- The Mando Press 🍊
- Posts
- Steep cliff sign in Chinese. Can you read it?
Steep cliff sign in Chinese. Can you read it?
Danyo Pang
October 10, 2022
Hi friends, today I'm going to share and break down a real Chinese sign I saw recently on hiking by the ocean.
Reading signs in Chinese drastically improved my confidence because these are the same signs that native speakers interact with every single day.
If you want to be like native speakers, it makes sense to consume what they consume.
Below is the 4-step method I use to break down real Chinese material to remember everything I learn.
Step 1: First Pass.
Try to read as much as you can from the original text/picture. This will gauge your current comprehension and identify gaps in knowledge.
Step 2: Study + Analyze.
Study the original text with the pinyin and English translations. Look up every word you don't understand.
💡 View this on your chrome browser so you can turn on pop-up Chinese definitions whenever you hover over characters. Click on the pinyin below to hear the correct audio pronunciation.
Step 3: Active Recall.
Most people stop at the second step. This third repetition will help you consolidate your knowledge further using the power of active recall.
Read out loud a third time without the pinyin. Focus on getting the right tones when reading.
断崖 危险斷崖 危險 Dangerous steep cliff/precipice
请 勿 跨越， 踏 坐請 勿 跨越， 踏 坐 Please do not step over, step/sit on
Step 4: Final Pass.
Read the original text one more time without the pinyin and English translations to help.
Did you get your tones right? Were you able to understand it without the pinyin and translations?
👍 Yes? Congrats! You just read a real sign in Chinese!
👎 No? No worries, go back to Step 2 and try again.
This 4-step method is so effective because of the power of repetition and active recall. I used the same method to help me have hours-long Mandarin conversations in 4 months.
See you again next week for another real example.
When you're ready, here are three ways I can help you: