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HSK · HSK · HSK 2

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  • 1

    任务一、六、十七 · Personal descriptions, requests and forms of address

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    Handout

    Use the examples with their context and limits. Recall a sentence before reading the model. Original teaching additions accompany examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA); see the course reference provenance.

    Address someone and make a request

    Use a suitable title and ask permission politely.

    Build the meaning

    A surname normally comes before a role title: 王老师, Teacher Wang. Use a title suited to the person and situation.

    可以……吗？ asks permission; 请 introduces a polite request. 别…… gives a negative instruction.

    Useful words in context

    • 老师 lǎoshī — teacher. 王老师。
    • 可以 kěyǐ — may / can with permission. 我可以进来吗？
    • 进来 jìnlái — come in. 请进来。
    • 别 bié — do not, instruction. 别说话。
    • 晚 wǎn — late. 我来晚了。

    Read for meaning

    林安来晚了。她说：“王老师，对不起。我可以进来吗？”王老师说：“可以，请进来。别说话。”

    Lin An arrives late. She apologises to Teacher Wang and asks to come in. The teacher permits her and asks her not to talk.

    Listen to a different passage

    Ask a partner to read this with the script closed. Use the online practice for browser playback.

    李老师，我可以坐这里吗？

    Teacher Li, may I sit here?

    Speak and write

    Address Teacher Li, ask to come in, and respond when permission is given.

    Write a polite request to sit here, using a surname and title.

    One speaking model: A: 李老师，我可以进来吗？ B: 可以，请进来。 A: 谢谢。

    One writing model: 王老师，我可以坐这里吗？

    • Put the surname before 老师.
    • Use 可以 and 吗.
    • State the action requested.

    Check the distinction: Do not translate English first-name classroom address automatically into every Chinese setting. Use the person’s preferred form of address.

    Learn step by step · Practise and review.

    Vocabulary
    Train
    English
    suggestion particle
    white
    hundred
    to help
    newspaper
    to compare
    cheap
    don't
    to sing a song
    to go out
    to wear
    boat
    measure word for times
    from
    mistake
    to play basketball
    everyone
    but
    to reach
    to obtain
    younger brother
    first
    to understand
    room
    very
    waiter
    high
    to tell
    older brother
    to give
    bus
    kilogram
    company
    expensive
    still
    child
    tasty
    number
    black
    red
    to welcome
    to reply
    airport
    egg
    item
    classroom
    to introduce
    older sister
    near
    to go forward
    then
    to think that
    coffee
    to begin
    to take an exam
    might
    can
    lesson
    rapid
    happy
    tired
    away from
    two
    road
    trip
    to sell
    slow
    busy
    each
    younger sister
    gate
    a man
    you
    cow's milk
    woman
    side
    to run
    ticket
    wife
    to get out of bed
    thousand
    clear
    last year
    to let
    to go to work
    the body
    to fall ill
    birthday
    time
    affair
    wristwatch
    cell phone
    to send
    therefore
    it
    to kick
    topic
    to dance
    outside
    to finish
    to play
    evening
    for
    to ask
    question
    to hope
    to wash
    watermelon
    towards
    hour
    to laugh
    new
    family name
    rest
    snow
    color
    eye
    mutton
    medicine
    to want
    also
    in the same place
    already
    meaning
    because
    overcast
    swimming
    right side
    fish
    yuan
    far
    sports
    again
    early morning
    measure word for flat objects
    long
    husband
    to try to find
    continuous-aspect particle
    really
    in the process of
    to know
    preparation
    bicycle
    to walk
    most
    left
  • 2

    任务二、三、九 · Events, objects and shopping comparisons

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    Handout

    Use the examples with their context and limits. Recall a sentence before reading the model. Original teaching additions accompany examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA); see the course reference provenance.

    Compare two things before buying

    Describe a difference and ask about the preferred item.

    Build the meaning

    A 比 B + adjective compares A with B: 这个比那个贵. Do not add 很 immediately after 比 in this basic pattern.

    Use 更 to say even more: 这个更便宜. A description alone does not establish which choice is best for every person.

    Useful words in context

    • 比 bǐ — than, comparison. 这个比那个贵。
    • 贵 guì — expensive. 这个很贵。
    • 便宜 piányi — cheap / inexpensive. 那个更便宜。
    • 颜色 yánsè — colour. 你喜欢什么颜色？
    • 但是 dànshì — but. 便宜，但是太小。

    Read for meaning

    红色的杯子二十块钱，蓝色的杯子十五块钱。红色的比蓝色的贵，但是林安更喜欢红色。

    The red cup costs twenty yuan and the blue one fifteen. Red is more expensive, but Lin An prefers red.

    Listen to a different passage

    Ask a partner to read this with the script closed. Use the online practice for browser playback.

    这个杯子十块钱，那个十五块钱。这个比那个便宜。

    This cup costs ten yuan and that one fifteen. This one is cheaper.

    Speak and write

    Compare two fictional cups by price. Ask which colour a partner prefers.

    Write a comparison and then a preference.

    One speaking model: A: 红色的比蓝色的贵。你喜欢什么颜色？ B: 我喜欢蓝色。

    One writing model: 红色的比蓝色的贵，但是我更喜欢红色。

    • Make the comparison direction clear.
    • Give a preference separately.
    • Use 但是 only where it marks a contrast.

    Check the distinction: A 比 B 贵 means A costs more than B. Reversing A and B reverses the comparison.

    Learn step by step · Practise and review.

  • 3

    任务四、五、八 · Weather, describing places and directions

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    Handout

    Use the examples with their context and limits. Recall a sentence before reading the model. Original teaching additions accompany examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA); see the course reference provenance.

    Understand a route and repair confusion

    Follow simple directions and ask for clarification.

    Build the meaning

    从……到…… gives a starting point and destination. 从学校到医院 describes a route, not the hospital’s current location.

    先……再…… orders actions. 向左转 and 向右转 mean turn left and turn right. Repeat the direction to check understanding.

    Useful words in context

    • 从 cóng — from. 从学校出发。
    • 到 dào — to / arrive. 到医院。
    • 左 zuǒ — left. 向左转。
    • 右 yòu — right. 向右转。
    • 再 zài — then / again after. 先走，再转。

    Read for meaning

    从学校到医院，先向右走，再向左转。医院在图书馆旁边。林安听不清，问：“请再说一遍。”

    From school to the hospital, first go right, then turn left. The hospital is beside the library. Lin An asks for repetition because she cannot hear clearly.

    Listen to a different passage

    Ask a partner to read this with the script closed. Use the online practice for browser playback.

    先向左走，再向右转。医院在学校旁边。

    First go left, then turn right. The hospital is beside the school.

    Speak and write

    Give two-step directions. Your partner asks you to repeat the final turn.

    Write a two-step route with a starting point and destination.

    One speaking model: A: 先向右走，再向左转。 B: 请再说一遍。 A: 再向左转。

    One writing model: 从学校到医院，先向左走，再向右转。

    • Name the starting point and destination.
    • Use 先 and 再 to order actions.
    • State a direction for each step.

    Check the distinction: 先 and 再 indicate order. Do not choose a route by spotting only one familiar direction word.

    Learn step by step · Practise and review.

  • 4

    任务七、十、十一 · Meals, leisure, experience and advice

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    Handout

    Use the examples with their context and limits. Recall a sentence before reading the model. Original teaching additions accompany examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA); see the course reference provenance.

    Talk about an experience and a current action

    Distinguish having done something before from doing it now.

    Build the meaning

    Verb + 过 can describe an experience: 我去过上海. 没去过 denies having that experience; it does not deny knowing the city’s name.

    正在 + verb describes an action in progress: 我正在学习. A time expression helps identify when a different event happened.

    Useful words in context

    • 过 guo — experience marker. 我去过上海。
    • 正在 zhèngzài — in the process of. 我正在学习。
    • 去年 qùnián — last year. 我去年去过上海。
    • 学习 xuéxí — study. 我正在学习中文。
    • 以前 yǐqián — before. 我以前去过。

    Read for meaning

    王力去年去过上海。林安没去过上海。今天王力正在学习中文，林安正在看书。

    Wang Li has been to Shanghai, last year. Lin An has not. Today Wang Li is studying Chinese and Lin An is reading.

    Listen to a different passage

    Ask a partner to read this with the script closed. Use the online practice for browser playback.

    我以前去过上海。现在我正在看书。

    I have been to Shanghai before. Now I am reading.

    Speak and write

    Ask whether a partner has been to a city, then ask what they are doing now.

    Write one experience sentence and one current-action sentence.

    One speaking model: A: 你去过上海吗？ B: 没去过。 A: 你现在在做什么？ B: 我正在看书。

    One writing model: 我去过上海。现在我正在学习中文。

    • Use 过 for the experience.
    • Use 正在 for the ongoing action.
    • Do not imply an experience is happening now.

    Check the distinction: 过 is not an ending to add to every English past-tense verb. Here it presents an experience.

    Learn step by step · Practise and review.

  • 5

    任务十二—十五 · Family, learning history, school and work

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    Handout

    Use the examples with their context and limits. Recall a sentence before reading the model. Original teaching additions accompany examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA); see the course reference provenance.

    Describe a family and explain a custom

    Give basic family information and describe a festival activity.

    Build the meaning

    有 describes family members or possessions. 我有一个姐姐 gives the relationship and quantity.

    因为……所以…… links a reason and result. Chinese can use both markers; English often translates the relationship with just because or so.

    Useful words in context

    • 姐姐 jiějie — older sister. 我有一个姐姐。
    • 家人 jiārén — family members. 我和家人吃饭。
    • 春节 Chūnjié — Spring Festival. 春节我们在家。
    • 因为 yīnwèi — because. 因为姐姐回家了。
    • 所以 suǒyǐ — so / therefore. 所以我们一起吃饭。

    Read for meaning

    春节，林安的姐姐回家了。因为家人在一起，所以大家很高兴。晚上他们吃饺子。

    At Spring Festival, Lin An’s older sister comes home. Everyone is happy because the family is together. In the evening they eat dumplings.

    Listen to a different passage

    Ask a partner to read this with the script closed. Use the online practice for browser playback.

    春节我和家人吃米饭。姐姐不在家，所以我们给她打电话。

    At Spring Festival I eat rice with my family. My sister is not at home, so we call her.

    Speak and write

    Describe one fictional family activity during a festival. Ask what another family does, without assuming the same custom.

    Write a family activity and one reason-result sentence.

    One speaking model: A: 春节你们做什么？ B: 我们一起吃饭。你们呢？

    One writing model: 姐姐回家了。因为家人在一起，所以我们很高兴。

    • Name the people or relationship.
    • Give a specific activity.
    • Keep the reason and result in the intended direction.

    Check the distinction: Festival customs differ by region and family. The example is one family’s practice, not a rule for everyone.

    Learn step by step · Practise and review.

  • 6

    任务十六；语法 · Festivals, reasons, contrasts and choices

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    Handout

    Use the examples with their context and limits. Recall a sentence before reading the model. Original teaching additions accompany examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA); see the course reference provenance.

    Give a reason and make a suggestion

    Explain a change of plan and respond with a suggestion.

    Build the meaning

    为什么 asks for a reason; 因为 introduces one. A reply should explain the decision rather than repeat it.

    ……吧 can soften a suggestion: 我们明天去吧. 了 can indicate a new situation in 下雨了; it is not simply a past-tense marker.

    Useful words in context

    • 为什么 wèishénme — why. 你为什么不去？
    • 因为 yīnwèi — because. 因为下雨了。
    • 吧 ba — suggestion particle here. 明天去吧。
    • 一起 yìqǐ — together. 我们一起去。
    • 下雨 xià yǔ — rain. 下雨了。

    Read for meaning

    今天下雨了。王力不去公园。林安问：“为什么？”他说：“因为下雨了。我们明天一起去吧。”

    It has started raining today. Wang Li does not go to the park. He explains the rain and suggests going together tomorrow.

    Listen to a different passage

    Ask a partner to read this with the script closed. Use the online practice for browser playback.

    今天很热。我不去公园。我们晚上去吧。

    It is hot today. I am not going to the park. Let’s go in the evening.

    Speak and write

    Say why a fictional trip cannot happen today. Suggest a new time and let your partner accept or decline.

    Write a reason for a change of plan and a new suggestion.

    One speaking model: A: 因为下雨了，我们明天去吧。 B: 好，明天去。

    One writing model: 因为今天很热，我们晚上去吧。

    • Give a reason.
    • Give a new time.
    • Use 吧 for the suggestion, not as an English tense.

    Check the distinction: A suggestion is not a confirmed arrangement until the other person agrees. 了 may signal a change, not merely past time.

    Learn step by step · Practise and review.

  • 7

    书写 · Build characters and use pinyin in a sentence

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    Handout

    Use the examples with their context and limits. Recall a sentence before reading the model. Original teaching additions accompany examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA); see the course reference provenance.

    Complete a message with the right character

    Use the sentence meaning and pronunciation to choose a character.

    Build the meaning

    Characters with similar sounds can have different meanings: 在 zài locates something; 再 zài can mean again or then.

    To complete a message, check the whole sentence, the pinyin cue, and the role of the missing word. Guessing from sound alone is not enough.

    Useful words in context

    • 在 zài — at / in. 我在学校。
    • 再 zài — again / then. 请再说一遍。
    • 见 jiàn — see. 明天见。
    • 这里 zhèlǐ — here. 我在这里。
    • 字 zì — character. 这个字怎么读？

    Read for meaning

    林安写：“我在学校。请明天再来。明天下午三点见。”她检查了时间和地点，然后发出消息。

    Lin An writes that she is at school and asks the reader to come again tomorrow, meeting at three in the afternoon. She checks the time and place before sending.

    Listen to a different passage

    Ask a partner to read this with the script closed. Use the online practice for browser playback.

    我在图书馆。明天下午四点见。

    I am at the library. See you tomorrow at four in the afternoon.

    Speak and write

    Ask a partner how to read 在, then say a sentence with it. Explain in English how 再 differs.

    Write a two-line message giving your location and tomorrow’s meeting time. Check 在 and 再 carefully.

    One speaking model: A: 这个字怎么读？ B: zài。 A: 我在学校。

    One writing model: 我在学校。明天下午四点见。

    • Use 在 for the current location.
    • Give tomorrow’s time.
    • Check the characters, not only pinyin.

    Check the distinction: A correct pinyin sound does not guarantee the correct character. This authored practice is separate from the official sample with quarantined writing-key numbering.

    Learn step by step · Practise and review.

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IGCSE, A-Level & AP