HSK 4 Chinese grammar

Expressing contrariness with "倒 (dào)"

倒 (dào)⋯⋯

Expressing "although" with "尽管 (jǐnguǎn)"

尽管 (jǐnguǎn)⋯⋯，但是 (dànshì)⋯⋯

The "however" adverb "却 (què)"

⋯⋯，却 (què)⋯⋯

Expressing "even if…" with "即使 (jíshǐ)"

即使 (jíshǐ)⋯⋯，也 (yě)⋯⋯

Expressing "if… then…" with "要是 (yàoshi)"

要是 (yàoshi)⋯⋯，就 (jiù)⋯⋯

Expressing "no matter" with "不管 (bùguǎn)"

不管 (bùguǎn)⋯⋯，都 (dōu) / 也 (yě)⋯⋯

Expressing "no matter" with "无论 (wúlùn)"

无论 (wúlùn) / 不论 (bùlùn)⋯⋯，都 (dōu) / 也 (yě)⋯⋯

Negative adjectives with "-死了 (sǐle)"

Adj. + 死了 (sǐle)

Indicating the whole with "全 (quán)"

全 (quán) + Measure Word + Noun

Declaring the only option with "只好 (zhǐhǎo)"

Subj. + 只好 (zhǐhǎo) + Verb Phrase

Expressing "in the end" with "究竟 (jiūjìng)"

究竟 (jiūjìng) + Question word / Question

Expressing "in the end" with "到底 (dàodǐ)"

到底 (dàodǐ) + Verb / Adj.

Expressing "as a result" with "结果 (jiéguǒ)"

Reason，结果 (jiéguǒ) + Result

Expressing "have to" with "不得不 (bùdébù)"

Subj. + 不得不 (bùdébù) + Verb Phrase

Expressing "even" with "甚至 (shènzhì)"

甚至 (shènzhì) + Verb / Noun / Clause

Expressing "enough" with "够 (gòu)"

Subj. + 够 (gòu) + Predicate (+ 了 (le))

Expressing "originally" with "本来 (běnlái)"

Subj. + 本来 (běnlái) + Verb / Adj.

Expressing "it would be best / preferably" with "最好 (zuìhǎo)"

Subj. + 最好 (zuìhǎo) + Verb Phrase

Expressing "never / ever in negative contexts" with "从来 (cónglái)"

从来 (cónglái) + 都 (dōu)/也 (yě) + 不 (bù)/没 (méi) + Verb / Adj.

Expressing "one by one" with "一 (yī) + Measure Word + 一 (yī) + Measure Word"

一 (yī) + Measure Word + 一 (yī) + Measure Word

Expressing "it turns out / originally" with "原来 (yuánlái)"

Subj. + 原来 (yuánlái) + Predicate

Expressing "just" with "刚 (gāng)"

Subj. + 刚 (gāng) + Verb Phrase (+ 了 (le))

Expressing "almost" using "差点 (chàdiǎn)"

Subj. + 差点 (chàdiǎn) + Predicate

Expressing "small quantity" with "就 (jiù)"

Place / Scope + 就 (jiù) + Quantity + Noun

Expressing "to make certain" with "千万 (qiānwàn)"

千万 (qiānwàn) + (别 (bié) / 不 (bù)) + Verb

Expressing the unexpected with "竟然 (jìngrán)"

Subj. + 竟然 (jìngrán) + Verb / Adj.

Expressing concern with "恐怕 (kǒngpà)"

恐怕 (kǒngpà) + Clause

Assessing situations with "看来 (kànlái)"

(在 (zài) + Person +) 看来 (kànlái)

Approximations with "差不多 (chàbuduō)"

Subj. + 差不多 (chàbuduō)

Rhetorical questions with "难道 (nándào)"

难道 (nándào)⋯⋯？

Coincidence with "正好 (zhènghǎo)"

Subj. + 正好 (zhènghǎo) + Verb / Adj.

Expressing "had better" with "还是 (háishi)"

Subj. + 还是 (háishi) + Verb Phrase (+ 吧 (ba))

Using "也 (yě)" and "都 (dōu)" together

Subj. + 也 (yě) + 都 (dōu) + Verb

Emphasizing negation with "又 (yòu)"

又 (yòu) + 不 (bù) / 没 (méi) + Verb / Adj.

Emphatic adverb "可 (kě)"

Subj. + 可 (kě) + Verb / Adj. (+ 了 (le))

Expressing "quite" with "挺 (tǐng)"

挺 (tǐng) + Adj. (+ 的 (de))

Expressing "must" with "得 (děi)"

Subj. + 得 (děi) + Verb Phrase

Expressing "don't need to" with "不用 (bùyòng)"

Subj. + 不用 (bú yòng) + Verb Phrase

Non-exhaustive lists with "等等 (děngděng)"

⋯⋯ 等 (děng) / 等等 (děngděng)

Ending a non-exhaustive list with "什么的 (shénme de)"

Noun 1, Noun 2 + 什么的 (shénme de)

Expressing "even" with "连 (lián) … 都 (dōu)/也 (yě) …"

连 (lián) + Noun + 都 (dōu) + Verb

Expressing not knowing how to do something using "好 (hǎo)"

Subj. + 不知道 (bù zhīdào) + Verb Phrase + 好 (hǎo)

Expressing "not at all" with "一点儿也不 (yìdiǎnr yě bù)"

一点儿也 (yīdiǎnr yě) + 不 (bù) / 没 (méi) + Verb / Adj.

Expressing "multiples" with "倍 (bèi)"

A + 是 (shì) + B + 的 (de) + Number + 倍 (bèi)

Phrases using "来说 (láishuō)"

对 (duì) + Person + 来说 (láishuō)

Expressing "due to…" with "由于 (yóuyú)"

由于 (yóuyú) + Cause / Reason, Result

Expressing "since" with "既然 (jìrán)"

既然 (jìrán)⋯⋯，就 (jiù)⋯⋯

Expressing "therefore" with "因此 (yīncǐ)"

⋯⋯，因此 (yīncǐ)⋯⋯

Uses of the complement "-起来 (qǐlái)"

Verb / Adj. + 起来 (qǐlái)

Expressing various aspects with "一方面 (yì fāngmiàn)"

一方面 (yì fāngmiàn)⋯⋯，一方面 (yì fāngmiàn)⋯⋯

Events in quick succession with "一 (yī) …, 就 (jiù) …"

一 (yī) + Verb 1, 就 (jiù) + Verb 2

Conceding a point with "是 (shì)"

Adj. + 是 (shì) + Adj.， 但是 (dànshì)⋯⋯

Expressing "unless" with "除非 (chúfēi)"

除非 (chúfēi) + Condition, 才 (cái) + Result / 否则 (fǒuzé) + Negative Result

Expressing "and then" with "于是 (yúshì)"

⋯⋯，于是 (yúshì) ⋯⋯

Expressing "in addition" with "再说 (zàishuō)"

⋯⋯，再说 (zàishuō)，⋯⋯

Expressing "in addition" with "另外 (lìngwài)"

⋯⋯，另外 (lìngwài)，⋯⋯

Expressing "in addition" with "还有 (háiyǒu)"

⋯⋯，还有 (háiyǒu) + Additional Information

A softer "but" with "不过 (bùguò)"

⋯⋯，不过 (búguò) ⋯⋯

Using "来 (lái)" to connect two verb phrases

(用 (yòng) / 通过 (tōngguò)) + Method + 来 (lái) + Purpose

Words for "but"

但是 (dànshì) / 可是 (kěshì) / 不过 (bùguò) / 然而 (rán'ér)

Connecting qualities with "而 (ér)"

Adj. 1 + 而 (ér) + Adj. 2

Expressing "all" with "所有 (suǒyǒu)"

所有 (suǒyǒu) (+ 的 (de)) + Noun

Expressing "the other" with "另外 (lìngwài)"

另外 (lìngwài) + Number + Measure Word + Noun

Expressing "one of" with "之一 (zhīyī)"

Noun + 之一 (zhī yī)

Expressing "within (it/them)" with "其中 (qízhōng)"

Phrase + 其中 (qízhōng)

Expressing fractions with "分之 (fēn zhī)"

Denominator + 分之 (fēn zhī) + Numerator

Using "的 (de)" as modal particle

Statement + 的 (de)

Reviewing options with "吧 (ba)"

Option 1 + 吧 (ba)， Option 2 + 吧 (ba)，…

Rhetorical yes-no question with "难道 (nándào)…吗 (ma)"

难道 (nándào) + Statement + 吗 (ma)?

Expressing "along with…" with "随着 (suízhe)"

随着 (suízhe) + Noun / Verb Phrase, Main Clause

Idiomatic phrases with "在 (zài)"

在 (zài) + Noun + 上 (shàng), ⋯

Expressing "both… and…" with "既 (jì) … 又 (yòu) …"

既 (jì)⋯⋯也 (yě) / 又 (yòu)⋯⋯

Expressing "any" with "任何 (rènhé)"

任何 (rènhé) + Noun + 都 (dōu) / 也 (yě)…

Explaining purpose with "为 (wèi) … 而 (ér) …"

为 (wèi) + Purpose + 而 (ér) + Action

Using "以 (yǐ) … 为 (wèi) …"

以 (yǐ) + Noun 1 + 为 (wèi) + Noun 2

Advanced uses of "连 (lián)"

连 (lián) + Verb + 都 (dōu) + 不 (bù) / 没 (méi) + Verb

Expressing location with "在 (zài) … 上 (shàng)/下 (xià)/里 (lǐ)"

在 (zài) + Place + 上 (shàng) / 下 (xià) / 里 (lǐ) / 旁边 (pángbiān)

Emphasizing a negation with "并 (bìng)"

并 (bìng) + 不 (bù) / 没 (méi) + Verb / Adj.

Emphasizing the doer of an action with "由 (yóu)"

由 (yóu) + Person + Verb

Expressing "moreover" with "并且 (bìngqiě)"

Clause 1, 并且 (bìngqiě) + Clause 2

Expressing "until" with "到 (dào)"

Verb + 到 (dào) + Time / Place / Degree

Expressing "to be worth" doing with "值得 (zhídé)"

值得 (zhídé) + Verb Phrase

Indicating negative impact with "害得 (hàide)"

害得 (hàide) + Person + Verb Phrase

Doing something more with "多 (duō)"

多 (duō) + Verb Phrase

Doing something less with "少 (shǎo)"

少 (shǎo) + Verb Phrase

Separable verb

Verb + Object

Combining verbs with "并 (bìng)"

Verb 1 + 并 (bìng) + Verb 2

Expressing "it depends" with "看 (kàn)"

这 (zhè) / 那 (nà) + 要看 (yào kàn) / 得看 (děi kàn) + situation

Expressing "lies in" with "在于 (zàiyú)"

在于 (zàiyú) + Noun / Clause

Expressing "through" with "通过 (tōngguò)"

通过 (tōngguò) + Means / Method + Verb

Expressing "it seems" with "好像 (hǎoxiàng)"

好像 (hǎoxiàng) + Clause

Expressing "to come from" with "来自 (láizì)"

Subj. + 来自 (láizì) + Place / Source

Expressing "mistakenly think that" with "以为 (yǐwéi)"

Subj. + 以为 (yǐwéi)⋯⋯

Using "来 (lái)" as a dummy verb

Verb Phrase 1 + 来 (lái) + Verb Phrase 2