Key HSK Vocabulary
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 旅行 | lǔ: xíng | travel, tour | HSK 2 | |
| 成都 | Chéng dū | chengdu | ||
| 常温 | cháng wēn | normal atmospheric temperature, ordinary temperature | HSK 7 | |
| 国有 | guó yǒu | belong to the state, be nationalized | HSK 7 | |
| 辣椒 | là jiāo | chili, pepper | HSK 7 | |
| 有机 | yǒu jī | organic, organic | HSK 7 | |
| 徒步 | tú bù | on foot | HSK 7 | |
| 麻辣 | má là | spicy-hot, hot and numbing | HSK 7 | |
| 口味 | kǒu wèi | taste of food, the flavour of food | HSK 7 | |
| 节假日 | jié jià rì | public holiday, festivals and holidays | HSK 6 | |
| 刚好 | gāng hǎo | appropriate, just | HSK 6 | |
| 氧气 | yǎng qì | oxygen, oxygen gas | HSK 6 | |
| 消耗 | xiāo hào | expend, deplete | HSK 6 | |
| 签证 | qiān zhèng | visa | HSK 5 | |
| 搜索 | sōu suǒ | search for, hunt for | HSK 5 | |
| 烤鸭 | kǎo yā | roast duck | HSK 5 | |
| 土豆 | tǔ dòu | potato | HSK 5 | |
| 沟通 | gōu tōng | to communicate, to connect | HSK 5 | |
| 为主 | wéi zhǔ | give first place to, give priority to | HSK 5 | |
| 视频 | shì pín | video clip | HSK 5 |
Grammar Notes
汉语越学越有意思。
Hànyǔ yuè xué yuè yǒu yìsi.
The more you study Chinese, the more interesting it gets.
除了睡觉以外，剩下的时间我都想出去玩。
Chúle shuìjiào yǐwài, shèngxià de shíjiān wǒ dōu xiǎng chūqù wán.
Apart from sleeping, I want to spend the remaining time going out to have fun.
坐火车和坐飞机各有各的好。
Zuò huǒchē hé zuò fēijī gè yǒu gè de hǎo.
Taking a train and taking a plane each have their own advantages.
We’ve all been there: you’ve spent months studying vocabulary cards, but the moment you step off the plane in a bustling city, your mind goes completely blank. Between trying to order authentic, mouth-numbing Sichuan hotpot and asking for directions to the nearest giant panda base, standard textbook Mandarin often falls short of the fast-paced, real-life Chinese spoken by locals.
That is exactly why the video skit "成都旅行" (Traveling to Chengdu) by Grace Mandarin Chinese is an absolute goldmine for language learners. In this highly engaging and practical lesson, Grace breaks down essential conversational Chinese, everyday travel vocabulary, and local cultural nuances in a way that feels like exploring the city with a friend. It is the perfect, stress-free way to boost your Chinese listening skills and master the real-world Mandarin you actually need for your next adventure.
Video Overview
Follow a Chinese teacher's 144-hour visa-free journey through Chongqing and Chengdu. She shares her experiences navigating Chongqing's steep 'mountain city' stairs, trying local spicy dishes (and avoiding rabbit heads), visiting pandas, and dealing with high-altitude hiking, while providing excellent authentic listening practice for learners.
✨ Dialogue Highlights
巴适得板
Bāshì de bǎn
Incredibly comfortable / Absolutely superbThis is the ultimate Sichuan dialect phrase used to express extreme satisfaction, whether you are describing delicious food, a relaxing ear-cleaning experience, or Chengdu's slow-paced lifestyle. "巴适" means comfortable or excellent, and adding "得板" intensifies it to "so good that you can't help but kick your legs in delight." Using this instantly connects you with the local vibe.
老板，数签签！
Lǎobǎn, shǔ qiānqian!
Boss, count the skewers! (Check, please!)When eating Chuanchuanxiang (skewers cooked in hotpot) in Chengdu, you don't ask for the bill using standard Chinese. Instead, you shout this highly practical and culturally spot-on phrase. "签签" (qiānqian) is the cute, local reduplicative term for bamboo skewers. Using this shows you understand Chengdu’s unique food culture, making your dining experience much more fun and authentic.