Chinese grammar / 486 topics
Chinese grammar · page 11
Find a sentence pattern, read how it works, and practise it with Chinese examples, pinyin and English translations.
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格外 géwài
格外 (Géwài): Express Especially or Unusually
Use 格外 before a quality or state to say it stands out in degree, and distinguish its adverb use from 特别.
尽管 jǐnguǎn
尽管 (Jǐnguǎn): Express Although and Despite
Use 尽管 with a contrasting result, often introduced by 但是 or 还是, and pronounce its first character with third tone.
倒 dào
倒 (Dào): Mark an Unexpected Contrast
Understand 倒 as a contrastive adverb for unexpected facts, qualified agreement, and differences from an earlier assumption.
反而 fǎn'ér
反而 (Fǎn'ér): Express the Opposite of Expectations
Use 反而 when a result goes against the expected direction, and place it after the subject of the contrasting clause.
却 què
却 (Què): Express But or Yet Within a Clause
Learn how 却 marks an unexpected contrast, where it sits relative to the subject, and how it differs from a conjunction.
由于 yóuyú
由于 (Yóuyú): Introduce a Cause or Reason
Use 由于 to introduce causes in formal Chinese, with a noun phrase or clause followed by the resulting situation.
既然…就 jìrán…jiù
既然…就 (Jìrán…Jiù): Since That Is the Case
Use 既然 to accept a known premise and draw a conclusion, recommendation, or challenging question from it.
因此 yīncǐ
因此 (Yīncǐ): Express Therefore in Chinese
Connect a stated cause to its consequence with 因此, a common transition in explanations, reports, and formal writing.
之所以…是因为 zhī suǒyǐ…shì yīnwèi
之所以…是因为: State the Result Before the Reason
Explain a result first with 之所以, then supply its cause with 是因为 or its purpose with 是为了.
得很；得不得了 de hěn; de bùdéliǎo
得很, 得不得了, and More: Chinese Degree Complements
Intensify a quality with adjective + 得很, 得不得了, 得要命, or 得不行, and understand the tone of each expression.
得了；得下；得起；得动；得着 de liǎo; de xià; de qǐ; de dòng; de zháo
得了, 得下, 得起, 得动, and 得着: Potential Complements
Express capacity, affordability, strength, and reach with Chinese potential complements, including their negative forms.
住；开；出来 zhù; kāi; chūlái
住, 开, and 出来: Chinese Result Complements
Learn how 住, 开, and 出来 describe holding, separation, and emergence as results of an action in Chinese.
起来 qǐlái
起来 (Qǐlái): Gather, Collect, or Put Things Away
Explore figurative verb + 起来 for gathering, combining, storing, and putting things away beyond literal upward movement.
坏了 huài le
坏了 (Huài Le): Express an Extreme State
Use 坏了 after a predicate to describe intense tiredness, hunger, worry, or excitement, and distinguish literal damage.
着；得着；不着 zháo; de zháo; bu zháo
着 (Zháo): Achieve a Result or Reach a Goal
Distinguish result-complement 着 from aspect 着, and use 得着 or 不着 to discuss whether the result is attainable.
到 dào
到 (Dào) as a Result Complement: Achieve the Goal
Understand how verb + 到 highlights successful attainment, including differences such as 买 versus 买到 and 做 versus 做到.
来…去 lái…qù
Verb + 来 + Verb + 去: Back and Forth or Repeatedly
Describe pacing, repeated discussion, or continued thinking with a repeated verb around 来 and 去.
只要…就 zhǐyào…jiù
只要…就 (Zhǐyào…Jiù): As Long As
Use 只要…就 for a sufficient condition and distinguish it from 只有…才, which makes a condition necessary.
一旦…就 yīdàn…jiù
一旦…就 (Yīdàn…Jiù): Once a Condition Is Met
Use 一旦 to mark a triggering event and describe what follows, including warnings and consequences with 就.
才 cái
才 (Cái): Only After, Only Then, or Not Until
Show that time, effort, or a condition must precede a result with 才, and distinguish this from a simple event sequence.
只有…才 zhǐyǒu…cái
只有…才 (Zhǐyǒu…Cái): Only If
Express a necessary condition with 只有…才, and learn how its meaning differs from the sufficient-condition pattern 只要…就.
除非 chúfēi
除非 (Chúfēi): Express Unless and Only If
Learn 除非 with 否则 or 不然 for unless, and with 才 when presenting the exceptional condition that enables a result.
即使…也 jíshǐ…yě
即使…也 (Jíshǐ…Yě): Even If
Use 即使…也 when an imagined condition does not change the outcome, and distinguish this from denying the condition itself.
就是…也 jiùshì…yě
就是…也 (Jiùshì…Yě): A Conversational Even If
Recognize 就是…也 as an even-if construction when a hypothetical obstacle leaves the speaker's decision unchanged.
就算…也 jiùsuàn…yě
就算…也 (Jiùsuàn…Yě): Even If or Even Assuming
Use 就算 to grant a possibility for argument's sake while keeping a result unchanged, often with a conversational tone.
哪怕…也 nǎpà…yě
哪怕…也 (Nǎpà…Yě): Even If, However Extreme
Use 哪怕…也 to concede a difficult or extreme condition while maintaining a decision, result, or commitment.
假如…就 jiǎrú…jiù
假如…就 (Jiǎrú…Jiù): Imagine If in Chinese
Introduce imagined situations with 假如 and connect them to consequences, advice, or hypothetical responses using 就.
要是…就 yàoshi…jiù
要是…就 (Yàoshi…Jiù): Say If in Conversation
Use conversational 要是…就 for conditions and consequences, and distinguish 要不是 when imagining an alternative without a fact.
万一 wànyī
万一 (Wànyī): What If or In Case
Raise a possible contingency with 万一, ask what to do if it happens, and understand 以防万一 for just in case.
的话 de huà
Topic + 的话 (De Huà): As For or When It Comes To
Use 的话 after a topic to narrow what the comment concerns, and distinguish this from its conditional if meaning.
不管…都 bùguǎn…dōu
不管…都 (Bùguǎn…Dōu): No Matter What
Express an unchanged result across choices with 不管, using a question word, alternatives, or a range of possibilities.
无论；不论 wúlùn; bùlùn
无论 and 不论: Express No Matter or Regardless
Use 无论 or 不论 with question words and alternatives to state that a result holds regardless of the circumstances.
把；当作；成 bǎ; dàngzuò; chéng
Advanced 把 Sentences: 给, 当作, and 成
Extend 把 sentences with emphatic 给, judgments using 当作 or 看作, and changes or mistaken identifications marked by 成.
连…都 lián…dōu
连…都不: Not Even an Action or a Single Thing
Emphasize complete absence with 连 + verb + 都不 or 都没, and use 连 with a minimal quantity for not even one.
不比；没有 bù bǐ; méiyǒu
不比 (Bù Bǐ) versus 没有: No More or Not As
Distinguish 不比 from 没有 in Chinese comparisons, including reassuring phrases that deny someone is worse than another person.
要…就 yào…jiù
要…就: If You Are Going to Do It, Do It
Learn the decisive 要 + verb + 就 + verb pattern for urging action, stating a condition, or insisting on how something is done.
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