In the last few days of 2020, are you busy writing the summary for this year? In addition to closing the past year, what is your new year resolution(新年决心 xīnnián juéxīn) for 2021? Do you know how to express it in Mandarin? If you have no idea about your plan, hope this article can inspire you.
My new year’s resolutions are…
To some people, New Year’s resolution is tradition, in which a person decides to change an undesired habit or to improve life. It could be as big as finding one’s partner, or as small as reading 20 books a year…etc.
Wǒ jīnnián de jìhuà shì duō cúnqián。
我今年的计划是多存钱。
My resolution for this year is to save more money.
Xīnnián lǐ，wǒyào jièyān shǎo hējiǔ。
新年里，我要戒烟少喝酒。
In new year, I want to quit smoking and drink less.
Wǒ juédìng zài 2021nián yào shòu 10jīn，liànchū liùkuài fùjī！
我决定在2021年要瘦10斤，练出六块腹肌！
I decide to lose 5kg and get six pack in 2021!
Plant your “new year’s flag”
Talking about setting goals for new year, the online buzzword may come to your mind, “立Flag”. Literally, it means “to plant/set up a flag”, referring to “to say something exciting like building a target to achieve”.
Niánchū lì de flag dōu shíxiàn le ma？
年初立的flag都实现了吗 ？
Have you reached all your goals set in the beginning of this year?
The usage of this “flag” is actually derived from game programming. “Flag” is the judgment basis, or coding to trigger the key event of an ending. In its extending meaning, “立Flag” usually means “you pave the way for what will happen next”. In most cases, what will happen is something we do not expect…
The status quo of many modern young people’s “立Flag” is:
2020nián de mùbiāo，jiùshì wánchéng 2019nián shuōhǎo de、2018nián méi zuòdào de、2017nián lìxià de flag。
2020年的目标，就是完成2019年说好的、2018年没做到的、2017年立下的flag。
The New year resolution of 2020 is to complete the flag that is said to be done in 2019, which is not done in 2018 and set in 2017.
Make your New Year resolutions SMART
People come to conclusion that the more “flags” you set in the beginning of the year, the stronger reality will take a swing at your face(打脸 dǎliǎn). Quite vivid, isn’t it?
Another popular saying is that when adults suddenly make up their mind to change lives, they will start to do two things: keeping fit(健身 jiànshēn) & pick up a foreign language(学外语 xué wàiyǔ) again (Yes, again).
Making New Year resolutions is a great thing to do. However, to avoid the reality smacking your face again, you need to face up to yourself before setting up any “flags” no matter how big your goal is. Make it SMART!
Take learning Mandarin as an example. Instead of “I will learn to speak Chinese in 2021.”, your goals could be:
Měitiān bèi 10gè hànyǔ dāncí。
每天背10个汉语单词。
Recite 10 Chinese words every day.
Měizhōu hé shuō zhōngwén de péngyǒu liànxí 1gè xiǎoshí kǒuyǔ。
每周和说中文的朋友练习1个小时口语。
Practice talking with friend who speaks Chinese for one hour every week.
Měiyuè kàn yíbù zhōngwén diànyǐng。
每月看一部中文电影。
Watch a Chinese movie every month.
Remember Chinese is a systematic language. Personal effort and persistence in study is of course important, but taking a regular mandarin class is essential. Teacher’s guidance and interation will help you to consolidate knowledge on what you have been learning. If you are interested, scan QR code to know more about Mandarin Inn’s winter online course.
