Every Chinese composition teacher in Singapore says the same thing: use 好词好句 (good words and good phrases). But which phrases actually work, and how should your child use them?
Phrases for Describing People
Appearance
- 她有一双水汪汪的大眼睛 — She has big, bright eyes
- 他长得高高瘦瘦的 — He is tall and slim
- 她总是面带笑容 — She always has a smile on her face
Personality
- 他为人热情大方 — He is warm and generous
- 她乐于助人 — She enjoys helping others
- 他做事认真负责 — He is conscientious and responsible
Phrases for Describing Actions
Movement
- 他飞快地跑过来 — He ran over quickly
- 她小心翼翼地走过去 — She walked over very carefully
- 同学们争先恐后地举手 — The classmates eagerly raised their hands
Emotional Actions
- 她激动得跳了起来 — She was so excited she jumped up
- 他紧张得手心冒汗 — He was so nervous his palms were sweating
- 我感动得热泪盈眶 — I was so moved that tears filled my eyes
Phrases for Describing Scenes
Weather
- 阳光灿烂，万里无云 — Brilliant sunshine, not a cloud in the sky
- 蒙蒙细雨从天而降 — A fine drizzle fell from the sky
- 狂风暴雨，电闪雷鸣 — Wild wind and rain, lightning and thunder
Places
- 公园里绿树成荫 — The park was shaded by green trees
- 教室里鸦雀无声 — The classroom was completely silent
- 操场上热闹非凡 — The field was bustling with activity
How to Use Phrases Effectively
The goal isn't to stuff as many phrases as possible into a composition. Here's what works:
- Quality over quantity — 3-4 well-placed phrases beat 10 forced ones
- Match the tone — Happy phrases in happy scenes, tense phrases in tense moments
- Show, don't tell — "她激动得跳了起来" is better than "她很激动"
- Practice regularly — Use phrases in weekly composition practice, not just during exams
The Vocabulary Connection
Good phrases require good vocabulary. A child who can't recall basic words will struggle to use advanced phrases. Build the vocabulary foundation first — the phrases will follow naturally.