HSK 4

Session: 20 new remaining of the 20/day cap · 0 learning waiting · 106 reviews due.

Click HSK::Level 4, not the parent HSK. No learning queue, so new cards interleave with the 106 reviews.

Session plan

• Nothing in learning. When a new one pops, match it to the number below.
• 吸 today is breathe in fresh air, not 吸收 on paper. 着 is 睡着 zháo, not 着凉 and not 着火.
• 中餐 in the sentence is Chinese food, not 午餐. Dictionary lists both; answer the food.
• 孙子 is Uncle Li’s grandson, not 孙子兵法. 约会 is 三点有个约会 (an appointment), not automatically a romantic date.
• School pile: 表扬 / 优秀 / 期末. Tools: 说明书 / 用于.
• 答应 is promised to help move, not 回答 at the door. 稍 is 稍等一会儿.

1. 吸（xī）

to inhale; to suck in · menghirup

Example: 外面空气很好，你出来吸一点儿新鲜空气吧。 — The air outside is nice; come out and get some fresh air.

• CJK: 吸 = 吸 xī. JP 吸う（すう）. Canto 吸 kap1. Same 吸 as 呼吸. Not 及.
• Fun fact: 吸新鲜空气. 吸收 is soak up (paper, knowledge). Today is the lungs. 吸烟 is a different collocation.
• Memorize: Window open, big inhale outside: 吸一点儿新鲜空气.
• Study tip: 吸空气. Don’t answer 呼吸 as the whole word, and don’t answer 吸收 unless the card is that.

2. 表扬（biǎoyáng）

to praise; to commend · memuji

Example: 老师表扬了他。 — The teacher praised him.

• CJK: 表 = 表. 扬 = 揚 yáng. JP 褒める. Canto 表揚 biu2 joeng4. Traditional 表揚.
• Fun fact: 表扬 + 人. School verb: teacher → student. 赞美 is more “admire beauty”; 夸奖 is cousin. Pairs with 优秀 later.
• Memorize: Teacher gold-star on a notebook: 老师表扬了他.
• Study tip: 表扬他. Don’t answer 批评 (the opposite) or 感谢.

3. 擦（cā）

to wipe; to rub · mengelap

Example: 请把桌子擦干净。 — Please wipe the table clean.

• CJK: 擦 = 擦 cā. JP 拭く. Canto 擦 caat3. 扌 + 察-shape. Not 察 the verb “observe.”
• Fun fact: 擦桌子 / 擦干净. Also 擦药 (rub on medicine) and 擦肩而过. Today is the table. 洗 is wash with water; 擦 is the cloth.
• Memorize: Cloth circling a dirty table until it shines: 把桌子擦干净.
• Study tip: 擦桌子. Don’t answer 洗 or 扫 unless that’s the card.

4. 中餐（zhōngcān）

Chinese food · makanan Tionghoa

Example: 来中国以后，我越来越喜欢吃中餐了。 — Since coming to China, I've liked eating Chinese food more and more.

• CJK: 中 = 中. 餐 = 餐 cān. JP 中華料理. Canto 中餐 zung1 caan1. Same 餐 as 餐厅.
• Fun fact: Dictionary leads with “lunch.” Today is Chinese food vs 西餐. 午餐 / 午饭 is lunch. 越来越喜欢吃中餐.
• Memorize: Bowl of 饺子 beating a fork-and-knife plate: 喜欢吃中餐.
• Study tip: 吃中餐. Don’t answer 午餐 or 午饭.

5. 顾客（gùkè）

customer; client · pelanggan

Example: 商店来了很多顾客。 — Many customers came to the store.

• CJK: 顾 = 顧 gù. 客 = 客 kè. JP 顧客（こきゃく）. Canto 顧客 gu3 haak3. Traditional 顧客. Same 客 as 客人.
• Fun fact: 位 is the polite measure: 一位顾客. 客户 is more B2B. Shop sentence = retail 顾客.
• Memorize: Shop door, line of shoppers: 来了很多顾客.
• Study tip: 顾客. Don’t answer 客人 (guest) unless that’s the card.

6. 内（nèi）

inside; within · di dalam

Example: 房间内有很多人。 — There are many people inside the room.

• CJK: 内 = 內 nèi. JP 内（うち / ない）. Canto 內 noi6. Traditional 內. Opposite 外.
• Fun fact: 房间内 / 一周内 / 国内. Postposition-ish: place + 内. 里面 is the spoken cousin. Today is the room.
• Memorize: Crowded room, arrow pointing indoors: 房间内.
• Study tip: 内. Don’t answer 里 or 里面 unless the audio is that.

7. 约会（yuēhuì）

appointment; date · janji temu; kencan

Example: 我下午三点有个约会，先走了。 — I have an appointment at three this afternoon, so I'll head out first.

• CJK: 约 = 約 yuē. 会 = 會 huì. JP デート / 約束. Canto 約會 joek3 wui6. Same 约 as 约定.
• Fun fact: Can be a meeting or a date. Today is 三点有个约会, 先走了 — clock, not roses. 有个约会. Japanese ご主人 / Canto 男朋友 are other people-cards this morning.
• Memorize: Watch at 3, waving goodbye at the door: 三点有个约会.
• Study tip: 有个约会. Don’t jump to 谈恋爱. Don’t answer 会议.

8. 说明书（shuōmíngshū）

manual; directions · buku petunjuk

Example: 我看了说明书，才知道这个怎么用。 — I read the manual, and only then did I know how to use this.

• CJK: 说 = 說. 明 = 明. 书 = 書. JP 説明書（せつめいしょ）. Canto 說明書 syut3 ming4 syu1. Same 说明 as the verb.
• Fun fact: 看说明书. 才 = only then. Pairs with 用于 (what the tool is for). 本 is the measure.
• Memorize: Tiny booklet next to a gadget, lightbulb: 看了说明书.
• Study tip: 说明书. Don’t answer 说明 (the verb) or 书.

9. 目的地（mùdìdì）

destination · tujuan

Example: 我们的目的地是北京。 — Our destination is Beijing.

• CJK: 目的 = 目的 mùdì. 地 = 地 dì. JP 目的地（もくてきち）. Canto 目的地 muk6 dik1 dei6. Same 目的 as HSK “goal.”
• Fun fact: 目的 is the aim; 目的地 is the place on the map. 北京 is the picture. Not 目标 (target/goal abstract).
• Memorize: Map pin on Beijing: 目的地是北京.
• Study tip: 目的地. Don’t answer 目的 or 地方.

10. 优秀（yōuxiù）

outstanding; excellent · unggul

Example: 他这次考试成绩非常优秀，老师很高兴。 — His exam results this time were outstanding, and the teacher was very happy.

• CJK: 优 = 優 yōu. 秀 = 秀 xiù. JP 優秀（ゆうしゅう）. Canto 優秀 jau1 sau3. Traditional 優秀.
• Fun fact: 成绩优秀. Teacher 高兴 ties back to 表扬. 好 is everyday; 优秀 is the report-card word.
• Memorize: Exam paper with a huge 优, teacher smiling: 成绩非常优秀.
• Study tip: 优秀. Don’t answer 好 or 棒.

11. 用于（yòngyú）

to be used for · digunakan untuk

Example: 这种工具主要用于修理电脑。 — This kind of tool is mainly used to repair computers.

• CJK: 用 = 用 yòng. 于 = 於 yú. JP 〜に用いる. Canto 用於 jung6 jyu1. Formal 于.
• Fun fact: A用于B = A is used for B. 主要 = mainly. Written-ish; spoken often 用来. Ties to 说明书.
• Memorize: Screwdriver hovering over a laptop: 用于修理电脑.
• Study tip: 用于 + purpose. Don’t answer 用 or 用来 unless that’s the card.

12. 低温（dīwēn）

low temperature · suhu rendah

Example: 今天低温只有五度。 — Today's low temperature is only five degrees.

• CJK: 低 = 低 dī. 温 = 溫 wēn. JP 低温（ていおん）. Canto 低溫 dai1 wan1. Opposite 高温. Same 温 as 温度 yesterday’s family.
• Fun fact: Weather report: 低温 / 高温. 只有五度. 度 is the degree. Not 冷 as the adjective.
• Memorize: Forecast board, 5° on the low: 低温只有五度.
• Study tip: 低温. Don’t answer 冷 or 天气.

13. 稍（shāo）

a little; slightly · sebentar; sedikit

Example: 请你稍等一会儿，我马上就回来。 — Please wait a moment; I'll be right back.

• CJK: 稍 = 稍 shāo. JP 少し. Canto 稍 saau1 / usually 等一阵. Not 少 shǎo.
• Fun fact: 稍等 / 稍微. Softener before 等. 一会儿 is the stretch of time. 马上就回来 is the promise.
• Memorize: Palm up “wait,” disappearing around a corner: 稍等一会儿.
• Study tip: 稍等. Don’t answer 少 or 等 by itself.

14. 着（zháo）

to hit the mark; (in 睡着) fall asleep · tertidur

Example: 孩子昨天太累了，很快就睡着了。 — The child was so tired yesterday that he fell asleep quickly.

• CJK: 着 = 著. JP 着 has other jobs. Canto 着 zoek6 in 瞓著. Reading zháo, not zhe (particle) and not zhuó (zhuózhòng).
• Fun fact: 睡着了 = fall asleep (睡 + result 着). 着火 / 着急 / 着凉 are other 着 zháo words. Today is the kid crashing. Canto 覺 this morning is the sleep card.
• Memorize: Kid face-down on a desk, zzz: 睡着了.
• Study tip: 睡着. Audio is zháo. Don’t answer 睡 or 累.

15. 多样（duōyàng）

diverse · beragam

Example: 这里的菜很多样。 — The dishes here are very diverse.

• CJK: 多 = 多. 样 = 樣 yàng. JP 多様（たよう）. Canto 多樣 do1 joeng6. Same 样 as 这样. 多样性 is the noun.
• Fun fact: 很多样. Menu with many kinds, not 很多 (just a lot of the same). 各种各样 is the long cousin.
• Memorize: Restaurant table with many different plates: 菜很多样.
• Study tip: 多样. Don’t answer 很多 or 丰富 unless that’s the card.

16. 孙子（sūnzi）

grandson · cucu laki-laki

Example: 李叔叔的孙子今年五岁，已经会写自己的名字了。 — Uncle Li's grandson is five this year and can already write his own name.

• CJK: 孙 = 孫 sūn. 子 = 子. JP 孫（まご）. Canto 孫 syun1. Traditional 孫子. Same 子 as 孩子, here “son’s son.”
• Fun fact: Dictionary dumps 孙子兵法 first. Today is the five-year-old. 孙女 is granddaughter. 李叔叔’s 孙子.
• Memorize: Kid at a table writing 李: 孙子会写名字.
• Study tip: 孙子. Don’t answer 孙武, 孩子, or 儿子.

17. 答应（dāying）

to promise; to agree; to answer · berjanji; menjawab

Example: 他已经答应周末来帮我搬家。 — He already promised to come help me move this weekend.

• CJK: 答 = 答 dá (here dā). 应 = 應 yìng. JP 約束する / 返事する. Canto 答應 daap3 jing3. Two readings: dāying.
• Fun fact: Can mean “answer a call” or “agree to do.” Today is 答应来帮我搬家. 已经答应. Not 回答 a quiz.
• Memorize: Friend nodding, cardboard boxes: 答应帮我搬家.
• Study tip: 答应 + verb. Don’t answer 同意 or 回答 unless that’s the card.

18. 误会（wùhuì）

to misunderstand; a misunderstanding · salah paham

Example: 对不起，我刚才误会你的意思了。 — Sorry, I misunderstood what you meant just now.

• CJK: 误 = 誤 wù. 会 = 會. JP 誤解（ごかい）. Canto 誤會 ng6 wui6. Same 会 as 约会, here “take as.”
• Fun fact: Verb or noun. 误会你的意思. 刚才 = just now. 对不起 opens it. Not 不明白 (don’t understand the words).
• Memorize: Two people, apology bow, speech bubbles reconnecting: 误会你的意思了.
• Study tip: 误会. Don’t answer 理解 or 明白.

19. 期末（qīmò）

end of term · akhir semester

Example: 期末考试就要到了，你开始复习了吗？ — Final exams are coming; have you started reviewing?

• CJK: 期 = 期 qī (星期’s 期). 末 = 末 mò. JP 期末（きまつ）. Canto 期末 kei4 mut6. Opposite 期中.
• Fun fact: 期末考试. 就要到了. 复习 is the verb that rides with it. School pile with 表扬 / 优秀.
• Memorize: Calendar last week of term, stack of notes: 期末考试.
• Study tip: 期末. Don’t answer 周末 or 最后.

20. 建议（jiànyì）

to suggest; a suggestion · saran; menyarankan

Example: 我建议你早点休息。 — I suggest you rest earlier.

• CJK: 建 = 建 jiàn. 议 = 議 yì. JP 提案 / アドバイス. Canto 建議 gin3 ji5. Traditional 建議. Same 议 as 会议.
• Fun fact: Verb or noun. 建议 + 人 + verb. 早点休息 is the content. 意见 is “opinion”; 建议 is the proposal.
• Memorize: Pointing at a pillow and a clock: 建议你早点休息.
• Study tip: 建议你 + VP. Don’t answer 意见 or 告诉.