Environmental Issues
The core Chinese words for talking about the environment, from environmental issues and global warming to recycling and voluntary work. Recognise the characters, then write about an environmental issue in English.
Practise it out loud, together
A free interactive activity you can put in front of a class in a few minutes.
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Talking about the planet
Chinese is written in characters (Hanzi), and this module gives you the core words to talk about the environment. You will learn the key terms, from 环境问题 (huánjìng wèntí), environmental issues, to 回收 (huíshōu), recycling, then practise recognising them before writing about an environmental issue in English.
Global warming, recycling, volunteering
Learn these terms. Each shows the characters, the pinyin, and the meaning:
Match each word to its meaning
- 环境问题 (huánjìng wèntí)
- 全球变暖 (quánqiú biànnuǎn)
- 回收 (huíshōu)
- 义工 (yìgōng)
- environmental issues
- global warming
- recycling
- voluntary work
What huíshōu means in Chinese
What does the Chinese word 回收 (huíshōu) mean in English?
- Recycling
- Global warming
- Environmental issues
- Voluntary work
A word for the exam
全球变暖 (quánqiú biànnuǎn), global warming, is one of the biggest environmental issues, and on this course it is Higher-tier vocabulary. It is worth learning even at Foundation, because you can then recognise it in reading and listening. The characters combine the idea of the whole globe with getting warmer.
Which are about the environment?
Select the TWO Chinese words that are about the environment.
- 回收 (huíshōu)
- 全球变暖 (quánqiú biànnuǎn)
- 书 (shū)
- 票 (piào)
Problems and actions
Some words name environmental problems; others name what we can do to help.
Environment words in Chinese
The Chinese phrase for environmental issues is _____. The problem of the planet heating up is _____. Sorting waste so it can be used again is _____. Helping your community without pay is _____. Doing all of this protects the _____.
Spot the environment words
Tap the TWO Chinese words that are about the environment.
- 回收 (huíshōu)
- 书 (shū)
- 全球变暖 (quánqiú biànnuǎn)
- 票 (piào)
- 火车 (huǒchē)
Choose the right word
Which Chinese word means 'recycling'?
- 回收 (huíshōu)
- 全球变暖 (quánqiú biànnuǎn)
- 环境问题 (huánjìng wèntí)
- 书 (shū)
Writing about the environment
You can now recognise the key words. In the exam you might write about an environmental issue, and you can weave these terms in. A strong answer names a problem (such as 全球变暖, global warming) and a solution (such as 回收, recycling, or being an 义工, a volunteer).
Help the environment
Three ways to help the environment. Choose the best action each time.
- You want to help with 回收 (recycling) at home. What should you do?
- 全球变暖 (global warming) is made worse by which of these?
- You want to be an 义工 (volunteer) for the environment. What fits?
Write about an issue, in Chinese
Name the issue and an action IN CHINESE, then add ONE sentence in English saying why it matters. Write the Chinese in characters - the pinyin in brackets is a reading aid only.
- Name the issue: 环境问题 (huánjìng wèntí - environmental issues) or 全球变暖 (quánqiú biànnuǎn - global warming)
- Name an action: 回收 (huíshōu - recycling) or 义工 (yìgōng - voluntary work)
- Join two of them with 和 (hé - and): 回收和义工 (huíshōu hé yìgōng)
- Then, in English only, say why this issue matters