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Level Advanced Chinese · HSK 5–6

Reading the News: 据报道, 已 / 仍 / 尚未, 日益, 屡次 and Numbers at C1

News Chinese is compact and formulaic. Single-character time words replace spoken 已经 and 还, reporting verbs signal how a source spoke, and numbers come with their own vocabulary (成 for tenths, 折 for discounts, 翻一番 for doubling). Once you know the formulas, a news article becomes much easier to read than a novel.

Reporting and written time words

据报道 (jù bàodào, according to reports) and 据悉 (jùxī, it is learned that) open news stories. Reporting verbs differ in force: 表示 (biǎoshì, said, stated), 称 (chēng, claimed, said), 指出 (zhǐchū, pointed out), 强调 (qiángdiào, stressed).

Written time words are one syllable: 已 (yǐ, already), 曾 (céng, once), 正 (zhèng, currently), 将 (jiāng, will), 仍 (réng, still), 尚未 (shàngwèi, not yet). Compare spoken 已经, 曾经, 正在, 会 / 要, 还, 还没.

WrittenSpokenMeaning
已已经already
仍还 / 仍然still
尚未还没not yet
将会 / 要will
正正在currently

  • 据报道，事故已造成三人受伤。

    Jù bàodào, shìgù yǐ zàochéng sān rén shòu shāng.

    According to reports, the accident has left three people injured.

  • 发言人表示，具体原因尚未查明。

    Fāyánrén biǎoshì, jùtǐ yuányīn shàngwèi chámíng.

    The spokesperson said the exact cause has not yet been established.

Gradual and repeated change

日益 (rìyì) means 'increasingly, day by day' and is written: 日益严重 (increasingly serious). 逐步 and 逐渐 (gradually), 陆续 and 纷纷 (one after another) return from B2 in more formal contexts.

一再 (yízài) and 再三 (zàisān) mean 'again and again', usually for requests and warnings: 他一再强调…; 再三 can follow the verb (考虑再三). 屡次 (lǚcì) is written 'repeatedly'. 反复 (fǎnfù) means 'over and over', also of illnesses that keep returning.

  • 城市交通问题日益严重。

    Chéngshì jiāotōng wèntí rìyì yánzhòng.

    Urban traffic problems are becoming increasingly serious.

  • 医生一再提醒他少喝酒。

    Yīshēng yízài tíxǐng tā shǎo hē jiǔ.

    The doctor reminded him again and again to drink less.

Numbers: approximation, 成, 折 and abstract measure words

Approximate numbers: 左右 (zuǒyòu, about) and 上下 follow the number; 近 (jìn, nearly) and 约 (yuē, approximately) precede it; 多 (more than) follows a round number: 三十多人. Two adjacent numbers mean 'or so': 三四天.

成 (chéng) is tenths: 八成 (80%). 折 (zhé) is a discount expressed as what you pay: 打八折 (pay 80%, i.e. 20% off). 百分点 (bǎifēndiǎn) is a percentage point. 翻一番 (fān yì fān) means 'double'.

Abstract nouns have their own measure words: 一项研究 (a study), 一批产品 (a batch), 第十届 (the tenth session), 一番努力 (a lot of effort), 一系列措施 (a series of measures).

  • 全场商品一律打八折。

    Quán chǎng shāngpǐn yílǜ dǎ bā zhé.

    Everything in the shop is 20% off.

  • 一项新的研究表明，近七成的年轻人睡眠不足。

    Yí xiàng xīn de yánjiū biǎomíng, jìn qī chéng de niánqīngrén shuìmián bùzú.

    A new study shows that nearly 70% of young people don't get enough sleep.

Common mistakes

  • ✗打两折 (meaning 20% off)

    ✓打八折

    dǎ bā zhé

    折 states the fraction you pay, not the discount: 八折 means you pay 80%.

  • ✗对方尚未回复了。

    ✓对方尚未回复。

    Duìfāng shàngwèi huífù.

    尚未, like 还没, negates completion, so the verb takes no 了.

  • ✗左右三十人

    ✓三十人左右

    sānshí rén zuǒyòu

    左右 follows the number (and its noun); 约 or 大约 would go before it.

Questions learners ask

Is 称 always neutral?

Mostly, but in some contexts (especially with 声称) it hints that the claim is doubtful. 表示 is the neutral default.

Does 增长了一倍 mean 'doubled'?

Yes: 增长了一倍 = 翻了一番 = doubled. 增长到两倍 also means doubled.

Practice this in lessons

The Advanced Chinese lessons teach this step by step, with exercises and review built in.

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