Grammar

Chinese grammar, one point at a time

Each point gives you the pattern, what it does, and sentences that use it — with a recording to hear how it sounds. In the app the same points are marked inside the stories you read, so you meet them in the wild.

HSK 1

HSK 2

…以前 / …以后 — before / after (a time or action)

…好吗？ — tag questions for suggestions

(正)在 + verb — in progress

Adj + 一点儿 — a bit more

Sentence-final 了 — change of state

Verb + result (到/完/好/见)

Verb + 一下 — briefly / softener

不一会儿 — in a short while / before long

为 — for / for the sake of

什么的 — and so on / and the like

从…到… — from…to

先…然后… — first … then … (sequence)

最 — superlative

别 — don't (prohibition)

动词重叠 — verb reduplication (do a bit / have a go)

动量补语 — verb + action-measure complement (once, twice…)

双宾语 — double object (give someone something)

可以 — may / permission

名词谓语句

名词谓语句 — noun predicate (no 是)

向 — toward / to (facing)

吧 — suggestion / softener

啊 — sentence-final exclamation / softener

因为…所以

因为…所以… — because…so

多 + adjective — how…?

存现句 — existential "there is …" (place + verb + noun)

对 — to / toward (facing someone)

就 — emphatic "exactly / precisely"

就 — then / right away

应该 — should / ought to

当 — when / at (the time of)

形容词重叠

形容词重叠 — adjective reduplication (vivid description)

往 — toward / in the direction of

得 — degree complement

快要…了 — about to

愿意 — be willing to

故意 — on purpose / deliberately

是…的 — emphasizing details

有（达到）

有 — reaching a measurement or age ("he's 1.8 m tall")

概数 — approximate numbers (about / a few)

每…都 — every

比 — comparison (A 比 B + adj)

没有…那么

没有…（那么/这么） — not as … as

的话 — if (conditional softener)

着 — ongoing state

离 — distance from

第 + number — ordinal numbers

给 + person + verb — for/to someone

虽然…但是

虽然…但是… — although…but

该…了 — it's time to …

跟…一样 — the same as

过 — experienced before

还 — still / in addition

还是 vs 或者 — or

还是…吧 — "let's rather …" (gentle suggestion)

连动句 — serial verbs (one subject, verbs in sequence)

HSK 3

…的时候 — when

X什么（啊）— what's there to X! (dismissive)

X就X（点儿）吧 — fine, let it be X then (reluctant acceptance)

X是X，就是/不过… — X is X, but … (concession)

一…也/都+不/没

一…也/都不 — not … at all / not even one

一…就 — as soon as

一个一个 — one by one (in turn)

一会儿…一会儿

一会儿…一会儿… — now … now … (alternating)

一边…一边

一边…一边 — doing two things at once

不A不B — neither … nor (just right)

不但…而且

不但…而且 — not only…but also

不是…就是

不是…就是… — if not … then … (one of two)

主谓谓语句

主谓谓语句 — subject-predicate as predicate (topic + comment)

也…也… — both … and … / neither … nor

从…起 — starting from (a time / point)

再 — again (future) / then after

又…又 — both…and

反问句 — rhetorical questions (for emphasis)

只要…就 — as long as

可能补语 — potential complements

地 — adverbial marker

好像 — seem like

如果…就 — if…then

并且 — and; moreover; furthermore

把 — the 把 disposal construction

按／按照 — according to / in accordance with

敢 — dare to

时量补语 — duration complement (how long)

是（强调）

是 — emphatic 是 ("I really do / it really is")

有的是 — have plenty of / no shortage

朝 — facing / toward (a direction)

由 — by (who does / handles it)

疑问语调 — questions by rising intonation

看起来／看上去 — it looks like / seems

离合词 — separable verb-object words

自从 — ever since (a past start)

被 — the passive marker

要是…就 — if … then (colloquial)

让/叫 — causative (make/let someone do)

疑问代词的非疑问用法

谁/什么/哪儿… — non-question (any / every) uses

越…越 — the more…the more

越来越 — more and more

趋向补语 — directional complements

连…也/都 — even

都…了 — already (emphatic, more than expected)

重动句 — verb-copying (V + Obj + V + complement)

量词重叠 — reduplicated measure (every / each)

除了…以外

除了…以外 — besides / except

需要 — need to / need

HSK 4

…一X是一X — each bit counts / take it as it comes

…以来 — since (up to now)

…就是了 — just …, and that's that

…极了 / …死了 — extreme degree

有什么好X的

(没)有什么(好)X的 — nothing (worth) X-ing about

X也得X，不X也得X

X也得X，不X也得X — have to X, willing or not

X是X，Y是Y — keep X and Y separate

一+量词+比+一+量词

一…比一… — more and more by the day

一A一B — a matched pair (one…, one…)

一方面…一方面

一方面…一方面… — on one hand… on the other

一般来说 — generally speaking

万一 — in case / if by any chance

不…也… — even without …, still …

不X白不X — might as well X (a free chance)

不是…而是

不是…而是… — not… but rather

为了 — in order to

于是 — so / thereupon

似的 — like / as if

作为 — as / in the capacity of

你X你的(吧) — you go ahead and X

共 — altogether / in total

关于 — about / concerning

即使…也… — even if

却 — yet / however (contrary)

原来 — so it turns out / originally

双重否定 — double negation for emphasis

反而 — on the contrary / instead

只有…才… — only if… then

只能 — can only / have no choice but to

可见 — evidently / which shows that

否则 — otherwise / or else

在…上/下/中

在…上/下/中 — abstract framing (aspect / condition / process)

在…方面 — in terms of / when it comes to

大A大B — on a grand / intense scale

好 — so that / so as to (purpose)

对…来说 — as for / from the standpoint of

对于 — regarding / with regard to

差点儿 — almost (nearly happened)

得 — must / have to (necessity)

才 — only then (later / under a condition)

无标记复句

无标记复句 — clauses joined by nothing but a comma

无论/不管…都

无论/不管…都… — no matter…

既…又/也… — both … and …

既然…就… — since (given that)

替 — for / on behalf of / in place of

未必 — not necessarily

来得及/来不及

来得及／来不及 — (not) be in time to

根据 — according to / based on

然而 — however / nevertheless

甚至 — even / to the point that

由…组成 — be composed of / consist of

看来 — it seems / apparently (inference)

让/叫你X你就X

让/叫你X你就X — just do as you're told

说不定 — maybe / perhaps

说什么也得X

说什么/怎么(着)也得X — no matter what, must X

还X呢 — some X you are! (sarcastic)

通过 — through / by means of

难道 — don't tell me / could it really be

竟然/居然 — unexpectedly / to one's surprise

首先…其次

首先…其次… — first … second … (ranking points)

HSK 5

而已／罢了

…而已 / …罢了 — merely / that's all

A来A去 — back and forth / over and over

A的A，B的B — some doing A, some doing B

A着A着 — while doing…, suddenly

得+不得了／慌／厉害

V/Adj + 得 + 不得了 / 慌 / 厉害 — to an unbearable degree

X也X不得，Y也Y不得

X也X不得，Y也Y不得 — can neither X nor Y

X也不是，Y也不是

X也不是，Y也不是 — damned either way

X什么X — "what do you mean, X?" (brushing it off)

X归X，Y归Y — granted, but that settles nothing

X是它，Y也是它

X是它，Y也是它 — always the same one

X着也是X着 — since you're X-ing anyway

一旦 — once / in case

不得不 — have no choice but to

不得了 — extremely / oh no!

不敢当 — you flatter me

不管怎样说

不管怎样说 — in any case / be that as it may

与其…不如

与其…不如… — rather than

为的是 — the aim being to

之所以…是因为

之所以…是因为… — the reason why…is that

也好 — whether…or / just as well

什么X不X（的）

什么X不X（的）— never mind about X

从…来看 — judging from

以便 — so that / in order to

使得 — cause (to be) / bring about

依据 — on the basis of / according to

依照 — in accordance with

偷偷 — secretly / stealthily

再…也 — no matter how …, still

再也不／没

再也不/没 — never again

凭 — relying on / on the strength of

到…为止 — up until / up to

反正 — anyway / in any case

可 — emphatic "really / do"

哪怕 — even if / even though

因而 — thus / as a result

在…看来 — in someone's view

够…的 — really quite (trying)

大都 — mostly / for the most part

宁可…也… — would rather

将 — formal disposal marker (= 把)

尽管 — even though / despite

得了 — that's enough / that'll do

怎么都／也+不／没

怎么都/也+不/没 — no matter what, just won't

恐怕 — I'm afraid (that) / probably

意念被动句

意念被动句 — passive in meaning, with no 被

或是…或是

或是…或是 — either … or

拿…来说 — take … for example

更别说／更不用说

更别说 / 更不用说 — let alone / not to mention

有A有B — have both A and B

有着／动词+有

有着 / V+有 — holding and bearing (written register)

没A没B — without any sense of A or B

没有…就没有…

没有…就没有… — without A there'd be no B

用不着 — there's no need to

看你X的／瞧他X的

看你X的／瞧他X的 — look at how … you are!

真有你／他／她的

真有你的 — you're really something!

说A就A — no sooner said than done

跟…相比 — compared with …, and the bare-margin comparison

除非 — unless / only if

随着 — along with / as

HSK 6

…了就…了 — so what if …; it's done

到…头上来了

…到…头上（来）了 — land / fall on someone (unfairly)

X来X去，都是/就是

…来…去，（结果）都是… — after all the back-and-forth, still …

V什么就是什么

V什么（就）是什么 — whatever V-s is exactly what counts

V这V那 — do it over this and that (scattered)

一时…一时…

一时…一时… — one moment …, the next …

不…不… — not … until … / won't … unless …

不X不…，一X…

不X不…，一X就… — won't … unless; the moment X …

不但不…反而…

不但不…反而… — not only not …, but on the contrary …

不怎么 — not particularly / not very

不怎么样 — so-so / nothing special

不是…，还/还是…

不是…，还/还是… — it isn't just X; you still need Y

与／同 — and / with (formal)

东一A，西一A

东一…西一… — scattered here and there

为了…而…

为了…而… — in order to … (formal)

于 — at / in / than (formal)

仿佛 — as if / seemingly (written)

A一量，B一量

你一…我一… — each in turn (back-and-forth)

便 — then / thereupon (formal 就)

凡是…，都…

凡是…，都… — every / all that … (no exception)

嘛／啦 — sentence-final 嘛 (obvious) and 啦 (了+啊)

因 — because of / owing to (formal 因为)

多重复句 — multi-level (nested) complex sentences

好（不）容易

好（不）容易 — with great difficulty / only just

好你个… — why, you …! (playful reproach)

就是说 — that is to say / in other words

就算…也…

就算…也… — even if …, still …

左A右B — over and over, every which way

或A或B — whether A or B (compact)

所 — structural 所 (所 + verb; 为…所…)

把字句（致使）

把 — causative (make someone feel / become)

据 — according to / based on (reporting)

放着…不… — leaving … unused / ignoring …

无A无B — without A, without B (literary)

早也不X，晚也不X

早（也）不…，晚（也）不… — not sooner, not later, but just then

时而…时而…

时而…时而… — now …, now … (alternation)

沿（着） — along (a route)

看把…（X）得 — look how (X) you've gotten

算了 — forget it / never mind

至于 — as for / as to (topic shift)

虽…，但…

虽…，但… — although … (formal 虽)

被…给… — passive with emphatic 给

要不然／不然

要不然／不然 — otherwise / or else

要么…要么…

要么…要么… — either … or …

趋向补语（引申义）

起来／下去／出来 — extended (figurative) directional complements

这也不X，那也不Y

这也不…，那也不… — neither this nor that will do

连…都…，…更…

连…都…，…更… — even …, so all the more …

那倒（也）是 — that's true, actually (concession)

除 — except / besides (formal 除了)

非…不可 — simply must / bound to

HSK 7–9

“把”字句5：表致使

“把”字句5 — 把 marking a caused reaction

（因）⋯⋯，故⋯⋯

（因）⋯⋯，故⋯⋯ — because …, therefore (formal)

（由于）⋯⋯，以致⋯⋯

（由于）⋯⋯，以致⋯⋯ — so that (an unwanted result)

（要+）动词+就+动词+个+补语

（要）V就V个 + 补语 — if you're going to, do it properly

⋯⋯，⋯⋯倒/反倒⋯⋯

⋯⋯，⋯⋯倒/反倒⋯⋯ — yet in fact, on the contrary

⋯⋯，且⋯⋯

⋯⋯，且⋯⋯ — and, moreover (formal)

⋯⋯，乃至⋯⋯

⋯⋯，乃至⋯⋯ — and even, going as far as

⋯⋯，以⋯⋯

⋯⋯，以⋯⋯ — in order to (formal)

⋯⋯，以免/免得⋯⋯

⋯⋯，以免/免得⋯⋯ — so as to avoid, lest

⋯⋯，以至于⋯⋯

⋯⋯，以至于⋯⋯ — to the point that

⋯⋯，何况⋯⋯

⋯⋯，何况⋯⋯ — much less, all the more so

⋯⋯，况且

⋯⋯，况且⋯⋯ — moreover, besides

⋯⋯，此后⋯⋯

⋯⋯，此后⋯⋯ — after that, thereafter

⋯⋯，甚至于⋯⋯

⋯⋯，甚至于⋯⋯ — even to the point of

⋯⋯，而⋯⋯（则）⋯⋯

⋯⋯，而⋯⋯（则）⋯⋯ — whereas

⋯⋯，进而⋯⋯

⋯⋯，进而⋯⋯ — and then go on to

⋯⋯固然⋯⋯，但是/可是/不过⋯⋯

⋯⋯固然⋯⋯，但是⋯⋯ — admittedly …, but …

动词+就+动词，别⋯⋯

V就V，别⋯⋯ — fine, do it — just don't …

X也X不⋯⋯，Y也Y不⋯⋯

X也X不⋯⋯，Y也Y不⋯⋯ — can't manage either

X（也）不是，不X也不是

X也不是，不X也不是 — damned either way

X也好/也罢，Y也好/也罢

X也好，Y也好 — whether X or Y

X了又Y，Y了又X

X了又Y，Y了又X — over and over

一连 — in a row, on end

万万 — absolutely (not)

三重或三重以上的复句

三重复句 — three-layer complex sentences

不妨 — might as well, no harm in

不由得 — can't help but

不知⋯⋯好

不知⋯⋯好 — not know what would be best

不知⋯⋯的（还以为⋯⋯）— anyone who didn't know would think

与其⋯⋯，宁可/宁愿⋯⋯

与其⋯⋯，宁可/宁愿⋯⋯ — rather than …, I'd sooner …

与此同时 — at the same time

东A西B — this way and that

乃 — is, namely (classical)

之 — classical 的

亦 — also, too (classical)

什么X的Y的 — X's and Y's and all that

以⋯⋯为⋯⋯

以⋯⋯为⋯⋯ — take X as Y

任⋯⋯，也⋯⋯

任⋯⋯，也⋯⋯ — no matter how …, still …

何必 — why bother …?

依 — according to, going by

倘若/假设/假使/若⋯⋯，就/那（么）⋯⋯

倘若/假设/假使/若⋯⋯，就/那么⋯⋯ — if …, then …

倘若/若⋯⋯，⋯⋯

倘若/若⋯⋯，⋯⋯ — if (formal)

偏偏 — of all things; deliberately

再度 — once again (formal)

凡 — every, any (formal)

分明 — clearly, plainly (yet…)

别提（有）多X了

别提（有）多X了 — you can't imagine how X

别提了 — don't even ask

别管⋯⋯，都⋯⋯

别管⋯⋯，都⋯⋯ — no matter …, still …

别说⋯⋯，连⋯⋯也/都⋯⋯

别说⋯⋯，连⋯⋯也/都⋯⋯ — let alone

勿 — do not (formal prohibition)

半A半B — half A, half B

即 — namely; right away (formal)

即便⋯⋯，也⋯⋯

即便⋯⋯，也⋯⋯ — even if

历来 — always, throughout history

及 — and (formal, joining nouns)

反倒 — on the contrary, instead

可不是 — exactly, isn't it just

向来 — always, all along

哪有X这么Y的/有X这样Y的吗

哪有X这么Y的 — whoever heard of X being so Y

唯独 — only …, alone (the exception)

固然⋯⋯，也⋯⋯

固然⋯⋯，也⋯⋯ — admittedly …, but also …

基于 — based on, in view of

好在 — fortunately, the good thing is

尚 — still, yet (formal)

尤为 — especially (formal)

就 — concerning, with regard to

尽 — to the greatest extent; the very…

巴不得 — can't wait to, would love nothing more

幸亏 — luckily, thanks to

幸亏⋯⋯，要不然/不然/要不/否则⋯⋯

幸亏⋯⋯，要不然/否则⋯⋯ — luckily …, otherwise …

幸好 — luckily

归根到底 — in the final analysis

当着 — in front of, in the presence of

程度补语3：得+不行/要命/要死

得不行／得要命／得要死 — …to death, unbearably

必定 — certainly, bound to

忽A忽B — now A, now B

怪不得 — no wonder

总的来说/总而言之

总的来说／总而言之 — in general, in short

或⋯⋯，或⋯⋯

或⋯⋯，或⋯⋯ — either …, or …

所谓⋯⋯就是⋯⋯

所谓⋯⋯就是⋯⋯ — what is called X is Y

按说 — by rights, normally speaking

无所谓X不X — it makes no difference whether X

无非 — nothing more than

时A时B — sometimes A, sometimes B

未 — not, not yet (formal)

未免 — rather too, a bit too

极为 — extremely (formal)

没说的 — beyond reproach; no question

爱A不A — do it or don't, see if I care

由此可见 — from this we can see

白白 — in vain, for nothing

皆 — all, without exception (classical)

看/瞧你那（X）样

看你那样 — look at the state of you

看在X的面子上

看在X的面子上 — for X's sake

矣 — classical final particle

稍稍 — slightly, a little

索性 — simply, just go ahead and

纵然⋯⋯，也⋯⋯

纵然⋯⋯，也⋯⋯ — even if (literary)

终究 — in the end, after all

统统 — all, the whole lot

综上所述 — to sum up the above

而已 — that's all, no more than that

自A自B — doing it to and by oneself

莫非 — could it be that …?

虽说⋯⋯，但是/可是/不过⋯⋯

虽说⋯⋯，但是⋯⋯ — although (colloquial)

蛮 — quite, pretty (colloquial)

要X有/没X，要Y有/没Y

要X有X，要Y有Y — has everything going for them

（不过/但/可是）话又说回来

话又说回来 — but then again

话（说）是这么说，不过/可/可是⋯⋯

话是这么说，不过⋯⋯ — that's all very well, but

说到/想到哪儿去了

说到哪儿去了 — you've got quite the wrong idea

起初⋯⋯，⋯⋯才⋯⋯

起初⋯⋯，⋯⋯才⋯⋯ — at first …, only later …

趁 — while (taking the chance)

越发 — increasingly, all the more

这样一来 — this way; as a result

连A带B — both A and B together

鉴于⋯⋯，⋯⋯

鉴于⋯⋯，⋯⋯ — in view of the fact that

除此之外 — besides this

难怪 — no wonder

需 — to need to (formal)

非A非B — neither A nor B

顺便 — while you're at it, in passing

顺着 — along, following

颇 — quite, rather (formal)

频频 — repeatedly, again and again

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Grammar inside the stories

In the app, every grammar point is underlined where it appears in a story, with the explanation a tap away, and drilled with real sentences.

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