Science & Technology
What this unit covers
The topics below follow the published Chinese Lang course framework for Unit 4. Chinese Lang publishes no per-unit weighting, so there is no percentage to chase here.
Lessons in this unit
- The 被 (bèi) Passive Construction14 min · 3 objectivesForm passive sentences with 被 (bèi) to show something is acted upon · Identify the receiver, agent, and verb in a 被 sentence · Explain when a 被 passive sounds natural versus forced
- Talking About Technology & China’s Inventions13 min · 3 objectivesUse measure words appropriate to devices and technology · Build sentences comparing old and new tools with 比 (bǐ) · Discuss the Four Great Inventions of ancient China
Every term in Unit 4
All 23 terms we publish for Science & Technology, with definitions. Reading them through is the fastest way to find the ones you cannot define — then drill those in cram mode until you can produce them without the prompt.
- 科技 (kē jì)
- Science and technology, a contraction of 科学技术. 高科技 high tech.
- 发明 (fā míng)
- To invent; an invention. 四大发明 the Four Great Inventions: 造纸术 papermaking, 印刷术 printing, 火药 gunpowder, 指南针 the compass.
- 研究 (yán jiū)
- To research; research. 研究人员 researcher; 做研究 to do research.
- 发展 (fā zhǎn) vs 发达 (fā dá)
- 发展 is to develop, a process; 发达 is developed, a state. 发展中国家 developing country; 发达国家 developed country.
- 网络 (wǎng luò)
- Network, the internet. 上网 to go online; 网速 connection speed; 网上购物 online shopping.
- 手机应用 (shǒu jī yìng yòng)
- Mobile app, commonly 手机应用 or 手机软件. 微信 WeChat and 支付宝 Alipay are the concrete examples worth naming.
- 移动支付 (yí dòng zhī fù)
- Mobile payment. 扫码 to scan a QR code; 二维码 QR code. A strong, specific example of everyday technology in China.
- 人工智能 (rén gōng zhì néng)
- Artificial intelligence, often shortened to AI. High-frequency essay topic.
- 电子商务 (diàn zǐ shāng wù)
- E-commerce. 淘宝 Taobao and 双十一 the November 11 shopping festival are usable specifics.
- 社交媒体 (shè jiāo méi tǐ)
- Social media. 发朋友圈 to post to WeChat Moments; 点赞 to like a post.
- 信息 (xìn xī)
- Information. 信息技术 information technology; 信息安全 information security.
- 隐私 (yǐn sī)
- Privacy. 保护隐私 to protect privacy — useful for balanced technology essays.
- 高铁 (gāo tiě)
- High-speed rail. China's network is the world's largest and is one of the easiest concrete examples for a development question.
- 环保技术 (huán bǎo jì shù)
- Environmental technology. 新能源 new energy; 电动汽车 electric vehicle; 太阳能 solar power.
- 优点 / 缺点 (yōu diǎn / quē diǎn)
- Advantages / disadvantages. The backbone of any balanced essay: 优点是⋯⋯，缺点是⋯⋯
- 带来 / 造成 (dài lái / zào chéng)
- 带来 brings (neutral or positive); 造成 causes (negative results). 造成污染 but 带来方便.
- 结果补语 (result complements)
- Verb + result: 看见 see, 听懂 understand by listening, 找到 find, 学会 learn successfully, 做完 finish doing. The complement, not the verb, states whether the action succeeded.
- 可能补语 (potential complements)
- V + 得/不 + complement: 看得懂 / 看不懂, 买得起 / 买不起. Negative potentials are far more common in speech than positive ones.
- 趋向补语 (directional complements)
- 上来, 下去, 进来, 出去, 回来, 起来. 说起来容易 — easy to say. 起来 also marks the start of a state: 天气热起来了.
- 连⋯⋯都/也⋯⋯ (lián … dōu/yě)
- Even. 连小孩都会用手机。Emphatic and easy to deploy in a speaking response.
- 既⋯⋯又⋯⋯ (jì … yòu)
- Both … and. 这个软件既方便又便宜。Both halves must be the same part of speech.
- 一⋯⋯就⋯⋯ in cause chains
- As soon as; also expresses reliable consequence: 一上网就忘了时间。
- 总之 / 总的来说 (zǒng zhī / zǒng de lái shuō)
- In short / on the whole. Standard essay-closing connectives that read as more mature than 最后.
What examiners penalize here
- On the exam, a well-placed 被 sentence can raise your register when reporting technology news: 新技术被广泛使用 (Xīn jìshù bèi guǎngfàn shǐyòng, “the new technology is widely used”). Just make sure the verb carries a complement or 了 so the passive feels complete.
- For the cultural presentation, connect an ancient invention to its global impact: 印刷术让知识传播得更快 (Yìnshuāshù ràng zhīshi chuánbō de gèng kuài, “printing let knowledge spread faster”). Linking Chinese technology to world history earns strong cultural-comparison marks.
Practice Chinese Lang
Our practice bank is drawn from across the whole course rather than filtered to one unit, which is closer to how the exam asks anyway — it will not tell you which unit a question is testing.
Questions about this unit
How much of the AP Chinese Language & Culture exam is Unit 4?
The Chinese Lang course framework does not publish a per-unit weighting, so there is no percentage to quote for Unit 4 and anyone who gives you one is guessing. Spread your time by where your own errors are instead.
What topics are covered in Chinese Lang Unit 4?
Science & Technology covers Innovation, Health, Media and Environment. We publish 23 terms with definitions for this unit, all of them on this page.
How should I study Chinese Lang Unit 4?
Read the 2 lessons below first — about 25 minutes — then drill the 23 terms in cram mode until you can produce each definition from memory rather than just recognize it. Recognition is what makes a unit feel finished when it is not. Finish with practice questions and read the explanation for every one you get right by elimination as well as the ones you miss.
All 6 units of AP Chinese Language & Culture
Unit names, topics and exam weights follow the published College Board course framework for AP Chinese Language & Culture. AP® is a trademark registered by the College Board, which does not endorse this site.