Practice tool
Chinese writing prompts with a place to start
A writing prompt should make the first sentence easier to begin, not tell you exactly what to say. These prompts pair familiar topics with a small set of questions you can answer in your own Chinese.
The short answer
Good beginner Chinese writing prompts name a familiar situation, limit the amount of information you need to include, and leave room for personal details. Start with two or three sentences, then add one detail after your first version is saved.
Chinese example
See the pattern in context
今天下午我在家学习中文。
This afternoon I am studying Chinese at home.
Daily life prompts
Write about one part of your day rather than your whole life. What time is it? Where are you? What do you do? How do you feel?
- 我的一天：写早上、下午和晚上做什么
- 我的房间：写房间里有什么
- 我喜欢的食物：写喜欢什么和为什么
Study and people prompts
Choose one person or one study situation. Use a short model for the structure, then replace the details with your own.
- 我的老师或朋友
- 我学习中文的地方
- 我这周要做的事
A prompt is only the beginning
After you write, check whether the reader can follow the meaning. Keep one strong sentence, revise one unclear sentence, and save the version so you can see what you can do next time.
- Read a short example first
- Use only the help you need
- Ask for focused feedback
- Try the same topic again with less support