HSK 4

Session: 20 new remaining of the 20/day cap · 0 learning waiting · 247 reviews due.

Click HSK::Level 4, not the parent HSK. No learning queue, so new cards mix into the 247 reviews.

Session plan

• Nothing in learning. When a new one pops, match it to the number below.
• Still new from yesterday: 因此 overtime → late; 零钱 mum’s monthly pocket money. Same sentences.
• Sense traps: 降 is the temperature, not 降落; 重 is a nasty cold, not “heavy luggage”; 推 is nominate class monitor, not push a door; 不过 is 再好不过, not “but”; 巧 is skillful hands, not “what a coincidence.”
• School: 语法 this text isn’t hard, 课堂 keep quiet, 至少 one hour of Chinese a day.
• Feel / calendar: 做梦 university without studying, 伤心 after the news, 偶尔 weekend movies, 寒假 see grandpa, 日子 easier after the move.
• House / media: 庆祝 birthday dinner, 互相 help, 少量 sugar, 入住 next week, 播放 TV news (yesterday was 广播).

1. 做梦（zuòmèng）

to dream; (fig.) wishful thinking · bermimpi; berangan-angan

Example: 不学习就想上大学？别做梦了。 — You want to get into university without studying? Stop dreaming.

• CJK: 做 = 做. 梦 = 夢. JP 夢を見る. Canto 發夢 faat3 mung6. Traditional 做夢. Same 做 as 做饭; 梦 as 梦想.
• Fun fact: Literal “have a dream” exists, but today is the slap: 别做梦了 = stop fantasizing. 梦想 is the noble goal; 做梦 here is the insult.
• Memorize: Empty desk, university gate far away: 不学习就想上大学？别做梦了.
• Study tip: 做梦. Don’t answer 梦想 or 睡觉.

2. 降（jiàng）

to drop; to fall; to descend · turun; menurun

Example: 气温降了不少。 — The temperature dropped a lot.

• CJK: 降 = 降. JP 下がる / 降る（あめがふる is a different 降）. Canto 降 gong3. Reading jiàng, not xiáng (投降). Sep 15 降落 was a plane; this is the mercury.
• Fun fact: 气温降了. Intransitive weather drop. 降低 is the two-syllable verb; the card is the single 降. Japanese 達する today is the opposite motion (35°).
• Memorize: Thermometer sliding down: 气温降了不少.
• Study tip: 降. Don’t answer 降落 or 下降 unless printed. Reading jiàng.

3. 至少（zhìshǎo）

at least · setidaknya

Example: 想学好中文，每天至少要练习一个小时。 — To learn Chinese well, you need to practice at least one hour every day.

• CJK: 至 = 至. 少 = 少. JP 少なくとも. Canto 至少 zi3 siu2. Same 至 as 甚至; 少 as 少. Floor, not “very little.”
• Fun fact: 至少要练习一个小时 = the minimum. 最多 is the cap. 最少 is “the fewest”; 至少 is the “at-least” hedge on a verb.
• Memorize: Timer, one hour, textbook: 每天至少要练习一个小时.
• Study tip: 至少. Don’t answer 最少 or 最多.

4. 庆祝（qìngzhù）

to celebrate · merayakan

Example: 晚上朋友们一起吃饭，庆祝他的生日。 — In the evening the friends are eating together to celebrate his birthday.

• CJK: 庆 = 慶. 祝 = 祝. JP 祝う / お祝い. Canto 慶祝 hing3 zuk1. Traditional 慶祝. Same 祝 as Sep 14 祝贺 — that was “congratulations”; this is the party.
• Fun fact: 庆祝他的生日 = the dinner is the celebration. 祝贺 is words; 庆祝 is the event.
• Memorize: Round table, cake, friends: 一起吃饭，庆祝他的生日.
• Study tip: 庆祝. Don’t answer 祝贺 or 生日.

5. 重（zhòng）

heavy; serious; to attach importance to · berat; parah; mementingkan

Example: 医生说他这次感冒很重，得在家休息几天。 — The doctor said his cold is quite serious, so he needs to rest at home for a few days.

• CJK: 重 = 重. JP 重い（おもい） / 重大. Canto 重 cung5. Reading zhòng, not chóng (重复). Sep 14 重点 was “key point.”
• Fun fact: 感冒很重 = a bad cold, not a heavy suitcase. 严重 is the two-syllable “severe”; this card is the single 重 after 感冒.
• Memorize: Doctor, tissues, stay home: 这次感冒很重.
• Study tip: 重. Don’t answer 严重 or 重 as chóng.

6. 因此（yīncǐ）

thus; consequently; as a result · karena itu

Example: 他昨天加班到很晚，因此今天迟到了。 — He worked overtime until late last night, so he was late today.

• CJK: 因 = 因. 此 = 此. JP したがって / そのため. Canto 因此 jan1 ci2. Same card as yesterday — still in the new pile.
• Fun fact: 加班到很晚，因此迟到. Cause → result. 因为…所以… is the full pair; 因此 is the short “hence.”
• Memorize: Clock 2am, then late stamp: 加班到很晚，因此今天迟到了.
• Study tip: 因此. Don’t answer 所以 unless that’s printed. Don’t answer 因为.

7. 语法（yǔfǎ）

grammar · tata bahasa

Example: 老师说这篇课文的语法不太难。 — The teacher said the grammar in this text isn't too hard.

• CJK: 语 = 語. 法 = 法. JP 文法（ぶんぽう）. Canto 語法 jyu5 faat3. Traditional 語法. Same 语 as 语言; 法 as 方法. Japanese says 文法, not 语法.
• Fun fact: 课文的语法 = the patterns in this text, not a linguistics seminar. 语法点 is a grammar point.
• Memorize: Teacher, textbook, “not too hard”: 这篇课文的语法不太难.
• Study tip: 语法. Don’t answer 语言 or 文法 on this card.

8. 偶尔（ǒu’ěr）

occasionally; once in a while · sesekali; kadang-kadang

Example: 周末我偶尔和朋友一起看电影。 — I occasionally watch movies with friends on the weekend.

• CJK: 偶 = 偶. 尔 = 爾. JP たまに. Canto 偶爾 ngau5 ji5. Traditional 偶爾. Not 偶然 (by chance).
• Fun fact: 偶尔看电影 = sometimes, not every weekend. 常常 / 经常 is the opposite frequency. 偶然 is “coincidentally.”
• Memorize: Weekend, cinema, not every week: 周末我偶尔和朋友一起看电影.
• Study tip: 偶尔. Don’t answer 偶然 or 有时候 unless printed.

9. 推（tuī）

to push; to nominate · mendorong; mencalonkan

Example: 我们都推她当班长，因为她工作很仔细。 — We all nominated her for class monitor because she works very carefully.

• CJK: 推 = 推. JP 推薦（すいせん） / 押す. Canto 推 teoi1. Dictionary first sense is “push”; today’s sentence is 推选.
• Fun fact: 推她当班长 = put her name forward. 推荐 is the two-syllable “recommend.” 推开门 is the door — not this card.
• Memorize: Class vote, her name on the board: 推她当班长.
• Study tip: 推. Don’t answer 推荐 or 选. Don’t answer 推 as “push the door.”

10. 零钱（língqián）

small change; pocket money · uang receh; uang saku

Example: 妈妈每个月都会给我一些零钱。 — Mom gives me some pocket money every month.

• CJK: 零 = 零. 钱 = 錢. JP 小銭 / お小遣い. Canto 零錢 ling4 cin4. Traditional 零錢. Same card as yesterday — still new.
• Fun fact: Dictionary “coins as change.” Today is 零用钱: monthly pocket money from 妈妈. Not 找钱 at the cashier.
• Memorize: Mum, monthly cash in an envelope: 每个月都会给我一些零钱.
• Study tip: 零钱. Don’t answer 钱 or 找钱.

11. 互相（hùxiāng）

each other; mutually · saling; satu sama lain

Example: 我们应该互相帮助。 — We should help each other.

• CJK: 互 = 互. 相 = 相. JP 互いに. Canto 互相 wu6 soeng1. Same 相 as 相同. 互相 + verb; 相互 is more written.
• Fun fact: 互相帮助 = A helps B, B helps A. 彼此 is “both parties”; 互相 is the adverb on the verb. Not 一起 (together).
• Memorize: Two people lifting one box: 应该互相帮助.
• Study tip: 互相. Don’t answer 一起 or 彼此.

12. 伤心（shāngxīn）

to grieve; broken-hearted · sedih; patah hati

Example: 听到那个消息后，她很伤心。 — After she heard the news, she felt really heartbroken.

• CJK: 伤 = 傷. 心 = 心. JP 傷心（しょうしん）. Canto 傷心 soeng1 sam1. Traditional 傷心. Japanese 安心 today is the opposite chest.
• Fun fact: 很伤心 after 消息. 难过 is general sad; 伤心 is the heart taking the hit. 伤心了 can be a breakup; here it’s news.
• Memorize: Phone in hand, sitting down hard: 听到那个消息后，她很伤心.
• Study tip: 伤心. Don’t answer 难过 or 哭.

13. 少量（shǎoliàng）

a little; a small amount · sedikit; sejumlah kecil

Example: 我只放了少量糖，你再尝尝。 — I only put in a little sugar—try it again.

• CJK: 少 = 少. 量 = 量. JP 少量（しょうりょう）. Canto 少量 siu2 loeng6. Same 少 as 至少 today — that was “at least”; this is “a smidgen.”
• Fun fact: 少量糖 in cooking. 大量 is the opposite. 一点 is casual; 少量 is the recipe-label amount.
• Memorize: Tiny spoon of sugar over a cup: 只放了少量糖，你再尝尝.
• Study tip: 少量. Don’t answer 一点 or 少 unless printed.

14. 不过（búguò）

only; but; cannot be more (after adjectival) · hanya; tetapi; tidak bisa lebih

Example: 这已经再好不过了。 — This couldn't be better.

• CJK: 不 = 不. 过 = 過. JP これ以上ない. Canto 不過 bat1 gwo3. Traditional 不過. Tone bú before 4th-tone 过.
• Fun fact: Dictionary lists “but / only.” Today is Adj + 不过: 再好不过 = as good as it gets. Not 但是.
• Memorize: Thumbs up, nothing left to add: 再好不过了.
• Study tip: 不过. Don’t answer 但是. Frame is 再 + adj + 不过.

15. 寒假（hánjià）

winter vacation · libur musim dingin

Example: 今年寒假我们打算回家看爷爷。 — This winter vacation we plan to go back home to see grandpa.

• CJK: 寒 = 寒. 假 = 假. JP 冬休み（ふゆやすみ）. Canto 寒假 hon4 gaa3. Same 假 as 放假. Pair: 暑假 / 寒假.
• Fun fact: 寒假回家看爷爷. School calendar, not “cold holiday” as weather. 假期 is any break; 寒假 is the winter one.
• Memorize: Packed bag, snow, grandpa at the door: 寒假我们打算回家看爷爷.
• Study tip: 寒假. Don’t answer 暑假 or 假期.

16. 日子（rìzi）

day; date; days of one's life · hari; masa; kehidupan sehari-hari

Example: 搬到这儿以后，日子比以前轻松多了。 — Since we moved here, life has been a lot easier than before.

• CJK: 日 = 日. 子 = 子. JP 暮らし / 日々. Canto 日子 jat6 zi2. Neutral tone 子. Not 日期 (a calendar date).
• Fun fact: 日子轻松 = day-to-day life got lighter. 过好日子 is “live well.” Dictionary “a date”; today is the living.
• Memorize: New flat, shoulders down: 日子比以前轻松多了.
• Study tip: 日子. Don’t answer 生活 or 日期.

17. 课堂（kètáng）

classroom; class session · ruang kelas; sesi kelas

Example: 请在课堂上保持安静。 — Please be quiet in class.

• CJK: 课 = 課. 堂 = 堂. JP 教室（きょうしつ） / 授業. Canto 課堂 fo3 tong4. Traditional 課堂. Japanese 課 today is a company division, not this room.
• Fun fact: 课堂上 = during class, in the room. 教室 is the physical room; 课堂 is the session. 保持安静 is the teacher’s line.
• Memorize: Finger to lips, desks: 请在课堂上保持安静.
• Study tip: 课堂. Don’t answer 教室 or 课.

18. 入住（rùzhù）

to check in; to move in · check-in; menempati

Example: 新房子已经准备好了，他们下周入住。 — The new house is ready, and they're moving in next week.

• CJK: 入 = 入. 住 = 住. JP 入居（にゅうきょ） / チェックイン. Canto 入住 jap6 zyu6. Hotel 入住 = check-in; today is the new house.
• Fun fact: 下周入住 = keys, boxes, move-in day. Japanese 入院 today is hospital “move-in.” Don’t swap them.
• Memorize: New door, boxes in the hall: 他们下周入住.
• Study tip: 入住. Don’t answer 搬家 or 住. Not 入院.

19. 播放（bōfàng）

to broadcast; to play (media) · menyiarkan; memutar

Example: 电视正在播放新闻。 — The TV is broadcasting the news.

• CJK: 播 = 播. 放 = 放. JP 再生 / 放送. Canto 播放 bo3 fong3. Yesterday 广播 used the same English sentence; this card is 播放.
• Fun fact: 播放新闻 on TV. 广播 leans radio / “a broadcast”; 播放 is hit play / transmit. Same 播.
• Memorize: TV, “now playing” news: 电视正在播放新闻.
• Study tip: 播放. Don’t answer 广播 (yesterday’s card). Don’t answer 新闻.

20. 巧（qiǎo）

skillful; coincidentally · terampil; kebetulan

Example: 她手很巧，这些小东西都是她自己做的。 — She's very skillful with her hands; she made all these little things herself.

• CJK: 巧 = 巧. JP 器用（きよう）. Canto 巧 haau2. 手巧 = deft hands. 碰巧 is the coincidence sense — not today’s sentence.
• Fun fact: 手很巧, handmade 小东西. 巧妙 is “clever (plan)”; this is craft skill. 巧合 is “coincidence.”
• Memorize: Small handmade crafts on a table: 她手很巧，都是她自己做的.
• Study tip: 巧. Don’t answer 偶然 or 能. Today is hands, not “what a coincidence.”