4 · 40 words

Society

Rights and duties, the generations, and the words for living together.

The vocabulary of society is mostly two-character nouns whose halves still mean something: 义务(yìwù) is “what is right” plus “task”, a duty. Two words sound exactly alike and are worth keeping apart: 权利(quánlì) is a right, while 权力(quánlì) is power. The ending 化(huà) works like English “-isation”: 现代化(xiàndàihuà), modernisation; 老龄化(lǎolínghuà), the ageing of a population.

The words

Verb (3)

养老(yǎnglǎo)to provide for old age; to live in retirementVerb4

很(hěn)多(duō)人(rén)开始(kāishǐ)考虑(kǎolǜ)怎么(zěnme)养老(yǎnglǎo)。Many people are starting to think about how to provide for their old age.

退休(tuìxiū)to retireVerb4

我(wǒ)爸爸(bàba)去年(qùnián)退休(tuìxiū)了(le)，现在(xiànzài)天天(tiāntiān)钓鱼(diàoyú)。My dad retired last year and now goes fishing every day.

居住(jūzhù)to live; to resideVerb4

目前(mùqián)他(tā)和(hé)家人(jiārén)居住(jūzhù)在(zài)上海(Shànghǎi)。He currently lives in Shanghai with his family.

Formal; in conversation say 住(zhù).

This list belongs to Society and the news — four lists and 160 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.