4 · 40 words

Abstract nouns for talking about things in Chinese

Conditions, aspects, purposes, effects and standards: the nouns of explaining and comparing.

Practise this list

From these 40 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.

More about this list

These nouns turn up whenever something is explained, compared or judged. Several of them sit in fixed frames worth learning whole: 在(zài) … 方面(fāngmiàn), “as far as … is concerned”; 起(qǐ)作用(zuòyòng), to have an effect; 有(yǒu)前途(qiántú), to have a future. English often uses one word where Chinese distinguishes two: “situation” is 情况(qíngkuàng) or 状况(zhuàngkuàng), “effect” is 作用(zuòyòng) or 效果(xiàoguǒ).

The words

Noun (40)

条件(tiáojiàn)condition; requirement; circumstancesNoun4

他(tā)答应(dāying)了(le)，但是(dànshì)有(yǒu)一(yí)个(ge)条件(tiáojiàn)。He agreed, but on one condition.

方面(fāngmiàn)aspect; side; respectNoun4

在(zài)学习(xuéxí)方面(fāngmiàn)，他(tā)从来(cónglái)不(bú)用(yòng)父母(fùmǔ)操心(cāoxīn)。As far as his studies are concerned, his parents never have to worry about him.

情况(qíngkuàng)situation; circumstancesNoun4

你(nǐ)先(xiān)了解(liǎojiě)一下(yíxià)情况(qíngkuàng)，再(zài)做(zuò)决定(juédìng)。Find out what the situation is first, then decide.

过程(guòchéng)process; courseNoun4

学(xué)语言(yǔyán)是(shì)一(yí)个(ge)很(hěn)长(cháng)的(de)过程(guòchéng)。Learning a language is a long process.

作用(zuòyòng)effect; role; functionNoun4

这(zhè)种(zhǒng)药(yào)对(duì)感冒(gǎnmào)没有(méiyǒu)什么(shénme)作用(zuòyòng)。This medicine does nothing for a cold.

起(qǐ)作用(zuòyòng): to have an effect, to work.

目的(mùdì)purpose; aimNoun4

你(nǐ)这(zhè)次(cì)来(lái)中国(Zhōngguó)的(de)目的(mùdì)是(shì)什么(shénme)？What is the purpose of your visit to China?

的(dì) is read dì here.

方式(fāngshì)way; manner; modeNoun4

每(měi)个(ge)人(rén)都(dōu)有(yǒu)自己(zìjǐ)的(de)学习(xuéxí)方式(fāngshì)。Everyone has their own way of learning.

标准(biāozhǔn)standard; criterionNoun4

这(zhè)家(jiā)公司(gōngsī)招(zhāo)人(rén)的(de)标准(biāozhǔn)很(hěn)高(gāo)。This company sets a high bar for hiring.

Also an adjective: 标准(biāozhǔn)的(de)普通话(pǔtōnghuà), standard Mandarin.

现象(xiànxiàng)phenomenonNoun4

年轻人(niánqīngrén)晚(wǎn)结婚(jiéhūn)已经(yǐjīng)是(shì)很(hěn)普遍(pǔbiàn)的(de)现象(xiànxiàng)了(le)。Young people marrying late has become a very common phenomenon.

前途(qiántú)future; prospectsNoun4

这个(zhège)年轻人(niánqīngrén)很(hěn)有(yǒu)前途(qiántú)。This young person has a promising future.

状况(zhuàngkuàng)condition; state of affairsNoun4

爷爷(yéye)的(de)身体(shēntǐ)状况(zhuàngkuàng)一直(yìzhí)不错(búcuò)。Grandpa's health has always been good.

Close to 情况(qíngkuàng); more often of health, money or a machine.

基础(jīchǔ)foundation; basisNoun4

他(tā)的(de)中文(Zhōngwén)基础(jīchǔ)很(hěn)好(hǎo)，所以(suǒyǐ)进步(jìnbù)很(hěn)快(kuài)。He has a good grounding in Chinese, so he is making fast progress.

特征(tèzhēng)distinguishing feature; traitNoun4

警察(jǐngchá)问(wèn)我(wǒ)那(nà)个(ge)人(rén)有(yǒu)什么(shénme)特征(tèzhēng)。The police asked me what that person's distinguishing features were.

局面(júmiàn)situation; state of affairsNoun4

比赛(bǐsài)的(de)局面(júmiàn)对(duì)我们(wǒmen)越来越(yuèláiyuè)不利(búlì)。The match is turning more and more against us.

The overall situation, often one that has to be handled.

用途(yòngtú)use; purpose (of a thing)Noun4

这(zhè)种(zhǒng)材料(cáiliào)的(de)用途(yòngtú)很(hěn)广(guǎng)。This material has many uses.

来源(láiyuán)source; originNoun4

工资(gōngzī)是(shì)他(tā)唯一(wéiyī)的(de)收入(shōurù)来源(láiyuán)。His wages are his only source of income.

水平(shuǐpíng)level; standardNoun4

半(bàn)年(nián)以后(yǐhòu)，他(tā)的(de)口语(kǒuyǔ)水平(shuǐpíng)提高(tígāo)了(le)不少(bùshǎo)。Half a year later his spoken Chinese had improved a lot.

主题(zhǔtí)theme; subjectNoun4

这(zhè)次(cì)会议(huìyì)的(de)主题(zhǔtí)是(shì)环境(huánjìng)保护(bǎohù)。The theme of this conference is protecting the environment.

形式(xíngshì)form; formatNoun4

这(zhè)次(cì)考试(kǎoshì)的(de)形式(xíngshì)跟(gēn)以前(yǐqián)不(bù)一样(yíyàng)。The format of this exam is different from before.

意义(yìyì)significance; meaningNoun4

这(zhè)次(cì)比赛(bǐsài)对(duì)他(tā)来说(láishuō)意义(yìyì)很(hěn)大(dà)。This competition means a great deal to him.

Significance; the meaning of a word is 意思(yìsi).

价值(jiàzhí)value; worthNoun4

这些(zhèxiē)老(lǎo)家具(jiājù)很(hěn)有(yǒu)价值(jiàzhí)。This old furniture is very valuable.

目标(mùbiāo)goal; targetNoun4

我(wǒ)今年(jīnnián)的(de)目标(mùbiāo)是(shì)每(měi)个(ge)月(yuè)读(dú)两(liǎng)本(běn)书(shū)。My goal this year is to read two books a month.

措施(cuòshī)measure; stepNoun4

学校(xuéxiào)采取(cǎiqǔ)了(le)新(xīn)的(de)安全(ānquán)措施(cuòshī)。The school has taken new safety measures.

Usually with 采取(cǎiqǔ), to take.

手段(shǒuduàn)means; method; tacticNoun4

罚款(fákuǎn)只是(zhǐshì)一(yì)种(zhǒng)手段(shǒuduàn)，不(bú)是(shì)目的(mùdì)。A fine is only a means, not an end.

Often slightly negative: tricks, tactics.

方案(fāng'àn)plan; proposal; schemeNoun4

我们(wǒmen)准备(zhǔnbèi)了(le)两(liǎng)个(ge)方案(fāng'àn)，请(qǐng)您(nín)选(xuǎn)一(yí)个(ge)。We have prepared two proposals; please choose one.

区别(qūbié)difference; distinctionNoun4

这(zhè)两(liǎng)个(ge)词(cí)有(yǒu)什么(shénme)区别(qūbié)？What is the difference between these two words?

差距(chājù)gap; disparityNoun4

我(wǒ)跟(gēn)他(tā)还(hái)有(yǒu)很(hěn)大(dà)的(de)差距(chājù)。There is still a big gap between him and me.

差(chā) is read chā here.

步骤(bùzhòu)step; procedureNoun4

做(zuò)这(zhè)道(dào)菜(cài)一共(yígòng)有(yǒu)五(wǔ)个(ge)步骤(bùzhòu)。There are five steps to making this dish.

重点(zhòngdiǎn)key point; focusNoun4

老师(lǎoshī)说(shuō)这(zhè)一(yí)课(kè)的(de)重点(zhòngdiǎn)是(shì)语法(yǔfǎ)。The teacher said the focus of this lesson is grammar.

性质(xìngzhì)nature; character (of a thing)Noun4

这(zhè)两(liǎng)件(jiàn)事(shì)的(de)性质(xìngzhì)完全(wánquán)不同(bùtóng)。These two matters are completely different in nature.

概念(gàiniàn)concept; ideaNoun4

这个(zhège)概念(gàiniàn)有点儿(yǒudiǎnr)难(nán)，老师(lǎoshī)又(yòu)讲(jiǎng)了(le)一(yí)遍(biàn)。This concept is a bit difficult, so the teacher went over it again.

细节(xìjié)detailNoun4

计划(jìhuà)的(de)细节(xìjié)我们(wǒmen)明天(míngtiān)再(zài)谈(tán)。We will discuss the details of the plan tomorrow.

效果(xiàoguǒ)effect; resultNoun4

这(zhè)种(zhǒng)学习(xuéxí)方法(fāngfǎ)效果(xiàoguǒ)很(hěn)好(hǎo)。This way of studying works very well.

成就(chéngjiù)achievement; accomplishmentNoun4

她(tā)年纪(niánjì)轻轻(qīngqīng)就(jiù)取得(qǔdé)了(le)很(hěn)大(dà)的(de)成就(chéngjiù)。She achieved a great deal while still very young.

背景(bèijǐng)backgroundNoun4

这(zhè)部(bù)小说(xiǎoshuō)的(de)故事(gùshi)背景(bèijǐng)是(shì)上海(Shànghǎi)。This novel is set in Shanghai.

地位(dìwèi)status; positionNoun4

京剧(jīngjù)在(zài)中国(Zhōngguó)文化(wénhuà)中(zhōng)有(yǒu)重要(zhòngyào)的(de)地位(dìwèi)。Peking opera holds an important place in Chinese culture.

资格(zīgé)qualification; eligibilityNoun4

他(tā)的(de)年龄(niánlíng)不(bú)够(gòu)，没有(méiyǒu)资格(zīgé)参加(cānjiā)比赛(bǐsài)。He is not old enough to be eligible for the competition.

秩序(zhìxù)order (in public)Noun4

排队(páiduì)的(de)时候(shíhou)请(qǐng)遵守(zūnshǒu)秩序(zhìxù)。Please queue in an orderly way.

印象(yìnxiàng)impressionNoun4

你(nǐ)对(duì)北京(Běijīng)的(de)第一(dìyī)印象(yìnxiàng)怎么样(zěnmeyàng)？What was your first impression of Beijing?

本领(běnlǐng)skill; abilityNoun4

他(tā)在(zài)农村(nóngcūn)学会(xuéhuì)了(le)很(hěn)多(duō)生活(shēnghuó)本领(běnlǐng)。In the countryside he learned many practical skills.

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