This glossary lists terms you meet in SPM Chinese reading, writing and language work. Each entry gives the meaning, a short example and the term it is most likely to be confused with.
It supports the SPM Bahasa Cina guide. For a bilingual aid, try the BM-English terminology bridge with Chinese explanations.
Reading terms
主旨 (central message)
The one idea the whole text is built to convey. In a passage about a boy returning a lost wallet, 主旨 might be that honesty matters even when no one sees. Confused with 段落大意, which covers a single paragraph only.
段落大意 (paragraph gist)
The main point of one paragraph, stated in a short phrase. Example: 第二段说明阿明为什么决定把钱包送回去. Confused with 主旨, which covers the whole text.
推断 (inference)
A conclusion the text supports without stating it. 他一直看着手表 suggests he is impatient. Confused with 猜测, a guess that has no support in the text.
依据 (evidence)
The words in the text that justify an answer. A good inference names the 依据 in a few words. Confused with 复制原文, copying a whole sentence that only shares a keyword.
词语在文中的意思 (meaning in context)
What a word means in this sentence, not its dictionary meaning alone. 光 in 时光 refers to time, not light. Confused with 字面意思, the surface meaning that may not fit the sentence.
修辞 (rhetorical device)
A technique that shapes how a sentence affects the reader. Common types include 比喻, 拟人, 夸张, 排比 and 反问. Confused with 词汇, which only refers to word choice.
比喻 (simile or metaphor)
Comparing one thing to another. 时间像流水 is a simile. Confused with 拟人, which gives human traits to non-human things.
拟人 (personification)
Treating an object or animal as a person. 风在窗外哭泣 gives the wind a human action. Confused with 比喻, because both create images.
Writing terms
记叙文 (narrative writing)
Writing that tells what happened, usually with a person, event and change. A composition about a missed bus that teaches patience is 记叙文. Confused with 说明文, which explains rather than tells.
议论文 (argumentative writing)
Writing that states a position and supports it with reasons and examples. Example position: 学生应该学会管理零用钱. Confused with 说明文, which gives facts without taking a side.
说明文 (expository writing)
Writing that explains how something works or what it is. A description of how to recycle plastic bottles is 说明文. Confused with 议论文, which argues for a view.
论点 (position or claim)
The view the writer wants the reader to accept. Example: 手机不应该带进课室. Confused with 论据, the support for that view.
论据 (supporting reason or evidence)
Facts, examples or reasoning used to back a 论点. Example: 上课时收到通知，学生容易分心. Confused with 论点, which is the claim itself.
应用文 (practical writing)
Formats such as notices, letters and reports that have a fixed purpose and layout. Confused with 记叙文, because some tasks mix description with format.
语体 (register)
The level of formality fitting the audience. A letter to a principal uses polite, formal wording, while a message to a friend can be casual. Confused with 文体, which names the text type.
Language terms
形近字 (look-alike characters)
Characters with similar shapes but different meanings, such as 辨 and 辩. Confused with 同音字, which sound alike rather than look alike.
同音字 (homophones)
Characters that share a pronunciation, such as 做 and 作 in some contexts. Confused with 形近字, which share shape instead.
成语 (idiom)
A fixed expression, usually four characters, with a meaning beyond its parts. 半途而废 means giving up halfway. Confused with 俗语, looser sayings with less fixed wording.
文言文 (classical Chinese)
The written language of earlier periods, with compact structure and different word usage. Confused with 古诗, which is poetry in a fixed form rather than prose.
实词与虚词 (content and function words)
实词 carry meaning on their own, such as nouns and verbs. 虚词 mainly link or mark relationships, such as 而, 之 and 于. Confused with modern grammar labels that do not map one to one.
What do common question words ask you to do?
Question words set the shape of your answer. Match the shape before you write the content.
| Question word | What it asks | Answer shape |
|---|---|---|
| 为什么 | A reason | 因为 plus the cause from the text |
| 如何 / 怎样 | A method or manner | The steps or way, in order |
| 请说明 | Explain | Meaning plus a detail |
| 请举例 | Give a case | One specific example |
| 你同意吗 | A position | Yes or no, then reasons |
| 找出 | Locate | The exact words, kept short |
For practice using these shapes, see answering concise questions without copying irrelevant sentences.
Where to go next
Return to the modern-text comprehension cluster to apply reading terms, or see online one-to-one Chinese tuition if you want a teacher to go through your own papers.