🍂 Let’s Describe the World Around Us

Children are naturally observant and constantly noticing things: What is big or small, fast or slow, smooth or rough, and which things they like best.

This September, we’ll turn those everyday observations into Mandarin through four simple games that encourage children to describe, compare and explain what they see.

For younger children, that might mean using one describing word. For older children, we’ll go a step further by combining descriptions, making comparisons and explaining opinions.

We’ll use the world around us for Mandarin inspiration.

---

👀 I Spy Something!

Children are natural observers, so turn that curiosity into a simple Mandarin game as you take a walk around the house or neighbourhood, taking turns to describe something.

👶 EARLY Mandarin (Age 0-5)

Introduce a few simple describing words:

• 大 (dà) — Big

• 小 (xiǎo) — Small

• 长 (cháng) — Long

• 短 (duǎn) — Short

• 圆 (yuán) — Round

You can point to objects and model:

• 好大！(hǎo dà!) — So big!

• 小球。(xiǎo qiú.) — Small ball.

• 长长的。(chángcháng de.) — Long.

• 圆圆的。(yuányuán de.) — Round.

At this age, there’s no need to ask your child to repeat every word. Let them listen, and they will say it when they’re ready.

🧒 Mandarin EXPLORER (Age 6-12)

Older children can begin combining descriptions and using more precise vocabulary:

• 特别 (tè bié) — Special / unusual

• 小巧 (xiǎo qiǎo) — Small and delicate

• 漂亮 (piào liang) — Pretty / beautiful

• 有趣 (yǒu qù) — Interesting

• 又……又…… (yòu... yòu…) — Both... and...

Sample sentences:

• 这棵树又高又大。(zhè kē shù yòu gāo yòu dà.) — This tree is tall and big.

• 这个东西很特别。(zhège dōngxi hěn tèbié.) — This thing is very unusual.

• 这个盒子又小巧又漂亮。(zhège hézi yòu xiǎoqiǎo yòu piàoliang.) —This box is small, compact and pretty.

• 这个游戏很有趣。(zhège yóuxì hěn yǒuqù.) — This game is very interesting.

🎲 Game: Mandarin I Spy

Choose an object and describe it without saying its name.

For younger children, keep the clues simple:

• 圆圆的。(yuányuán de.) —It’s round.

• 小小的。(xiǎoxiǎo de.) — It’s small.

For older children, give two or three clues:

• 它又小又特别。(tā yòu xiǎo yòu tèbié.) — It’s small and unusual.

• 它很漂亮，而且是圆的。(tā hěn piàliang, érqiě shì yuán de.) — It’s round and pretty.

Then ask:

• 你猜是什么？(nǐ cāi shì shénme?) — Guess what it is?

---

Like what you're seeing so far?

Book A TRIAL Class Here

---

⚖️ Which One Is More...?

Children love comparing things.

Which tower is taller? Which book is heavier? Which toy moves faster?

Everyday comparisons give children a natural reason to use Mandarin.

👶 EARLY Mandarin (Age 0-5)

Start with simple describing words:

• 快 (kuài) — Fast

• 慢 (màn) — Slow

• 高 (gāo) — Tall / high

Try saying:

• 好快！(hǎo kuài!) — So fast!

• 慢一点。(màn yīdiǎnr) — A little slower.

• 好高！(hǎo gāo!) — So tall!

🧒 Mandarin EXPLORER (Age 6-12)

Older children can practise more precise comparison language:

• 比较 (bǐjiào) — Relatively / quite

• 更 (gèng) — Even more / ‘er

• 最 (zuì) — Most / -est

Sample sentences :

• 这双鞋比较大。(zhè shuāng xié bǐjiào dà.) — These shoes are quite big.

• 这双鞋更大。(zhè shuāng xié gèng dà.) — These shoes are even bigger.

• 这双鞋最大。(zhè shuāng xié zuì dà.) — These shoes are the biggest.

🎲 Weekly Game: Bigger, Faster, Taller!

Find two things around the house and compare them. You could compare two books, toys, cups, blocks or shoes.

For younger children, ask:

• 哪个大？(nǎ ge dà?) — Which one is big?

  
  

• 哪个比较大？(nǎ ge bǐjiào dà?) — Which one is bigger?

For older children, encourage a full comparison:

• 这本书比较厚。(zhè běn shū bǐjiào hòu.) — This book is quite thick.

• 这本书更厚。(zhè běn shū gèng hòu.) — This book is even thicker.

Then ask:

• 带哪本书？(dài nǎ běn shū?) — Which book should we bring?

---

🌿 Nature Detectives

September is Spring time. A wonderful time to take your Mandarin outdoors.

Your garden, local park or even the walk to school can become a mini language adventure.

👶 EARLY Mandarin (Age 0-5)

Introduce:

• 叶子 (yè zi) — Leaf

• 石头 (shí tou) — Stone / rock

• 树枝 (shù zhī) — Tree branch

• 软 (ruǎn) — Soft

• 硬 (yìng) — Hard

Try:

• 软软的。(ruǎnruǎn de.) — It’s soft.

• 硬硬的。(yìngyìng de.) — It’s hard.

• 大石头。(dà shí tou.) — Big rock.

🧒 Mandarin EXPLORER (Age 6-12)

Older children can explore more detailed sensory language:

• 光滑 (guāng huá) — Smooth

• 粗糙 (cū cāo) — Rough

• 湿润 (shī rùn) — Damp / moist

• 干燥 (gān zào) — Dry

• 摸起来 (mō qǐ lái) — Feels to the touch

You can also introduce:

• 摸起来 … (mō qǐlái) … — Feels …

Sample sentences:

• 摸起来很光滑。(mō qǐlái hěn guānghuá.) — It feels very smooth.

• 摸起来比较粗糙。(mō qǐlái bǐjiào cūcāo.) — It feels quite rough.

• 摸起来像冰块。(mō qǐlái xiàng bīngkuài.) — It feels like ice.

• 这根树枝很干燥。(zhè gēn shùzhī hěn gān zào.) — This branch is very dry.

• 这朵花闻起来很香。(zhè duǒ huā wén qǐlái hěn xiāng.) — This flower smells lovely.

🎲 Weekly Game: Nature Detective Hunt

Head outside and challenge your child to find something that matches a description.

For younger children:

• 找个圆的。(zhǎo ge yuán de.) — Find something round.

• 找个软的。(zhǎo ge ruǎn de.) — Find something soft.

For older children:

• 找个摸起来粗糙的东西。(zhǎo ge mō qǐlái cūcāo de dōngxi.) — Find something that feels rough.

• 找个闻起来很香的东西。(zhǎo ge wén qǐlái hěn xiāng de dōngxi.) — Find something that smells nice.

Then ask:

• 你觉得它为什么闻起来这么香？(nǐ juéde tā wèishénme wén qǐlái zhème xiāng?) — Why do you think it smells so nice?

Let your child become the detective too and give clues for you to solve.

---

📘 Want all the Mandarin Bee phrases in one place?

If your child is enjoying these games, we’ve created a free Mandarin Bee Mandarin Moments at Mealtime guide to support your child's learning. Inside, you’ll find:

• The key phrases shared in the blog post

• Extra everyday vocabulary to build confidence naturally

• Mandarin + pinyin + English for every phrase

• Simple options for younger (0–5) and older (6–12) children

  
  

👉 Click Here to Download the Free Mandarin Bee Phrase Guide

---

💭 What Do You Think?

Now that children have practised describing and comparing things, let’s encourage them to share their own opinions.

For younger children, this can be as simple as saying what they like. Older children can begin explaining why.

👶 EARLY Mandarin (Age 0-5)

Keep your phrases short:

• 喜欢 (xǐ huān) — Like

• 不喜欢 (bù xǐ huān) — Don’t like

• 漂亮 (piào liang) — Pretty

• 有趣 (yǒu qù) — Interesting

• 好玩 (hǎo wán) — Fun

Sample sentences:

• 我喜欢。(wǒ xǐhuān.) — I like it.

• 我不喜欢。(wǒ bù xǐhuān.) — I don’t like it.

• 好漂亮！(hǎo piàoliang!) — So pretty!

• 很好玩！(hěn hǎo wán!) — It’s really fun!

🧒 Mandarin EXPLORER (Age 6-12)

Older children can practise giving opinions and reasons:

• 我认为…… (wǒ rènwéi…) — I think / I believe...

• 对我来说…… (duì wǒ lái shuō…) — For me...

• 我更喜欢…… (wǒ gèng xǐhuān…) — I prefer...

• 主要是因为…… (zhǔ yào shì yīnwèi…) — This is because...

• 如果可以选择，我会…… (rúguǒ kěyǐ xuǎnzé, wǒ huì…) — If I could choose, I would...

Sample sentences:

• 我更喜欢这个，因为它更有趣。(wǒ gèng xǐhuan zhè gè, yīnwèi tā gèng yǒu qù.) — I prefer this one because it’s more interesting.

• 对我来说，这个比较容易。(duì wǒ láishuō, zhège bǐjiào róngyì.) — For me, this is easier.

• 如果可以选择，我会选这个。(rúguǒ kěyǐ xuǎnzé, wǒ huì xuǎn zhège.) — If I could choose, I would pick this one.

• 我认为这个办法比较好。(wǒ rènwéi zhège bànfǎ bǐjiào hǎo.) — I think this way/method is better.

🎲 Weekly Game: This or That?

Give your child two choices and ask them to choose. You could compare two books, snacks, toys, drawings or activities.

For younger children:

• 你喜欢哪个？(nǐ xǐhuān nǎge?) — Which one do you like?

• 这个还是那个？(zhège háishì nàge?) — This or that one?

For older children, ask:

• 你为什么选这个？(nǐ wèishénme xuǎn zhège?) — Why did you choose this one?

They can answer with:

• 我更喜欢这个，主要是因为… (wǒ gèng xǐhuān zhège, zhǔyào shì yīnwèi...) — I prefer this one mainly because...

• 如果可以选择，我会选… (rúguǒ kěyǐ xuǎnzé, wǒ huì xuǎn..) — If I could choose, I would choose...

Even if the rest of the answer comes out in English, they’re still learning how Mandarin can help them express their own ideas.

---

💛 Ready to start your Child’s Mandarin Journey? Register for our TRIAL Class

If you’d like Mandarin to become part of your child’s weekly routine, register for a TRIAL Class today!

The programs we offer:

EARLY Mandarin (For Age 0–5)  

• Mitcham  

• Templestowe  

  
  

Mandarin EXPLORER (For Age 6–12)  

• Mitcham  

• Templestowe  

  
  

👉 Book a TRIAL Class for Term 4

📍 Mitcham & Templestowe

Designed for:

• Busy families

• Families where Mandarin is not their first language  

• Children to learn through play, routine, and confidence

Featuring:

✨ Small groups

✨ Supportive teachers

✨ No Mandarin background needed

📲 Stay Connected With Us

For simple tips, classroom moments, and updates on programs and workshops, follow us on social media: Instagram & Facebook  

We share:

• Easy Mandarin phrases for home use

• Behind-the-scenes learning moments

• Programme updates and reminders

---

🍂 A Final Note For September

This month, we’re moving from “What is it?” to “What do you think about it?”.

Through these simple games, children can practise describing, experiencing, comparing and explaining the world around them.

A walk outside can become a language adventure. Two toys can become a comparison. And a simple choice can become a chance to share an opinion.

Little by little, Mandarin becomes another way to describe the world, and their place in it.

👉 Click Here to Download the Free Mandarin Bee Phrase Guide