Chinese Vocabulary · 中文词汇
Study and Thinking Words in Chinese
学习与思维词汇 xuéxí yǔ sīwéi cíhuì
In ancient times, the big list was not for university admission but for government posts. After the imperial examinations (科举 (kējǔ)), the names of those who passed were posted on a big list called a 榜 (bǎng), and being 录取 (lùqǔ) for an official position (官位 (guānwèi)) meant your name was on it. Today the results are online and the list is for university admission, but people still say 放榜 (fàngbǎng, “the results are out”) when admission results are announced. This lesson takes you from school life, like credits, dorms and papers, to the big ideas you meet when you study.
School life
School and Study Words in Chinese
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Korean | Japanese |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 教材 | jiàocái | Teaching materials; textbook | 교재 | 教材 |
| 论文 | lùnwén | Paper; thesis; essay | 논문 | 論文 |
| 录取 | lùqǔ | To admit; to accept (to a school) | 합격시키다; 입학을 허가하다 | 合格にする; 入学を許可する |
| 试卷 | shìjuàn | Exam paper; test paper | 시험지 | 試験用紙 |
| 宿舍 | sùshè | Dormitory | 기숙사 | 寮 |
| 学分 | xuéfēn | Credit (academic) | 학점 | 単位 |
| 学科 | xuékē | Subject; academic discipline | 학과; 과목 | 学科 |
| 学历 | xuélì | Educational background; academic qualifications | 학력 | 学歴 |
| 学年 | xuénián | School year; academic year | 학년 | 学年 |
| 学术 | xuéshù | Academic; scholarly | 학술 | 学術 |
| 学者 | xuézhě | Scholar | 학자 | 学者 |
| 幼儿园 | yòu’éryuán | Kindergarten | 유치원 | 幼稚園 |
试卷 (shìjuàn) vs 考卷 (kǎojuàn)
Both mean “exam paper.” Mainland China says 试卷 (shìjuàn), while Taiwan more often says 考卷 (kǎojuàn).
Putting it all together
Examples
這個學年我要修二十個學分，還要寫一篇論文这个学年我要修二十个学分，还要写一篇论文This school year I need to take twenty credits and also write a paper.
他被那所大學錄取了，所以要搬進學校的宿舍他被那所大学录取了，所以要搬进学校的宿舍He was admitted to that university, so he will move into the school dorm.
Big ideas
Abstract Concept and Thinking Words in Chinese
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Korean | Japanese |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 本质 | běnzhì | Essence; nature (of something) | 본질 | 本質 |
| 概念 | gàiniàn | Concept | 개념 | 概念 |
| 观点 | guāndiǎn | Viewpoint; opinion | 관점 | 観点 |
| 观念 | guānniàn | Idea; notion; mindset | 관념 | 観念 |
| 价值 | jiàzhí | Value; worth | 가치 | 価値 |
| 理论 | lǐlùn | Theory | 이론 | 理論 |
| 逻辑 | luójí | Logic | 논리 | 論理 |
| 思维 | sīwéi | Thinking; way of thinking | 사고 | 思考 |
| 思想 | sīxiǎng | Thought; ideology | 사상 | 思想 |
| 意义 | yìyì | Meaning; significance | 의미 | 意義 |
| 原则 | yuánzé | Principle | 원칙 | 原則 |
| 智慧 | zhìhuì | Wisdom | 지혜 | 知恵 |
观点 (guāndiǎn), 观念 (guānniàn) and 概念 (gàiniàn)
观点 (guāndiǎn) is a point of view or opinion about a specific matter. 观念 (guānniàn) is a deeper idea or mindset that someone holds, such as a belief about family or money. 概念 (gàiniàn) is a concept, a general idea you can define, such as a basic concept in science.
思想 (sīxiǎng) vs 思维 (sīwéi)
思想 (sīxiǎng) is a system of thoughts or ideas, like the thought of a philosopher. 思维 (sīwéi) is the way or process of thinking, like logical thinking.
意义 (yìyì) vs 价值 (jiàzhí)
意义 (yìyì) is meaning or significance, and 有意义 (yǒu yìyì) means “meaningful.” 价值 (jiàzhí) is value or worth, and 有价值 (yǒu jiàzhí) means “valuable.”
Putting it all together
Examples
每個人對這件事的觀點都不一樣每个人对这件事的观点都不一样Everyone has a different point of view on this matter.
讀書不只是為了考試，也是為了學會用邏輯思維，培養智慧读书不只是为了考试，也是为了学会用逻辑思维，培养智慧Studying is not only for exams; it is also for learning to use logical thinking and to develop wisdom.
Test yourself
Vocabulary Quiz
