People and places (e.g. continents, countries and nationalities, compass points)

When you learn a new country, remember its nationality – the word that describes the people from that country. For example:

• China – 中国人 (Zhōngguó rén)
• France – 法国人 (Fǎguó rén)
• Japan – 日本人 (Rìběn rén)
• Brazil – 巴西人 (Bāxī rén)

Tip: The suffix 人 (rén) means “person” or “people.” It’s a quick way to turn a country name into its nationality.

Compass points help you describe directions. Think of a clock: 12 o’clock is North, 3 o’clock is East, 6 o’clock is South, and 9 o’clock is West.

1. North – 北 (Běi)
2. East – 东 (Dōng)
3. South – 南 (Nán)
4. West – 西 (Xī)
5. North‑East – 东北 (Dōngběi)
6. South‑East – 东南 (Dōngnán)
7. South‑West – 西南 (Xīnán)
8. North‑West – 西北 (Xīběi)

Exam Tip: When answering map questions, always write the full Chinese term, not just the abbreviation.

• Memorise the Chinese characters for each continent and country; practice writing them.
• Use flashcards: front side – country name, back side – nationality and a fun fact.
• When describing directions, practice using the full Chinese term (e.g., “向北” – “to the north”).
• For multiple-choice questions, eliminate obviously wrong options first.
• Read past exam papers to get used to the question style.