Free resources · GCSE Mandarin topics
GCSE Mandarin: Jobs, career choices and ambitions
Free vocabulary, grammar and Higher model answers with exam tips for the GCSE Mandarin topic “Jobs, career choices and ambitions” (part-time jobs, future careers and plans). Click a section to open it.
Key vocabulary
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| Jobs | ||
| 医生 | yīshēng | doctor |
| 护士 | hùshi | nurse |
| 老师 | lǎoshī | teacher |
| 科学家 | kēxuéjiā | scientist |
| 工程师 | gōngchéngshī | engineer |
| 厨师 | chúshī | chef |
| 服务员 | fúwùyuán | waiter, waitress |
| 售货员 | shòuhuòyuán | shop assistant |
| 司机 | sījī | driver |
| 作家 | zuòjiā | writer |
| 演员 | yǎnyuán | actor, actress |
| 记者 | jìzhě | journalist |
| 警察 | jǐngchá | police officer |
| 工人 | gōngrén | factory worker |
| 商人 | shāngrén | businessman |
| 家庭妇女 | jiātíng fùnǚ | housewife |
| Places of work | ||
| 办公室 | bàngōng shì | office |
| 公司 | gōngsī | company |
| 工厂 | gōngchǎng | factory |
| 上班 | shàngbān | to go to work |
| 下班 | xiàbān | to finish work |
| 同事 | tóngshì | colleague |
| 名片 | míngpiàn | business card |
| Pay and ambitions | ||
| 工资 | gōngzī | salary |
| 赚钱 | zhuànqián | to earn money |
| 理想 | lǐxiǎng | ideal/dream |
| 目标 | mùbiāo | aim |
| 职业 | zhíyè | career |
| 能力 | nénglì | ability, skills |
| 机会 | jīhuì | opportunity |
| Applying for a job | ||
| 广告 | guǎnggào | advert |
| 联系 | liánxì | to make contact |
| 申请 | shēnqǐng | to apply for, application |
| 个人简历 | gèrénjiǎnlì | CV |
| 面试 | miànshì | job interview |
| 面谈 | miàntán | to discuss face to face |
| 经验 | jīngyàn | experience |
| 背景 | bèijǐng | background |
| 流利 | liúlì | fluent |
| 兼职 | jiānzhí | part-time job |
| 尊敬的 | zūnjìng de | dear (respected) |
| 此致 | cǐzhì | best wishes |
Grammar and complex structures
Use these in your speaking and writing.
| Structure | Meaning | Example for this topic |
|---|---|---|
| 对……有兴趣 | to be interested in … | 我对数学和物理很有兴趣。 I am very interested in maths and physics. |
| 最重要的是…… | the most important thing is … | 对我来说，最重要的是我喜欢这个工作。 For me, the most important thing is that I like the job. |
| 与其……不如…… | rather than … it is better to … | 与其做一个工资高的工作，不如做一个有意思的工作。 Rather than a well-paid job, it’s better to do an interesting one. |
| 如果……就…… | if … then … | 如果我中文说得很流利，就会有更多机会。 If I speak Chinese fluently, I will have more opportunities. |
| 是……的 | stresses when / where / how a past action happened | 我是去年开始做兼职的。 I started my part-time job last year. |
| ……高不高 | whether … is high or not | 工资高不高不是最重要的。 Whether the pay is high isn’t the most important thing. |
Speaking questions and model answers
Try answering each question yourself first, then click it to see a Higher model answer and an exam tip.
Photo card
The photo card task follows the AQA format, but the same skills are useful for the picture-based task in the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Chinese speaking exam.
A photo of a chef cooking in a kitchen.
Photo card照片里有什么？What is in the photo? Show model answer
照片里有一个厨师，他在厨房里做饭。他看起来很忙，因为桌子上有很多菜。我觉得厨师的工作很累。
In the photo there is a chef cooking in a kitchen. He looks very busy, because there are lots of dishes on the table. I think being a chef is very tiring.
Exam tip: Describe only what you can see. Complex structures: 在 + verb (他在厨房里做饭), 看起来…… (他看起来很忙), and ……，因为…… with something you can see (桌子上有很多菜).
Edexcel tip: Describe what you can see in the picture first, and read each question carefully for key words.
General conversation
Questions your teacher may ask about this topic.
General conversation你有兼职吗？Do you have a part-time job? Show model answer
我有兼职。我是去年开始做兼职的，每个星期六在一家咖啡厅工作。虽然工资不太高，但是我很喜欢我的同事。我想挣钱，因为明年我打算去中国旅行。
Yes, I do. I started my part-time job last year; I work in a café every Saturday. Although the pay isn’t very high, I really like my colleagues. I want to earn money, because next year I plan to travel to China.
Exam tip: Complex structures: 是……的 (是去年开始做兼职的), 虽然……但是…… (虽然工资不太高，但是我很喜欢我的同事), ……，因为…… to give a reason. Time frames: past (去年开始……) and future (明年我打算去中国旅行). Vocabulary: 兼职, 工资, 同事.
General conversation你将来想做什么工作？为什么？What job would you like to do in the future? Why? Show model answer
我将来想做工程师，因为我对数学和物理很有兴趣。去年我参加了一个科学夏令营，觉得非常有意思。对我来说，工资高不高不是最重要的，最重要的是我喜欢这个工作。
In the future I want to be an engineer, because I am very interested in maths and physics. Last year I went to a science summer camp and found it really interesting. For me, whether the pay is high isn’t the most important thing; the most important thing is that I like the job.
Exam tip: Complex structures: 对……有兴趣, ……高不高 (whether or not), 对我来说. Time frames: past (去年我参加了……) and future (我将来想做……).
General conversation你觉得学中文对找工作有帮助吗？Does learning Chinese help you find a job? Show model answer
我觉得学中文对找工作很有帮助，因为很多英国公司在中国工作。去年我妈妈的公司找了一个会说中文的人。如果我中文说得很流利，将来就会有更多机会。
I think learning Chinese really helps you find a job, because many British companies work in China. Last year my mum’s company looked for someone who could speak Chinese. If I speak Chinese fluently, I will have more opportunities in the future.
Exam tip: Complex structures: 如果……就……, ……对……有帮助, verb + 得 (说得很流利). Time frames: past (去年……找了……) and future (将来就会有更多机会).
General conversation你理想的工作是什么样的？What would your ideal job be like? Show model answer
我理想的工作又有意思又能去中国和别的地方。去年我做社会实践的时候，发现我很喜欢和同事一起工作。将来我希望我的同事都很友好，工资也不错。
My ideal job would be interesting and would let me go to China and other places. When I did work experience last year, I found that I really like working with colleagues. In the future I hope my colleagues will be friendly and the pay will be good.
Exam tip: Complex structures: 又……又……, ……的时候. Time frames: past (去年我做社会实践的时候……) and future (将来我希望……).
More general conversation questions to practise
- 你的爸爸妈妈做什么工作？ (What do your parents do?)
- 你打算在中国还是在英国工作？ (Do you plan to work in China or in the UK?)
- 你觉得赚钱重要，还是做你喜欢的工作重要？ (Is earning money or doing a job you love more important?)
- 你做过社会实践吗？你学到了什么？ (Have you done work experience? What did you learn?)
- 你小时候想做什么工作？现在呢？ (What job did you want to do when you were little? What about now?)
- 你想在办公室工作吗？为什么？ (Would you like to work in an office? Why?)
Questions about this topic
What does the topic “Jobs, career choices and ambitions” cover in GCSE Mandarin?
It covers part-time jobs, future careers and plans. The topic can come up in speaking, writing, reading and listening, so learn the vocabulary and practise the speaking questions out loud.
What is the difference between the photo card and the general conversation?
In the photo card task you describe a photo and answer questions about it. In the general conversation your teacher asks questions about the topic, and you should give opinions, reasons and use past, present and future time frames. This page has model answers for both.
How can I make my answers sound more advanced?
Give opinions with reasons, use past, present and future time frames, join ideas with connectives such as 虽然……但是……, and add specific details or examples.