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Chinese (Spoken Mandarin or Cantonese) (9CN0)
6 sections available · 40 chapters available
Free Chinese (Spoken Mandarin or Cantonese) (9CN0) study notes for Pearson Edexcel A Level students. Each chapter below covers a key topic with worked examples and practice prompts you can take into the thinka app.
Theme 1: 當代華人社會變遷 / 当代华人社会变迁 (Changes in contemporary Chinese society)
家庭 (Family): family structure and the generation gap
家庭 (Family): family planning and the ageing population
教育與工作 / 教育与工作 (Education and work): school life and student issues
教育與工作 / 教育与工作 (Education and work): job opportunities; work–life balance
Theme 2: 中國文化 / 中国文化 (Chinese culture)
傳統 / 传统 (Traditions): festivals – 春節, 端午節, 中秋節, 清明節
傳統 / 传统 (Traditions): customs (習俗)
文化活動 / 文化活动 (Cultural activities): film and television
文化活動 / 文化活动 (Cultural activities): music and reading
Theme 3: 演變中的華人社會 / 演变中的华人社会 (Evolving Chinese society)
通訊與科技 / 通讯与科技 (Communication and technology): the internet
通訊與科技 / 通讯与科技 (Communication and technology): social media
經濟與環境 / 经济与环境 (Economy and environment): economic development
經濟與環境 / 经济与环境 (Economy and environment): environmental protection
Theme 4: 1978年改革開放對中國的影響 / 1978年改革开放对中国的影响 (The impact of the 1978 reform and opening-up on China)
變革 / 变革 (Transformation): the gap between rich and poor
變革 / 变革 (Transformation): megacities and urban migration
中英關係 / 中英关系 (China–UK relations): trade
中英關係 / 中英关系 (China–UK relations): cultural exchange and educational exchange
Literary texts and films (Paper 2)
《北京折疊》/《北京折叠》 Folding Beijing (郝景芳, 2016) – novelette
《一隻叫鳳的鴿子》/《一只叫凤的鸽子》 A Very Special Pigeon (曹文軒, 2014) – short story
《城南舊事》〈惠安館〉〈爸爸的花兒落了〉/《城南旧事》 Memories of Peking (林海音, 1960) – autobiographical novel
《故鄉》/《故乡》 Hometown (魯迅, 1921) – novel
《一個都不能少》/《一个都不能少》 Not One Less (張藝謀, 1999) – film
《請投我一票》/《请投我一票》 Please Vote for Me (陳為軍, 2007) – film
《十七歲的單車》/《十七岁的单车》 Beijing Bicycle (王小帥, 2001) – film
《天水圍的日與夜》/《天水围的日与夜》 The Way We Are (許鞍華, 2008) – film
Grammar
Nouns: collective nouns, noun suffixes (-家, -師/师, -性) and 的 noun phrases
Adjectives: reduplication, adjective collocation and sequencing of attributives
Numerals: fractions, percentages, decimals, indeterminate excess, approximation, multiples and juxtaposition
Adverbs: referential, degree, time, frequency, emphasis and 'on the contrary'
Quantifiers: frequency of actions and events, plurality of nouns and part
Pronouns: reflexive, 'others', formal/written and enumerative pronouns
Verbs: collocation, verbs with duration, verb + object disyllabic structures and reduplication for brief duration
Prepositions/coverbs: time, beneficiary, instrument, facing, comparison, distance and 'regarding'
Conjunctions: clausal conjunctions and temporal conjunctions
Negation: double negatives, negation for imperatives and 'otherwise' (不然, 否則/否则)
Question words: extended usage, correlations and parallels, alternative questions
Aspect markers: continuation, progression, completion, 了 as imminent action/new situation, past experience 過/过
Structural markers: descriptive 的, adverbial 地 and complements with 得 and 到
Other constructions: comparative constructions, existence, exclusion and emphasis (連…都/也, 是…的, 不論/無論…都)
Complements, the 把 construction, passive constructions and verbs used in passive and active sense
Discourse markers
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