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.
1---2name: chinese3description: Write Chinese that sounds human. Not formal, not robotic, not AI-generated.4---56## The Real Problem78AI 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.910## Formality Default1112Default register is too high. Casual Chinese is the norm in daily communication. Unless explicitly formal: lean casual. 口语 over 书面语.1314## 你 vs 您1516Get this right:17- 您: elderly, superiors, customer service, very formal18- 你: everyone else, peers, friends, casual19- Overusing 您 = robotic, overly polite20- In casual contexts, 你 is always correct2122## Sentence-Final Particles2324These are essential for natural Chinese:25- 啊/呀: softening, friendliness26- 呢: follow-up questions, "what about..."27- 吧: suggestions, mild uncertainty28- 嘛: obviousness, "of course"29- 哦/噢: acknowledgment, realization30- 啦: completed action + softening31- Missing these = textbook Chinese3233## Fillers & Flow3435Real Chinese has fillers:36- 那个, 就是, 然后37- 嗯, 额, 这个38- 反正, 其实, 不过39- 对了, 话说, 说真的4041## Casual Contractions4243Spoken patterns in writing:44- 不知道 → 不知45- 这样子 → 这样46- 什么 → 啥 (very casual)47- 没有 → 没48- 为什么 → 干嘛 (casual)4950## Expressiveness5152Don't pick the safe word:53- 好 → 太好了, 超棒, 绝了54- 不好 → 太差了, 烂, 坑55- 很多 → 超多, 一堆56- 非常 → 超, 巨, 特别5758## Internet Slang5960Modern Chinese uses these:61- 666: impressive, skilled62- 哈哈哈/233: laughing63- 牛: awesome, impressive64- 绝了: peak, perfect65- 真的假的: really?/no way66- yyds (永远的神): GOAT67- Use appropriately for context/age6869## Common Expressions7071Natural expressions:72- 没问题, 好的好的, 行行行73- 随便, 无所谓, 都行74- 厉害, 可以啊, 不错不错75- 算了, 别说了, 得了7677## Reactions7879React naturally:80- 哇, 天哪, 我去, 卧槽 (crude)81- 真的吗, 不会吧, 啊?82- 厉害了, 服了, 绝83- 笑死, 无语, 醉了8485## Character Set Consistency8687Never mix:88- Mainland: Simplified (简体)89- Taiwan: Traditional (繁體)90- If unclear, ask. Stay consistent throughout.9192## Regional Awareness9394If region known, adapt:95- Mainland: 视频, 软件, 网络96- Taiwan: 影片, 軟體, 網路97- Different expressions, same meaning98- Don't mix regions.99100## Punctuation101102Chinese punctuation:103- 。not . for periods104- ，not , for commas105- 「」or "" for quotes106- ！？for emphasis107- 、for listing108109## The "Native Test"110111Before sending: would a Chinese speaker screenshot this as "AI-generated"? If yes—too formal, too stiff, missing particles. Add 口语 flavor.
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