Thinking, agreeing and disagreeing, giving reasons and examples, and saying how sure you are.
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
Chinese has two everyday ways of saying “I think”: 我觉得 for an impression and 我认为 for a considered view. A third, 我以为, looks the same and usually means the opposite: what you thought, and turned out to be wrong. Reasons and results keep a fixed order — reason first, result second — which is the order 因为 and 所以 keep too.
The words
View
Verb (9)
认为to think; to consider; to hold (a view)Verb3
我认为他说得对。I think he is right.
A considered view; 觉得 is lighter. 为 is read wéi here.
以为to think (wrongly); to assumeVerb3
我以为今天是星期五，其实是星期四。I thought today was Friday, but actually it is Thursday.
Usually a belief that turned out to be mistaken.
同意to agree; to consentVerb3
爸爸不同意我一个人去旅行。Dad does not agree to my travelling on my own.
反对to oppose; to object toVerb3
很多人反对在这儿建工厂。Many people are against building a factory here.
支持to support; to backVerb3
家里人都支持我去国外读书。My family all support my going abroad to study.
赞成to be in favour of; to approveVerb3
我赞成你的办法，我们就这么做吧。I am in favour of your approach; let’s do it that way.
确定to fix; to make sure; certainVerb3
开会的时间还没有确定。The time of the meeting has not been fixed yet.
表示to show; to express; to indicateVerb3
他点了点头，表示同意。He nodded to show he agreed.
值得to be worth (doing)Verb3
这个博物馆值得去看看。This museum is worth a visit.
Noun (18)
看法view; opinionNoun3
对这件事，每个人的看法都不一样。Everyone has a different view on this matter.
观点point of view; standpointNoun3
这篇文章的观点很清楚。The position this article takes is very clear.
More formal than 看法; used of arguments and articles.
想法idea; thoughtNoun3
你有什么想法，都可以告诉我。Whatever thoughts you have, you can tell me.
主意idea; plan; decisionNoun3
周末去海边？这是个好主意！The seaside at the weekend? That is a good idea!
Also “mind”: 改主意, to change your mind.
评价opinion (of); assessment; to judgeNoun3
大家对这部电影的评价都很高。Everyone thinks highly of this film.
原因reason; causeNoun3
你知道他辞职的原因吗？Do you know why he resigned?
The cause of what happened; 理由 is the reason someone gives.
结果result; outcome; in the endNoun3
我们讨论了一个上午，还是没有结果。We discussed it all morning and still reached no decision.
At the start of a clause, “as it turned out”: 结果他没来.
理由reason; groundsNoun3
你不同意的理由是什么？What are your grounds for disagreeing?
道理principle; sense; reasonNoun3
这个道理连孩子都懂。Even a child understands this.
事实factNoun3
事实和他说的不一样。The facts are not as he told them.
例子exampleNoun3
你能举个例子吗？Can you give an example?
To give an example: 举例子.
好处advantage; benefitNoun3
每天走路对身体有很多好处。Walking every day is good for your health in many ways.
坏处harm; disadvantageNoun3
玩手机玩得太久有什么坏处？What harm does spending too long on your phone do?
借口excuse; pretextNoun3
头疼只是借口，其实他是不想去。The headache is only an excuse; really he does not want to go.
Unlike 理由, a reason that is not the real one.
后果consequence (usually bad)Noun3
开车的时候看手机，后果会很严重。Looking at your phone while driving can have serious consequences.
Almost always bad; a neutral outcome is 结果.
错误mistake; error; wrongNoun3
这篇作文里有几个小错误。There are a few small mistakes in this essay.
说法way of putting it; version (of events); claimNoun3
关于这件事，网上有很多不同的说法。There are many different versions of this story online.
关键key; crucial pointNoun3
学语言的关键是每天练习。The key to learning a language is practising every day.
Adjective (1)
合理reasonable; sensibleAdjective3
你的要求很合理，我同意。Your request is reasonable; I agree.
Adverb (5)
看来it seems; it looks as ifAdverb3
他还没回消息，看来今天不会来了。He still has not replied; it looks as if he will not come today.
A conclusion drawn from what you can see.
必须must; have toAdverb3
明天的会每个人都必须参加。Everyone must attend tomorrow’s meeting.
“Need not” is 不用 or 不必, never 不必须.
可能maybe; probably; possible; possibilityAdverb3
天这么黑，可能要下雨了。It is so dark; it is probably going to rain.
肯定certainly; definitely; sureAdverb3
他这么晚还没来，肯定是忘了。He is still not here this late; he must have forgotten.
难怪no wonderAdverb3
他生病了？难怪今天没来上课。He is ill? No wonder he did not come to class today.
Preposition (1)
根据according to; on the basis of; basisPreposition3
根据天气预报，明天会下雨。According to the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow.
Also a noun, “grounds”: 没有根据, “groundless”.
Conjunction (2)
比如for example; such asConjunction3
我喜欢运动，比如游泳和跑步。I like sport, for example swimming and running.
Spoken; often 比如说.
例如for example; such asConjunction3
很多水果冬天也能买到，例如苹果和橙子。Many kinds of fruit can be bought in winter too, for example apples and oranges.
More written than 比如.
Phrase (3)
有道理to make sense; to have a pointPhrase3
你说的有道理，我再想想。You have a point; let me think it over again.
不一定not necessarily; not certainPhrase3
贵的东西不一定好。Expensive things are not necessarily good.
不 keeps its fourth tone, because 一 after it is spoken in the second.
不见得not necessarily; not likelyPhrase3
人多的饭馆不见得好吃。A busy restaurant is not necessarily a good one.
Spoken; a mild way of disagreeing.
Modal verb (1)
应该should; ought toModal verb3
你应该早点儿告诉我。You should have told me earlier.
Also “probably”: 他应该到了, “he should be there by now”.
