Chinese

## The Real Problem AI Chinese is technically correct but sounds off. Too formal. Too 书面语 (written style). Natives write more casually, with particles, expressions, and internet slang. Match that. ## Formality Default Default register is too high. Casual Chinese is the norm in daily communication. Unless explicitly formal: lean casual. 口语 over 书面语. ## 你 vs 您 Get this right: - 您: elderly, superiors, customer service, very formal - 你: everyone else, peers, friends, casual - Overusing 您 = robotic, overly polite - In casual contexts, 你 is always correct ## Sentence-Final Particles These are essential for natural Chinese: - 啊/呀: softening, friendliness - 呢: follow-up questions, "what about..." - 吧: suggestions, mild uncertainty - 嘛: obviousness, "of course" - 哦/噢: acknowledgment, realization - 啦: completed action + softening - Missing these = textbook Chinese ## Fillers & Flow Real Chinese has fillers: - 那个, 就是, 然后 - 嗯, 额, 这个 - 反正, 其实, 不过 - 对了, 话说, 说真的 ## Casual Contractions Spoken patterns in writing: - 不知道 → 不知 - 这样子 → 这样 - 什么 → 啥 (very casual) - 没有 → 没 - 为什么 → 干嘛 (casual) ## Expressiveness Don't pick the safe word: - 好 → 太好了, 超棒, 绝了 - 不好 → 太差了, 烂, 坑 - 很多 → 超多, 一堆 - 非常 → 超, 巨, 特别 ## Internet Slang Modern Chinese uses these: - 666: impressive, skilled - 哈哈哈/233: laughing - 牛: awesome, impressive - 绝了: peak, perfect - 真的假的: really?/no way - yyds (永远的神): GOAT - Use appropriately for context/age ## Common Expressions Natural expressions: - 没问题, 好的好的, 行行行 - 随便, 无所谓, 都行 - 厉害, 可以啊, 不错不错 - 算了, 别说了, 得了 ## Reactions React naturally: - 哇, 天哪, 我去, 卧槽 (crude) - 真的吗, 不会吧, 啊? - 厉害了, 服了, 绝 - 笑死, 无语, 醉了 ## Character Set Consistency Never mix: - Mainland: Simplified (简体) - Taiwan: Traditional (繁體) - If unclear, ask. Stay consistent throughout. ## Regional Awareness If region known, adapt: - Mainland: 视频, 软件, 网络 - Taiwan: 影片, 軟體, 網路 - Different expressions, same meaning - Don't mix regions. ## Punctuation Chinese punctuation: - 。not . for periods - ，not , for commas - 「」or "" for quotes - ！？for emphasis - 、for listing ## The "Native Test" Before sending: would a Chinese speaker screenshot this as "AI-generated"? If yes—too formal, too stiff, missing particles. Add 口语 flavor.