Introduce family: 我家有…口人, 的, 是/有
Say how many are in your family with 我家有 + a number + the family measure word 口 (kǒu) + 人: 我家有五口人。(Wǒ jiā yǒu wǔ kǒu rén.) — five people. Name each with 的 for possession: 这是我的哥哥。(Zhè shì wǒ de gēge.) — this is my older brother. Chinese has no plural ending, so show quantity only with a number + the right measure word (两位老师, liǎng wèi lǎoshī — the polite 位 for people). Use 有 for what someone has, and 是 to identify who they are.
很 + adjective (never 是); compare with 比
An adjective is its own predicate: use 很 (hěn) or another degree adverb before it, and never 是. 我妈妈很友好。(Wǒ māma hěn yǒuhǎo.) — my mum is friendly (NOT 我妈妈是友好). Useful words: 幽默 (yōumò), 聪明 (cōngmíng), 认真 (rènzhēn), 有耐心 (yǒu nàixīn), 外向/内向 (wàixiàng/nèixiàng). Compare two people with A 比 B + adjective and NO 很: 我哥哥比我高。(Wǒ gēge bǐ wǒ gāo.) Put the amount after the adjective: 我哥哥比我大三岁 (three years older).
Past vs now: 小时候/以前 … 现在, 变得…了
Set the time frame with 小时候 (xiǎoshíhou — in childhood) or 以前 (yǐqián — before) for a past habit, and 现在 (xiànzài — now) for the present. A past HABIT takes NO 了: 小时候我常常跟爷爷奶奶一起住。(Xiǎoshíhou wǒ chángcháng gēn yéye nǎinai yìqǐ zhù.) Describe a change with 变得 + adjective + 了: 以前我很内向,现在我变得开朗多了。(Yǐqián wǒ hěn nèixiàng, xiànzài wǒ biàn de kāilǎng duō le.) The final 了 marks the change of state a Higher past-to-present description needs.
Drawn from real examiner reports.
USED TO answered as a present habit
Match the time frame the bullet asks for. If it asks what you USED TO do with family, answer in the past with 小时候/以前 and a past habit, not the present. ✗ 我常常跟家人一起看电视。(a present habit) ✓ 小时候我常常跟家人一起在家看电视。(Xiǎoshíhou wǒ chángcháng gēn jiārén yìqǐ zài jiā kàn diànshì.) Keep every qualifier the bullet gives, such as 在家 (at home) -- dropping it changes the meaning.
Dropping the degree word / adding 很 to 比
In an A 比 B + adjective sentence you must NOT add 很, and must keep the comparative meaning. ✗ 我姐姐比我很高。✓ 我姐姐比我高。(Wǒ jiějie bǐ wǒ gāo.) Put the amount after the adjective: 高一点, 高得多, 大三岁. If an answer needs a comparison -- e.g. a friend became MORE confident -- write 更自信 (gèng zìxìn — more confident), not just 自信: dropping the degree word 更 loses the mark.
Literal restatement on a "Who am I" text
On a reading or listening comprehension about identity, base your English answer SOLELY on the text -- do not copy back a literal line or invent unsupported detail. ✗ restating "she likes music" when the question asks what her personality SHOWS ✓ answer the point (e.g. that she is creative), if the text supports it. Vague English "open to misinterpretation" loses the mark.
Wrong measure word for people (个 vs 口/位)
People take special measure words. Count family members with 口 in the set phrase 我家有四口人 (sì kǒu rén), not 四个人. Use the polite 位 (wèi) for people you respect -- 两位老师 (liǎng wèi lǎoshī — two teachers). The general 个 is fine for a friend or sibling (一个朋友), but 个 where 口 or 位 is expected reads as a beginner slip. Always pair a number with the right 量词 before a person noun.
Whose action is the question about?
In a comprehension about family, read WHOSE action the question asks about. It may ask what the father HOPES TO DO himself versus what he hopes SOMEONE ELSE (e.g. 大伟, Dàwěi) will do -- different answers. ✗ giving the father's own plan when asked what he wants his son to do ✓ track the subject of each verb and answer for the person named in the question.
错别字: 在/再 and 的/得/地
Homophone character slips (错别字) cost accuracy marks even when the sentence sounds right. Keep these apart: 在 (zài — a place, e.g. 在家) vs 再 (zài — again, e.g. 再见); and the three "de": 的 attributive (我的书), 地 adverbial before a verb (慢慢地走), 得 complement after a verb (跑得快). ✗ 我们明天在见 ✓ 我们明天再见 (zàijiàn). Proof-read for these look-alikes in your self-check.
是 does not go before an adjective
English "to be" links a subject to an adjective, so learners wrongly copy 是 into Chinese. But a Chinese adjective is ITSELF the predicate -- it needs 很, not 是. ✗ 我妈妈是友好。/ 我是高。 ✓ 我妈妈很友好。/ 我很高。 Use 是 only to link two NOUNS: 她是我的姐姐。 So: 是 + noun for who someone IS; 很/非常 + adjective for what they are LIKE. 很 is a neutral link -- for a strong "very" use 非常 (fēicháng).
Translation: count with 口, 很 not 是
In a translation on family, apply three rules: count family members with 口 (四口人), not 个; put 很 before an adjective, never 是 (很聪明, not 是聪明); link a second adjective with 也 (也很友好). Keep every qualifier -- "at home" is 在家, before the verb. Check each character first.
Four-step routine for describing people
For a family / role-model task: 1) OPEN by identifying the person -- 我最好的朋友是…… / 对我影响最大的人是……; 2) DESCRIBE with 很 + adjective (never 是), compare with 比 (我姐姐比我大三岁); 3) MOVE across time -- 小时候/以前 (no 了), 变得……了, 以后; 4) JUSTIFY with 因为……所以……, 虽然……但是……. Write about YOUR own life.
Speaking: opinion + reason, across time
In the Paper 2 conversation, never give a one-word answer. Say what family and friends are LIKE and WHY you get on with them, using 因为……. Move across time -- 小时候, a change (变得……了), 以后. Add a comparison (我哥哥比我大三岁). A reason plus a time shift lifts the mark above a list.
This topic (Theme T1: Identity & Culture, T1.1) covers describing yourself, your family and your friends in the first person: who is in your family and your relationships, what people are like (personality and appearance), what you were like when you were younger, what makes a good friend, your interests and socialising with friends and family, and your role models. It is central to the Paper 2 Speaking conversation and to Paper 4 functional and extended Writing, and appears in listening and reading too. At Higher tier you must move across past and present time frames and give opinions with reasons.
Family & relationships 家人与关系 (jiārén yǔ guānxi)
| 汉字 | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 家人 | jiārén | family members |
| 父母 | fùmǔ | parents |
| 哥哥 / 姐姐 | gēge / jiějie | older brother / older sister |
| 弟弟 / 妹妹 | dìdi / mèimei | younger brother / younger sister |
| 爷爷 / 奶奶 | yéye / nǎinai | (paternal) grandfather / grandmother |
| 独生子女 | dúshēng zǐnǚ | only child |
| 亲戚 | qīnqi | relatives |
| 关系 | guānxi | relationship |
| 榜样 | bǎngyàng | role model |
Personality & appearance 性格与外貌 (xìnggé yǔ wàimào)
| 汉字 | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 性格 | xìnggé | personality |
| 友好 | yǒuhǎo | friendly |
| 幽默 | yōumò | humorous |
| 聪明 | cōngmíng | clever |
| 认真 | rènzhēn | conscientious |
| 有耐心 | yǒu nàixīn | patient |
| 外向 / 内向 | wàixiàng / nèixiàng | outgoing / introverted |
| 诚实 | chéngshí | honest |
| 可靠 | kěkào | reliable |
Friends, interests & socialising 朋友、兴趣与交往 (péngyou, xìngqù yǔ jiāowǎng)
| 汉字 | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 好朋友 | hǎo péngyou | good friend |
| 互相帮助 | hùxiāng bāngzhù | to help each other |
| 支持 / 鼓励 | zhīchí / gǔlì | to support / to encourage |
| 信任 | xìnrèn | to trust |
| 爱好 | àihào | hobby |
| 聊天 | liáotiān | to chat |
| 一起 | yìqǐ | together |
| 小时候 | xiǎoshíhou | in childhood |
| 以前 | yǐqián | before, previously |
older brother / older sister -- say them in Chinese with pinyin
用中文写出四个可以用来描写一个人性格的词(例如"友好"),并标出拼音。
Level-of-response questions with model answers and mark scheme rubrics.
请用中文写大约20-30个字,描述你的一位家人。请写清楚:(1)这位家人是谁;(2)他/她是什么样的人(用「很+形容词」);(3)你喜不喜欢和他/她一起做什么(一个简单的看法)。用友好、亲切的语气。(12分)
从下面两个题目中选择一个回答(只写一个),用中文写大约80-110个字,语气可以轻松、亲切。
题目一 我的好朋友 — 写一写你最好的朋友:他/她是什么样的人;你们以前是怎么认识的(用过去的时间);现在你们常常一起做什么;以后你还想不想和他/她做同样的事。请说说你的看法和理由。
题目二 我的榜样 — 写一写一个你很欣赏的人:他/她是谁;小时候他/她给过你什么帮助或影响(用过去的时间);你为什么觉得他/她是好榜样;以后你想不想成为像他/她一样的人。
请只写一个题目,并用连接词(因为、所以、可是、然后……)把内容连起来。(20分)
这是一段口语话题对话(Topic Conversation),话题:家人与朋友。老师会用中文问你一些问题,请你用完整的句子回答,尽量说清楚,并说说你的看法和理由。你可以谈:(1)你家有几口人,你和家人的关系怎么样;(2)你最好的朋友是什么样的人;(3)你觉得什么样的人才是好朋友;(4)小时候你是什么样的,现在有一点什么变化;(5)谁是你的榜样,为什么。请以现在的情况为主,也可以简单说一点过去的事和以后的打算。不要只回答一两个字。(约36分)