MTC · NTNU · Dangdai Curriculum
A Course in Contemporary Chinese Book 4 — Upper Intermediate
CEFR B1–B2 Band B · Level 2 ~350 new words 150–200 hrs
Progress toward full fluency across the 6-book series
Key Topics
- Social and environmental issues
- Technology, internet, and society
- Introduction to Shūmiànyǔ (written register)
- Complex sentence and grammar patterns
- Abstract reasoning and persuasion
- Formal written Chinese
After Book 4 you can
Read newspaper articles and formal emails, write structured arguments, discuss social and environmental issues, and begin switching fluidly between spoken and written registers.
10 Lessons — Book 4
| # | Lesson Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Social Media and Digital Life |
| 2 | Environmental Issues |
| 3 | Healthcare and Public Health |
| 4 | Education Systems in Taiwan |
| 5 | Urban Development |
| 6 | Economic Life and Consumption |
| 7 | Gender and Society |
| 8 | Technology and Innovation |
| 9 | Civic Society and Volunteerism |
| 10 | Writing Formal Correspondence |
Sample Vocabulary — Book 4
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 影響 | yǐngxiǎng | influence; to affect |
| 然而 | rán'ér | however (formal) |
| 面臨 | miànlín | to face (a challenge) |
| 資訊 | zīxùn | information (formal) |
| 促進 | cùjìn | to promote; to facilitate |
These are 5 representative words. Book 4 introduces ~350 new vocabulary items in total.
Frequently Asked Questions — Book 4
Why is Book 4 considered a turning point in the series?
Book 4 introduces Shūmiànyǔ (書面語) — the formal written register used in Taiwanese news media, academic writing, legal documents, and official communications. The gap between spoken Mandarin and this formal written register is genuinely wide, and many learners find the transition to Book 4 the most challenging step in the entire series.
What vocabulary level does Book 4 reach?
Completing Book 4 gives you approximately 1,150 cumulative vocabulary items across the series. This places you solidly in the TOCFL Band B Level 2 range and prepares you for the Band B examination.
Study Book 4 with Zhong Chinese
All ~350 vocabulary items from Book 4 are available in Zhong Chinese as FSRS-powered flashcards — so every word you learn gets reviewed at exactly the right time.
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