Learn Hardcore Chinese: Zài zhōngwén kè shàng, lǎoshī chángcháng ràng wǒmen zìyóu jiāoliú zìjǐ de kànfǎ. - In Chinese class, the teacher often lets us freely exchange our own opinions.

在 … 上 is a common pattern meaning “in the context of / during / in terms of,” e.g.
- 在会议上 = in the meeting
- 在考试上 = in the exam
- 在工作上 = in (one’s) work (in terms of work)

So 在中文课上 = during Chinese class, in the setting of the Chinese lesson.

You can say:

在中文课的时候 – “when (it’s) Chinese class / during Chinese class”
上中文课的时候 – similar meaning, very natural

But 在中文课上 is shorter and very common in written and spoken Chinese.

Why is it 中文课, not 中文的课? When do you drop 的 between two nouns?

Both 中文课 and 中文的课 are grammatically possible, but:

中文课 is the natural, default phrase: “Chinese class” / “Chinese lesson.”
中文的课 sounds more like “a class that is Chinese” and is used less often in this context; it can sound slightly heavier or more specific.

In general, 的 is often dropped when:

The first part is short and tightly linked to the noun, often forming a set phrase:
- 英语课 (English class)
- 数学课 (math class)
- 中文书 (Chinese book)
- 历史老师 (history teacher)
The relationship between the two words feels like a fixed category, not a descriptive phrase.

If the modifier is long, descriptive, or emphasised, you usually keep 的:

我喜欢中国的历史课。
“I like the history class that is about China.” (more specific)

So for this sentence, 中文课 is the most natural.

Is there a difference between 中文 and 汉语 here? Could I say 在汉语课上 instead?

In this context, you can say 在汉语课上; it’s correct and understandable.

Subtle differences:

中文 (zhōngwén)
- Literally: “Chinese written language / Chinese language.”
- Very commonly used for “Chinese (as a school subject)”, especially in modern teaching contexts.
- Slightly broader; can include reading, writing, culture, etc.
汉语 (hànyǔ)
- Literally: “the language of the Han people.”
- More technical / linguistic; often used in phrases like 汉语语法 (Chinese grammar), 汉语水平考试 (HSK).

In everyday speech about classes:

中文课 is more common in many contexts, especially in Chinese-speaking regions.
汉语课 is also fine, and sometimes preferred in foreign language institutes.

For this sentence, 中文课 feels very natural.

Where does 常常 usually go in a sentence, and is it the same as 经常?

In 老师常常让我们…, 常常 (chángcháng) is a frequency adverb meaning “often.”

Typical positions:

Subject + 常常 + Verb phrase
- 我常常去图书馆。= I often go to the library.
- 他常常迟到。= He is often late.

In this sentence:

老师常常让我们 …
“The teacher often lets us …”

You normally don’t put 常常 at the very end of the sentence.

常常 vs. 经常

常常 and 经常 are very close; both mean “often / frequently.”
In many cases they’re interchangeable:
- 老师常常给我们很多作业。
- 老师经常给我们很多作业。
经常 is a bit more common in spoken language in some regions, but the difference is small.

So 常常 is in a standard, natural position here.

What exactly does 让 mean in 老师常常让我们…? Is it “let,” “make,” or “ask”?

In 老师常常让我们自由交流自己的看法, the pattern is:

A 让 B + Verb Phrase

Here:

A = 老师 (the teacher)
B = 我们 (us)
Verb Phrase = 自由交流自己的看法 (freely exchange our own views)

让 (ràng) in this structure means “to let / to allow / to have (someone do something)”.
In English you might translate it as:

The teacher often lets us freely exchange our views.
The teacher often has us freely exchange our views.

Depending on context, 让 can mean:

to make / cause: 这件事让他很生气。= This matter made him very angry.
to allow / permit: 妈妈不让我出去。= My mom doesn’t let me go out.
to ask / have someone do (milder than 命令 “order”): 老板让我明天去上海。= My boss asked me / is having me go to Shanghai tomorrow.

Here it’s a mix of “let” and “have (us do)”, with a positive classroom feel.

Is 自由 acting as an adverb here? Should it be 自由地交流 instead of 自由交流?

Formally, if you treat 自由 (free) as an adjective modifying a verb, you might expect 自由地交流 (“to exchange freely”).

However, in modern Chinese:

It’s very common to use adjectives directly before verbs without 地, especially in speech and informal writing.
So 自由交流 is perfectly natural and common.

Compare:

认真学习 vs. 认真地学习
开心玩儿 vs. 开心地玩儿
积极参加 vs. 积极地参加

All of these are widely used without 地.

So here:

自由交流自己的看法 = “freely exchange one’s views”
自由地交流自己的看法 = also correct, a bit more formal/written.

Both are acceptable; the sentence with 自由 alone is very idiomatic.

What is the nuance of 交流 in this sentence? How is it different from 聊天, 谈话, or 讨论?

In 自由交流自己的看法, 交流 (jiāoliú) means “to exchange (information, ideas, views)” and implies a two-way, mutual process.

Comparison:

交流 – exchange, share (usually ideas, experiences, opinions)
- 交流经验 = exchange experiences
- 交流意见 = exchange opinions
聊天 – “to chat,” usually casual, often about anything; less formal.
- 在中文课上老师常常让我们聊天。
  → This sounds more like “The teacher often lets us just chat” (more casual).
谈话 – “to talk, have a talk” (can be neutral or serious).
- 和老师谈话 = have a talk with the teacher
讨论 – “to discuss” (often more focused, goal-oriented).
- 讨论问题 = discuss problems/topics

In a classroom context about opinions, 交流看法 suggests:

Everyone shares and exchanges their viewpoints,
Not just small talk, and not necessarily a formal debate.

It fits very well with the idea of an interactive class.

Why use 自己 when we already have 我们? What’s the difference between 交流自己的看法 and 交流我们的看法?

自己 (zìjǐ) is a reflexive pronoun meaning “self / one’s own.”

In this sentence:

我们 = “we / us” (the group)
自己的看法 = “one’s own views”

交流自己的看法 emphasizes that each person is sharing their own personal opinions.

Subtle differences:

交流我们的看法
- Could sound more like “exchange our views” as a group,
- Slightly more collective-sounding.
交流自己的看法
- Highlights individuality: everyone shares his/her own thoughts.
- Very natural in a context of encouraging personal expression.

So 自己 adds the nuance of “personal, individual” opinions.

What is the function of 的 in 自己的看法? Could we say 自己看法?

的 (de) here links a modifier (自己) to a noun (看法):

自己的看法 = “one’s own views”

The pattern is:

[Modifier] + 的
- [Noun]

Examples:

我的书 = my book
他的新手机 = his new phone
学生的作业 = students’ homework

In this case:

自己 is acting like “own / self’s”
看法 is “opinion/view”

Dropping 的 here (自己看法) is not natural. For pronouns like 我/你/他 and reflexive 自己 modifying a noun, you normally must use 的:

我书 ✗ (unnatural)
我的书 ✓
自己看法 ✗
自己的看法 ✓

What exactly does 看法 mean, and how is it different from 意见 or 想法?

All three relate to “thoughts/opinions,” but with different shades:

看法 (kànfǎ)
- Literally: “the way of looking (at something)”
- Means viewpoint / opinion / way of seeing an issue
- Often used for more reflective or reasoned views.
- e.g. 你对这个问题有什么看法？= What is your view on this question?
意见 (yìjiàn)
- Means “opinion,” often with the sense of suggestion, feedback, or criticism.
- 提意见 = to give suggestions / voice opinions.
- Could be positive or negative.
想法 (xiǎngfǎ)
- Literally “way of thinking,” often thoughts, ideas, notions.
- Can be more casual or personal.
- e.g. 你有什么想法？= What are you thinking? / Any ideas?

In 交流自己的看法, 看法 fits well because we’re talking about personal viewpoints on topics in class.

Why isn’t there any 了 in this sentence? Could we say 老师常常让了我们… or add 了 somewhere?

了 is often used for completed actions or change of state.

Here, the sentence describes a habitual/repeated action:

老师常常让我们自由交流自己的看法。
→ “The teacher often lets us freely exchange our views.”

Since this is not a one-time completed event but an ongoing habit, no 了 is needed.

You should not say:

让了我们… – that usually means “yielded to us” / “gave way to us” and changes the meaning completely.

You could have 了 in a different version with a specific time and a single event:

昨天在中文课上，老师让我们自由交流自己的看法了。
→ Yesterday in Chinese class, the teacher (did) let us freely exchange our views.

But in the original, with 常常, keeping it without 了 is correct and natural.

Is 课 a measure word here or a noun? How do I say “one Chinese class / two Chinese classes”?

In 中文课, 课 (kè) is a noun, meaning “lesson / class (as a subject or session).” The whole phrase 中文课 = “Chinese class.”

To count classes (as class periods), you usually use:

一节中文课 – one period of Chinese class
两节中文课 – two periods of Chinese class

Structure:

[Number] + [Measure word] + [课 / 中文课]

Common measure words for classes:

节 (jié) – individual lessons/periods
门 (mén) – for school subjects:
- 一门中文课 = one (course of) Chinese class (as a subject)

So:

中文课 = Chinese class (in general)
一节中文课 = one Chinese lesson (one session)
一门中文课 = one Chinese course (as a subject).