A Course in Contemporary Chinese Vocabulary
The complete vocabulary guide for A Course in Contemporary Chinese Book 1, lessons 1-10 with TOCFL-aligned word lists, grammar explanations, and cultural notes for studying Mandarin in Taiwan.
Welcome to the complete vocabulary guide for Book 1, lessons 1-10 of A Course in Contemporary Chinese (當代中文課程).
This series covers every vocabulary item in the Dangdai curriculum—the gold standard for learning Traditional Chinese in Taiwan. Whether you are preparing for classes at the Mandarin Training Center (MTC), studying independently, or reviewing for the TOCFL exam, these guides provide the comprehensive reference you need.
About the Dangdai Curriculum
A Course in Contemporary Chinese, commonly known as “Dangdai,” is a six-volume textbook series developed by National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU). It is the core curriculum used at the Mandarin Training Center and has become the de facto standard for serious Mandarin study in Taiwan.
The curriculum is designed specifically for Taiwan’s language school ecosystem and aligns with TOCFL (Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language) proficiency standards:
| Volume | Level | TOCFL Band | Vocabulary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book 1 | Beginner | Novice | 300+ words |
| Book 2 | Elementary | Band A | 500+ words |
| Book 3 | Intermediate | Band B | 800+ words |
| Book 4 | Upper-Intermediate | Band B | 1000+ words |
| Book 5 | Advanced | Band C | 1200+ words |
| Book 6 | Near-Fluent | Band C | 1500+ words |
By the end of Book 6, you will have encountered over 5,000 vocabulary items and the grammatical structures necessary to read newspapers, conduct business, and engage with academic content.
Why Taiwanese Mandarin?
If you are learning Mandarin, you face a fundamental choice: Taiwanese Mandarin or Mainland Mandarin. This is not merely an accent preference—it affects your character set, vocabulary, and certification path.
Traditional Characters
Taiwan uses Traditional Chinese characters (繁體字) exclusively. These are the characters used throughout thousands of years of Chinese literature and remain the standard in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and many overseas Chinese communities.
Vocabulary Differences
Mandarin vocabulary differs significantly between Taiwan and Mainland China:
| English | Taiwan | Mainland |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi | 計程車 | 出租車 |
| Pineapple | 鳳梨 | 菠蘿 |
| Potato | 馬鈴薯 | 土豆 |
| Yogurt | 優格 | 酸奶 |
| Software | 軟體 | 软件 |
These are not obscure terms—they appear in everyday conversation. The Dangdai curriculum teaches the vocabulary actually used in Taiwan.
Phonological Features
Taiwanese Mandarin has distinct characteristics:
- Softer retroflex sounds (zh, ch, sh, r)
- Minimal use of the “er” suffix (兒化音)
- Different standard pronunciations for certain characters
TOCFL listening sections use Taiwanese speakers. If your goal is fluency in Taiwan, you need Taiwan-specific training.
Studying at the MTC
The Mandarin Training Center at National Taiwan Normal University is Taiwan’s largest and most established language school. Founded in 1956, it has trained tens of thousands of foreign students and remains the default choice for serious learners.
MTC uses Dangdai as its core curriculum. Classes are structured, progressive, and designed to move students from zero to fluency over 2-3 years of study.
Structure:
- Class size: 6-10 students
- Hours: 2 or 3 hours per day, 5 days per week
- Terms: Four quarters per year
- Levels: 15+ levels, mapped to Dangdai Books 1-6
The MTC experience is transformative—but it is also demanding. The curriculum moves fast, and students who fall behind accumulate a backlog that becomes psychologically insurmountable. Success requires not just classroom attendance, but systematic vocabulary retention outside of class.
Book 1 Lesson Index
Book 1 covers survival Mandarin: basic introductions, family vocabulary, making plans, shopping, food, locations, time, transportation, and descriptions. By the end, you will have the foundation for daily life in Taiwan.
Lesson 1: First Introductions
Greetings, pronouns, polite expressions, and your first conversations in Mandarin. Learn to introduce yourself, ask questions with 嗎, and navigate basic social situations.
Lesson 2: Family and Home
Family members, home vocabulary, and the essential particle 的. Discuss your parents, siblings, and learn to describe the people closest to you.
Lesson 3: Hobbies and Making Plans
Sports, activities, and invitation language. Learn to discuss what you do for fun and coordinate plans with friends using 還是, 吧, and 怎麼樣.
Lesson 4: Shopping and Money
Numbers, prices, and transaction vocabulary. Navigate convenience stores, ask 多少錢, and understand Taiwan’s currency system including 百, 千, and 萬.
Lesson 5: Food and Taiwanese Cuisine
Taiwan’s legendary food culture—牛肉麵, 小籠包, 臭豆腐. Express opinions about taste with 好吃, 辣, and 甜, and learn to order at restaurants.
Lesson 6: Locations and Campus Life
Position words, campus buildings, and giving directions. Master 在, 前面, 後面, 旁邊, and navigate Taiwan’s geography from 花蓮 to your 宿舍.
Lesson 7: Time and Scheduling
Telling time, making appointments, and coordinating schedules. Learn 點, 分, 半, and essential phrases like 有空 and 有事 for planning with friends.
Lesson 8: Transportation and Travel
Trains, buses, scooters, and the high-speed rail. Compare options with 比 and 比較, and learn the vocabulary for exploring Taiwan from 臺南 to 故宮.
Lesson 9: Plans and Dates
Future plans, dates, and suggestions. Master 星期, 月, 號, and conditional language with 要是…就… for making plans to visit 夜市 and 貓空.
Lesson 10: Descriptions and Experiences
Colors, fruits, physical descriptions, and sharing experiences. Describe Taiwan’s famous 水果, use 因為…所以…, and learn to share your impressions.
How to Use These Guides
Each lesson article includes:
- Complete vocabulary table with pinyin, meanings, and dictionary links
- Key grammar explanations with patterns and examples
- Cultural notes connecting vocabulary to real Taiwan life
- Study tips for effective retention
Every lesson in the app contains all of the above, and also:
- Unlimited Stroke Order Practice for every character in every lesson. Complete with guidance, and wrong stroke correction
- Audio for every character, with local Taiwan Mandarin pronunciation
The Retention Challenge
Dangdai moves fast. Book 1 alone contains over 300 vocabulary items. If your retention rate is weak, you will accumulate a “review snowball” that becomes insurmountable:
- Day 1: 20 reviews
- Day 7: 20 new + ~80 reviews from previous days
- Day 30: 20 new + ~200 reviews from previous days
Within one month, enthusiastic beginners face 220+ cards every morning. This is the primary cause of student attrition.
The Zhong Chinese Solution
We built Zhong Chinese specifically to solve this problem.
Curriculum Alignment: Our flashcards map directly to Dangdai—every lesson, every book. You can pre-learn vocabulary before class and review what you have studied with perfect alignment to your coursework.
FSRS Algorithm: We use the Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler, a modern algorithm that models your personal forgetting curve. The result is approximately 20-30% less review time compared to legacy systems, with equal or better retention [4].
Sustainable Pacing: We cap acquisition velocity to prevent the review snowball. You cannot “binge” vocabulary and expect to retain it. Sustainable daily practice is the only path to fluency.
Handwriting Practice: Every vocabulary card includes stroke-order validated writing practice. Motor memory creates the neural pathways required for character recognition and long-term retention.
For MTC students, Zhong Chinese is the companion app that makes the Dangdai curriculum survivable. You focus on classroom participation and real-world practice. We ensure the vocabulary stays in your long-term memory.
Begin Your Journey
Book 1 is your foundation. Every word you learn here will appear hundreds of times throughout the curriculum. Invest the time to learn them thoroughly now.
Start with Lesson 1: First Introductions, or jump to whichever lesson matches your current studies.
歡迎！Welcome to your Mandarin journey.
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