• 头发 tóufǎ = hair
• 头 tóu = head
• 眼睛 yǎnjīng = eyes
• 眉毛 méimáo = eyebrow
• 耳朵 erduǒ = ears
• 鼻子 bízi = nose
• 脸 liǎn = face
• 脸颊 liǎnjiá = cheeks
• 嘴 zuǐ = mouth
• 嘴唇 zuǐchún = lips
• 舌头 shétou = tongue
• 牙齿 yáchǐ = teeth
• 下巴 xiàbā = chin
• 脖子 bózi = neck
• 肩膀 jiānbǎng = shoulder
• 手肘 shǒu zhǒu = elbow
• 手臂 shǒubì = arm
• 手 shǒu = hand
• 手指 shǒuzhǐ = finger
• 胸部 xiōngbù = chest
• 肚子 dùzi = stomach
• 臀部 túnbù = buttocks
• 大腿 dàtuǐ = thigh
• 腿 tuǐ = leg
• 膝盖 xīgài = knee
• 脚 jiǎo = foot
• 脚趾 jiǎozhǐ = toe
• 腰 yāo = waist
• 背 bèi = back

• 

I passed my HSK 1 test!!! Only 1 mistake. 195/200 Wohooo! Some might say HSK 1 is easy, no big deal. However, it’s quite an achievement for a non-native speaker like me who only started 3 months ago (December 2020). The most difficult part of it starts from learning to pronounce the four tones. Yes, one word can have four different tones with different meanings. I thought I would never be able to pronounce them but with practice, I was able to do it.

So, what does my study routine looks like?

1. I speak with an online native Mandarin teacher few times a week.
2. I review Quizlet flash cards of new words daily (read them aloud with correct tones)
3. I practice writing Chinese characters and familiarize myself with the strokes.
4. I subscribed to DuChinese app. It provides reading articles ranging from HSK 1 – 6. It has pinyin for your convenience.
5. I listen to Chinese songs, watch Chinese movies/drama/cartoons. Sometimes repeating after the dialogues.
6. I listen to Chinese FM kid’s station (set the speed to slow). It enhances my listening skills.
7. I apply what I learned by translating (writing) simple English sentences into Mandarin.
8. I also purchased HSK Online. It’s available on iOS and Android. It’s an online learning platform for people who are preparing for the Chinese Proficiency Test. This allowed me to do mock exams and I believed it really helped.

What worked for me were consistency, practice and repetition. You’ll need to talk to yourself… a lot. Don’t worry if your family members think you’re going crazy, 哈哈哈。It’s the best way to practice.
So, what’s next? I’m preparing for the HSK 2 exam that I plan to take on July or August 2021.

加油💪

I took my HSK1 exam today. There were 40 items. Half part was listening and half was reading. I will know the result after 2 weeks. Although I feel that I will pass, I still feel nervous. Wish me luck.

今天我参加了 HSK1 考试。 考试有40个项目。一半个听力部分，一半个阅读部分。两周后我将知道结果。虽然觉得我通过了，但是我仍然感到紧张。
加油💪

订 dìng = v. book
张 zhāng = measure word for flat object
飞机票 fēijī piào = plane ticket
航班 hángbān = flight
特快 tèkuài = express
全程 quánchéng = whole journey
多长 duō chǎng = how long
小时 xiǎoshí = hour
上铺 shàng pù = upper bunk
到达 dàodá = v. arrive
送 sòng = v. send/deliver
售票员 shòupiàoyuán = ticket seller

Example:

订火车票。
dìng huǒchē piào
Book a train ticket.

一张飞机票。
yī zhāng fēijī piào
An airline ticket.

你的航班号是多少？
nǐ de hángbān hào shì duōshǎo
What is your flight number.

请问到北京有特快火车吗？
qǐngwèn dào běijīng yǒu tèkuài huǒchē ma?
Is there an express train to Beijing?

全程需要10小时。
quánchéng xūyào 10 xiǎoshí.
The whole journey takes 10 hours.

这条路多长？
Zhè tiáo lù duō chǎng?
How long is this road?

我睡觉上铺。
wǒ shuìjiào shàng pù.
I sleep on the upper bunk.

他们昨天到达北京。
tāmen zuótiān dàodá běijīng.
They arrived in Beijing yesterday.

爸爸送我去饭馆。
bàba sòng wǒ qù fànguǎn.
Dad sent me to the restaurant.

售票员：哪天的？
shòupiàoyuán: Nǎ tiān de?
Ticket seller: For which day?

• 走 zǒu = walk
• 一直 yī zhí = straight/continuous
• 第一 dì yī = first
• 那个 nà gè = that one
• 十字路口 shízìlù kǒu = crossing/intersection
• 丁字路口 dīngzì lùkǒu = T-Junction
• 往 wǎng = towards/to
• 拐 guǎi = turn
• 右 yòu = right
• 佐 zuǒ = left
• 右边 yòubiān = right side
• 左边 zuǒbiān = left side
• 右手边 yòushǒu biān = right hand side
• 左手边 zuǒshǒu biān = left hand side
• 前边 qiánbian = front
• 后边 hòubian = behind
• 对面 duìmiàn = opposite/across
• 之间 zhī jiān = between
• 旁边 pángbiān = next to
• 过了 guòle = pass/cross
• 路 lù = road

Examples:

A. 从第一小学到地铁
Cóng dì yī xiǎoxué dào dìtiě
From the elementary school to the subway

一直走，第七个十字路口，往左边。过了第一十字路口，地铁站在路右边，公交车站后边。
Yīzhí zǒu, dì qī gè shízìlù kǒu, wǎng zuǒbiān.Guòle dì yī shízìlù kǒu, dìtiě zhàn zài lù yòubiān, gōngjiāo chē zhàn hòubian.
Walk straight, on the seventh crossing, turn left. Cross the first intersection, the subway is on the right side of the road and behind the bus stop.

B. 从家到邮局
Cóng jiā dào yóujú
From home to post office

一直走，第二个十字路口，往右拐。邮局在银行前边。
Yīzhí zǒu, dì èr gè shízìlù kǒu, wǎng yòu guǎi. Yóujú zài yínháng qiánbian.
Walk straight, turn right at the second intersection. The post office is in front of the bank.

C. 从消防局到银行
From fire station to bank
一直走，第二个十字路口，往左拐。一直走，第一十字路口，往右拐。银行在路左边。商店旁边，邮局对面。
Yīzhí zǒu, dì èr gè shízìlù kǒu, wǎng zuǒ guǎi. Yīzhí zǒu, dì yī shízìlù kǒu, wǎng yòu guǎi. Yínháng zài lù zuǒbiān. Shāngdiàn pángbiān, yóujú duìmiàn.
Walk straight,turn left at the second intersection. Walk straight, turn right at the first crossing. The bank is at the left side of the road. Next to the shop and opposite the post office.

天 tiān = sky

气 qì = air

阴天 yīn tiān = cloudy day

晴天 qíng tiān = sunny day

大风天 dàfēng tiān = windy day

下雪天 xià xuě tiān = snowy day

大雾天 dà wù tiān = foggy day

Examples:

明天天气怎么样
Míngtiān tiānqì zěnme yàng
How is the weather tomorrow?

今天阴天，我不喜欢阴天。
jīntiān yīn tiān, wǒ bù xǐhuān yīn tiān.
It’s cloudy today.I don’t like cloudy days.

今天晴天， 我和朋友出玩。
jīntiān qíngtiān, wǒ hé péngyǒu chū wán.
It’s a sunny day. My friend and I went out to play.

今天刮大风，我不去外面。
jīntiān guā dàfēng, wǒ bù qù wàimiàn.
It’s windy today, so I’m not going outside.

下雪天，很漂亮。
xià xuě tiān, hěn piàoliang.
It’s snowy, it’s beautiful.

今天北京有大雾。
jīntiān běijīng yǒu dà wù.
There is heavy fog in Beijing today.

多 duō = many
少 shǎo = few

Examples:

这个饼干多少钱
Zhège bǐnggān duōshǎo qián
How much is this cookie?

她有多少钱？
Tā yǒu duōshǎo qián?
How much money does she have?

派对上有多少人
Pàiduì shàng yǒu duōshǎo rén
How many people were there in the party?

这个手表多少钱
Zhège shǒubiǎo duōshǎo qián
How much is this watch?

你们公司有多少工人
Nǐmen gōngsī yǒu duōshǎo gōngrén
How many workers does your company have?

Some characters might look the same for English speakers but the trick is how you pronounce the words. Tone is important!

这
Zhè
This
Example:
这太贵了。
Zhè tài guì le.
This is too expensive.

这儿
Zhè’er
Here
Example:
你为什么在这儿？
Nĭ wèi shénmē zaì zhèr?
Why are you here?

这些
Zhèxiē
These ones
Example:
这些菜难道不好吃吗？
Zhèxiē cài nándào bù hào chī ma?
Are not these dishes delicious?

那
Nà
That
Example:
啊!那是真的吗？
Shénme! Nà shì zhēn de ma?
What! Is that true?

那儿
Nà’er
There
Example:
你看那儿！
Nǐ kàn nà’er!
Look there!

哪
Nǎ
Which
Example:
哪个桌子?
nǎ ge zhuō zi
Which table?

哪儿
Nǎ’er
Where
Example:
你住在哪儿?
nǐ zhù zài nǎ r
Where do you live?

谁
Shéi
Who
Example:
她是谁
tā shì shéi
Who is she?

什么
Shénme
What
Example:
你的名字是什么?
nǐ de míng zi shì shén me?
What is your name?

多少
Duōshǎo
How much
Example:
这个衣服多少钱
zhè ge yī fu duō shao qián
How much is this dress?

几
Jǐ
How many (less than 10)
Example:
现在几点了
xiàn zài jǐ diǎn le
What time is it?

怎么
Zěnme
How
Example:
这本书怎么样
zhè běn shū zěn me yàng
How is this book?

怎么样
Zěnme yàng
How is it (indicating nature/condition)
Example:
那儿怎么样
nà r zěn me yàng
What is it like there?

再见！

Resources:

http://www.purpleculture.net

It’s been a month of overwhelming Chinese learning. To take the HSK1 test, you have to know 150 Chinese words. I can now recognize 60% of those words. However, I’m still a total beginner and ‘tone’ deaf. 哈哈哈

Writing the lessons in a notebook allows me to review all the materials instead of having it saved on a word file. I’m kind of old school. This method works for me.

Here are my notes. I have a notebook for each learning source. They are ZerotoHero, Yoyo Chinese, Duolingo app, HelloChinese app and one for my Online Tutor. You may ask how I manage my time. I spend 30 minutes for each. That’s a total of 2 hours a day. My online tutor is 3x a week where we practice speaking and focusing on tones, listening and discussing my homework (sentences I made with new words from previous lesson.)

Here is a diy flashcard I created. I write down a new word and practice reading it everyday so I don’t forget.

Here’s another notebook where I log all the new words. If I don’t want to use my diy flash cards, I use this by just folding and covering the words. It’s a trick I learned from LissLearns (Youtube)

I bought a Tián zì gé notebook from Amazon. Here I practice writing the characters. HSK 1 does not include writing yet but I decided to start now rather than later. I follow the strokes from this website: https://dictionary.hantrainerpro.com

I also make it a habit to listen to Chinese music and watch Chinese dramas to immerse myself and get used to the tones and environment.

So, there you have it. My one month update. I’m looking forward to the day I will take my HSK1 exam.

 

再见！Zàijiàn

What is HSK?

Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK; Chinese: 汉语水平考试; pinyin: Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì), translated as the Chinese Proficiency Test, is the standardized test of Standard Chinese (a type of Mandarin Chinese) language proficiency of China for non-native speakers such as foreign students and overseas Chinese. The test is administered by the Hanban, an agency of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China.

Resources:
ZerotoHero
YoyoChinese
Duolingo App
HelloChinese App

Chinese Dramas:
Netflix and Youtube
Asian Drama Group Facebook
Rakuten VIKI
Youku
Iqiyi