheets :

(Use one of the following templates to generate blank Chinese Character Worksheets) 

•    DOUBLE SIDED character blank_worksheet_diagonal
• Character Worksheets–Can be printed both sides
• 汉字书写练习方格纸 Chinese Character Writing Sheet (with boxes)  
• 汉字书写练习九宫格纸 Chinese Character Writing Sheet (with grid lines)
• Blank Character Practice Worksheet (Diagonal)
• Blank Character Practice Worksheet (Squares)
•         Chinese Essay Worksheet  (原稿紙 yuángǎo zhǐ)

Tools To Generate your own Character Practice Sheets 

• Chinese Character Practice Sheet Generator (With Stroke Order)
• Vocabulary List Generator (including Voabulary Worksheets Generator)
• Chinese Character Practice Sheet Generator

2. Flash Cards for commonly used words.

• flashcards_toys_pinyin
• flashcards_vegetables_pinyin
• flashcards_vehicles_pinyin
• flashcards_weather_pinyin

3. Information about the Radicals and Basic Strokes.

Basic strokes, common radicals, https://vividchinese.wordpress.com/category/radicals/ (radicals with pictures to help you remember them a very useful resource).

Common Radicals Table 偏旁部首表

radicals_simp_lores

Kickstart your character learning with the 100 most common radicals

40 most common radicals | Yo! Learn Chinese!

20 most frequent Chinese character radicals (Traditional character …  (video)

• Chinese-colors  (in PDF)

Chinese Characters and Radicals – ctcfl   ( the-radical-table-by-oxford-university  PDF)

• List of Chinese Radicals  (214 radicals):  list-of-chinese-radicals-214-of-them  (PDF version)

Arch Chinese – Chinese Radicals

• How to talk about radicals in Mandarin

Basic Chinese radicals – Mandarin Chinese I – Learn NC  (Learn in groups)

To Generate Animated Chinese Characters Stroke Animation and Dictionary  (ArchChinese.com) Animated Chinese Characters

4. Worksheets for Integrated Chinese 

Integrated chinese character worksheets with stroke order  (l1 to l20), integrated chinese vocabulary list from l1 to l20.

• Integrated Chinese Vocabulary List for L1 to L11 with pinyin
• Integrated Chinese Vocabulary List for L12 to L20 with pinyin
• Integrated Chinese Vocabulary List for L1 to L20 without pinyin

Introduction:

• Bell Questions Vocabulary_WorkSheet2
• Greetings in Chinese
• Power Point Slides on Common Phrases and Classroom Expressions in Chinese  (Can be printed as Posters)
• Vocabulary Worksheets for Common Phrases & Classroom Expressions (Downloadable)
• Classroom Expressions_Phrases_Worksheets
• Common Expression_character Worksheet 1
• Common Expressions_vocabury Worksheets 2
• Quiz:   Quiz_Common & Classroom Expressions
• Flash cards for 1 to 10
• Character Worksheets for 1 to 10
• 40 Radicals Character worksheets
• 1 to 10 Character Worksheets one page
• 1 to 10 character worksheets Only four times
• First Chinese Class Worksheet_Greetings and Self-Introduction
• Radicals Character Worksheets-one line each
• Write_To_100 偏旁部首-214 Radicals

Lesson 1 Dialogue 1: Exchanging Greeting

• L1D1 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC1 L1D1 Character Worksheets
• IC1 L1D1 Vocabulary Worksheets
• IC1 L1D1 Sentence Worksheets
• IC1 L1D1 Character Flashcards
• IC1 L1D1 Vocabulary Flashcards_No Pinyin
• IC1 L1D1 Vocabulary Flashcards_with Pinyin
• IC1 L1D1 Sentence Flashcards
• IC1 L1D1 Bingo Call Sheets with Pinyin
• IC1 L1D1 Bingo Call Sheets_No Pinyin
• IC1-L1D1 bingo cards_with Pinyin
• IC1-L1D1 bingo cards_No Pinyin
• IC1 L1D1 Character Quiz_CH & Pinyin to En
• IC1 L1D1 Character Quiz_CH to En
• IC1 L1D1 Character Quiz_CH to Pinyin
• IC1 L1D1 Character Quiz_En to Ch
• IC1 L1D1 Character Quiz_En to Ch & Pinyin
• IC1 L1D1 Character Quiz_En to Pinyin
• IC1 L1D1 Character Quiz_Pinyin to Ch
• IC1 L1D1 Character Quiz_Pinyin to En
• IC1 L1D1 Vocabulary Quiz_Ch & Pin to En
• IC1 L1D1 Vocabulary Quiz_Ch to En
• IC1 L1D1 Vocabulary Quiz_Ch to Pin
• IC1 L1D1 Vocabulary Quiz_En to Ch
• IC1 L1D1 Vocabulary Quiz_En to Ch & Pin
• IC1 L1D1 Vocabulary Quiz_En to Pin
• IC1 L1D1 Vocabulary Quiz_Pin to Ch
• IC1 L1D1 Vocabulary Quiz_Pin to En
• IC1 L1D1 Vocabulary Quiz_Matching_Ch to En
• IC1 L1D1 Vocabulary Puzzle
• IC1 L1D1 Sentence Quiz_Matching
• IC1 L1D1 Sentence Quiz_Unscramble
• IC1 L1 Self-Introudction自我介绍_Writing Paper

Lesson 1 Dialogue 2: Asking about Someone’s Nationality

• L1D2 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC1 L1D2 Character Worksheets
• IC1 L1D2 Vocabulary Worksheets
• IC1 L1D2 Sentence Worksheets
• IC1 L1D2 Character Flashcards With Pinyin
• IC1 L1D2 Character Flashcards_No Pinyin
• IC1 L1D2 Vocabulary Flashcards_No Pinyin
• IC1 L1D2 Vocabulary Flashcards_With Pinyin
• IC1 L1D2 Sentence Flashcards
• IC1 L1D2 Bingo Call Sheets
• IC1 L1D2 Bingo Cards_No Pinyin
• IC1 L1D2 Bingo Cards_with Pinyin
• IC1 L1D2 Character Quiz_Ch & Pin to En
• IC1 L1D2 Character Quiz_Ch to En
• IC1 L1D2 Character Quiz_Ch to Pin
• IC1 L1D2 Character Quiz_En to Ch & Pin
• IC1 L1D2 Character Quiz_En to Ch
• IC1 L1D2 Character Quiz_Pin to Ch
• IC1 L1D2 Vocabulary Quiz_Ch & Pin to En
• IC1 L1D2 Vocabulary Quiz_Ch to En
• IC1 L1D2 Vocabulary Quiz_Ch to Pinyin
• IC1 L1D2 Vocabulary Quiz_En to Ch
• IC1 L1D2 Vocabulary Quiz_En to Ch & Pin
• IC1 L1D2 Vocabulary Quiz_En to Pinyin
• IC1 L1D2 Vocabulary Quiz_Matching
• IC1 L1D2 Vocabulary Quiz_Pin to Ch
• IC1 L1D2 Vocabulary Puzzle
• IC 1 L1D2 Unscramble the sentences
• IC1 L1D2 Writing Paper_Writing an Email to a New Pen Pal
• Test_IC1 Lesson 1 Spring 2015

Lesson 2 Dialogue 1: Looking at a Family Photo

• IC1 L2D1 Character Worksheets with Stroke Order
• IC1 L2D1 Character Sheets
• IC1 L2D1 Vocabulary Sheets
• IC1 L2D1 Sentence Worksheet
• IC1 L2D1 Character Flashcards_No Pinyin
• IC1 L2D1 Vocabulary Flashcards_No Pinyin
• IC1 L2D1 Vocabulary Flashcards_with Pinyin
• IC1 L2D1 Character Bingo Cards_No Pinyin
• IC1 L2D1_Character Bingo Cards_with Pinyin
• IC1 L2D1 Vocabulary Bingo Cards_No Pinyin
• IC1 L2D1 Vocabulary Bingo Cards_with Pinyin
• IC1 L2D1 Character Call Sheets_No Pinyin
• IC1 L2D1 Vocabulary Call Sheets_No Pinyin
• IC1 L2D1 Character Quiz_Pin to Ch
• IC1 L2D1 Character Quiz_Ch & Pin to En
• IC1 L2D1 Character Quiz_Ch to En
• IC1 L2D1 Character Quiz_Ch to Pin
• IC1 L2D1 Character Quiz_En to Ch
• IC1 L2D1 Character Quiz_Pin & Ch to En
• IC1 L2D1 Vocabulary Quiz_Pin to Ch
• IC1 L2D1 Vocabulary Quiz_Ch & Pin to En
• IC1 L2D1 Vocabulary Quiz_Ch to En
• IC1 L2D1 Vocabulary Quiz_Ch to Pin
• IC1 L2D1 Vocabulary Quiz_En to Ch
• IC1 L2D1 Vocabulary Quiz_En to Pin
• IC1 L2D1 Unscramble the sentences
• l2d1 worksheets for grammar and language practice_ic-4th-ed
• L2D1 Oral Practice Sheet
• IC1 L2 Extra Kinship Terms_Quiz_En to Ch
• IC1 L2 Extra Kinship Terms_Quiz_Ch to En
• IC1 L2 Extra Kinship Terms Flashcards

  Lesson 2 Dialogue 2: Asking about Someone’s Family

• L2D2 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC1 L2D2 Vocabulary Worksheets
• IC1 L2D2 Character Worksheets
• IC1 L2D2 Vocabulary Flashcards
• IC1 L2D2 Character Flashcards
• IC1 L2D2 Vocabulary Bingo Cards
• IC1 L2D2 Vocabulary Call Sheets
• IC1L2D2 Character Bingo Cards
• IC1L2D2 Character Call Sheets
• IC1L2D2 Character Quiz_En to Ch & Pin
• IC1L2D2 Character Quiz_Ch & Pin to En
• IC1L2D2 Character Quiz_Ch to En
• IC1L2D2 Character Quiz_En to Ch
• IC1 L2D2 Vocabulary Quiz_Matching
• IC1 L2D2 Vocabulary Quiz_Ch & Pin to En
• IC1 L2D2 Vocabulary Quiz_Ch to En
• IC1 L2D2 Vocabulary Quiz_En to Ch
• IC1 L2D2 Vocabulary Quiz_En to Ch & Pin
• Test_IC1 Lesson 2 Spring 2015

Supplementary Kinship Terms

Supplementary worksheet for Jobs and Languages

• Oral Performance on Jobs and languages
• What Languages Can You Speak
• Vocabulary worksheets for What languages can you speak
• Vocabulary List for Different Languages
• Vocabulary List for What Langauge Can you speak

  Lesson 3 Dialogue 1: Taking Someone Out to Eat on His/Her Birthday

• L3D1 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC1 L3D1 Character Worksheets
• IC1 L3D1 Vocabulary Worksheets
• IC1 L3D1 Sentence Worksheets
• IC1 L3D1 Character Flashcards
• IC1 L3D1 Vocabulary Flashcards
• IC1 L3D1 Character Call Sheets
• IC1 L3D1 Character Bingo Cards
• IC1 L3D1 Vocabulary Call Sheets
• IC1 L3D1 Vocabulary Bingo Cards
• IC1 L3D1 Vocabulary Quiz_Textbook p68  (You will also be asked to provide the pinyin for all tested characters)
• IC1 L3D1Character Quiz_IC TextBook p68  (You will also be asked to provide the pinyin for all tested vocabularies)
• IC1 L3D1 Vocabulary Quiz_Matching
• IC1 L3D1Character Quiz_TB p68-69_Ch to En
• IC1 L3D1Character Quiz_TB p68-69_En to Ch
• L3D1 Worksheet for Telling Time
• L3D1 Grammar and Language Practice_4th ed
• L3D1 Oral Performance Sheet
• Review Test for Lesson 3 Dialogue 1

Lesson 3 Dialogue 2: Inviting Someone to Dinner

• L3D2 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC1 L3D2 Character Worksheets
• IC1L3D2 Vocabulary Worksheets
• IC1 L3D2 Sentence Worksheets
• L3D2 worksheet for Chinese time expressions am and pm
• IC1L3D2 Vocabulary Flashcards
• IC1 L3D2 Character Flashcards
• IC1 L3D2 Character Call Sheets
• IC1 L3D2 Character Bingo Cards
• IC1L3D2 Vocabulary Call Sheets
• IC1L3D2 Vocabulary Bingo Cards
• IC1L3D2 Vocabulary Quiz
• IC1 L3D2 Character Quiz_Ch to En
• IC1 L3D2 Character Quiz_En to Ch
• IC L3D2 Vocabulary and Make a Sentence Worksheet
• L3D2 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice-IC1-3rd ed.
• IC L3D2 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice_IC 4th ed
• IC L3D2 Oral Performance Sheet: Invite a Friend to a Movie

Lesson 4 Dialogue 1:Talking about Hobbies

• L4D1 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC1 L4D1 Character Worksheets
• IC1 L4D1 Vocabulary Worksheets
• IC1 L4D1 Sentence Worksheets
• IC1 L4D1 Character Flashcards_No Pinyin
• IC1 L4D1 Vocabulary Flashcards_No Pinyin
• IC1 L4D1 Vocabulary Flashcards_with Pinyin
• IC1 L4D1 Sentence Flashcards_No Pinyin
• IC1 L4D1 Bingo Cards_No Pinyin
• IC1 L4D1 Bingo Cards_with Pinyin
• IC1 L4D1 Character Bingo Call Sheets_No Pinyin
• IC1 L4D1 Character Quiz_Ch & Pin to En
• IC1 L4D1 Character Quiz_Ch to En
• IC1 L4D1 Character Quiz_Ch to Pin
• IC1 L4D1 Character Quiz_En to Ch & Pin
• IC1 L4D1 Character Quiz_En to Ch
• IC1 L4D1 Character Quiz_Pin to Ch
• IC1 L4D1 Vocabulary Quiz_Ch & Pin to En
• IC1 L4D1 Vocabulary Quiz_Ch to En
• IC1 L4D1 Vocabulary Quiz_Ch to Pin
• IC1 L4D1 Vocabulary Quiz_En to Ch
• IC1 L4D1 Vocabulary Quiz_En to Ch & Pin
• IC1 L4D1 Vocabulary Quiz_Pin to Ch
• IC1 L4D1 Vocabulary Quiz_Matching
• IC1 L4D1 Unscramble the Sentences
• IC L4D1 Text Dialogue:_fill-in-the-blanks
• IC L4D1 Vocabulary and Make a Sentence Worksheet
• L4D1 Oral Performance_Interview about hobbies
• l4d1 oral-performance-sheet-hobbies
• l4d1-1st-set-of-five-questions-1 (weekly oral performance)
• L4D1– Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice IC 3rd
• L4D1– Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice_IC 4th Ed

Lesson 4 Dialogue 2: Would You like to Play Ball?

• L4D2 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC1 L4D2 Character Worksheets
• IC1 L4D2 Vocabulary Worksheets
• IC1 L4D2 Sentence Worksheets
• IC1 L4D2 Character Flashcards_No Pinyin
• IC1 L4D2 Vocabulary Flashcards_No Pinyin
• IC1 L4D2 Vocabulary Flashcards_with Pinyin
• IC1 L4D1 Word Puzzle
• IC1 L4D2 Sentence Flashcards_No Pinyin
• IC1 L4D2 Bingo Cards_with Pinyin
• IC1 L4D2 Bingo Cards_No Pinyin
• IC1 L4D2 Bingo Call Sheets_No Pinyin
• IC1 L4D2 Character Quiz_Ch & Pin to En
• IC1 L4D2 Character Quiz_Ch to En
• IC1 L4D2 Character Quiz_Ch to Pin
• IC1 L4D2 Character Quiz_Ch to Pinyin
• IC1 L4D2 Character Quiz_En to Ch & Pin
• IC1 L4D2 Character Quiz_En to Ch Matching
• IC1 L4D2 Character Quiz_En to Ch
• IC1 L4D2 Character Quiz_En to Pin & Ch
• IC1 L4D2 Character Quiz_En to Pinyin
• IC1 L4D2 Character Quiz_Pin to Ch
• IC1 L4D2 Character Quiz_Pin to En
• IC1 L4D2 Vocabulary Quiz Ch & to En
• IC1 L4D2 Vocabulary Quiz Ch to En
• IC1 L4D2 Vocabulary Quiz_Ch to En
• IC1 L4D2 Vocabulary Quiz_Ch to Pin
• IC1 L4D2 Vocabulary Quiz_En to Ch
• IC1 L4D2 Vocabulary Quiz_Pin to Ch
• IC1 L4D2 Word Puzzle
• IC1 L4D2 Unscramble the Sentences Worksheets
• IC L4D2  Text_Fill In the Blanks
• L4D2– Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice (4th edition)
• IC1 L4 D2 Oral Performance Worksheet & Activity Sheets_Language Practice E & F
• IC L4D2 Activity Sheet_Language Practice G
• Oral_Performance IC L1-L4_interview one another and about their family as well
• IC1 L4D2 Writing Paper- 我喜欢做什么

Lesson 5 Dialogue 1: Visiting a Friend’s House

• L5D1 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC1 L5D1 Vocabulary Worksheets
• IC1 L5D1 Character Worksheets
• Flash Cards
• IC1 L5D1 Character Flashcards_No Pinyin
• IC1 L5D1 Character Flashcards_With Pinyin
• IC1 L5D1 Vocabulary Flashcards_No Pinyin
• IC1 L5D1 Character Quiz_Ch & Pin to En
• IC1 L5D1 Character Quiz_Ch to En
• IC1 L5D1 Character Quiz_Ch to Pin
• IC1 L5D1 Character Quiz_En to Ch
• IC1 L5D1 Character Quiz_En to Ch & Pin
• IC1 L5D1 Vocabulary Quiz_Ch & Pin to En
• IC1 L5D1 Vocabulary Quiz_Matching IC1
• IC1 L5D1 Character Call Sheets_No Pinyin
• IC1 L5D1 Vocabulary Quiz_Matching
• lC L5D1 Text_Unscramble the Dialogue-Text
• IC L5D1 Text_Listen and Fill-in-the-Blanks
• IC L5D1 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice I (3rd)
• IC L5D1  Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice II （3rd)
• IC L5D1 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice (I) –4th ed
• Worksheet for L5D1 Grammar and Language Practice (II) –4th ed
• IC L5D1 Oral Performance Sheet: Visiting a Frind (Interpersonal)
• L5D1 Questions for Oral Assignments and audio recordings for learning how to ask and answer these 10 questions

Lesson 5 Narrative: At a Friend’s House

• L5D2 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC1 L5D2 Character Worksheets
• IC1 L5D2 Vocabulary Worksheets
• IC1 L5D2 Sentence Worksheets
• IC1 L5D2 Character flashcards
• IC1 L5D2 Vocabulary Flashcards
• IC1 L5D2 Unscramble the Sentences
• IC1 L5D2 Character Quiz
• IC1 L5D2 Vocabulary Quiz
• Test_IC1 Lesson 5 Spring 2015
• IC L5D2 Text with Pinyin_pdf
• IC L5D2 Text Worksheet
• IC L5D2 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice  (3rd edition)
• l5d2-worksheets-for-grammar-and-language-practice 4th edition
• IC L5D2 Oral Performance: Visiting a Friend or a relative 看一个朋友或者亲戚 (Presentational)
• IC L5D2 Class Activity Unscramble the Sentences into a Coherent Narrative
• IC L5d2 Oral Performance Sheet: Ate in a Chinese Restaurant

Lesson 6 Dialogue 1: Calling One’s Teacher

• L6D1 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC1 L6D1 Vocabulary Worksheets
• IC1 L6D1 Character Worksheets
• IC1 L6D1 Sentence Worksheets
• IC1 L6D1 Vocabulary Flashcards
• IC1 L6D1 Character Flashcards
• IC1 L6D1 Character Bingo Cards
• IC1 L6D1 Character Bingo Call Sheets
• IC1 L6D1 Unscramble the Sentences
• IC1 L6D1 Vocabulary Quiz
• IC1 L6D1 Character Quiz
• IC L6D1 Vocabulary Worksheets: make a sentence for each vocabulary : This can be used when teaching/learning the L6D1 vocabulary
• l6d1-oral-performance_make-a-phone-call-and-make-an-appointment  (This one students have more freedom to create the script than the following two。）
• IC L6D1 Oral Performance–Make a Phone Call and Make an Appointment
• lC L6D1 Oral Performance–Make a Phone Call-and Make an Appointment (more-comprehensive conversation exercise)
• L6D1 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice (3rd ed.)
• l6d1-worksheets-for-grammar-and-language-practice 4th ed

Lesson 6 Dialogue 2: Call a Friend for Help

• L6D2 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC L6D2 Character Worksheets
• IC L6D2 Vocabulary Worksheets
• IC L6 D2 Dialogue_Worksheet
• IC L6 D2 Calling a Friend for Help_Fill in the blanks.docx
• IC L6D2 Oral Performance Sheet: Calling a Friend for Help
• IC L6D2 Oral Performance: Calling a Friend for Help
• L6D2 assignment–Create a poster using at least five classroom rules using the expressions
• IC L6D2 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice

Lesson 7 Dialogue 1: How Did You Do on the Exam

• L7D1 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC1 L7D1 Character worksheets  (with the stroke order)
• IC1 L7D1 Vocabulary worksheets
• IC1 L7D1 dialogue Worksheets
• IC1 L7D1 Flashcard
• IC1 L7D1 Dialogue in Pinyin and Chinese Characters  (in PDF)
• IC1 L7D1 Dialogue in Pinyin and Chinese Characters (In Word)
• IC L7D1 Worksheet for Text_Fill in the Blanks)
• L7D1 Speaking and Writing Exercises based on L7D1
• L7D1 Oral Performance
• L7D1 part 1– Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice, 3rd ed.
• l7d1-part-1-worksheets-for-grammar-and-language-practice_IC 4th ed
• L7D1 part 2– Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice, 3rd ed.
• L7D1 part 2– Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice_IC 4th ed

Lesson 7 Dialogue 2: Preparing for a Chinese Class

• L7D2 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC L7D2 Vocabulary Worksheets
• IC1 L7D2 Character Sheets with stroke order
• IC1 L7D2 Vocabulary Flash Cards
• IC1 L7 D2 Character flashcards
• Questions based on L7D2 Dialogue
• IC1 L7D2 Character List
• IC L7 D2 Preparing for a Chinese Class_Fill in the blanks
• IC L7D2 Oral Performance Sheet
• L7D2– Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice
• l7d2-worksheets-for-grammar-and-language-practice_4th ed

Lesson 8 A Diary: A Typical School Day

• L18D1 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• Vocabulary worksheets for IC1 L8
• Character Worksheets for IC1 L8
• IC1 Lesson 8 Part 1 : Text (Diary) Worksheets
• L8D1 part 1– Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice
• L8D1 part 2– Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice
• l8d1-part-1-worksheets-for-grammar-and-language-practice 4th ed
• l8d part-2-worksheets-for-grammar-and-language-practice–4th ed
• mei3tian1-zao3shang4_every-morning
• Worksheet for the Chinese Usage of “before” and “After”
• IC L8D1 Oral Performance Worksheet: Poster-on-my-day-wo-de-yi-tian
• Flashcard for IC1 L8(1)

Lesson 8 A Letter: Talking about Studying Chinese

• L18D2 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC 1 L8D2 Character Sheets with stroke order
• IC 1 L8D2 Vocabulary Sheets
• IC1 Lesson 8 Part 2_Letter_Text_Worksheets
• IC 1 L8D2 Vocabulary Flashcards
• L8D2 Vocabulary and Make a Sentence Worksheet
• Lesson 8 part 2 Text_Listen and Fill in the Blanks (PDF)
• IC L8D1 Part 2 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice
• L8D2 Oral Perfromance –Write an Email to a Friend
• L8D2-Oral Performance Write a Mail to a friend_Revised one

Lesson 9 D1 Shopping for Clothes

• L9D1 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC1 L9D1 Character Worksheet without stroke order
• IC1 L9D1 Vocabulary Worksheets
• L9D1 Dialogue Worksheets
• L9D1 worksheets fpr Grammar and Language Practice
• IC1 L9D1 Vocabulary Flashcards
• Two poster Projects for colors (for IC Lesson 9)
• L9D1 1st set of five questions (weekly oral performance)
• oral-assignment-for-l9d1
• L9D1 Text_Fill in the blanks (in word)  or  L9D1 Text_Fill in the blanks (in pdf)
• L9D1 Vocabulary and Make a Sentence Worksheet
• Chinese poster Projects for colors 

Lesson 9 D2 Exchanging Shoes

• L9D2 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC1 L9D2 Character Worksheets_with Stroke Order
• IC1 L9D2 Character Worksheets_Handwriting style
• IC1 L9D2 Vocabulary Worksheets
• IC1 L9D2 Dialogue_worksheet (Fill in the blanks)
• IC1 L9D2 Vocabulary Flashcards
• IC1 L9D2 Character Flashcards
• L9D2 Oral Performance
• L9D2 Vocabulary and Make a Sentence Worksheet
• IC 1 L9D2 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice (3rd)
• IC 1 L9D2 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice (4th)
• IC1 L9D2 Dialogue_with Pinyin
• IC1 L9D2 Dialogue_worksheet

Lesson 10 D1 Going Home for the Winter Vacation

• L10D1 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC L10D1 Character worksheets with Stroke Order
• IC L10D1 Character worksheets_Handwritten Style
• IC1 L10D1 Vocabulary Worksheets
• IC L10D1 Character flashcards
• IC L10D1 Vocabulary Flashcards
• IC L10D1 Dialogue worksheet
• IC L10 Text_Fill in the Blank Worksheet (in word)
• IC L10 Text_Fill in the Blank Worksheet (in PDF)
• Oral Assignment for L10D1
• IC1 L10 D1 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice (3rd ed)
• Worksheet for L10D1 Grammar and Language Practice –4th ed (Truncated version)

Lesson 10 D2 Email

• L10D2 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC L10d2 Character List
• IC L10d2 Character Fashcards
• IC L10d2 Character Worksheets
• IC L10d2 Vocabulary Flashcards
• IC L10d2 Vocabulary List
• IC L10d2 Vocabulary Worksheets
• IC L10D2 Text_Worksheets
• IC L10d2 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice (3rd ed)
• L10D2 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice_IC 4th ed
• L10D2 Oral Performance Worksheets

Lesson 11 D1  Tomorrow’s Weather Will be Even Better

• L11D1 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC L11D1 Text Worksheets
• IC L11 D1 Text_Fill in the blanks
• IC L11D1 Character Flashcards
• IC L11D1 Character List
• IC L11 D1 Character-Worksheets
• IC L11D1 Vocabulary Flashcards
• IC L11D1 Vocabulary Worksheets
• IC L11D1 Vocabulary List
• IC L11D1 Activity Sheet–Comparison “比”
• IC L11D1 Activity Sheet_以前。。。现在。。。了 &  the usage of “比”
• L11D1 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice
• L11D1 Chinese Weather Forecast Oral Presentation
• Weather Forecast Terms PPT for the Weather Report Oral performance

Lesson 11 D2  The Weather Here is Terrible

• L11D2 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC L11D2 Text Worksheets
• IC L11 D2 Character Worksheets
• IC L11 D2 Vocabulary Worksheets
• IC L11 D2-Text_filling-in-the-blanks
• IC L11D2-warm-up-questions  （1）
• IC L11D2-warm-up-questions：describe the four seasons  (2)
• IC L11D2 Oral Performance Sheet–Four Seasons
• IC L11D2 Worksheets for grammar and language practice——4th ed

Lesson 12 D1  Dining Out

• L12D1 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC L12 D1 Character Worksheets
• IC L12 D1 Vocabulary Worksheets
• IC L12D1 Text_Worksheets
• IC L12 D1 Text_listen-and-writing-activity_fill-in-the-blanks-worksheet
• IC L12 D1_warm-up-questions-1_what-do-you-like-to-order
• L12D1 1st set of five questions (weekly oral performance)
• IC L12 D1 Oral Performance Sheet
• IC L12D1 Oral Performance Sheet: Order Food and Drink in a Chinese Restaurant
• L12 _Menu-in-pinyin-and-chinese-characters
• IC L12D1 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice

Lesson 12 Dialogue 2：Eating in a Cafeteria

• L12D2 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC L12 D2 Vocabulary Worksheets
• IC  L12D2 Character Worksheets
• IC L12D2-text_listening-and-writing-activity_fill-in-the-blank-worksheet
• IC L12D2 Eating in a Cafeteria_Text with Pinyin
• IC L12D2 Eating in a Cafeteria_Text_Worksheets
• L12 D2 Use Venn Diagram_to Compare Chinese and American Food Culturec
• L12 D2 Chinese Map and Eight Chinese Regional Cuisines
• L12D2 -table-for-8-regional-cuisines-and-their-different-charisteristics
• IC L12D2 Worksheets for Grammar& Language Practice –3rd edition
• L12D2 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice 4th
• IC L12D2 Oral Performance Sheet_Todays Special

Lesson 13 Dialogue 1: Where Are You Off To?

• L13D1 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC L13D1 Character Worksheets  (PDF)
• IC L13D1 Vocabulary Worksheets (PDF)
• IC L13D1 Text with Pinyin-pdf
• IC L13D1 Text Worksheets
• IC L13D1 Text Listening-and-Writing-Activity_fill-in-the-blank-worksheet
• IC L13D1 Oral Performance Sheet: Draw a Campus Map and Ask for Direction
• IC L13D1 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice 3rd ed
• Worksheet for L13D1 Grammar and Language Practice –4th ed

Lesson 13 Dialogue 2: Going to China Town

• L13D2 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC L13D2 Vocabulary Worksheets
• IC L3D2 Character Worksheets
• IC L13D2 Dialogue_Worksheets
• IC L13D2 Dialogue Worksheet_listen-and-fill-in-the-blanks
• IC L13D2 Oral Performance Sheet
• IC L13D2 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice IC 3th ed.
• IC 13D2 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice_IC 4th ed.

Lesson 14 Dialogue 1: Let’s Go to a Party!

• L14D1 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• IC L14D1 Character Worksheets
• IC 14D1 Vocabulary List
• ICL14 D1 Vocabulary Worksheet
• IC Lesson 14 dialogue-1 Let’s Go to a Party-Fill in the blanks
•   IC L14D1 Oral Performance Sheet
• IC L14D1 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice-IC1-3rd ed
• IC L14D1 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice–IC 4th ed

Lesson 14 Dialogue 2: Attending a Birthday Party

• L14D2 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• L14D2 Character Worksheets
• L14D2 Vocabulary Worksheet
• L14D2 Text in Pinyin and Chinese Characters
• L14D2 dialogue worksheets
• Assignment for L14D2_Body Parts Assignment
• Lesson 14 Dialogue 2 Attend a Birthday Party (fill in the blanks)
• L14D2-worksheets-for-grammar-and-language-practice
• L14D2 Oral Performance Sheet

Lesson 15 Dialogue 1: My Stomach is Killing me

• L15D1 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• L15 D1 Character Worksheets
• L15 D1 Vocabulary Worksheet
• L15D1 Character Lists
• L15D1 Dialogue_Text with Pinyin
• l15d1 Oral Performance Sheet
• L15D1 Dialogue_Text Worksheet
• L15D1Text_Listening and Writing Activity_fill in the blank worksheet
• l15D1 Worksheets for Grammar and Language-practice
• L15D1 Four Illnesses Poster Assignment
• Worksheets for Sentences concerning Health and Illnesses

Lesson 15 Dialogue 2: Allergies 

• L15D2 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• L15D2 Character Worksheets
• L15D2 Vocabulary Worksheets
• L15D2 Text Worksheets
• Lesson 15 Dialogue II_Worksheet_Listen and Fill in the blank (in Word)
• Lesson 15 Dialogue II_Worksheet_Listen and Fill in the blank (in PDF)
• l15d2 Worksheet for Grammar and Language Practice
• l15d2 Oral Performance Sheet (in docx)  or l15d2 Oral Performance Sheet (PDF)

Lesson 16 Dialogue 1: Seeing a Movie

• L16D1 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• L16D1 Character and Vocabulary worksheets
• L16D1 entire vocabulary list
• L16D1 Text with Pinyin
• L16D1 Text Worksheet
• L16D1 Text Worksheet_Listening& Writing_Fill in the Blanks
• l16D1 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice
• L16D1Oral Performance Sheet: Take a Friend out for a Movie

Lesson 16 Dialogue 2: Turn Down an Invitation

• L16D2 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• L16 D2 Character Worksheets
• L16 D2 Vocabulary Worksheets
• L16D2 Vocabulary and Make a Sentence Worksheet
• L16D2 Text with Pinyin and Chinese
• L16D2 Text Worksheet
• l16d2 Oral Performance Sheet–Turn Down an Invitation
• L16D2 Text Listening and Writing Exercises：Listen and Fill in the Blanks

L17 D1 Finding a Better Place

• L17D1 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• L17D1 Chinese Character Worksheets
• L17D1 Chinese Vocabulary Worksheets
• L17D1 Text Worksheet
• L17D1 Oral Performance Rent an Apartment 出租公寓
• l17 part 1 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice

L17 D2 Calling about an Apartment for Rent

• L17D2 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• L17D2 Vocabulary Worksheets
• L17D2 Character Worksheets
• Lesson 17 D2 Calling about an Apartment for Rent_Dialogue Text Worksheet
• l17D2 Oral Performance Assignments
• L17 D2 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice

L18 D1 My Gut Keeps Getting Bigger and Bigger

• L18D1 Character Worksheets
• L18D1 Vocabulary Worksheets
• L18D1 Dialogue Text in Chinese and Pinyin
• L18D1 Dialogue Text_Worksheets in Chinese and Pinyin
• L18D1 Oral Performance Worksheet
• l18D1 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice

L18 D2 Watching American Football

• L18D2 Text_in Pinyin and Chinese
• L18D2 Text_Worksheets
• L18D2 Vocabulary Worksheet
• L18D2 Character Worksheets
• L18D2 Oral Performance Worksheet
• L18D2 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice

L19 D1 Traveling to Beijing

• L19D1 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• L19D1 Character Worksheet
• L19D1 Vocabulary Worksheet
• L19D1 Text in Pinyin and Chinese characters
• L19D1 Text_Worksheets
• l19D1 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice
• L19D1 Oral Performance Worksheet: What is your plan for this summer 你今年打算做什么

L19 D2 Planning an Itinerary

• L19D2 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• L19D2 Vocabulary Worksheets
• L19D2 Text in Pinyin and Chinese
• L19D2 Text Worksheet
• L19 D2 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice
• Worksheet for L19D2 Listen and Fill in the Blank (in Word)
• Worksheet for L19D2 Listen and Fill in the Blank_PDF
• IC L19D2 Oral Performance Sheet–Book an Airline Ticket

Lesson 20 D1 Checking in at the Airport 

• L20D1 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• L20D1 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice

Lesson 20 D2 Arriving in Beijing

• L20D2 Character Worksheet with stroke order
• L20 D2 Worksheets for Grammar and Language Practice

Supplementary: Songs

• Vocabulary Sheets for Tonghua
• Quiz for vocabulary in Tonghua
• Voabulary Sheets for You Exist in My Song
• Vocabulary Sheet for Happy New Year_Xinnian hao
• Quiz for Happy New year_新年好
• Vocabulary sheets for GongXi Ge 恭喜恭喜
• Quiz for Gongxi 恭喜恭喜

[More lyrics and Vocabulary worksheets for other songs can be found  in individual posts I have created for the songs I have used to teach students]

*******************************************************

Other Supplementary Character and Vocabulary Worksheets:

• Stroke Order Animation and Dictionary
• Chinese Character Writing Sheets

Use the following one of these three templates to generate blank Chinese Character Worksheets:

•    汉字书写练习方格纸 Chinese Character Writing Sheet (with boxes)  /  PRC-Character-Writing-Sheet
•   汉字书写练习九宫格纸 Chinese Character Writing Sheet (with grid lines)  /  Chinese_PDF_PRC-Writing-Sheet
• Character Practice Sheets

The following provides worksheets for the textbook called “Practical Chinese Readers”, which we do not use for our course, but they have basic vocabularies that appear in “Integrated Chinese.”

•    《实用节奏汉语》 Practical Rhythmic Chinese
• 《实用汉语课本》（第一册）Practical Chinese Readers Book I
• 《实用汉语课本》（第二册）Practical Chinese Readers Book II

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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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The chinese essay.

An Anthology

Selected and translated by David Pollard

Columbia University Press

Pub Date: September 2002

ISBN: 9780231121194

Format: Paperback

List Price: $38.00 £32.00

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In keeping with its venerable tradition of publishing scholarship on China, Columbia has produced a groundbreaking work edited by a respected Sinologist and translator. In his lengthy and useful introduction to this collection of essays by 36 Chinese authors, Pollard discusses the important differences between the Western notion of 'essay' and its Chinese version--or sanwen (everything that is not a poem)--which is steeped in the classical school curriculum....Pollard's up-to-date, lucid translations of this specialized form of prose can be read effectively as a companion piece to Elizabeth Buckley Ebrey's sourcebook Chinese Civilization and Society (CH, Jul'81) by anyone interested in serious study of Chinese history and culture. B.M. McNeal, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvnia, Choice

About the Author

• Asian Literature
• Asian Studies
• Asian Studies: Arts and Culture
• Asian Studies: Literary Criticism
• Fiction and Literature
• Literary Studies

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The Chinese Essay

Edited and translated by David E. Pollard

Reviewed by Charles A. Laughlin MCLC Resource Center Publication (Copyright January 2004)

David E. Pollard, editor and translator. The Chinese Essay . New York: Columbia University Press, 2000. 372 pp. US $65.00, ISBN: 0-231-12118-0 (cloth); US $24.50, ISBN: 0-231-12119-9.

The Chinese Essay is the first anthology to provide a comprehensive introduction to Chinese literary non-fiction prose from earliest times to the present. Comparable collections in print, such as Richard Strassberg’s Inscribed Landscapes: Travel Writing from Imperial China and Sang Ye’s Vignettes from the Late Ming, are restricted to the premodern period, and until now modern essay translations (often Pollard’s) have only appeared scattered in journals like Renditions and Chinese Literature and in more general anthologies like The Literature of the Hundred Flowers , The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Literature , and monographs devoted to individual authors such as Zhou Zuoren and Yu Pingbo. The selections in The Chinese Essay represent most of the best-known Chinese essayists, through some of their most anthologized and well-known works. Never have premodern and modern essays been placed next to each other, and never has the considerable tradition of the modern Chinese essay been presented so richly. Pollard’s effort is commendable, and should be interesting not only to the general reader but a great boon as well to instructors of courses devoted to Chinese literature or to the essay across cultures.

Pollard has translated all of the essays himself. As a much-published translator, and author of A Chinese Look at Literature: The Literary Values of Chou Tso-jen (Zhou Zuoren, the pioneer of the modern Chinese literary essay), there could hardly be a better choice for this task. Not only are the translations faithful to the semantic meaning of the original texts (as far as I can tell), but Pollard’s clipped, dry, and often humorous style is also often perfectly suited to the spirit of the essays presented here. The anthology also includes portraits or photographs of many of the authors as well as their calligraphy or handwriting. Though not numerous, these illustrations very effectively convey the love of writing and the emphasis on personal style that tie together the many phases of the Chinese literary essay’s long tradition.

Because of the infancy of the study of the Chinese essay in English, an anthology like this and its introduction are potentially seminal statements, situating this genre in the field of Chinese cultural studies in general, justifying our interest in it, and pointing the way to avenues of further inquiry. But if The Chinese Essay answers the question, Why publish or read such an anthology?, it does so only meekly. Pollard observes that there has not been a general anthology of Chinese essays published since Herbert Giles’ 1884 Gems of Chinese Literature , so his argument begins from a gap or lack in the representation of a genre. Rather than engage with this lack critically, Pollard goes on to assert two reasons for it, almost as if to justify it, namely, the inherent difficulty of representing and discussing linguistic style in a foreign language (but why should this not have been a hindrance to the translation and circulation of other Chinese literary genres?), and the decline in prestige of the essay in the English-speaking world. Thus, in effect, rather than answering the question of why he is offering this anthology now, Pollard is simply providing convincing reasons why it had not been done before. What is missing from this explanation is why the prestige of the essay in modern and contemporary China, unlike the English speaking world, has not declined. If this book could bring the English reader around to understand the power and agency of the essay in contemporary China, despite all that has been said in our field about the overwhelming importance of fiction, it would create more than enough motivation and capacity to appreciate the importance of the contents of this anthology on its own terms, even for a general reader.

The general reader, moreover, seems to be the main target of this anthology. Yet this general-audience orientation is belied by the inclusion of Chinese characters for authors’ names and titles to works. Indeed those who would benefit from the Chinese characters (most of the likely audience of this collection) will generally want more bibliographical information, as well as some engagement with scholarship in the field such as Yu-shih Chen’s Images and Ideas in Chinese Classical Prose: Studies of Four Masters , Chih-p’ing Chou’s Yuan Hung-tao and the Kung-an School . In addition to a more in-depth and informative introduction, I think the book as a whole could have included more scholarly apparatus, including a less sketchy, multi-lingual bibliography, without harming its appeal to a general audience.

If Pollard assumes anything about his audience, it is that they are familiar with the European prose essay, which I think leaves some room for doubt especially with respect to the younger generations. The European essay was of course an important context for the modern Chinese essay, but Pollard is probably putting unnecessary emphasis on features peculiar to the European tradition (“absence of dignity,” “refining and directing sensibilities to create a polity that was new and particular,” “entertainment value,” [p. xii-xiii] “independence of thought,” [p. 7] etc.) in the effort to define the Chinese essay for the general English reader. It might have been more effective and engaging to discuss what prose essays in China are like and what they are used for, rather than comparing them (often unfavorably) to the European tradition that the reader may not be very familiar with anyway.

After detailing in the Preface negative aspects of traditional Chinese culture and literary conventions that explain why premodern Chinese essays do not resemble those of Montaigne and Bacon, Pollard does go on to list what he feels are some of the positive aspects of the Chinese essay in general: “The qualities are on the one hand common to mankind, on the other particular to Chinese literary arts. The first kind includes the expression of character in the writer, either impressively strong or appealingly weak; the expression of sentiment, usually to commemorate friends and relatives; nostalgia for past times; appeals for justice and compassion; pleasure in diversions. The second kind concerns the musicality of the language, a prime and often, regrettably, the prime requirement for approval.” Then he goes on to explain why musicality cannot be translated. Thus, all of the positive aspects of the premodern Chinese essay that are particular to Chinese literary arts are here lost in translation, and what is left is a variety of expressions of ideas and sentiments. I am not certain, but a general English readership (which has already proven itself lukewarm to Chinese fiction and poetry in translation) may not be inclined to delve into this anthology thus described. Why not say more about the extraordinary personalities and intellectual genius evinced in included works by Tao Qian, Han Yu and Su Shi, Lu Xun, Zhou Zuoren, Feng Zikai and Zhang Ailing? Why not talk about some of the larger cultural themes for which the Chinese essay served as the principal vessel, and which through the essay traditional and modern writing are linked—the cultivation of the art of living, the struggle between transcendent and worldly values, or the contrarian resistance to “political correctness” of every imaginable kind?

In an anthology with such broad coverage but short length, the editor is obliged to explain his principles for selection, and Pollard very honestly acknowledges that it would have been impossible to adhere to a single principle. I applaud his insistence that personal taste—an important theme in ancient and modern essays—was his principal guide. This accounts for his enthusiastic inclusion of essays by Gui Youguang (1506-1571) despite their criticism by the modern essayist Lin Yutang, his exclusion of Lin Yutang’s own essays, and no doubt as well the inclusion of contemporary writer Yu Qiuyu, well-known for his popular, fictionalized imaginings of significant historical moments, over those with strong links to the Republican period essay tradition like Wang Zengqi, Zhang Zhongxing and Ji Xianlin. On the other hand, in his note on sources Pollard states that “the classical prose section consists almost entirely of anthology pieces; they had to be so in order to represent the classical heritage” (369). He also states that he felt he had to include certain perennial classics (both traditional and modern) that may not have been among his favorites, even when they were available in other collections. In saying this Pollard makes it clear that he intends this collection to represent the Chinese essay with some authority and self-sufficiency, which seems out of step with his claim of using personal taste as his guide. Nevertheless, I think the resulting balance between personal taste and the need to reflect the received canon makes for a selection that both makes good reading and a good textbook.

Though Pollard alludes to wide reading in anthologies, the only one he cites is a 1987 publication, implying that anthologies tend to select the same works for each author. I am currently in the midst of a survey of anthologies of premodern essays that so far suggests to me that selections vary significantly across eras (Qing, Republican, Taiwan, Early PRC, recent PRC) for various different reasons. For example, premodern anthologies such as the seventeenth-century Guwen guanzhi generally favor formal essays of serious import that cleave to Confucian values, while more modern collections increasingly favor heterodox views, and include more “individualistic” essays on small, private matters. This is in part due to the gradual acceptance in the late imperial period that informal or casual writing possesses its own aesthetic value that can be appreciated by posterity. Moreover certain Republican period publications such as Shen Qiwu’s 1932 Jindai sanwen chao (A selection of early modern essays), Zhang Dai’s Tao’an mengyi (Dreamlike remembrance) edited with prefaces by Yu Pingbo and Zhou Zuoren, and Shi Zhecun’s 1935 Wanming ershi jia xiaopin (The Late Ming xiaopin: twenty masters) exerted an influence on the modern Chinese essay, and these could at least have been mentioned. The reader who wants to explore the Chinese essay in more detail would have benefited greatly from some guidance as to which anthologies are best, and which exerted the greatest influence.

It is interesting that The Chinese Essay , covering both premodern and modern periods, devotes the lion’s share of its space to the modern period. There are about forty pages devoted to ancient-medieval times (through the Song Dynasty), forty to late imperial times (Ming and Qing dynasties), about 170 to the first half of the twentieth century, when the modern essay came into its own, and ninety to the post-war period; thus over seventy percent of this collection is from the past 100 years. The slant in favor of modern essay has the effect of showing the reader the pre-modern essay through modern eyes, which I applaud, but the editor could have been more forthcoming about this in the introduction. If, for example, the reader took The Chinese Essay to be a general survey of the Chinese essay from antiquity to the present, it would give the impression that the essays of the twentieth century are much more important than those in the more than two millennia before. Modern Chinese essays can often be understood better through their relationships (sometimes conspicuous) with premodern literary or philosophical trends, and these relationships do not in themselves lessen the modern texts’ “modernity,” but help constitute it. In this respect, if it was in fact Pollard’s intention to present premodern essays primarily as precursors to modern ones, he could have done more in the introduction, commentary and translator’s notes to emphasize which kinds of premodern texts have particularly exerted agency in modern times, which modern texts manifest their influence, and how.

Turning to the modern period, the cavalier dismissal of prose literature under leftism and socialism is unfortunate; the development of the genre of reportage is misrepresented in the introduction as originating as anti-Japanese propaganda in the War Against Japan and developing in Communist China only to extol the Party (p. 20), and no mention is made at all of prominent lyrical essayists within the socialist camp like Qin Mu, Yang Shuo and Liu Baiyu, leading to the mistaken impression that all socialist prose is reportage. The exclusion of all of this material detracts from the anthology’s authority as a survey of the genre. As I have argued elsewhere, reportage may be looked upon as the leftist answer to the essay, but it originates as a form of revolutionary social critique in the 1930s, and its use in the War Against Japan is much broader than just propaganda. Moreover, though it would not be appropriate to include examples in the anthology, it should have been pointed out in the introduction that reportage made an important revival in the 1980s and beyond in the hands of Liu Binyan, Su Xiaokang and others; the concern for the environment that Pollard so admiringly observes in the contemporary Taiwanese essay has been one of the major themes of mainland Chinese reportage literature for at least ten years.

Another ramification of the editor’s inattention to the condition of modernity is Pollard’s explanation of the Chinese term sanwen . Pollard presents the Chinese concept as stable and unchanging, and explains its meaning entirely in terms of contrasts with European concepts. But the term sanwen was not used to denote a literary genre until modern times and even now critics and literary historians struggle with the equivocal nature of the term (“literary genre” vs. “all kinds of writing not in verse form”). It would have been helpful to put more emphasis on the particular modes or genres that the premodern works belong to (memorials to the emperor, philosophical treatises, formal and informal correspondence, prefaces and colophons, travelogues, epitaphs, biographies, etc.). This is not to say that this variety of forms ought not to be placed in a more general category under the term “sanwen,” but it is regrettable that the modern cultural process by which this was achieved receives no emphasis or attention.

Pollard’s concern here with limiting the scope of the collection to a describable form (“a free-standing, self-contained, relatively short composition” that “surfaced in the stable empire of the Han dynasty”) is, I think, unnecessarily limiting, and in fact might hamper the uninformed reader’s understanding of the broader context of the Chinese essay’s evolution. On page 2 of the introduction, Pollard makes a convincing, if somewhat defensive, argument for excluding the writings of the ancient Daoist philosopher Zhuang Zi. However, informed readers reading through the selections throughout both premodern and modern periods will easily discern the pervasiveness of Zhuang Zi’s influence in this genre. Indeed, Zhuang Zi’s playful spirit and philosophical critique of Confucianism may be described as one of the principal characteristics that distinguish the Chinese informal essay, which was the principal model for the modern literary essay, from formal prose. Similarly, though he devotes a page or so to the tremendous significance of Sima Qian’s Records of the Grand Historian as a model for the spirit and the letter of prose writing, Pollard excludes it because, “[being] a work of objective history, however, or at least attempting to be such, the author’s own comments are minimal” (4), implying that self-expression is working as a criterion for selection (see also his comments on page 5 about Cao Pi’s use of the term qi to denote “the physical underpinning of the distinctive character, or personal stamp, that an author’s writing is imprinted with”), but that self-expression can only be manifested in the form of direct “comments.” How many readers of even a few biographies from the Shi ji , though, come away from it without feeling that Sima Qian has very forcefully expressed his own views through them? A similar example is the exclusion of the Six Dynasties collection of anecdotes, Shishuo xinyu (New account of tales of the world), of which a translation by Richard Mather was published a generation ago. Like Zhuang Zi and the wealth of apocryphal writings of the Daoist tradition, Liu Yiqing’s New Account , which describes remarkable events, actions and utterances of the medieval aristocracy, though perhaps not fitting. Pollard’s criterion, was an important and frequently imitated foundation of the Chinese essay tradition.

The introductions to the sections on each author, though at times impressionistic, often include insightful analytical meditations or epigrammatic summaries of the author’s style that strike me as most apt and useful. However, I am not sure it is necessary for Pollard to separately include “commentary” and “translator’s notes” (sometimes both) before or after certain works in addition to the introductory sections on each author. Often the translator’s note will emphasize interpretation in a cross-cultural context, as in the case of Zhu Ziqing’s “View from the Rear” (Bei ying), but I feet that such considerations would have been much more effectively delivered in a critical essay that treats a variety of issues of style or interpretation, or this could have been integrated with the historical overview given in the introduction. The second of the three paragraphs of commentary on Zhuge Liang, for example, is almost identical in content to the last page of Zhuge Liang’s own text; the first paragraph of the “Translator’s Note” to Han Yu’s “Address to the Crocodiles of Chaozhou” simply reiterates the corresponding section of the biography of Han Yu given in the “Commentary” two pages before. Together with the functional overlap of the preface and introduction, the commentary and translators notes make The Chinese Essay overly complex in its multilayered contextualization of the translations and thus unnecessarily confusing.

Apart from stealing thunder from the essays themselves, the volume of notes and commentary raises an important question that plagues the translation of Chinese literature into English in general: can these texts not speak for themselves? If this collection really is intended for a general readership, I think it is safe to assume that such readers would be more interested in texts that speak directly to them without a great deal of explanation from the translator. And it is not only a question of “how much” explanation would be needed to supplement a “raw” translation; the act of translation itself imparts meaning. If scholarly semantic fidelity were relaxed to the degree that items were made easier for the general reader to relate to with a reduced amount of explanation, the potential impact of this book would be greatly enhanced.

The Chinese Essay does nevertheless fill a crucial gap in materials for courses on Chinese literature in translation. While most scholars in the field of Chinese literature are probably not going to set up a course exclusively devoted to the essay even with a comprehensive anthology available, the selections in this book would mix well with other genres and materials in a more general course. I could see using it this way in either premodern or modern Chinese literary courses, but more likely for the modern period because of the greater concentration of material there.

Charles A. Laughlin Associate Professor, Chinese Literature Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures Yale University

Chinese Literature: Essays, Articles, Reviews (CLEAR) is published annually.

CLEAR journal is a leading resource for Chinese Literature academic discussion worldwide and has been published for over 30 years.

Click below for two most recent CLEAR journal Table of Contents.

CLEAR History

CLEAR was created based on discussions between eight scholars‒Eugene Eoyang, Joseph S. M. Lau, Leo Ou-fan Lee, Wu-chi Liu, Irving Lo, Ronald Miao, William H. Nienhauser, Jr., and William Schultz‒from the universities of Arizona, Indiana and Wisconsin spread over the early months of 1977. The journal was formally launched at a meeting on 18 March 1977 in Irving Lo’s living room in Bloomington, IN. Over the next year the founding editors, Eoyang and Nienhauser, received grants from the American Council of Learned Societies, the Association for Asian Studies, and the three affiliated universities as well as from members of the original editorial board (especially Elling Eide and Irving Lo) and individuals (especially Nancy C. Ing), allowing the production of the first two issues in 1979. Over the years CLEAR has published symposia, essays, articles, reviews and occasional forums on all aspects of traditional and modern Chinese literature. It is still the only western-language periodical devoted to Chinese literature. Having gained a worldwide reputation and audience, CLEAR now appears annually in December under the direction of editors Haun Saussy, Michelle Yeh and Rania Huntington.

Characters on the website were written by Chow Tse-tsung (1916-2007). Copyright © 2012-2024 by CLEAR | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) #0161-9705

The gaokao is China's notoriously tough entrance exam, which can also get you into western universities — check out its punishing questions

• China's version of the American SAT and British A-level exams takes place in June every year.
• It's called the gaokao, and is known as one of the toughest exams in the world.
• Lots of Western universities now take Chinese students based on their gaokao scores, rather than have applicants take other standardized tests.
• Scroll down to see past questions.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .

Students across China are studying hard for the gaokao, the country's notoriously tough national standardized test that can get them into universities in countries including the US, UK, Italy, Australia, and Canada.

This year's gaokao takes place between June 7 and June 9 this year. It's China's version of the American SAT and British A-level tests, and is known as one of the hardest exams in the world.

The gaokao is officially known as the National Higher Education Entrance Examination. The Chinese characters for gaokao literally mean "high exam."

More than 9.7 million people across the country took it last year, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported .

Only Chinese universities accepted gaokao results in the past, but more and more Western institutions have started to accept them. Last year the University of New Hampshire became the first US state university to accept students based on their gaokao scores, rather than have them take other standardized tests.

Britain's University of Cambridge, Australia's University of Sydney, Canada's University of Toronto, Italy's Accademia delle Belle Arti di Firenze and some private US institutions also accept it.

The subjects on the test vary by region but typically include the Chinese language, mathematics, and a foreign language (typically English), Xinhua said .

The hardest questions are the essays — which can range from the student's views on philosophy, history, the environment, and President Xi Jinping's policies.

Try and tackle 15 questions from past gaokao exams here:

If x + y ≥ a, x - y ≤ -1, and the minimum value of z = x + ay = 7, what is a.

Source: Gaokao 2018 via  People's Daily

Between June and August, a cruise ship travels from Fujian province to Venice, via Mumbai, as part of Xi's "21st century maritime silk road" strategy. Which of the following would it experience on the way?

A. When passing through the South China Sea, the cruise will face continuous rain.

B. When passing through the Arabian Sea, the cruise will sail against winds and currents.

C. When passing through the Red Sea, large stretches of forests will be seen alongside the coast.

D. When passing through the Mediterranean Sea, the cruise will experience several days of rainstorms.

Source: Gaokao 2015, via China Daily

Read Business Insider's coverage of the Belt and Road Initiative, China's ambitious project to link itself to some 70 countries through infrastructure, here.

Four students can choose to participate in a charity event either on Saturday or Sunday. What’s the probability that there is at least one student at both Saturday's and Sunday's events?

Source: Gaokao, year unknown, via Bloomberg

Fill in the blanks on this English grammar question: Good families are much to all their members, but ___ to none.

A. Something

B. Anything

C. Everything

President Xi has said that while art can release the wings of imagination, it should still be down-to-earth. There may be hundreds of ways to create art, but the best way is to have it take root in people's daily lives, and create something based off of that. From a materialist point of view, this is because (pick two of the statements below):

I. Art originates from people's daily lives.

II. Art depends on innovation.

III. The way art reflects on society and its style is unified.

IV. Art is a form of ideology that reflects people's lives, while serving the people at the same time.

A. I and II.

B. I and IV.

C. II and III.

D. III and IV.

Source: Gaokao 2015 via China Daily

In a letter to James Madison in March 1787, George Washington wrote: "That a thorough reform of the present system is indispensable, none who have capacities to judge will deny — and with hand and heart I hope the business will be essayed in a full Convention." What does the "thorough reform" refer to?

A. Eradicate defect of federal system.

B. Establish republic system with check and balance of three powers.

C. Abolish constitutional monarchy.

D. Change the loose federal system.

Source: Gaokao 2013 via China Daily

Banks charge processing fees and interest when granting loans. They charge fees because of the services provided, such as account management. The reason for claiming interest is that:

A. Banks are a monopoly.

B. Bank credit is higher than commercial credit.

C. Capital offered by banks is a factor of production.

D. Banks are the hub of smooth production.

To understand the academic performance of 1,000 students, the systematic sampling method is adopted to choose 40 samples. What should the sampling interval be?

Write an essay on how thomas edison would react to the mobile phone if he visited the 21st century..

Source: Gaokao 2013 via People's Daily

In life, people are often eager to focus on their own needs, but also eager to be needed by others in order to realize their own self worth. The feeling of "being needed" is a common feeling, but what does it mean to you? Write an essay on this.

Source: Gaokao 2018 via  China Central Television

Write an essay on the following subject: "New era, new youths — growing up with the motherland's development."

The "new era" is a catchphrase coined by Xi  last year, which represents China's development in areas from technological advancement to foreign investment to environmental protection.

Write a letter to the 18-year-olds of 2035.

Who is your favorite disciple of Confucius? Please pick one, and say why in 150 to 200 words.

Write an essay on this subject: "The picture of green mountains and clear water."

China has been actively pushing its environmental and climate change mitigation policies under Xi's leadership.

Source: Gaokao 2018 via  China Central Television

The containers for milk are always square boxes, containers for mineral water are always round bottles, and round wine bottle are usually placed in square boxes. Write an essay on the subtle philosophy of the round and square.

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