Abstract Words

Before we get into the vocab, a quick word on this batch: abstract words tend to trip learners up more than concrete nouns, simply because there’s no picture to point to. The best way to make them stick is to learn them inside the phrases they naturally show up in, which is exactly how the two lists below are built.

Part one

Abstract Words in Chinese 1

Putting it all together

Examples

每個人měi gè rén對未來duì wèilái都dōu抱著bàozhe不同的bùtóng de希望xīwàng每个人měi gè rén对未来duì wèilái都dōu抱着bàozhe不同的bùtóng de希望xīwàng Everyone holds different hopes for the future.

這次的zhè cì de失敗shībài是shì一個yí gè很好的hěn hǎo de經驗jīngyàn，也是yěshì一種yì zhǒng考驗kǎoyàn这次的zhè cì de失败shībài是shì一个yí gè很好的hěn hǎo de经验jīngyàn，也是yěshì一种yì zhǒng考验kǎoyàn This failure was a good experience, and also a kind of test.

Part two

Abstract Words in Chinese 2

Putting it all together

Examples

第一次dì yī cì見面jiànmiàn，他tā給gěi我的wǒ de印象yìnxiàng很好hěn hǎo第一次dì yī cì见面jiànmiàn，他tā给gěi我的wǒ de印象yìnxiàng很好hěn hǎo The first time we met, he made a great impression on me.

這個zhège系統xìtǒng的de漏洞lòudòng是shì公司的gōngsī de秘密mìmì这个zhège系统xìtǒng的de漏洞lòudòng是shì公司的gōngsī de秘密mìmì The flaw in this system is the company’s secret.

Test yourself

Vocabulary Quiz