The topic of electric vehicles (EVs) has been a hot issue globally, especially in the context of international trade. A recent article from the Chinese Wall Street website sheds light on the European Union’s decision to impose tariffs on Chinese EVs, and the responses from major German automakers like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volkswagen.

In one of my previous articles (How can I learn to enjoy reading and writing in Chinese? – Linguistics and Law (jenniferbaccanello.com)) I discussed how reading high-quality news articles in Chinese can assist with your acquisition of natural sentence structures and industry-specific vocabulary. In this article, I set out five simple steps that can be followed to help you on your language learning journey.

Step 1: Read the article

The article on EVs that I have chosen to study for this blog post can be found here: ?????????????????????????? – ????? (wallstreetcn.com)

Read through it several times, highlighting unknown vocabulary and sentence structures that you find difficult to understand.

Step 2: List out the key vocabulary and sentence structures

Key vocabulary

1. ???? (diàndòng qìch?) – Electric Vehicle
2. ???? (ji?zh?ng gu?nshuì) – Impose Tariffs
3. ???? (b?ohù zh?yì) – Protectionism
4. ???? (zìyóu màoyì) – Free Trade
5. ???? (g?ngpíng jìngzh?ng) – Fair Competition
6. ????? (f?nb?ti? diàochá) – Anti-Subsidy Investigation
7. ???? (fùmiàn y?ngxi?ng) – Negative Impact
8. ???? (liánsu? f?nyìng) – Chain Reaction
9. ????? (quánqiú jìngzh?ng lì) – Global Competitiveness
10. ???? (màoyì tánpàn) – Trade Negotiations

Key sentence structures

Conditional Sentences:

• ??????????????????????
  (If the trend of protectionism is allowed to rise, it will lead to negative consequences.)
• ???????????????????
  (If no action is taken, these problems will continue to worsen.)

Comparative Sentences:

• ????????????????????
  (The EU imposing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles is more harmful than beneficial.)
• ???????????????????????
  (Raising import tariffs may trigger a series of serious measures and countermeasures.)

Declarative Sentences with Clear Stance:

• ????-????????????????????
  (Mercedes-Benz has always supported free trade based on WTO rules.)
• ????????????????
  (The BMW Group firmly supports free trade.)

Emphasizing Consequences:

• ????????????????????????
  (Free trade and fair competition will bring prosperity, growth, and innovation to all parties.)
• ????????????????
  (Imposing tariffs will hinder the development of European car companies.)

Call to Action:

• ?????????????????????
  (Volkswagen calls on the EU Commission to negotiate with China.)
• ????????????????????
  (We hope that all parties can find a fair solution.)

Step 3: Summarise the main meaning of the article

For example: The EU is planning to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, which has sparked reactions from major German car manufacturers. Mercedes-Benz warns of negative consequences due to rising protectionism, Volkswagen argues that the EU’s decision is more harmful than beneficial, and BMW believes the EU has made a wrong decision. These automakers emphasize the importance of free trade and fair competition for innovation and growth.

Try to express the above meaning in your own words in Chinese. You can practice this both aloud and in writing.

Step 4: Reflect on the style of the article

The article uses a formal and factual style, typical of news reporting. It presents the information in a structured manner, with clear statements from the involved parties. The language is precise and neutral, aimed at providing readers with a comprehensive overview of the situation without bias.

Step 5: Reflect on the tone of the article

The tone is informative and objective. It aims to report on the events and statements accurately, allowing the readers to form their own opinions based on the facts presented. The article avoids emotive language, focusing instead on the implications of the EU’s decision and the responses from the automakers.

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By studying the vocabulary, sentence structures, and the style and tone of the article, learners can enhance their comprehension and appreciation of contemporary Chinese journalism and global economic issues.