Chinese grammar / 70 topics
Sentence structure and word order in Chinese grammar
Learn Chinese sentence structure and word order through sentence patterns, rewritten explanations, pinyin and English examples. Browse 70 grammar topics.
主语谓语宾语 zhǔyǔ wèiyǔ bīnyǔ
Basic Chinese Word Order: Subject, Verb and Object
Understand basic Chinese subject–verb–object order, when an object is optional, and why added time words and adverbs need separate attention.
太……了 tài…le
Too and So in Chinese with 太……了 (Tài…Le)
Use 太 + adjective + 了 for excess, strong praise, or surprise, and understand how context changes the meaning from “too” to “so.”
因为 · 所以 yīnwèi · suǒyǐ
Explain why with 因为…所以…
Give a reason and explain its result.
快要……了 kuàiyào…le
About to Happen with 快……了 and 要……了
Use 快、快要 or 要 with final 了 to describe an approaching event or state, and understand why 了 does not place these sentences in the past.
什么都 shénme dōu
Everything and Anything with 什么都 in Chinese
Use 什么……都 for inclusive statements and 什么也不 or 什么都没 for negatives that exclude everything within the relevant context.
在……上／下／里 zài…shàng / xià / lǐ
Chinese Location Phrases with 在、上、下 and 里
Describe positions with 在 plus a reference noun and a location word, while recognizing places that can follow 在 without an added position marker.
别……了 bié…le
Stop Doing It with 别……了 in Chinese
Use 别 + action + 了 to request stopping or abandoning an action, including a planned activity that has not yet begun.
把 bǎ
Say what happens to an object with 把
Put a specific object before the verb to explain what happens to it.
越来越 yuè lái yuè
Describe a growing change with 越来越
Show that a quality, quantity, or feeling is increasing as time goes on.
虽然 · 但是 suīrán · dànshì
Show contrast with 虽然…但是…
Acknowledge one fact, then explain what is unexpectedly true alongside it.
如果 · 就 rúguǒ · jiù
Make a conditional plan with 如果…就…
Connect a possible situation with what you will do if it happens.
是…的 shì…de
是…的 for Past Details: Emphasizing When, How, or With Whom
Use 是…的 to focus on details of an established event, including its time, place, method, or participants.
是…的 shì…de
是…的 for Purpose: What Someone Came for or Something Is Used for
Explain intentions and intended functions in Chinese with 是来…的, 是去…的, 是用来…的, and related purpose patterns.
是…的 shì…de
是…的 Patterns: Details, Classification, Purpose, and Emphasis
Distinguish the main Chinese 是…的 patterns by meaning, including omitted nouns, event details, intended uses, and firm assertions.
话题 huàtí
Chinese Topic-Comment Sentences: Put the Topic First
Understand how Chinese introduces a topic before commenting on it, including objects moved ahead of a separate subject.
被 bèi
被 (Bèi) Sentences: Chinese Passive Voice and Affected Subjects
Build Chinese passive sentences with 被, place the affected participant first, and decide whether to name the doer.
着、是 zhe, shì
Existential Sentences with 着 and 是: Describing What Is Somewhere
Start with a place to describe what is standing, lying, or located there, using existential patterns with 着 or 是.
想…就… xiǎng…jiù…
想…就…: Doing Whatever You Want in Chinese
Use 想…就… to permit an action or express freedom of choice, including repeated question words for whatever and wherever.
连…都… lián…dōu…
连…都…: Saying Even in Chinese
Highlight an unexpected person, thing, or event with 连…都…, including correct placement when the focused phrase is an object.
多长时间…一次 duō cháng shíjiān…yī cì
How Often in Chinese: 多长时间…一次 and Frequency Answers
Ask about the interval between actions with 多长时间…一次 and give frequencies using a period plus an action count.
倍 bèi
倍 (Bèi): Times as Much and Multiplicative Comparisons
Express ratios with 是…的…倍 and distinguish a total multiple from an increase described with a comparative adjective.
一点也不 yīdiǎn yě bù
一点也不 and 一点都不: Not at All in Chinese
Strengthen a negative description with 一点也不 or 一点都不, including feelings and attitudes as well as adjectives.
不知道…好 bù zhīdào…hǎo
不知道…好: Not Knowing What Would Be Best to Do
Express indecision with 不知道…好, using an embedded question and optional 才 to ask what action would be appropriate.
为了 wèile
为了 (Wèile): Explaining Purpose and Intended Benefit
Place 为了 before a goal or beneficiary to explain why an action is taken, and distinguish purpose from an existing cause.
对…来说 duì…láishuō
来说 (Láishuō): For Someone, Generally, and Speaking Broadly
Frame a comment with 对…来说 or a familiar 来说 phrase to identify a perspective or the scope of a generalization.
一…就… yī…jiù…
一…就…: As Soon As and Immediate Reactions in Chinese
Connect a trigger to an immediate result with 一…就…, for single events, future plans, and habitual reactions.
除了…以外 chúle…yǐwài
除了…以外: Except, Besides, and In Addition in Chinese
Distinguish exclusion from addition with 除了…以外 by reading the following 都, 也, or 还 and the scope of the sentence.
还好…不然… háihǎo…bùrán…
还好…不然…: Fortunately and Otherwise in Chinese
Describe a fortunate circumstance with 还好 and explain the avoided problem using 不然 and its hypothetical outcome.
如果…的话 rúguǒ…dehuà
如果…的话: Forming If Conditions in Chinese
Put a condition between 如果 and 的话, introduce its result with 就 when appropriate, and recognize shorter conditional forms.
不但…而且… bùdàn…érqiě
不但…而且…: Not Only…But Also in Chinese
Link two related points with 不但…而且…, and adjust the position of 不但 when the clauses have different subjects.
怪不得、难怪 guàibude, nánguài
怪不得 and 难怪: Saying No Wonder in Chinese
Connect a newly understood reason with an observation using 怪不得 or 难怪, including explanations introduced by 原来.
等到 děngdào
等到 (Děngdào): When the Time Comes and Not Until
Use 等 or 等到 to introduce a future milestone or a later point in a Chinese narrative, with 再, 就, or 才.
要不是 yàobushì
要不是 (Yàobushì): If It Were Not For
Explain how 要不是 introduces a counterfactual condition, crediting help or identifying what prevented a different outcome.
多亏 duōkuī
多亏 (Duōkuī): Say Thanks To in Chinese
Use 多亏 to credit helpful circumstances, connect them to a good outcome, and explain the trouble they helped prevent.
而已 éryǐ
而已 (Éryǐ): Express Only, Merely, or That's All
Learn where to place 而已 when limiting a claim to a noun, amount, or action, often alongside 只 or 仅仅.
将 jiāng
将 (Jiāng) as a Formal Alternative to 把
Understand the object-marking use of 将, its formal register, and how the following verb phrase describes handling or change.
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.
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.
任何 rènhé
任何 (Rènhé): Any or Whichever in Chinese
Use 任何 before nouns to include every possible member of a group, often with 都 or a following negative statement.
既…又；既…也 jì…yòu; jì…yě
既…又 and 既…也: Both And in Chinese
Combine two qualities, actions, or identities with 既…又 or 既…也, keeping the two descriptions grammatically parallel.
少不了 shǎobuliǎo
少不了 (Shǎobuliǎo): Cannot Do Without or Bound to Have
Use 少不了 for essential ingredients, unavoidable experiences, and contributions that are needed for an outcome.
等于 děngyú
等于 (Děngyú): Be Equivalent To or Amount To
Use 等于 beyond mathematics to explain that an action has effectively the same meaning, effect, or consequence as another.
从…中 cóng…zhōng
从…中 (Cóng…Zhōng): Learn or Gain Something From
Identify the source of knowledge, understanding, or experience with 从…中, including books, conversations, and events.
就 jiù
Verb + 就 + Verb: So Be It in Chinese
Express acceptance, indifference, or defiance by repeating a verb around 就, including negative forms and completed situations.
一…都不；一…也没 yī…dōu bù; yī…yě méi
一…都不 and 一…也没: Not Even One in Chinese
Emphasize zero quantity or no occurrence with 一 + measure word and a negative predicate, often using 都 or 也.
不但…甚至连…也 bùdàn…shènzhì lián…yě
不但…甚至连…也: Not Only, But Even
Build a stronger addition with 不但 and 甚至连, focusing the second clause on a more surprising case or achievement.
好 hǎo
好 (Hǎo) for Purpose: So That Someone Can
Use 好 before a purpose clause to explain how an earlier action makes the next action easier or possible.
有关的 yǒuguān de
跟…有关的: Describe Things Related To a Topic
Build noun phrases with 跟, 和, or 与…有关的, and distinguish a related-to modifier from a complete 有关 statement.
一面…一面 yīmiàn…yīmiàn
一面…一面 (Yīmiàn…Yīmiàn): Do Two Things at Once
Connect simultaneous activities with 一面…一面 and understand its similarity to the more conversational 一边…一边.
所谓 suǒwèi
所谓 (Suǒwèi): So-Called or What Is Known As
Use 所谓 before a label or concept, with or without skepticism, and understand the role of optional 的.
越…越 yuè…yuè
越…越 (Yuè…Yuè): The More, the More or Less
Link changing degrees with 越…越, using one or two subjects and negative predicates for the more…the less.
不是…就是 bù shì…jiùshì
不是…就是 (Bù Shì…Jiùshì): Either One or the Other
Present two alternatives as the only relevant possibilities with 不是…就是, including recurring habits and uncertain identifications.
宁可 nìngkě
宁可…也不 and 宁可…也要: Would Rather
Express a deliberate preference with 宁可, rejecting another option with 也不 or accepting a cost with 也要.
不但；不仅；不只 bùdàn; bùjǐn; bùzhǐ
不但, 不仅, and 不只: Not Only But Also Patterns
Compare 不但, 不仅, and 不只 with 而且, 还, or 也 when adding another fact or extending a statement.
非…不可；非要 fēi…bùkě; fēiyào
非…不可 and 非要: Insistence, Necessity, and Certainty
Use 非…不可 for a firm requirement or predicted consequence, and 非要 for insistence that may sound determined or stubborn.
岂不是 qǐ bù shì
岂不是 (Qǐ Bù Shì): Wouldn't That Mean…?
Use 岂不是 in rhetorical questions to highlight an obvious implication, objection, or consequence rather than ask for unknown information.
兼 jiān
兼 (Jiān): Combine Roles, Jobs, or Functions
Describe someone holding two roles or something serving multiple functions with 兼, including noun + 兼 + noun patterns.
莫非 mòfēi
莫非 (Mòfēi): Could It Be That…?
Introduce a conjecture with 莫非 when evidence prompts a guess, or use it rhetorically to challenge an unexpected possibility.
由此 yóucǐ
由此 (Yóucǐ): From This or As a Result
Connect earlier evidence to a conclusion or earlier circumstances to a result with 由此, including the phrase 由此可见.
非得 fēiděi
非得 (Fēiděi): Must, Have To, or Insist On
Use 非得 for strong necessity or insistence, often with 不可, 不行, or 不成 to exclude other alternatives.
莫过于 mòguòyú
莫过于 (Mòguòyú): Nothing Is More…Than
Use 莫过于 to name the highest or most extreme case on a stated scale, including joy, sadness, importance, or comfort.
与其…不如 yǔqí…bùrú
与其…不如 (Yǔqí…Bùrú): Rather Than, Better To
Compare a rejected option with a preferred one using 与其…不如, and refine a judgment with 与其说…不如说.
跟…似的 gēn…shìde
跟…似的 (Gēn…Shìde): Like or As If in Chinese
Make a conversational comparison with 跟…似的, placing the model or imagined situation between the two parts.
不愧是 bùkuì shì
不愧是 (Bùkuì Shì): Live Up to a Reputation
Praise a person or thing for matching an expected standard with 不愧是, and recognize the more formal alternative 不愧为.
由…做主 yóu…zuòzhǔ
由…做主 (Yóu…Zuòzhǔ): Say Who Makes the Decision
Identify the person with decision-making authority using 由…做主, with the matter or area of responsibility stated first.
一来…二来 yīlái…èrlái
一来…二来 (Yīlái…Èrlái): For One Thing, For Another
Organize two reasons or purposes with 一来…二来, presenting them as parallel grounds for an action or conclusion.
以…为… yǐ…wéi…
以…为… (Yǐ…Wéi…): Take or Use A as B
Use formal 以 A 为 B to identify a standard, basis, goal, example, or role, including common expressions with 为例 and 为主.
为…而… wèi…ér…
为…而… (Wèi…Ér…): Act for a Purpose or Cause
Name the purpose, beneficiary, or cause behind an action with 为…而…, a common pattern in formal and emphatic Chinese.
以…的名义 yǐ…de míngyì
以…的名义 (Yǐ…De Míngyì): In the Name Of
Use 以…的名义 to describe acting under someone's name, authority, or stated cause, including sincere and questionable claims.