Toothpaste in Chinese. Can you read it?
Toothpaste in Chinese. Can you read it?
Hey friends, today I'm breaking down a tube of toothpaste in Chinese. Let's focus on the text inside the red square. Do you know what it says?
Learning to read real-world Chinese material drastically improved my confidence because I know these are the same material native speakers see on a daily basis. If you want to be like native speakers, it makes sense to consume what they consume.
Below is the 4-step method I use to remember everything I study.
Step 1: First Pass
Try to read the original print without help and check how much you understand. Identify any new words you don't know.
Step 2: Study + Analyze
Study the transcribed text below with the pinyin and English translations. Look up new words you don't understand.
💡 Tip: View in Chrome and get pop-up definitions when you hover over characters.
💡 Tip: Click on the pinyin below to hear correct audio pronunciation.
台 塩 咸 净 系列 牙膏
台 塩 鹹 淨 系列 牙膏
tái yán xián jìng xì liè yá gāo
TaiYan XianJing (brand) series toothpaste
运用 海洋微晶盐 独特 配方
運用 海洋微晶鹽 獨特 配方
yùn yòng hǎi yáng wēi jīng yán dú tè pèi fāng
Using a unique marine microcrystalline salt formula
可 帮助 对抗 牙菌斑
可 幫助 對抗 牙菌斑
kě bāngzhù duìkàng yájūnbān
Can help fight plaque (dental)
温和 洁 齿 及 净化 口腔
溫和 潔 齒 及 淨化 口腔
wēn hé jié chǐ jí jìng huà kǒu qiāng
Gently cleans and purifies the mouth
*** Full vocabulary list here.
Step 3: Active Recall
Most people stop at the second step. This third repetition is crucial to help you consolidate your knowledge using the power of active recall.
Read out loud this time without the pinyin. Focus on getting the right tones.
台 塩 咸 净 系列 牙膏
台 塩 鹹 淨 系列 牙膏
TaiYan Xianjing (brand) series toothpaste
运用 海洋微晶盐 独特 配方
運用 海洋微晶鹽 獨特 配方
Using a unique marine microcrystalline salt formula
可 帮助 对抗 牙菌斑
可 幫助 對抗 牙菌斑
Can help fight plaque (dental)
温和 洁 齿 及 净化 口腔
溫和 潔 齒 及 淨化 口腔
Gently cleans and purifies the mouth
Step 4: Final Pass
Read the original text one more time without the pinyin and English translations to help.
Did you get your tones right?
Were you able to understand it without the pinyin and translations?
👍 Congrats, you just read a real Chinese sign!
👎 No worries, return to Step 2 and try again.
This 4-step method is so effective because of the power of repetition and active recall. I used this same method to help me have multi-hour-long conversations with native speakers in 4 months of study.
See you again next week for another real-life example.
When you're ready:
Here are three ways I can help you: