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.