Things to do

In the Edexcel GCSE Chinese specification, the topic 'Things to do' (要做的事情) covers a wide range of everyday activities, hobbies, and leisure pursuits. This includes talking about what you do in your free time, such as sports, reading, watching TV, going out with friends, and using technology. You will learn to describe your own habits, ask others about theirs, and express preferences and frequency. This topic is essential because it appears in all four skill areas: listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and it forms the basis for many conversational exchanges in the exam.

Mastering this topic allows you to connect with Chinese speakers on a personal level, as discussing daily routines and hobbies is a common icebreaker. It also helps you build a wide range of vocabulary and grammar structures, such as time phrases, frequency adverbs, and opinion expressions. In the exam, you might be asked to write a diary entry, describe a typical weekend, or discuss your favourite pastime. Understanding this topic thoroughly will give you confidence in handling both transactional and personal contexts.

This topic links closely with other themes like 'Home and abroad', 'School life', and 'Media and technology'. For example, you might combine 'Things to do' with 'School' to talk about extracurricular activities, or with 'Media' to discuss your favourite TV programmes. By the end of this topic, you should be able to hold a simple conversation about your leisure time, write a short paragraph about your hobbies, and understand spoken or written descriptions of others' activities.