This HSK 5 live conversation lesson is for learners who can already hold a discussion in Mandarin but want to sound more organized when juggling multiple points. After this lesson, you can smoothly shift from one topic to a related but different one in conversation — organizing your thoughts clearly when discussing plans, projects, or decisions.
The pattern is simple: 至于 + New Topic, Clause. You use it at the start of a new clause to pivot from one topic to a related one. The key rule: always say something about the first topic before using 至于, because 至于 never starts a fresh conversation.
Here's the example you'll practice:
这件事我已经决定了，至于怎么做，还需要再想想。 (zhè jiàn shì wǒ yǐ jīng jué dìng le, zhì yú zěn me zuò, hái xū yào zài xiǎng xiǎng) — "I've already made up my mind about this. As for how to do it, I still need to think it over."
Notice how the speaker settles the first matter — "I've decided" — and then uses 至于 to move to a related question: how to execute. That's the pattern in action.
This is a live voice lesson: you talk out loud with AI teacher Mei Lin in real time, not type into a box. Over roughly 10 minutes, you'll practice Shifting Topics in conversation — using 至于 to introduce a new angle when discussing plans or decisions. Mei Lin corrects your grammar and pronunciation in the flow of conversation and adapts to your level.
You can try the first lesson free — no credit card required to start talking.
This lesson is part of our broader set of HSK 5 lessons. When you're ready for another pattern, try another HSK 5 live lesson on 万一 (wànyī) — In Case / What If or another HSK 5 live lesson on 就是...也 (jiùshì...yě). To reinforce characters offline, you can print handwriting worksheets with the free printable Chinese worksheet generator.
No. 至于 never opens a fresh conversation. You need to say something about the first topic first, then use 至于 to shift to a related but different one. In the example, the speaker says "I've already decided" before adding 至于怎么做 — "as for how to do it." That's the As For / As To (Topic Shift) pattern working correctly.
You'll talk out loud with AI teacher Mei Lin for about 10 minutes, using 至于 to shift topics in real conversation — for example, moving from a decision you've made to the question of how to execute it. Mei Lin corrects your grammar and pronunciation on the spot and adapts to your level as you go.
Yes — this is an HSK 5 grammar lesson focused on Shifting Topics. It's designed for learners who can already discuss plans and decisions in Mandarin but want to sound more organized when juggling multiple points in conversation.