4 · 41 words

Character and behaviour

Modest, selfish, generous, mean — how people are and how they act.

Describing character in Chinese runs through pairs of opposites, and learning them as pairs halves the work: 大方(dàfang) and 小气(xiǎoqi), 谦虚(qiānxū) and 傲慢(àomàn), 宽容(kuānróng) and 小心眼(xiǎoxīnyǎn). Watch 大方(dàfang): it means generous with money, and also relaxed and natural in manner — never simply “big”.

The words

Verb (1)

计较(jìjiào)to fuss over (small things)Verb4

朋友(péngyou)之间(zhījiān)不要(búyào)计较(jìjiào)这么(zhème)一点儿(yìdiǎnr)钱(qián)。Between friends you shouldn’t fuss over such a small sum.

This list belongs to People and feelings — eleven lists and 442 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 41 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.