4 · 40 words

History and tradition

Dynasties, emperors, heritage and what has come down from the past.

Chinese history is told in dynasties, and the word for a dynasty is 朝代(cháodài), with 朝(cháo) read cháo. A handful of words divide time: 古代(gǔdài) is the distant past, 现代(xiàndài) the modern age, and 时代(shídài) any age or era, including the one we live in. When people mean their culture as a whole, across all of that time, they call it 中华(Zhōnghuá).

The words

Verb (4)

纪念(jìniàn)to commemorateVerb4

这(zhè)个(ge)节日(jiérì)是(shì)为了(wèile)纪念(jìniàn)一(yí)位(wèi)古代(gǔdài)诗人(shīrén)。This festival commemorates a poet of ancient times.

打仗(dǎzhàng)to fight (in a war)Verb4

古代(gǔdài)打仗(dǎzhàng)的(de)时候(shíhou)，马(mǎ)非常(fēicháng)重要(zhòngyào)。In ancient warfare, horses were extremely important.

印刷(yìnshuā)printing; to printVerb4

有(yǒu)了(le)印刷(yìnshuā)技术(jìshù)，书(shū)就(jiù)便宜(piányi)多(duō)了(le)。Once printing came along, books became much cheaper.

流传(liúchuán)to be handed down, to spreadVerb4

这(zhè)首(shǒu)歌(gē)在(zài)民间(mínjiān)流传(liúchuán)了(le)几(jǐ)百(bǎi)年(nián)。This song has been passed down among ordinary people for hundreds of years.

This list belongs to Festivals, the arts and history — six lists and 242 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.