Citations and Footnotes

Citations and Footnotes in Chinese Academic Writing

Chinese academic citation follows its own conventions. Learning these makes your writing credible and accurate.

Common citation formats

• Inline citation: 正如王芳（2018）所指出，... / 据张明（2020：35）的研究...
• Quoting: 王芳（2018）明确指出："语言习得是一个渐进的过程。"
• Paraphrase with source: 有学者认为语言习得需要长期积累（李强，2019）。

Reporting verb patterns

• 如...所言 — as X stated
• 据...指出 — according to X's indication
• 援引...的观点 — invoking X's view

💬 Example: "援引王芳（2018）的研究成果，可以认为语言输入是习得的基础。"

→ "Drawing on Wang Fang's (2018) research, it can be argued that language input is the foundation of acquisition."

Footnotes vs endnotes

• 脚注 appear at the bottom of the same page — used for short clarifications
• 尾注 appear at the end of the document — used for longer references
• In Chinese academic writing, 注 or ① ② ③ markers are used inline

Citing Chinese classics

• 《论语》中有云："学而时习之，不亦说乎？"（《论语·学而》）
• Classical texts often cited by chapter name, not page number