The Top 5 Textbook Recommendations for Learning Chinese in 2018

Quiz:

1. Read the sentence and fill in the blank with a proper word.

Amy: Jīntiān shàng de shì nǎ běn_____?
Amy: 今天上的是哪本_____？
Bob: Qīngsōng xué zhōngwén.
Bob: 《轻松学中文》。

A. 童话书 (Tónghuà shū)
B. 教材 (Jiàocái)
C. 本子 (Běnzi)
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If you are not sure about the answer, please read the following text first and then try again.

I get asked all the time by my students the same question: What books are really gonna help me get ahead in Chinese? There are many, many Mandarin Chinese textbooks out there. It can be a gamble to choose which one is going to be best for you. My teachers and I all put our heads together to figure out which ones we recommend to our students, and why. Read the following list to find out which Chinese textbooks suit your level and proficiency best!

1. Recommended HSK Test Textbook:

• HSK标准教程 (HSK Biāozhǔn jiàochéng) (1-9) HSK Standard Course

Audience: This book is for people who are preparing for the HSK test. It’s best suited for beginners, intermediate level learners and even advanced learners.

Level 1-Level 2: elementary
Level 3-Level 4: intermediate
Level 5-Level 6: advanced

Highlights: It is a complete resource, full of vocabulary, grammar and texts, which is good for laying a solid foundation of Chinese.

2. Recommended Business Chinese Textbooks:

• 新世纪商用汉语初级会话 (Xīn shìjì shāngyòng hànyǔ chūjí huìhuà) Startup Business Chinese

Language: Chinese (characters with pinyin) and English.
Content: Set an appointment; company talk; greetings...

Suitable for the beginners. This book will help you learn basic conversational Mandarin that is used in business situations. The grammar explanation of this book runs systematically and step by step.

• 经理人汉语生活篇 (Jīnglǐ rén hànyǔ shēnghuó piān) (2 volumes) Chinese for Managers (everyday Chinese)

Language: Chinese (characters with pinyin) and English.
Content: work; office; weekend plan...

Suitable for beginners, especially for those who are engaged in business activities with China.
It also contains comprehensive exercises, e.g listening, reading, speaking and writing. Example sentences of this book are very practical for daily life situations as well. Some business culture is also gone over.

• 高级经贸汉语——今日经贸纵横 (Gāojí jīngmào hànyǔ—jīnrì jīngmào zònghéng) Economy and Commerce in a Changing China and the Changing World

Language: Only Chinese (simplified and traditional characters)
Content: China Economics; Financial Cases; Globalization; Corporate Management.

Suitable for intermediate and advanced learners who know at least 3000 Chinese characters and excel at economics. This textbook also offers relevant exercises and has quite a few selected advanced Mandarin vocabulary.

3. Recommended Teen & Kids Mandarin Chinese Textbooks ... Read More

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Independent, Organized, Ambitious, Fashionable: The Qualities of "女子力 (Nǚzǐlì)"

It’s an exciting time to be in China! The country is changing each year. The role of women in China is evolving and females are gaining skills and qualities that were not common in the past. In many of my Mandarin Chinese classes here in Beijing, we discuss what it means to be a woman now and how gender roles are changing. One term we learned, that has gained popularity recently, reflects this new frame of mind in modern China: "女子力 (nǚzǐlì)."

"女子 (nǚzǐ)" = woman; female.
"力 (lì)" = means the ability to act or produce an effect; possession of control; authority; or influence over others.

As you can guess, "女子力 (nǚzǐlì)" refers to women who are good at playing their own strengths, such as being gentle, beautiful, elegant and meticulous, among other qualities. Therefore, they impress those around them with their independence and capability. In recent months, "女子力 (nǚzǐlì) women power" has begun to appear frequently in Chinese media.

Origin of "女子力 (nǚzǐlì) women power":
The term has also gained prominence in Japan. Japanese media launched a street survey asking "What kind of qualities are impressive for a woman?" Although people’s responses were not all the same, the following views were most representative: pay attention to personal growth, follow fashion trends, make the most of your time by doing meaningful things, pay attention to the way you look, and most of all, achieve a successful work-life balance. These traits will combine to express your "女子力 (nǚzǐlì) women power."

There are many possible traits that represent "女子力 (nǚzǐlì) women power." For the most part, they represent a well-rounded female with lots of skills and interests. They are on the rise and we can see more and more of them in China today!

Ladies, you can add these ... Read More

Quiz:
1. Which of the following features is a characteristic of "女子力 (nǚzǐlì) woman power"?

A. 吃饭 (Chīfàn)
B. 房间乱 (Fángjiān luàn)
C. 时尚 (Shíshàng)
D. 不守时 (Bù shǒushí)
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