🇨🇳 Chinese · B2 · Science & Innovation
Scientific discoveries
Vocabulary
- 发现discovery / to discover
- 实验experiment
- 假设hypothesis
- 证据evidence / proof
- 研究成果research findings
- 突破breakthrough
- 论文academic paper / thesis
- 同行评审peer review
- 研究人员researcher
- 数据分析data analysis
Talking About Scientific Discoveries in Chinese
At B2 level, discussing science requires precise vocabulary and specific grammatical constructions that signal academic register.
Key Verb: 证明 vs 发现 vs 验证
- 发现 (fāxiàn) — to discover (something previously unknown): 科学家发现了一种新物质。
- 证明 (zhèngmíng) — to prove, to demonstrate: 实验证明了这一假设。
- 验证 (yànzhèng) — to verify, to validate (a theory or result): 这项研究验证了之前的发现。
Reporting Results: 表明 and 显示
Use 表明 (biǎomíng) and 显示 (xiǎnshì) to introduce findings:
- 数据表明，这种疗法有效。 — The data indicates this treatment is effective.
- 实验结果显示，温度影响了反应速度。 — Experimental results show that temperature affected the reaction rate.
Academic Hedging: 可能 / 有待 / 尚未
Chinese academic writing uses hedging language:
- 可能 (kěnéng) — may, possibly: 这可能表明细胞受到了损伤。
- 有待进一步研究 (yǒudài jìnyī bù yánjiū) — requires further research
- 尚未得出结论 (shàngwèi déchū jiélùn) — no conclusion has been reached yet
Passive-like Structures with 被 and 经
- 这一发现已被学界广泛接受。 — This discovery has been widely accepted by academia.
- 经过多次实验，结果得到了证实。 — After multiple experiments, the result was confirmed.
Useful Academic Patterns
- 基于…的研究 (jīyú…de yánjiū) — research based on…
- 对…进行深入研究 (duì…jìnxíng shēnrù yánjiū) — to conduct in-depth research into…
- 该研究表明 (gāi yánjiū biǎomíng) — this study indicates (该 = formal "this")
Expressions
- 该研究表明新药可有效抑制肿瘤生长Presenting a key finding from a scientific study in formal written Chinese
- 实验结果显示两组之间存在显著差异Reporting statistical differences observed between experimental groups
- 这一假设有待进一步的实验验证Indicating that a hypothesis still requires experimental confirmation
- 基于现有数据，我们尚无法得出结论Expressing academic caution when data is insufficient for conclusions
- 经过同行评审后，该论文正式发表Describing the publication process of a peer-reviewed academic paper
- 这项突破性发现有望改变现有理论Describing a finding with the potential to revolutionize existing theory
Common mistakes
科学家们找到了一个新的东西。科学家发现了一种新物质。找到 means to find a lost or known thing; 发现 is the correct word for making a new scientific discovery; 东西 is too vague — 物质 (substance) is the precise scientific term
Quick quiz
Question 1 of 4
How do you say “experiment” in Chinese?
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