---
title: "How to Write a Chinese Essay: Structure, Phrases, Topics and Model Essays"
description: "How a Chinese essay is built, opening, body and ending, with three model essays from HSK 2 to HSK 4 and every useful line in pinyin and English with sound: openings, linking words, describing and endings, plus 14 topics."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-essay-writing"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

Free · 22 lines · 3 essays

# Writing an essay in Chinese

Three model essays, and the lines for each part with pinyin and sound.

A first essay · HSK 2–3 · 144 characters

我的周末

上个周末，我过得很开心。

星期六上午，我和朋友一起去公园跑步。那天的天气特别好，公园里有很多人。跑完步以后，我们去吃了饺子。下午我在家看了一部中国电影，虽然有的地方听不懂，但是很有意思。

星期天，我先打扫了房间，然后给妈妈打了电话。晚上我复习了这个星期学的汉字。

这真是一个快乐的周末！

Describing a place · HSK 3–4 · 146 characters

我的家乡

我的家乡是一个美丽的小城市，离海很近。

我的家乡一年四季都很漂亮。春天，到处都是花；夏天，很多人去海边游泳；秋天，树叶变成了红色和黄色；冬天虽然冷，但是很少下雪。

我的家乡还有很多好吃的东西，比如海鲜和面条。每次回家，妈妈都会给我做我最喜欢的菜。

总之，我很爱我的家乡。欢迎你来我的家乡玩！

Giving reasons · HSK 4 · 174 characters

为什么要学中文

现在，越来越多的人开始学中文。我认为学中文有很多好处。

首先，说中文的人是世界上最多的。会说中文，可以和更多的人交流。其次，学中文可以帮助我们了解中国的文化，比如书法、节日和美食。最后，会中文对找工作也有帮助。

当然，学中文并不容易，特别是声调和汉字。但是我相信，只要每天坚持听、说、读、写，就一定能学好。

总之，学中文虽然难，但是很值得。

[Print as flashcards](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-flashcards?level=mine&words=%E9%A6%96%E5%85%88%20%E5%85%B6%E6%AC%A1%20%E6%9C%80%E5%90%8E%20%E6%80%BB%E4%B9%8B%20%E8%99%BD%E7%84%B6%20%E4%BD%86%E6%98%AF%20%E4%B8%8D%E4%BD%86%20%E8%80%8C%E4%B8%94%20%E6%AF%94%E5%A6%82%20%E9%9A%8F%E7%9D%80%20%E5%9D%9A%E6%8C%81%20%E9%9A%BE%E5%BF%98%20%E9%81%93%E7%90%86%20%E6%98%8E%E7%99%BD%20%E7%9B%B8%E4%BF%A1%20%E5%B8%8C%E6%9C%9B%20%E5%AE%B6%E4%B9%A1%20%E7%88%B1%E5%A5%BD)

Speed

## Opening lines · 开头

měi每gè个rén人dōu都yǒu有zìjǐ自己de的àihào爱好，wǒ我de的àihào爱好shì是kànshū看书。

Everyone has a hobby of their own, and mine is reading.

shuōqǐ说起wǒ我de的jiāxiāng家乡，wǒ我yǒu有hěn很duō多huà话xiǎng想shuō说。

When it comes to my hometown, I have a lot to say.

wǒ我yǒngyuǎn永远bùhuì不会wàngjì忘记nà那yītiān一天。

I will never forget that day.

nǐ你zhīdào知道wǒ我zuìhǎo最好de的péngyou朋友shì是shéi谁ma吗？

Do you know who my best friend is?

suízhe随着kējì科技de的fāzhǎn发展，shǒujī手机yuèláiyuè越来越zhòngyào重要le了。

As technology develops, phones matter more and more.

## Linking ideas · 连接

shǒuxiān首先，wǒmen我们yào要duō多tīng听duō多shuō说。

First, we need to listen and speak a lot.

qícì其次，měitiān每天dōu都yào要jiānchí坚持liànxí练习。

Second, we need to keep practising every day.

zuìhòu最后，bùyào不要pà怕shuō说cuò错。

Finally, don’t be afraid of getting it wrong.

suīrán虽然Zhōngwén中文hěn很nán难，dànshì但是hěn很yǒuyìsi有意思。

Although Chinese is hard, it is interesting.

tā他bùdàn不但huì会shuō说Zhōngwén中文，érqiě而且huì会xiě写hànzì汉字。

He can not only speak Chinese but also write characters.

yīnwèi因为xiàyǔ下雨，suǒyǐ所以wǒmen我们méi没qù去gōngyuán公园。

Because it rained, we didn’t go to the park.

wǒ我xǐhuan喜欢yùndòng运动，bǐrú比如pǎobù跑步hé和yóuyǒng游泳。

I like sport, for example running and swimming.

## Describing and feelings · 描写

nàtiān那天de的tiānqì天气tèbié特别hǎo好，yángguāng阳光hěn很wēnnuǎn温暖。

The weather was especially good that day, and the sun was warm.

wǒ我gāoxìng高兴de得tiào跳le了qǐlai起来。

I was so happy I jumped up.

wǒ我de的xīnlǐ心里xiàng像chī吃le了mì蜜yīyàng一样tián甜。

I felt as sweet inside as if I had eaten honey.

tā她zhǎng长zhe着yīshuāng一双dàdà大大de的yǎnjing眼睛。

She has big, big eyes.

wǒ我jǐnzhāng紧张de得shuōbuchū说不出huà话lái来。

I was so nervous I couldn’t speak.

## Endings · 结尾

zǒngzhī总之，wǒ我hěn很ài爱wǒ我de的jiāxiāng家乡。

In short, I love my hometown.

zhè这jiàn件shì事ràng让wǒ我míngbai明白le了yī一gè个dàolǐ道理。

This taught me a lesson.

zhè这zhēnshi真是nánwàng难忘de的yītiān一天！

What an unforgettable day!

wǒ我xīwàng希望yǐhòu以后néng能qù去Zhōngguó中国kànkan看看。

I hope to go and see China one day.

wǒ我xiāngxìn相信，zhǐyào只要nǔlì努力，jiù就yīdìng一定néng能xuéhǎo学好Zhōngwén中文。

I believe that if I work hard, I will learn Chinese well.

## Essay topics · 题目

- 我的家庭 My family
- 我的爱好 My hobby
- 我的周末 My weekend
- 我的家乡 My hometown
- 我最好的朋友 My best friend
- 我的老师 My teacher
- 难忘的一天 An unforgettable day
- 一次旅行 A trip
- 我最喜欢的季节 My favourite season
- 我的理想 My dream for the future
- 我的学校生活 My school life
- 为什么要学中文 Why learn Chinese
- 手机的好处和坏处 Phones: good and bad
- 保护环境 Protecting the environment

## How is a Chinese essay structured?

In three parts: 开头 (kāitóu), an opening of one or two sentences that says what the essay is about; 中间, the body, a paragraph for each point or each part of the story; and 结尾 (jiéwěi), a short ending that sums up with 总之 or says what you learned or hope. The title is centred on the first line, and each paragraph starts two characters in.

## How long is a Chinese essay?

Counted in characters, punctuation included. A first essay is often 100 to 200 characters; school essays in China are often 400 to 800, and the gaokao, China’s university entrance exam, asks for at least 800. The count is shown under each essay here.

## How do I make my Chinese essay better?

Join your sentences with 首先, 其次, 最后, 虽然……但是 and 不但……而且; give an example with 比如; describe with a result, like 高兴得跳了起来, instead of just 很高兴; and end by saying what you learned. Write it on composition paper to see its length and layout.

## What should I write about?

Start with what you know: your family, your hobby, your weekend, your hometown or a trip. For an essay that argues, give two or three reasons with 首先, 其次 and 最后, say the other side with 当然, and sum up with 总之.

## More free tools

- [Composition paper with a character count](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-writing-paper?paper=essay)
- [Letters and emails in Chinese](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-letter-writing)
- [Chinese sentence structure](https://mandarinthewild.com/guides/chinese-sentence-structure)
- [Chinese punctuation](https://mandarinthewild.com/chinese-punctuation)

Essays, lines and English ours; pinyin from our own reader.