CHIN 104 Lecture 2 Notes: Student Reflections, Character Learning Methods, Time Expressions (Lesson 11)

Student Reflection and Study Habits

  • Summary of weekly study time outside lectures (CHIN103 reflection):
    • Majority: less than 2 hours
    • A few students: 2–4 hours
    • Reason for limited time: many students felt this time was not sufficient for their learning goals due to other academic commitments.
  • Effective methods cited for outside-class learning:
    • Reviewing class notes
    • Language apps
    • Watching YouTube lessons
    • Speaking practice with peers or tutors
    • Assignments and exercises that offered practical application
  • Common difficulties faced by students:
    • Writing and recognizing Chinese characters
    • Understanding spoken Chinese (listening comprehension)
    • Grasping the numbering system in Chinese
    • General comprehension and following lectures
    • Insufficient class audibility (technical or auditory issues)
  • Methods to learn Chinese characters (summary from Pages 5–7):
    • Practice frequently in short sessions: Daily practice 15–30 minutes is more effective than infrequent long sessions; integrate reading, writing, and speaking of characters to reinforce learning from all angles.
    • Analyze the structure: Many characters are built from radicals and component parts. Knowing structure and common radicals helps decode meaning and improves memory.
    • Spaced repetition: Review at increasing intervals just before forgetting to strengthen memory.
    • Spaced repetition schedule (conceptual): Day 1, Day 3, Day 7, Day 14, … with longer gaps over time.
    • Use flashcard apps with spaced repetition (e.g., Anki, Skritter, Quizlet) to prompt reviews just before forgetting.
    • Practice writing by hand: Start with tracing, then write from memory; handwriting reinforces memory and stroke order.
    • Complete the assignment exercises: They serve as self-assessment tools to check understanding, identify weak points, and trace progress.
  • Practical implications for study design:
    • Short daily bursts > long sporadic sessions
    • Active integration of reading, writing, and speaking for character mastery
    • Regular self-assessment to guide focus areas

Lesson Focus: HSK1 Lesson 11 — 现在几点 (What time is it now?)

  • Key topic: Expression of Time
  • Time word as an adverbial modifier:
    • 现在 (xiànzài) often serves as the time adverbial in a sentence and can appear after the subject, or sometimes before the subject.
  • Noun: 前 (qián) and Chinese radicals discussed:
    • 阝 (left/right ear-like radical related to places/landforms) and 亻 (single-person radical related to people) are introduced as examples of radicals that hint meaning or category of characters.

New Vocabulary and Examples (Lesson 11 – 生词)

  • xiànzài 现在 — now

  • xiàn 现᚜ (radical concept/character component; see note below)

  • shēngcí 生词 — new words (label for vocabulary lists)

  • xiànzài 现在 — “now” (example usage in sentences)

  • xiàn 现 — (radical component discussion; see radicals section)

  • Examples in context:

    • 现在几点？(Xiànzài jǐ diǎn?) — What time is it now?
    • 现在他/她去图书馆看书。 — He/She is going to the library to read now.
    • 你现在想去商店买一个杯子吗？ — Do you want to go to the store now to buy a cup?
    • 现在他们去我家做好吃的中国菜。 — Now they are going to my house to make delicious Chinese food.

  • 点 (diǎn) — o’clock, dot

    • m. o'clock; 点 = 多少点的单位，例：七点 (7:00)
    • 例：七点 7:00, 九点 9:00, 十一点 11:00

  • 分 (fēn) — minute

    • 例：两点二十分钟 (2:20)

  • 现在几点？与具体时间的组合示例:

    • 七点零五分 (7:05)
    • 九点十三分 (9:13)
    • 十一点二十七分 (11:27)
    • 三点四十八分 (3:48)
    • 一点三十分 (1:30)
    • 四点二十七分 (4:27)

  • 现在几点？的多样回答示例:

    • 现在 十点 十分。 (10:10)
    • 现在 两点 二十 分。 (2:20)
    • 现在 九点 三十 分。/ 现在 九点 三刻。 (9:30 or 9:45)
    • 现在 八 点 四十五 分。/ 现在 八 点 三刻。 (8:45 or 8:45)

  • 什么时候的句型与例子:

    • 这 是 几 点？ — What time is it?
    • 这 是几 点？ (alternative phrasing)
    • 这 是 几 点？ 现在几点？

  • 其他常用表达：

    • 现在 几点？ 现在两点、现在两点半、现在两点三十分等。
    • 时间段的中文表达：早上、上午、中午、下午、晚上等。

  • chī fàn 系列（吃饭）与日常用语：

    • chī fàn — to eat a meal
    • chī fàn vs 吃 — to eat; 饭 — meal; 米饭 — rice
    • 吃早饭 — eat breakfast; 吃午饭 — eat lunch; 吃晚饭 — eat dinner

  • ~ 练习与写字的指引：

    • 写字按笔顺练习（请按笔顺写字）
    • 练习写字时，记住部首与结构有助于识记

Time Expressions and Adverbial Usage (Detailed)

  • Time words as adverbials in a sentence:
    • When a time word (e.g., 现在, 星期五, 今天) serves as an adverbial modifier, it often follows the subject but can also appear before the subject.
    • 例：妈妈 liǎo shī zài xuéxiào — 不同句式的时间词位置示例待练习。
  • Time words by parts of the day:
    • 早上 (zǎoshàng) — early morning
    • 上午 (shàngwǔ) — late morning
    • 中午 (zhōngwǔ) — noon
    • 下午 (xiàwǔ) — afternoon
    • 晚上 (wǎnshàng) — evening
  • Common time-related phrases:
    • 现在几点？(xiànzài jǐ diǎn?) — What time is it now?
    • 现在八点 (xiànzài bā diǎn) — It is eight o’clock now.
    • 12:00 pm / 1:00–6:00 pm / 6:00 pm onwards in Chinese time blocks

Practice: Time and Daily Routines

  • Expressions of time and schedules:
    • 现在几点？(What time is it now?)
    • 你几点去上班？(What time do you go to work?)
    • 你什么时候去上课？(When do you go to class?)
    • Wǒ xiàwǔ sāndiǎn qù xuéxiào — I go to school at 3:00 pm.
  • Common responses:
    • Nǐ shénme shíhòu qù shàngkè? — When do you go to class?
    • Nǐ jǐ diǎn qù shàngbān? — What time do you go to work?

Chinese Radicals and Character Classification

  • Radical concept (偏旁, radical):
    • 阝: related to landforms/locations (地形/地理); example family of characters related to places.
    • 亻: single-person radical; commonly related to people.
  • Examples given:
    • 院 (yuàn) — courtyard,院
    • 阳 (yáng) — sun, sunshine
    • 亻 (radical) in characters like 你 (nǐ) [you], 他 (tā) [he]
  • Exercise: Group characters by radical
    • 阝 group: 院, 阵, 阴, 阴 (example set shows radical association)
    • 亻 group: 你, 他, 们, 住, (练习用来巩固偏旁归类)

Practical Chinese Characters: Beijing and Daily Actions

  • Beijing Beijing: 北京
    • 北 (běi) — the north
    • 京 (jīng) — the capital
  • Other common words:
    • diàn yǐng 电影 — film, movie
    • kàn diànyǐng 看电影 — watch movies
    • diànyǐngyuàn 电影院 — cinema
    • 请写这两个字 — Please write these two characters according to the stroke order
  • 住 (zhù) — to live, to stay
    • Nǐ zhù zài nǎr? — Where do you live?
    • Wǒ zhù zài Jiānà Dǎxué — I live at the University of Ghana
  • Travel/distance phrases:
    • xiànzài jǐ diǎn? — What time is it now?
    • Wǒ xīngqī yī qù Běijīng — I am going to Beijing on Monday
    • Zhù sān tiān — Stay for three days
    • Xīngqī wǔ qián néng huí jiā ma? — Can you go home before Friday?

前 (qián) — Before / Prior to

  • The noun 前 means “before” or “in front of” depending on context.
  • Examples and usage:
    • 三天前 — three days ago
    • 一个星期前 — a week ago
    • 下午四点前 — before 4:00 pm
    • 午饭前 — before lunch
  • Expression practice: 时间 + 前
    • e.g., 7 days ago = 七天前; before October = 十月前; two years ago = 两年前

Practice Exercises and Dialogue Snippets

  • Matching exercise (Character → English meaning):
    • xiànzài → C. now
    • chīfàn → A. to eat a meal
    • zhù → E. to live, to stay
    • shíhòu → F. time, moment
    • huí → D. to return, to come/go back
    • diànyǐng → G. movie, film
    • qián → B. before, earlier than
  • Short dialogues:
    • Xiànzài jǐ diǎn? → B: 现在 十点 十分。
    • Zhōngwǔ jǐ diǎn chī fàn? → Shíèr diǎn chī fàn。
    • Zài túshūguǎn — In the library.
  • Travel and routine dialogues:
    • Wǒ xīngqī yī qù Běijīng. — I go to Beijing on Monday.
    • Nǐ xiǎng zài Běijīng zhù jǐ tiān? — How many days would you like to stay in Beijing?
    • Zhù sān tiān. — Stay three days.
    • 星期五前能回家吗？— Can you go home before Friday?

Assignment and Practice Instructions

  • jiātíng zuòyè (家庭作业) — Family/household assignment:
    • Review the characters and grammar learned today.
    • Typing Exercise: Log in to the Hanzi system at 10.2.2.82 using the university’s local network only (external networks are not allowed).
    • Each text must be typed three times; three rounds are required for credit. Missing a round yields zero points.

Quick Reference: Time Frames and Daily Schedules

  • Time-of-day blocks (Expression of Time):
    • zǎoshàng 早上 — early morning
    • shàngwǔ 上午 — morning
    • zhōngwǔ 中午 — noon
    • xiàwǔ 下午 — afternoon
    • wǎnshàng 晚上 — evening
  • Examples for daily time ranges:
    • 9:00–11:00 am = 上午 9:00–11:00
    • 11:00 am–1:00 pm = 中午 11:00–1:00
    • 1:00–6:00 pm = 下午 1:00–6:00
  • Time expressions with minutes and quarters:
    • Quarter past hour: 一刻 (yíkè) / 15 minutes
    • Half past: 半 (bàn) = 30 minutes
    • 还有 刻 (kè) used for quarters and fractions of an hour.

Closing Notes

  • 练习与复习的整合：将时间表达、日常用语、汉字结构和偏旁部首结合在一起，形成连贯的学习策略。
  • 下课与再见：结束本次课，记得复习笔记并完成作业。