Introduction to Short Texts: Public Notices, Advertisements, and Instructions
Welcome! In Paper 3 (Reading), you will encounter various "short texts." These are the bite-sized pieces of Chinese you see in real life: a "No Smoking" sign, a job advert in a window, or instructions on how to use a vending machine. Because these texts are short, every character counts! We will learn how to spot key information quickly and accurately, helping you pick up those vital marks in Section A of your exam.
Why is this important? These texts are designed to be functional. They are not there to tell a long story, but to give you a specific message, a rule, or an invitation. Mastering these will give you a great head start in the 45-minute (Foundation) or 1-hour (Higher) exam.
1. Public Notices (公告 - gōng gào)
Public notices are usually found in towns, schools, or transport hubs. They often tell you what you can or cannot do.
Common Keywords to Look For:
请 (qǐng) – Please (usually followed by a polite request).
不 (bù) or 别 (bié) – Do not / Don't.
禁止 (jìn zhǐ) – Prohibit / Forbidden (Common in Higher Tier).
入口 (rù kǒu) – Entrance / 出口 (chū kǒu) – Exit.
小心 (xiǎo xīn) – Be careful / Watch out.
Example Scenario: If you see a sign that says “请安静” (qǐng ān jìng), the notice is asking you to be quiet. This might be found in a library (Theme 3: My Studies) or a hospital.
Quick Tip: If you see the character 中 (zhōng) inside a notice about a shop or road, it often means "in progress," like 营业中 (yíng yè zhōng - Open for business) or 施工中 (shī gōng zhōng - Under construction).
2. Advertisements (广告 - guǎng gào)
Advertisements often appear in the exam as posters for jobs, club meetings, or sales. They usually follow a predictable pattern: What? When? Where? How much?
Key Information to Scan For:
Time and Date: Look for 月 (month), 日/号 (day), and 点 (hour). Remember that Chinese dates go from largest to smallest: Year + Month + Day.
Money: Look for 元 (yuán) or 块 (kuài). If you see 免费 (miǎn fèi), it means "free of charge"!
Location: Look for 在 (at) followed by a place like 学校 (school) or 饭馆 (restaurant).
Contact: Look for 电话 (phone) or 手机 (mobile) to see how to respond to the ad.
Common Mistakes: Don't confuse 买 (mǎi - to buy) with 卖 (mài - to sell). Notice that 卖 has a "cross" or "plus sign" on top — think of it as "adding" an item to the market to sell it!
Summary Takeaway:
In ads, always locate the Price (\(¥\)) and the Deadline first. These are often the subjects of the English questions in the exam.
3. Instructions (说明 - shuō míng)
Instructions tell you how to complete a task. They often use sequence words to show the order of steps.
Step-by-Step Markers:
第一 (dì yī) – First.
先 (xiān) – First / Firstly.
然后 (rán hòu) – Then / Afterwards.
最后 (zuì hòu) – Last / Finally.
Common Contexts in the Syllabus:
Theme 1 (Technology): Instructions on how to use a mobile phone (用手机) or social media.
Theme 2 (Health): How to take medicine or follow a healthy diet (身体健康).
Theme 3 (School): How to complete an application or a school project.
Grammar to Note: Watch out for modal verbs like 应该 (yīng gāi - should), 必须 (bì xū - must), or 可以 (kě yǐ - can/may). These tell you if an instruction is a suggestion or a strict rule.
4. Top Strategies for Success
1. Use the Context: The exam paper will always give you a brief introduction in English, such as "You see this notice in a Chinese park." Use this! If it's a park, characters like 花 (flower), 草 (grass), or 跑 (run) are likely to appear.
2. Identify the "Who": Is the text for 大家 (everyone), 学生 (students), or 医生 (doctors)? This helps you narrow down the purpose of the message.
3. Look for Opinions: Even in short texts, there might be an opinion. Look for 好 (good), 喜欢 (like), or 很有趣 (very interesting). Adverts use these to persuade you.
4. Don't panic at unfamiliar characters! The AQA syllabus says you might encounter words you haven't seen. Use the characters you do know to "bridge the gap." If you see 不准...手机, and you know 不 is "not" and 手机 is "mobile phone," you can infer it's a rule about not using phones.
Did you know?
The character 禁 (jìn), used in "forbidden," looks like two trees (木) over a command. Imagine someone standing in a forest telling you where you can't go!
Quick Review: Key Terms for Public Texts
Directions: 向左 (xiàng zuǒ - Turn left), 向右 (xiàng yòu - Turn right).
Availability: 开 (kāi - Open), 关 (guān - Closed).
Urgency: 快 (kuài - Quick/Fast), 慢 (màn - Slow).
Prices: 打折 (dǎ zhé - Discount/Sale). Warning: In China, 八折 means 80% of the price (20% off), not 80% off!
Next Steps: To further build your reading skills, check out the chapter on "Key points, details and opinions in longer texts" to see how these short phrases are built into full paragraphs.