Free resources · GCSE Mandarin topics
GCSE Mandarin: Social issues
Free vocabulary, grammar and Higher model answers with exam tips for the GCSE Mandarin topic “Social issues” (charity and voluntary work; healthy and unhealthy living). Click a section to open it.
Key vocabulary
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy and unhealthy living | ||
| 健康 | jiànkāng | healthy |
| 胖 | pàng | fat |
| 瘦 | shòu | thin |
| 锻炼 | duànliàn | to work out |
| 饮食习惯 | yǐnshí xíguàn | eating habits |
| 减肥 | jiǎnféi | to lose weight |
| 超重 | chāozhòng | overweight |
| 抽烟 / 吸烟 | chōuyān / xīyān | to smoke |
| 烟 | yān | cigarette |
| 戒烟 | jièyān | to give up smoking |
| 上瘾 | shàngyǐn | to be addicted; addiction |
| Illness and medicine | ||
| 医院 | yīyuàn | hospital |
| 病 | bìng | illness |
| 疼 | téng | to hurt; pain |
| 药 | yào | medicine |
| 中药 | zhōngyào | Chinese medicine |
| 西药 | xīyào | Western medicine |
| 针灸 | zhēnjiǔ | acupuncture |
| Relationships | ||
| 爱 | ài | to love, love |
| 年轻 | niánqīng | young |
| 交朋友 | jiāo péngyou | to make friends |
| 男朋友 | nánpéngyou | boyfriend |
| 女朋友 | nǚpéngyou | girlfriend |
| 结婚 | jiéhūn | to get married; married |
| 谈恋爱 | tán liànài | to date |
| 网上约会 | wǎngshàng yuēhuì | online dating |
| Helping others | ||
| 帮助 | bāngzhù | to help |
| 慈善 | císhàn | charity |
| 老人院 | lǎorényuàn | care home |
| 志愿者服务 | zhìyuànzhě fúwù | volunteer (service) |
| 志愿活动 | zhìyuàn huódòng | voluntary activities |
| 义工 | yìgōng | volunteer; voluntary work |
Grammar and complex structures
Use these in your speaking and writing.
| Structure | Meaning | Example for this topic |
|---|---|---|
| ……对……好 / 不好 | … is good / bad for … | 抽烟对身体很不好。 Smoking is very bad for your health. |
| 为了…… | in order to … | 为了健康，我每天跑步。 To be healthy, I run every day. |
| 应该多……，少…… | should … more and … less | 我应该多吃水果，少吃快餐。 I should eat more fruit and less fast food. |
| 虽然……但是…… | although … | 虽然快餐对身体不好，但是很好吃。 Although fast food is bad for you, it is tasty. |
| 让…… | to make (someone feel / do something) | 帮助别人让我很快乐。 Helping others makes me happy. |
| 与其……不如…… | rather than … it is better to … | 与其喝汽水，不如喝水。 Rather than drinking fizzy drinks, it’s better to drink water. |
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 three young people in a charity shop, with clothes and books on the table.
Photo card照片里有什么？What is in the photo? Show model answer
照片里有三个年轻人，他们在一个慈善店里。桌子上有很多衣服和书。我觉得他们在帮助慈善店，因为他们在看这些衣服和书。他们看起来很高兴，因为他们都在笑。
In the photo there are three young people in a charity shop. There are lots of clothes and books on the table. I think they are helping the charity shop, because they are looking through the clothes and books. They look very happy, because they are all smiling.
Exam tip: Describe only what you can see. Complex structures: 在 + verb for what is happening (他们在看这些衣服和书), 看起来…… for how people seem (他们看起来很高兴), and 我觉得……，因为…… to give a reason for each guess.
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你觉得你的生活健康吗？Do you think you lead a healthy life? Show model answer
我觉得我的生活比较健康。我每天吃水果和蔬菜，一个星期游泳三次。不过，我有时候吃快餐，而且睡觉睡得太晚，因为我的作业很多。
I think my lifestyle is quite healthy. I eat fruit and vegetables every day and go swimming three times a week. However, I sometimes eat fast food, and I go to bed too late because I have a lot of homework.
Exam tip: Complex structures: verb + 得 (睡觉睡得太晚), 而且, 因为. Frequency: 一个星期游泳三次.
General conversation为了健康，上个月你做了什么？What did you do last month to be healthy? Show model answer
为了健康，上个月我每天骑自行车去学校，也不喝汽水了。除了骑自行车以外，我还常常去健身房锻炼。现在我觉得比以前快乐。下个月我打算参加学校的跑步比赛。
To be healthy, last month I cycled to school every day and stopped drinking fizzy drinks. Apart from cycling, I also often went to the gym to work out. Now I feel happier than before. Next month I plan to take part in the school running competition.
Exam tip: Complex structures: 为了……, 除了……以外，还……, A 比 B (比以前快乐), 不……了 (no longer). Time frames: past (上个月……) and future (下个月我打算……).
General conversation你做过志愿者服务吗？Have you ever done volunteering? Show model answer
我做过志愿者服务。去年夏天我在老人院工作了一个月。我每天和老人聊天，还帮他们写信。我觉得帮助别人很有意思，所以将来我还想去老人院帮助老人。
Yes, I have. Last summer I worked in a care home for a month. Every day I chatted with the elderly residents and helped them write letters. I think helping others is very worthwhile, so in the future I want to go back and help at the care home.
Exam tip: Complex structures: verb + 过 (做过), ……，所以……, duration (工作了一个月). Time frames: past (去年夏天……) and future (将来我还想……).
General conversation你觉得年轻人最大的问题是什么？What is the biggest problem for young people? Show model answer
依我来看，年轻人最大的问题是压力太大。去年考试的时候，我每天学习到很晚，睡觉睡得很少。还有，很多年轻人吃快餐，很少锻炼。我觉得学校应该让学生多运动。下个学期我打算每天跑步。
As far as I’m concerned, the biggest problem for young people is too much pressure. During exams last year I studied until late every day and slept very little. Also, many young people eat fast food and rarely exercise. I think schools should make students do more sport. Next term I plan to go running every day.
Exam tip: Complex structures: ……的时候, 让 + person + verb, verb + 得. Opinion phrase: 依我来看. Time frames: past (去年考试的时候……) and future (下个学期我打算……).
More general conversation questions to practise
- 你觉得吃什么最健康？ (What do you think is the healthiest food?)
- 你觉得抽烟好不好？为什么？ (Is smoking good or bad? Why?)
- 昨天你吃了什么？健康吗？ (What did you eat yesterday? Was it healthy?)
- 为了健康，明年你打算做什么？ (What do you plan to do next year to be healthy?)
- 将来你想帮助什么人？为什么？ (Who would you like to help in the future? Why?)
- 你觉得慈善店的好处是什么？ (What are the benefits of charity shops?)
Questions about this topic
What does the topic “Social issues” cover in GCSE Mandarin?
It covers charity and voluntary work; healthy and unhealthy living. 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.