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Mythic Mandarin

In addition, therefore, however: 此外, 因此, 然而

HSK 5 Unit 3: Written Chinese · Lesson 2 of 5 · About 26 minutes

Preview version — Chinese review in progress.

Your mission: By the end of this lesson, you can organise a written text with the connectors 此外, 因此 and 然而, and read a short article.

Warm-up: do you remember?

Two quick questions from earlier lessons. Recalling before you learn makes the new material stick.

  1. Meaning

    What does 须 mean?

    1. to enjoy, enjoyment
    2. must (written)
    3. to make heavier, to aggravate
    Show the answer

    Answer: B, must (written).

    须 (xū) means must (written).

  2. Characters

    Which word means “please do not (written)”?

    1. 负担
    2. 减轻
    3. 请勿
    Show the answer

    Answer: C, 请勿.

    “please do not (written)” is 请勿 (qǐngwù).

  3. Listening

    From an earlier unit. Listen. What does the word mean?

    Cannot listen? Read it instead

    合理 hélǐ

    1. reasonable, sensible
    2. to make heavier, to aggravate
    3. to enjoy, enjoyment
    Show the answer

    Answer: A, reasonable, sensible.

    You heard 合理 (hélǐ): reasonable, sensible.

New words

  • 此外cǐwàiin addition, besides
  • 麻烦máfantrouble, troublesome
  • 因此yīncǐtherefore, so
  • 然而rán'érhowever
  • 例如lìrúfor example
  • 总的来说zǒng de lái shuōon the whole

Written connectors

Written texts link sentences with connectors at the start of a sentence or clause.

Connectors
WrittenSpoken
此外另外 (in addition)
因此所以 (therefore)
然而但是 (however)
例如比如 (for example)

  • 网上购物很方便，此外，价格也比较低。

    Wǎngshàng gòuwù hěn fāngbiàn, cǐwài, jiàgé yě bǐjiào dī.

    Online shopping is convenient; in addition, prices are lower.

  • 然而，网上购物也有缺点。

    Rán'ér, wǎngshàng gòuwù yě yǒu quēdiǎn.

    However, online shopping also has drawbacks.

  • 因此，我们要小心。

    Yīncǐ, wǒmen yào xiǎoxīn.

    Therefore, we need to be careful.

Characters

Open a character to see how it is written, stroke by stroke, with its meanings and words.

An article about online shopping

Sophie reads a short article in a Chinese newspaper.

Listen first

Play the whole text and answer the questions before you open it.

Helpful words: 近年来 jìnniánlái in recent years; 流行 liúxíng popular; 购物 gòuwù shopping; 各种 gèzhǒng all kinds of; 往往 wǎngwǎng often, usually; 消费者 xiāofèizhě consumer; 时 shí when (written); 利大于弊 lì dà yú bì the advantages outweigh the disadvantages; 等 děng and so on; 取消 qǔxiāo to cancel; 房价 fángjià house prices

  1. Listening

    Listen first. What is the first advantage mentioned?

    1. low prices
    2. quality
    3. convenience
    Show the answer

    Answer: C, convenience.

    首先，网上购物非常方便.

  2. Listening

    What problems are given as examples?

    1. poor quality and difficult returns
    2. slow delivery and long waits
    3. higher prices than in shops
    Show the answer

    Answer: A, poor quality and difficult returns.

    质量不好、退货麻烦.

  3. Listening

    What is the writer's overall view?

    1. people should stop shopping online
    2. the advantages outweigh the disadvantages
    3. the disadvantages are bigger
    Show the answer

    Answer: B, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

    利大于弊.

Show the text
Pinyin
Translation

  1. 近年来Jìnniánlái，网上wǎngshàng购物gòuwù越来越yuèláiyuè流行liúxíng。

    In recent years, online shopping has become more and more popular.

  2. 首先Shǒuxiān，网上wǎngshàng购物gòuwù非常fēicháng方便fāngbiàn，在zài家jiā就jiù能néng买mǎi到dào各种gèzhǒng东西dōngxi。

    First, it is very convenient: you can buy all kinds of things at home.

  3. 此外Cǐwài，网上wǎngshàng的de价格jiàgé往往wǎngwǎng比bǐ商店shāngdiàn低dī。

    In addition, prices online are often lower than in shops.

  4. 然而Rán'ér，网上wǎngshàng购物gòuwù也yě有yǒu一yì些xiē问题wèntí，例如lìrú质量zhìliàng不bù好hǎo、退货tuìhuò麻烦máfan等děng。

    However, online shopping has some problems, such as poor quality and difficult returns.

  5. 因此Yīncǐ，消费者xiāofèizhě在zài购物gòuwù时shí要yào多duō比较bǐjiào、多duō看kàn评价píngjià。

    Therefore, consumers should compare more and read reviews when they shop.

  6. 总的来说Zǒng de lái shuō，网上wǎngshàng购物gòuwù利大于弊lì dà yú bì。

    On the whole, the advantages of online shopping outweigh the disadvantages.

Speak: listen, record, compare

Listen to each model, record yourself, then play both and compare: the rhythm, the tones, the vowels. No automatic score: your ear is the judge.

  • 然而，网上购物也有一些问题，例如质量不好、退货麻烦等。

    Rán'ér, wǎngshàng gòuwù yě yǒu yì xiē wèntí, lìrú zhìliàng bù hǎo, tuìhuò máfan děng.

    However, online shopping has some problems, such as poor quality and difficult returns.

  • 总的来说，网上购物利大于弊。

    Zǒng de lái shuō, wǎngshàng gòuwù lì dà yú bì.

    On the whole, the advantages of online shopping outweigh the disadvantages.

  • 此外，网上的价格往往比商店低。

    Cǐwài, wǎngshàng de jiàgé wǎngwǎng bǐ shāngdiàn dī.

    In addition, prices online are often lower than in shops.

Practice

  1. Meaning

    What does 此外 mean?

    1. to practise, exercise
    2. in addition, besides
    3. ability
    Show the answer

    Answer: B, in addition, besides.

    此外 (cǐwài) means in addition, besides.

  2. Characters

    Which word means “trouble, troublesome”?

    1. 必须
    2. 然而
    3. 麻烦
    Show the answer

    Answer: C, 麻烦.

    “trouble, troublesome” is 麻烦 (máfan).

  3. Pinyin

    How do you read 因此 (therefore, so)?

    1. yīncī
    2. yìncǐ
    3. yīncǐ
    Show the answer

    Answer: C, yīncǐ.

    因此 is read yīncǐ. Check the tone mark on every syllable.

  4. Listening

    Listen. What does the word mean?

    Cannot listen? Read it instead

    然而 rán'ér

    1. apple
    2. altogether, in total
    3. however
    Show the answer

    Answer: C, however.

    You heard 然而 (rán'ér): however.

  5. Your turn

    Recall: type the Chinese for “for example” (characters or pinyin).

    Show the answer

    Answer: 例如

    “for example” is 例如 (lìrú).

  6. Grammar

    Which connector means however?

    1. 此外
    2. 因此
    3. 然而
    Show the answer

    Answer: C, 然而.

    然而: however.

  7. Fill the gap

    Complete: It rained heavily; therefore the match was cancelled.

    雨下得很大，＿＿比赛取消了。

    1. 此外
    2. 然而
    3. 因此
    Show the answer

    Answer: C, 因此.

    因此: therefore.

  8. Reading

    Read: 这个城市的交通很方便。此外，这里的空气也很好。然而，房价太高了。 What is the problem?

    1. house prices
    2. transport
    3. air
    Show the answer

    Answer: A, house prices.

    然而，房价太高了.

  9. Your turn

    Type the Chinese for in addition (written)

    Show the answer

    Answer: 此外

    此外: in addition.

Write a paragraph

Write and then read aloud a five-sentence paragraph about working from home, using 首先, 此外, 然而, 因此 and 总的来说.

  1. State two advantages, with 首先 and 此外.
  2. State a problem with 然而.
  3. Draw a conclusion with 因此 and 总的来说.

Sentence frames

  • 首先，＿＿。此外，＿＿。

    Shǒuxiān, ＿＿. Cǐwài, ＿＿.

    First, ... In addition, ...

  • 然而，＿＿。因此，＿＿。

    Rán'ér, ＿＿. Yīncǐ, ＿＿.

    However, ... Therefore, ...

Record your attempt (three and a half minutes at most) and listen back:

Review and finish

Can you do this? If a line feels shaky, go back to that part before you move on.

  • I can organise a written text with connectors.
  • I know the spoken equivalents of 此外, 因此, 然而 and 例如.

Review works best spaced out: answer these exercises again tomorrow, then after a few days. Your progress is saved in this browser.

Completing records that you finished the lesson. Mastery is separate: it grows as reviews bring the exercises back and you answer them correctly.

Next lesson: Owing to the weather: 由于