Chinese grammar / 50 topics
Conjunctions and complex sentences in Chinese grammar
Learn Chinese conjunctions and complex sentences through sentence patterns, rewritten explanations, pinyin and English examples. Browse 50 grammar topics.
和 hé
Join people and things with 和
Link two people, objects, or other noun phrases. Together, they can become one subject or one object in a sentence.
还是 háishi
Offer a choice with 还是
Ask the listener to choose between two people, things, or actions.
或者 huòzhě
Or in Chinese Statements with 或者 (Huòzhě)
Use 或者 to present alternatives in Chinese statements, and distinguish it from 还是 when a question asks someone to choose.
跟 gēn
Doing Something With Someone Using 跟 (Gēn)
Put 跟 + person before the action to express “with” in Chinese, and use 一起 when you want to emphasize doing something together.
那个 nèige
那个 (Nèige) as a Chinese Conversation Filler
Recognize 那个 as a hesitation filler in spoken Mandarin, including its common nèige pronunciation and its difference from pointing to “that.”
可是但是 kěshì dànshì
But in Chinese: 可是 (Kěshì) and 但是 (Dànshì)
Connect contrasting ideas with 可是 or 但是, and understand their common differences in tone and formality without treating them as rigid rules.
不过 bùguò
A Softer But with 不过 (Bùguò) in Chinese
Use 不过 to introduce a qualification or contrasting point after a statement, while recognizing that tone and context determine how strong the contrast feels.
要不 yàobù
Making Suggestions with 要不 (Yàobù): How About
Use 要不 to propose an option in conversation, often with final 吧, and distinguish this suggestion use from 要不 meaning “otherwise.”
还有 háiyǒu
Adding an Afterthought with 还有 (Háiyǒu)
Use 还有 to introduce another point or reminder in a conversation, and distinguish the connector from a literal statement that something else exists.
另外 lìngwài
In Addition and Separately with 另外 (Lìngwài)
Use 另外 to introduce an additional point or modify an action done separately or extra, with 还 or 也 often reinforcing addition.
再说 zàishuō
Besides and Moreover with 再说 (Zàishuō)
Use 再说 at the start of a supporting clause to add another reason for a decision or judgment, rather than translating it literally as “say again.”
那么、那 nàme nà
Then and In That Case with 那么 (Nàme) and 那 (Nà)
Use 那么 or 那 to respond to established circumstances with a decision, inference, suggestion, or follow-up question in Chinese.
来 lái
来 (Lái) for Purpose: Connecting a Method to an Action
Learn how 来 connects a tool or method to its purpose, including common Chinese patterns with 用 and 通过.
是 shì
Adjective + 是 + Adjective: Conceding a Point in Chinese
Acknowledge that a description is true before adding a reservation, using patterns such as 好看是好看，但是….
要么…要么… yàome…yàome…
要么…要么…: Either…Or Choices in Chinese
Present alternative actions or outcomes with 要么…要么…, including decisions, instructions, and contrasting possibilities.
于是 yúshì
于是 (Yúshì): So Then and Consequences in a Narrative
Connect a situation with the action it prompts using 于是, and distinguish a narrative development from general causal reasoning.
而 ér
而 (Ér): Connecting Contrasts and Saying But Rather
Use 而 to contrast related clauses in Chinese, especially in 不是…而是… and 是…而不是… corrections and distinctions.
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.
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.
或者…或者 huòzhě…huòzhě
或者…或者 (Huòzhě…Huòzhě): Offer Two Alternatives
Use a repeated 或者 before each alternative to present possible actions, plans, or explanations in a statement.
别说 bié shuō
别说…就是 / 连…: Let Alone in Chinese
Use 别说 to set aside a stronger case, then show that even a smaller or easier case supports the same conclusion.
更不用说 gèng bùyòng shuō
更不用说 (Gèng Bùyòng Shuō): Let Alone or Not to Mention
Extend a conclusion to an even clearer or stronger case with 更不用说, often after a 连…都 statement.
以及 yǐjí
以及 (Yǐjí): And or As Well As in Written Chinese
Join related noun phrases or fuller items with 以及, especially when adding the last part of a formal list.
总之 zǒngzhī
总之 (Zǒngzhī): In Short or To Sum Up
Use 总之 to gather earlier details into one overall conclusion, decision, or general statement in Chinese.
则 zé
则 (Zé): Contrast Two Subjects in Formal Chinese
Place 则 after the second subject to contrast two cases, often with 而 at the start of the second clause.
以免 yǐmiǎn
以免 (Yǐmiǎn): In Order to Avoid or So As Not To
Explain a precaution with 以免, followed by the unwanted event that the earlier action is meant to prevent.
因为…而 yīnwèi…ér
因为…而 (Yīnwèi…Ér): Link a Cause to Its Effect
Use 因为…而 inside a sentence to connect a reason with the action or state it causes, often in formal explanation.
假使…就 jiǎshǐ…jiù
假使…就 (Jiǎshǐ…Jiù): Formal If Then Conditions
Introduce a hypothetical condition with 假使 and describe its consequence with 就, especially in formal or written Chinese.
何况；更何况 hékuàng; gèng hékuàng
何况 and 更何况: Let Alone or All the More
Extend a point to an even clearer case with 何况 or 更何况, in statements and rhetorical questions with 呢.