Comprehensive Guide to Chinese Narrative Writing and AP Exam Preparation

Chinese Narrative Transition Words and Phrases: Beginning a Story

  • 有一天 (yǒu yī tiān): Translated as "One day."
  • 上个星期 (shàng gè xīng qī): Translated as "Last week."
  • 几天前 (jǐ tiān qián): Translated as "a few days ago."
  • 这个故事开始的时候是 (zhè ge gù shì kāi shǐ de shí hòu shì): Translated as "the story starts with."
  • 在一个阳光明媚的早上 (zài yī gè yáng guāng míng mèi de zǎo shang): Translated as "on a sunny morning."

Expressions for Sequencing and Progressing a Story

  • 然后 (rán hòu): Translated as "then."
  • 接下来 (jiē xià lái): Translated as "next."
  • 在那之后 (zài nà zhī hòu): Translated as "from then on."
  • 后来 (hòu lái): Translated as "later."
  • 很快 (hěn kuài): Translated as "soon."
  • 过了一会 (guò le yī huì): Translated as "after a while."
  • 与此同时 (yǔ cǐ tóng shí): Translated as "meanwhile."
  • 同时 (tóng shí): Translated as "at the same time."

Contrast and Sudden Events: Twists in the Narrative

  • 但是 (dàn shì): Translated as "but."
  • 然而 (rán ér): Translated as "however."
  • 突然 (tū rán): Translated as "suddenly."
  • 出乎意料的是 (chū hū yì liào de shì): Translated as "surprisely."
  • 不幸的是 (bù xìng de shì): Translated as "unfortunately."

Concluding Phrases and Consequences

  • 最终/最后 (zuì zhōng / zuì hòu): Translated as "In the end."
  • 结果 (jié guǒ): Translated as "as a result."
  • 这个故事告诉我们 (zhè ge gù shì gào sù wǒ men): Translated as "the story tells us."

Categorized Emotional States and Responses

  • 开心 (kāi xīn): Happy.
  • 兴奋 (xīng fèn): Excited.
  • 满足 (mǎn zú): Satified.
  • 放松 (fàng sōng): Relaxed.
  • 自豪 (zì háo): Proud.
  • 感动 (gǎn dòng): Touched.
  • 紧张 (jǐn zhāng): Nervous.
  • 害怕 (hài pà): Afraid.
  • 失望 (shī wàng): Disappointed.
  • 难过 (nán guò): Sad.
  • 生气 (shēng qì): Mad.
  • 焦虑 (jiāo lǜ): Anxious.
  • 震惊 (zhèn jīng): Shocked.
  • 惊讶 (jīng yà): Surprised.
  • 不知所措 (bù zhī suǒ cuò): Overwhelmed.
  • 松了一口气 (sōng le yī kǒu qì): Relief.

Environmental Descriptions and Setting the Scene

  • 阳光明媚 (yáng guāng míng mèi): Sunny.
  • 乌云密布 (wū yún mì bù): Cloudy.
  • 安静 (ān jìng): Quiety.
  • 热闹 (rè nào): Bustling.
  • 干净整洁 (gān jìng zhěng jié): Clean and tidy.
  • 乱糟糟 (luàn zāo zāo): Messy.

Character Actions and Narrative Internal Monologue

Physical Actions
  • （赶紧）跑 (gǎn jǐn pǎo): Rush to run.
  • 跳 (tiào): Jump.
  • 笑 (xiào): Laugh.
  • （忍不住）哭 (rěn bù zhù kū): Can’t help crying.
  • 帮助 (bāng zhù): Help.
  • 发现 (fā xiàn): Find.
  • 决定 (jué dìng): Decide.
Thoughts and Mental States
  • 他心想 (tā xīn xiǎng): He thought.
  • 他意识到 (tā yì shí dào): He realize.
  • 他决定 (tā jué dìng): He decide.
  • 他开始担心 (tā kāi shǐ dān xīn): He started to worry.

AP Chinese Language and Culture 2023 Free-Response Questions

Writing Question 1 of 2: Directions
  • Task Overview: In this task, you will be asked to write in Chinese for a specific purpose and to a specific person.
  • Quality Requirements: You should write in as complete and culturally appropriate a manner as possible, taking into account the purpose and the person described.
  • Narrative Task Details:     * The four pictures present a story.     * Imagine you are writing the story to a friend.     * Narrate a complete story as suggested by the pictures.     * Structure: Give your story a beginning, a middle, and an end.
  • Available Interface Tools:     * Adjust Display     * AA (Font adjustment)     * Help     * Show Time     * Character Count (Hide Character Count 0)     * Writing Tools: Cut, Paste, Undo, Redo, Pinyin, Simplified ▾