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My role at Global Hearts has expanded lately, which is very cool. They provide unique, bilingual tours of Melbourne for international students from
all over the world. Their goal is to bridge the existing communication gap between international students and locals, a very worthwhile ambition.
They also run a very awesome Chinese and English language exchange group which meets Thursday and Saturday afternoons in Melbourne city. I
love attending because it’s very informal and you get to meet new people from all over the world each week. Anyway, what the group is missing is a
comprehensive list of English and Chinese conversation topics to keep everyone inspired and talking smoothly. So I have come up with a list of 100
English conversation topics, complete with Chinese translations and pinyin for convenience. The Chinese translations were carefully crafted by me
and proofread by my friend Bo – thanks mate! I provide the full list here for everyone – I hope you all find it useful. This can also be used as
preparation for the IELTS speaking exam or even the HSK.
A-Level (Beginner)
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A003 Where is your hometown? 你的家乡在哪儿?
Nǐ de jiāxiāng zài nǎr?
A004 What do you like to eat? 你平时喜欢吃什么?
Nǐ píngshí xǐhuan chī shénme?
A005 What do you like to drink? 你平时喜欢喝什么?
Nǐ píngshí xǐhuan hē shénme?
A006 How old are you? 你多大了?
Nǐ duōdà le?
A007 What do you study? 你学什么的?
Nǐ xué shénme de?
A008 Where do you work? 你在哪儿工作?
Nǐ zài nǎr gōngzuò?
A009 What did you do today? 你今天做了些什么?
Nǐ jīntiān zuò le xiē shénme?
A010 What kind of music do you like? 你喜欢什么样的音乐?
Nǐ xǐhuan shénmeyàng de yīnyuè?
A011 What animal would you most like to be? 你最想成为哪种动物?
Nǐ zuì xiǎng chéngwéi nǎ zhǒng dòngwù?
A012 What languages do you speak? 你都会说哪种语言?
Nǐ dōu huì shuō nǎ zhǒng yǔyán?
A013 How long have you lived in this city? 你在这个城市住了多久了?
Nǐ zài zhège chéngshì zhù le duōjiǔ le?
A014 How many people are in your family? 你家有几口人?
Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén?
A015 Have you been to Sydney? 你去过悉尼吗?
Nǐ qù guò Xīní ma?
A016 Do you have a best friend? Who is s/he? 你有最好的朋友吗?他或她是谁?
Nǐ yǒu zuìhǎo de péngyǒu ma? Tā huò tā shì sheí?
A017 Do you prefer summer or winter? 夏天和冬天,你更喜欢哪一个?
Xiàtiān hé dōngtiān, nǐ gèng xǐhuan nǎ yīgè?
A018 What do you do on the weekend? 你周末喜欢做些什么呢?
Nǐ zhōumò xǐhuan zuò xiē shénme ne?
A019 What hobbies do you have? 你有什么爱好?
Nǐ yǒu shénme àihào?
A020 What sports do you like? 你都喜欢哪种体育项目?
Nǐ dōu xǐhuan nǎ zhǒng tǐyù xiàngmù?
A021 What is your favourite food? 你最喜欢的食物是什么?
Nǐ zuì xǐhuan de shíwù shì shénme?
A022 What do you normally have for breakfast? 你早饭平时都吃些什么?
Nǐ zǎofàn píngshí dōu chī xiē shénme?
A023 How do you get to work or university? 你平时上班或上学都怎么走?
Nǐ píngshí shàngbān huò shàngxué dōu zěnme zǒu?
A024 What do you do on holidays? 你放假都做些什么?
Nǐ fàngjià dōu zuò xiē shénme?
A025 What’s your favourite film? 你最喜欢的电影是什么?
Nǐ zuì xǐhuan de diànyǐng shì shénme?
A026 What is your greatest wish? 你最大的愿望是什么?
Nǐ zuìdà de yuànwàng shì shénme?
A027 Are you married or single? 你结婚了还是单身?
Nǐ jiéhūn le háishì dānshēn?
A028 Do you drive or take public transport? 你开车还是做公交?
Nǐ kāichē háishì zuò gōngjiāo?
A029 What do you like to do in your spare time? 你平时喜欢做些什么?
Nǐ píngshí xǐhuan zuò xiē shénme?
A030 What’s your favourite TV show? 你最喜欢的电视剧是什么?
Nǐ zuì xǐhuan de diànshìjù shì shénme?
A031 Do you like shopping? Why or why not? 你喜欢购物吗?为什么?
Nǐ xǐhuan gòuwù ma? Wèishénme?
A032 What subjects did you study in school? 你在学校时都学了哪些科目?
Nǐ zài xuéxiào shí dōu xué le nǎxiē kēmù?
A033 Do you prefer trains, trams or buses? 火车,电车和公共汽车,你更喜欢哪一个?
Huǒchē, diànchē hé gōnggòng qìchē, nǐ gèng xǐhuan nǎ yīgè?
B-Level (Intermediate)
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B034 Do you often eat fast food? Why or why not? 你经常吃快餐吗?为什么?
Nǐ jīngcháng chī kuàicān ma? Wèishénme?
B035 What is a major achievement in your life? 你生命中一项重要的成就是什么?
Nǐ shēngmìng zhòng yī xiàng zhòngyào de chéngjiù shì shénme?
B036 Do you like karaoke? Why or why not? 你喜欢卡拉OK吗?为什么?
Nǐ xǐhuan kǎlāOK ma? Wèishénme?
B037 What are the best ways to keep healthy? 保持健康的最好方法是什么?
Bǎochí jiànkāng de zuì hǎo fāngfǎ shì shénme?
B038 What is the best way to make new friends? 结交新朋友的最好方法是什么?
Jiéjiāo xīn péngyou de zuì hǎo fāngfǎ shì shénme?
B039 What is the best holiday you’ve ever had? 你所度过最愉快的一个假期是哪一个?
Nǐ suǒ dù guò zuì yúkuài de yīgè jiàqī shì nǎ yīgè?
B040 Do you think you are a “nerd”? 你觉得你是一个“宅男”或“宅女”吗?
Nǐ juéde nǐ shì yīgè “zháinán” huò “zháinǚ” ma?
B041 What are some of the traditional foods in your home country? 你国家传统的食物是什么?
Nǐ guójiā chuántǒng de shíwù shì shénme?
B042 Do you have an iPhone? Why or why not? 你有一部iPhone吗?为什么?
Nǐ yǒuyī bù iPhone ma? Wèishénme?
B043 Are you interested in politics? Why or why not? 你对政治感兴趣吗?为什么?
Nǐ duì zhèngzhì gǎnxìngqù ma? Wèishénme?
B044 What do you think about this city’s public transport system? 你觉得这个城市的公共交通系统怎么样?
Nǐ juéde zhège chéngshì de gōnggòng jiāotōng xìtǒng zěnme yàng?
B045 Are you a fan of anime or other cartoons? 你是日本动漫或其他卡通的粉丝吗?
Nǐ shì Rìběn dòngmàn huò qítā kǎtōng de fěnsī ma?
B046 Are you a night owl or an early bird? 你是个夜猫子,还是早起者?
Nǐ shìgè yèmāozi, háishì zǎoqǐ zhě?
B047 Do you see your family often? 你经常看望你的家人吗?
Nǐ jīngcháng kànwàng nǐ de jiārén ma?
B048 Do you like going to pubs and nightclubs? 你喜欢去酒吧和夜总会吗?
Nǐ xǐhuan qù jiǔbā hé yèzǒnghuì ma?
B049 Who is your favourite celebrity? 你最喜欢的名人是谁?
Nǐ zuì xǐhuan de míngrén shì sheí?
B050 What are your impressions of this city? 你对这座城市的印象怎么样?
Nǐ duì zhè zuò chéngshì de yìnxiàng zěnmeyàng?
B051 Is money important? 金钱重要吗?
Jīnqián zhòngyào ma?
B052 Do you like reading? What books do you like to read? 你喜欢看书吗?平时都看些什么样的书?
Nǐ xǐhuan kà shū ma? Píngshí dōu kàn xiē shénme yàng de shū?
B053 What are your future goals? 你未来的目标是什么?
Nǐ wèilái de mùbiāo shì shénme?
B054 Do you celebrate Christmas? 你过圣诞节吗?
Nǐ guò shèngdànjié ma?
B055 What are some of your bad habits? 你都有哪些坏习惯?
Nǐ dōu yǒu nǎxiē huài xíguàn?
B056 What are the personalities of your parents and other family members? 你的父母和其他家人的性格都是什么样的?
Nǐ de fùmǔ hé qítā jiārén de xìnggé dōu shì shénmeyàng de?
B057 Are you religious? 你信教吗?
Nǐ xìnjiào ma?
B058 How long have you been learning your second language? 你学习第二语言多长时间了?
Nǐ xuéxí dì èr yǔyán duō cháng shíjiān le?
B059 Do you have a good sense of direction? 你的方向感好吗?
Nǐ de fāngxiànggǎn hǎo ma?
B060 How do you spend your money? 你怎样来支配自己的花销?
Nǐ zěnyàng lái zhīpèi zìjǐ de huā xiao?
B061 Do you like to travel? What places have you been to? 你喜欢旅游吗?你都去过哪些地方?
Nǐ xǐhuan lǚyóu ma? Nǐ dōu qù guò nǎxiē dìfang?
B062 What is your favourite item of clothing, and why? 说说你穿过的衣服中,哪一件你最喜欢?为什么?
Shuō shuō nǐ chuān guò de yīfu zhōng, nǎ yī jiàn nǐ zuì xǐhuan? Wèishénme?
B063 Do you like surfing the web? What websites would you recommend? 你喜欢上网吗?有哪些网站你可以推荐一下?
Nǐ xǐhuan shàngwǎng ma? Yǒu nǎxiē wǎngzhàn nǐ kěyǐ tuījiàn yīxià?
B064 Have you ever been in love? 你曾经恋爱过吗?
Nǐ céngjīng liàn’ài guò ma?
B065 What are some of the problems of tourism? 旅游业带来的问题是什么?
Lǚyóuyè dàilái de wèntí shì shénme?
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B066 Do you like to take risks? Why or why not? 你喜欢冒险吗?为什么?
Nǐ xǐhuan màoxiǎn ma? Wèishénme?
C-Level (Advanced)
Posted in Featured Topics | Tagged conversation topics, English, HSK, IELTS, questions, spoken Chinese
1. Hien Nguyen
05/03/2013 - 8:32 pm | Permalink
Dear Carl,
Thank you so much for your website. I find it really useful for me to continue learning Chinese after a long time leaving it behind. You’ve got
my vote for your website!
Hien Nguyen (Ms.)
Reply
Bilal Khan
29/09/2017 - 3:28 am | Permalink
Reply
2. James
13/03/2013 - 12:01 am | Permalink
B052 missing ‘n’ on ‘kàn’. 2013.3.12 Great list thanks for sharing. Very, very useful.
Reply
3. Aviv
23/03/2013 - 12:36 am | Permalink
Reply
4. Zoe
23/08/2013 - 8:36 pm | Permalink
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5. jack
28/04/2014 - 11:55 am | Permalink
Reply
6. Brendan
14/11/2014 - 8:42 pm | Permalink
This is really useful! I’ll use this with my language exchange buddies tomorrow, thanks!
Reply
7. Caroline
28/01/2016 - 6:13 pm | Permalink
Kudos to the creator of this website. I find it very beneficial and shared with my Chinese crew on board our vessels. This gives them an
opportunity to work on their English.
Reply
8. Adam
04/08/2016 - 8:01 pm | Permalink
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9. Antonia
24/04/2017 - 11:53 am | Permalink
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10. Leanne
26/06/2017 - 6:20 am | Permalink
Reply
Thanks to your website, I can continue studying Chinese today. Thank you
Reply
12. Shawn
03/08/2017 - 12:22 pm | Permalink
I posted a link to this list on my Chinese Language Meetup Group website. I really appreciate what you’ve done here.
Reply
13. Jess
18/05/2018 - 5:50 am | Permalink
Thankz! for the great list for a Thai like me to learn English n Chinese at the same time.
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Reply
14. Mae
17/10/2018 - 4:32 pm | Permalink
wow! I just found a perfect material for my beginners’ class! Thank you & more power!
Reply
15. shamas
06/11/2018 - 1:15 am | Permalink
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16. Mohd
24/01/2019 - 1:53 pm | Permalink
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17. Bayu
05/08/2019 - 1:03 pm | Permalink
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Thank you so much, this is very helpful to me to learn more simple Chinese. thanks again
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一步一个脚印
Blog of Carl Gene Fordham
傅君恺之博客
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Carl Gene Fordham is a doctoral candidate at Peking University, China, and recipient of the Ph.D. in China Fellowship as part of the New Sinology
Program provided by the Confucius Institute. Carl's research focuses on translations into English of ancient Chinese texts, and is under the
supervision of Prof. Liu Yucai. Previously, Carl lectured on Chinese-English translation at the School of Interpreting and Translation, Beijing
International Studies University.
傅君恺(Carl Gene Fordham),北京大学博士生,研究方向为中国古典文献英译,孔子新汉学计划博士生项目,导师为刘玉才教授。曾任
北京第二外国语学院高级翻译学院外籍教员,讲授汉英笔译。
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