Control emphasis and tone.
Make a contrast, express a concession and organise a longer explanation. Notice how the construction changes what the listener expects next.
41 grammar topics with examples and practice.
不管天气怎么样，我们都去散步。
Bùguǎn tiānqì zěnmeyàng, wǒmen dōu qù sànbù.
Whatever the weather is like, we go for a walk.
Study this construction →41 topics
看来 + Judgment to the Situation；在 + Person + 看来
Use 看来 for an inference from the situation and 在…看来 to identify whose view or judgment is being described.
看来他不来了，都这么晚了。
Kànlái tā bù lái le, dōu zhème wǎn le.
It seems he's not coming. It's already so late.
只好 + Verb Phrase
Use 只好 to introduce the course of action someone accepts because other workable options have been ruled out.
餐厅都关门了，我们只好去吃 KFC。
Cāntīng dōu guānmén le, wǒmen zhǐhǎo qù chī KFC.
The other restaurants are all closed, so we had no choice but to eat at KFC.
可 + Adj. (+ 了)
Recognize emphatic 可 before adjectives and verbs, including 可…了, 可别, and expressions of a long-awaited development.
这只小狗可淘气了！
Zhè zhǐ xiǎo gǒu kě táoqì le!
This puppy is so naughty!
(Subject +) 恐怕 + Clause / Predicate
Use 恐怕 to present a concerning possibility, soften unwelcome information, or cautiously assess what is likely to happen.
今天恐怕要下雨。
Jīntiān kǒngpà yào xià yǔ.
I'm afraid it's going to rain today.
甚至
Use 甚至 to extend a statement to an unexpected example or stronger claim, often with 都 or 也 for emphasis.
每个观众甚至裁判都站起来给他鼓掌。
Měi gè guānzhòng shènzhì cáipàn dōu zhàn qǐlái gěi tā gǔzhǎng.
Each and every member of the audience, and even the referee, stood up and applauded for him.
Subj. + 不得不 + Verb
Express externally imposed necessity or reluctant acknowledgment with 不得不 before an action or admission in Chinese.
你真的太厉害了， 我不得不承认。
Nǐ zhēn de tài lìhài le, wǒ bùdébù chéngrèn.
You are so good. I have to admit it.
到底
Distinguish 到底 in insistent questions, explanations based on a defining fact, and statements about an eventual result.
到底是个大老板，出手就是大方。
Dàodǐ shì ge dà lǎobǎn, chūshǒu jiùshì dàfang.
After all, he's a big boss, so naturally he spends generously.
Subject + 究竟 + Question Predicate / Affirmative-Negative Predicate？
Use 究竟 to press for precise information in question-word and affirmative-negative questions, and recognize embedded uses.
这个人究竟是谁？
Zhège rén jiūjìng shì shéi?
Who on earth is this guy?
本来⋯⋯
Describe an original intention with 本来 and use 本来就 to emphasize a fact or viewpoint that was already true.
我本来是要去的，不过后来不太舒服，就没去。
Wǒ běnlái shì yào qù de, bùguò hòulái bù tài shūfu, jiù méi qù.
I originally wanted to go, but I didn't go because I didn't feel very well.
千万 + 要 / 别 / 不要 / 不能 + Verb Phrase
Strengthen a Chinese request or warning with 千万, commonly followed by 要, 别, 不要, or 不能 before the action.
这个菜很难吃， 千万不要点！
Zhège cài hěn nánchī, qiānwàn bùyào diǎn!
This dish is horrible. Make sure you don't order it!
难道 + Proposition + (吗)？
Use 难道 to question a surprising or doubtful proposition, often with 吗, and infer the speaker’s expected answer.
难道你真的相信他吗？
Nándào nǐ zhēn de xiāngxìn tā ma?
You don't actually believe him, do you?
⋯⋯ ，于是 ⋯⋯
Connect a situation with the action it prompts using 于是, and distinguish a narrative development from general causal reasoning.
我看大家都买了， 于是我也买了。
Wǒ kàn dàjiā dōu mǎi le, yúshì wǒ yě mǎi le.
I saw that everyone had bought it, so I bought it too.
下雨了，于是我们回家了。
Xiàyǔ le, yúshì wǒmen huí jiā le.
It started raining, so we went home.
Clause A，而 + Clause B; 不是 A，而是 B; 是 A，而不是 B
Use 而 to contrast related clauses in Chinese, especially in 不是…而是… and 是…而不是… corrections and distinctions.
我们是来办事的， 而不是来玩的。
Wǒmen shì lái bànshì de, ér bù shì lái wán de.
We're here to do work, not to have fun.
尽管 + fact，subject + 但是 / 还是 + contrasting result
Use 尽管 with a contrasting result, often introduced by 但是 or 还是, and pronounce its first character with third tone.
尽管很多人批评他，他还是坚持这么做。
Jǐnguǎn hěn duō rén pīpíng tā, tā háishì jiānchí zhème zuò.
Despite the fact that many people criticize him, he still insists on doing it.
Subject + 倒 + predicate
Understand 倒 as a contrastive adverb for unexpected facts, qualified agreement, and differences from an earlier assumption.
我帮他， 倒不是因为喜欢他，是因为他工作很努力。
Wǒ bāng tā, dào bù shì yīnwèi xǐhuan tā, shì yīnwèi tā gōngzuò hěn nǔlì.
I helped him not because I liked him, but because he worked very hard.
Context，subject + 却 + contrasting predicate
Learn how 却 marks an unexpected contrast, where it sits relative to the subject, and how it differs from a conjunction.
他是老板， 却没有人听他的。
Tā shì lǎobǎn, què méiyǒu rén tīng tā de.
He's the boss, but nobody listens to him.
由于 + cause，result
Use 由于 to introduce causes in formal Chinese, with a noun phrase or clause followed by the resulting situation.
由于温室效应的影响，全球的气候变得越来越反常了。
Yóuyú wēnshì xiàoyìng de yǐngxiǎng, quánqiú de qìhòu biàn de yuèláiyuè fǎncháng le.
Due to the influence of the greenhouse effect, the whole Earth's climate is getting more and more abnormal.
既然 + accepted fact，(那) + subject + 就 + conclusion
Use 既然 to accept a known premise and draw a conclusion, recommendation, or challenging question from it.
你既然不想说， 那就别说了。
Nǐ jìrán bù xiǎng shuō, nà jiù bié shuō le.
Since you don't want to say, then just don't say.
Cause，(subject +) 因此 + result
Connect a stated cause to its consequence with 因此, a common transition in explanations, reports, and formal writing.
我病了， 因此心情不好。
Wǒ bìng le, yīncǐ xīnqíng bù hǎo.
I am sick, therefore I am not in a good mood.
除非 + exception，否则 / 不然 + result; 除非 + condition，才 + enabled result
Learn 除非 with 否则 or 不然 for unless, and with 才 when presenting the exceptional condition that enables a result.
我不去， 除非你也去。
Wǒ bù qù, chúfēi nǐ yě qù.
I won't go unless you go too.
即使 + hypothetical condition，subject + 也 + unchanged result
Use 即使…也 when an imagined condition does not change the outcome, and distinguish this from denying the condition itself.
即使你不想让我去，我也要去。
Jíshǐ nǐ bù xiǎng ràng wǒ qù, wǒ yě yào qù.
Even if you don't want me to go, I still have to go.
要是 + condition，subject + 就 + consequence
Use conversational 要是…就 for conditions and consequences, and distinguish 要不是 when imagining an alternative without a fact.
你要是真想我， 就给我打电话。
Nǐ yàoshi zhēn xiǎng wǒ, jiù gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.
If you do miss me, then give me a call.
不管 + question word / alternatives，subject + 都 / 也 + unchanged result
Express an unchanged result across choices with 不管, using a question word, alternatives, or a range of possibilities.
不管你穿什么都好看。
Bùguǎn nǐ chuān shénme dōu hǎokàn.
No matter what you wear, it looks good on you.
无论 / 不论 + question word / alternatives，subject + 都 / 也 + result
Use 无论 or 不论 with question words and alternatives to state that a result holds regardless of the circumstances.
无论多么成功，他总觉得自己不够好。
Wúlùn duōme chénggōng, tā zǒng juéde zìjǐ bù gòu hǎo.
No matter how successful he is, he always thinks he isn't enough.
Established Group / Whole，其中 + Subset / Member + Predicate
Refer back to an established group with 其中 to identify a subset, a particular member, or an item standing out from the rest.
我有四辆汽车， 其中三辆都是宝马。
Wǒ yǒu sì liàng qìchē, qízhōng sān liàng dōu shì Bǎomǎ.
I have four cars. Of them, three are BMW's.
随着 + Noun / Developing Process，Subject + Predicate
Use 随着 before a movement, condition, or developing process to show another action or change accompanying it.
树枝随着风不停地摇动。
Shùzhī suízhe fēng bù tíng de yáodòng.
The branch keeps swaying in the wind.
Subject + 并 + 不 / 没有 + predicate
Use 并不 and 并没有 to reject an assumption or emphasize that something is not true, without changing the basic negation.
在中国创业并不容易，有很多的挑战。
Zài Zhōngguó chuàngyè bìng bù róngyì, yǒu hěn duō de tiǎozhàn.
In China, starting a business really isn't easy. There are a lot of challenges.
Cause + 害得 + affected person + unwanted result
Learn how 害得 links a cause to trouble, worry, or another unwelcome result, often with a complaining tone.
下午喝了两杯咖啡， 害得我晚上睡不着。
Xiàwǔ hē le liǎng bēi kāfēi, hàide wǒ wǎnshang shuì buzháo.
I had two cups of coffee. It kept me from falling asleep at night.
Verb phrase 1 + 并 + verb phrase 2
Learn how 并 joins related actions in concise written Chinese, and how it differs from 并 used before a negative.
我同意并支持你的决定。
Wǒ tóngyì bìng zhīchí nǐ de juédìng.
I agree with and support your decision.
Topic + 由 + person + verb phrase
Use 由 to identify the person responsible for an action, decision, or event, often after the matter being discussed.
这件事由我说了算。
Zhè jiàn shì yóu wǒ shuō le suàn.
This matter is up to me.
Clause / verb phrase 1 + 并且 + clause / verb phrase 2
Connect related actions with 并且 and strengthen an additional point using 还, 也, or a preceding 不但 clause.
我同意并且支持你的决定。
Wǒ tóngyì bìngqiě zhīchí nǐ de juédìng.
I agree with and support your decision.
Subject + 值得 + verb phrase; subject + 很值得
Use 值得 to evaluate an action or experience, and distinguish it from 值 when stating a monetary value.
巴金的散文很值得一看。
Bājīn de sǎnwén hěn zhídé yī kàn.
Ba Jin's prose deserves a look.
Verb + 着 + verb + 着，(就) + new development (+ 了)
Describe an ongoing activity that leads into a new development with the repeated verb + 着 pattern and a following result.
说着说着我就发现自己也糊涂了。
Shuō zhe shuō zhe wǒ jiù fāxiàn zìjǐ yě hútu le.
After talking and talking, I realized that I had confused myself.
Verb + 起来
Explore figurative verb + 起来 for gathering, combining, storing, and putting things away beyond literal upward movement.
13 和 15 加起来是多少？
Shísān hé shíwǔ jiā qǐlái shì duōshǎo?
How much are 13 and 15 added up?
连 + verb + 都 + 不 / 没 + repeated verb; 连 + 一 + measure word + noun + 都 / 也 + negative predicate
Emphasize complete absence with 连 + verb + 都不 or 都没, and use 连 with a minimal quantity for not even one.
朋友？这个人我连见都没见过。
Péngyou? Zhège rén wǒ lián jiàn dōu méi jiàn guo.
Friends? I've never even met this person.
任何 + noun + 都 / 也 + predicate
Use 任何 before nouns to include every possible member of a group, often with 都 or a following negative statement.
你到派对以后任何饮料都不要喝。
Nǐ dào pàiduì yǐhòu rènhé yǐnliào dōu bùyào hē.
After you arrive at the party, don't drink anything.
Subject + 既 + predicate 1 + 又 / 也 + predicate 2
Combine two qualities, actions, or identities with 既…又 or 既…也, keeping the two descriptions grammatically parallel.
这个同事既积极又努力。
Zhège tóngshì jì jījí yòu nǔlì.
This colleague is both proactive and hard-working.
不但 / 不仅 / 不只 + first point，而且 / 还 / 也 + additional point
Compare 不但, 不仅, and 不只 with 而且, 还, or 也 when adding another fact or extending a statement.
我不只对排球感兴趣， 而且对足球也很感兴趣。
Wǒ bùzhǐ duì páiqiú gǎnxìngqù, érqiě duì zúqiú yě hěn gǎnxìngqù.
I am not only interested in volleyball, but also in soccer.
本来 + original plan / fact; 原来 + discovery; 原来的 + noun
Distinguish 本来 for original plans or inherent facts from 原来 for discoveries and former states, including common 就 and 的 patterns.
我本来是要去参加你的生日派对的，可是周末突然要加班。
Wǒ běnlái shì yào qù cānjiā nǐ de shēngrì pàiduì de, kěshì zhōumò tūrán yào jiābān.
I was originally going to go to your birthday party, but I had to work some extra time this weekend.
关于 + topic + 的 + noun; 对于 + object，response / evaluation
Distinguish 关于 for subject matter from 对于 for the object of a response, and use 关于…的 before a noun.
对于那个人我并不了解。
Duìyú nàge rén wǒ bìng bù liǎojiě.
As for that person, I just don't know him very well at all.
A + 适合 + B; subject + 很 / 不 + 合适
Distinguish the verb 适合, which takes a person or purpose as its object, from the adjective 合适, meaning suitable.
这个工作很适合我。
Zhège gōngzuò hěn shìhé wǒ.
This job really suits me.
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