Informal and Formal Register 口语和书面语
Informal and Formal Register 口语和书面语
As learners become more advanced, they are expected to know when they expected to use 口语 (the informal register) and when it is important to use 书面语 (the formal register). 书面语 is used in written materials, as well as in public and professional oral communications or presentations. Expressions in 书面语 often have origins in classical Chinese (古文/文言文), so they are considerably different from expressions used in informal communication. Native speakers of Chinese pay attention to their word choice and switch between formal (news, professional setting) and informal (in daily communication) Chinese according to specific occasions.
Rule 1 To sound more formal and professional, one principle is to select more formal words and expressions. For example, instead of 要 use 将; instead of 进 use 入; and instead of 是 use 为.
More examples here :
英文 口语 书面语 例子
will 要 future time point+将+verb 明年春季将改变计划
enter 进 入+ monosyllabic noun 入门，入会，入内，入冬
monosyllabic verb +入 走入，跑入，挤入
is/are 是 nominal subject+为+ nominal object/sentence 今年就业人数为230万
主要原因为饮食习惯不健康
in/at 在 于 place/time + verb 北京大学于1898年创建
verb 于 + place/time 位于东北部，生于90年代
from 从 Verb 于 + place/noun 毕业于北京大学
and 跟/和 A 与 B 饮食与交通; 原因与结果
this 这(个) 此 + monosyllabic noun 此人，此地，此景
monosyllabic word+此 因此
whether/if 是不是 是否+adj 问题是否严重
是否+verb/verb phrase 是否有机会参加活动
how to 怎么 如何+disyllabic verb 如何提高中文水平; 如何实现理想
look for a job 找工作 求职 求职信; 求职的过程
hence, thus 因为这个 因此 在大城市生活压力太大、节奏过快。
因此，很多人选择离开北上广，回到小城市。
below, under 不到 以下 18岁以下的学生; 一百元以下产品
the following 下面的 以下 主要有以下三个方面
too 太 过 时间过长,压力过大
this moment 时候 刻 此刻, 每时每刻, 无时无刻
drawback
disadvantage 坏处 弊端 现代化的弊端, 高考制度的弊端
Pros and cons 好坏 利弊 有好有坏 有利有弊
Rule 2 One sign that the formal register is in use is that high-frequency monosyllabic words appear in disyllabic form in formal Chinese. This applies to verbs, nouns, and adjectives.
More examples here :
英文 口语→正式说法
to see, to watch 看→观看
to have, to possess 有→拥有/具有
to invite 请→邀请
river 河→河流
to pursue 追→追求
book 书→书籍
to buy 买→购买
busy 忙→忙碌
to choose 选→选择
to use 用→使用
to sell 卖→出售
to have 有→具有, 拥有
high qulity 质量很好的产品→优质产品
to hold, to conduct 办→举办(活动,毕业典礼)
Rule 3 However, another way to sound formal is to turn disyllabic words into monosyllabic words. The following table shows some of the most common words and phrases that are often abbreviated in 书面语.
More examples here :
英文 口语 书面语 例子
already 已经 已 已婚，已通过考试
not yet 还没有 未 未婚，未成年，未经孩子同意
when ……的时候 ……时 上大学时，生气时，恋爱时
no, doesn’t have 没有 无 无线网，无线电视，无人驾驶
moreover, also 而且/并且 且 她很聪明，且有名师指导
这种方法很复杂，且浪费时间
or 或者 或 小张或小李，同意或反对
should 应该 应 这几句话应改为书面语
now, nowadays 现在 现 现有，现为，现招聘
altogether, total 一共 共 共有，共为，共节省
averagely 平均 均 人均工资，年均收入
without exception 都 均 均为，均有，均可
relatively 比较 较 较多，较长，较难
More examples here :
One example is China-US Relations, is typically not written as 中国美国关系; it is usually written as 中美关系. The context and content make the 国 unnecessary, but it would be incorrect to leave out the 国 if these words did not have another word to “lean on”. For example, 中国文学 cannot be shortened to 中文学, and it can also (for obvious reasons) not be shortened to just 中文. Here are some examples of how this pattern works: 我们学校 can become 我校; 选择职业 can become 择业; 参加比赛 can become 参赛; and 最近几年 can become 近年.
十三岁跟十四岁→十三四岁
初中生跟高中生→初高中生
中端跟高端消费者→中高端消费者
Specific usages in formal Chinese ultimately depend on convention. As you become an advanced learner of Chinese, your primary goal is to develop reading and listening proficiency in the formal register, rather than producing grammatically perfect formal language. As you expose yourself to more native speakers and original materials you will start to notice these patterns.