PMW #7: Comparing things in Mandarin (Part 3)

🌀 Pearls of Mandarin Worksheet #7

Hello Mandarin Enthusiasts! 🌟

Over the last three weeks (Chinese Grammar Gem #11, #12 and #13), we’ve learnt so many grammatical structures to form comparison sentences in Mandarin.

In this week’s Pearl of Mandarin Worksheet, we’re taking our learning to the next leve with two practical exercises:

• the 听写 (tīng xiě) exercise, which you can use as a mini-podcast with transcript, or as I encourage you to do, a dictation exercise;

• A new sentence creation exercise, where we’ll work together to craft our own sentences in Mandarin that use all the grammatical patterns we’ve learnt this week.

Now’s the time to put theory into action and really shine with your skills.

Haven’t given the sentence creation exercise a try yet? Don’t worry, there’s always time to dive in:

1. Comparison with a Reference Standard: Look at your progress in Mandarin compared to last year. Use 跟...相比 to describe one aspect that has improved.

2. Emphasized Comparison: Think of two hobbies or activities you do. Use 比起...来 to emphasize which one you prefer and why.

3. Education Versus Experience: Ponder over what holds more value in shaping one’s future: formal education or hands-on experience? Utilize A + [Adjective] + 于 + B to express which you believe is more essential and why.

4. Direct Comparative Quantifier: Measure something simple, like the height difference between you and a friend or the time you wake up compared to them. Use the two structures we’ve learnt.

5. Hyperbolic Comparative Expressions: Have a little fun exaggerating a comparison between two things, maybe how much you love Mandarin compared to another subject. Use A + 比 + [Noun] + 还 + [Noun] for dramatic effect.

Creating Mandarin sentences on your own is key. It may involve searching for new words or navigating through uncertainties, but it’s crucial to remember that growth stems from these efforts.

🎧✍️ Listening and Writing 听写 Exercise

Let’s get started with this week’s Pearl of Mandarin by jumping into the 听写 (tīng xiě) exercise.

You should:

1. Listen several times to the “Normal Speed” recording, until you understand what I’m saying. If you don’t understand everything, no worries, listen to the “Slow Speed” recording that should be easier to grasp. If that’s still too difficult, at least you will have improved your listening by doing this first step, kudos!

2. Listen to the “Slow Speed” recording, and write down what you hear. You may write down:

   1. characters, to practice your handwriting and characters knowledge;

   2. pinyin with tones, to practice your pronunciation and tones recognition.

3. Read the translation, the vocabulary list, and learn the words you don’t know.

4. Finally, read the text (in characters, not pinyin) several times out loud. It’ll help you have a more fluid pronunciation and it’ll make the vocabulary sink into your brain.

🎧 Audio

Normal Speed:

Slow Speed:

⁂

Give the exercise a try before peeking at the transcripts below.

⁂