HSK 5 Chinese grammar

Expressing "on the contrary" with "反而 (fǎn'ér)"

⋯⋯，反而 (fǎn'ér) ⋯⋯

Expressing "even if…" with "哪怕 (nǎpà)"

哪怕 (nǎpà)⋯⋯，也 (yě)⋯⋯

Expressing "even if…" with "就是 (jiùshì)"

就是 (jiùshì)⋯⋯，也 (yě)⋯⋯

Expressing "even if…" with "就算 (jiùsuàn)"

就算 (jiùsuàn)⋯⋯，也 (yě)⋯⋯

Marking a topic with "的话 (de huà)"

Topic + 的话 (de huà)， Main Clause

Expressing "what if" with "万一 (wànyī)"

万一 (wànyī) + (Undesirable) Condition + 怎么办 (zěnme bàn)？

Expressing "if… then…" with "假如 (jiǎrú)"

假如 (jiǎrú) + Condition, 就 (jiù) + Result

Saying "a lot" with "有的是 (yǒudeshì)"

Subj. + 有的是 (yǒudeshì) + Noun

Expressing "a bit too"

有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr) + 太 (tài) + Adj. + 了 (le)

Adjectival complement "得不得了 (de bùdéliǎo)"

Adj. + 得不得了 (de bùdéliǎo)

Adjectival complement "得很 (de hěn)"

Adj. + 得很 (de hěn)

Expressing "never again" with "再也不 (zài yě bù)"

Subj. + 再也 (zài yě) + 不 (bù) + Verb Phrase + 了 (le)

Expressing "after all" with "毕竟 (bìjìng)"

毕竟 (bìjìng) + Clause

Expressing "anyway" with "反正 (fǎnzhèng)"

反正 (fǎnzhèng) + Fact/Reason, Main Clause

Expressing "each other" with "互相 (hùxiāng)"

互相 (hùxiāng) + Verb Phrase

Expressing "while you're at it" with "顺便 (shùnbiàn)"

Subj. ＋Verb Phrase 1，顺便 (shùnbiàn) + Verb Phrase 2

Expressing "once" with "曾经 (céngjīng)"

Subj. + 曾经 (céngjīng) + Verb + 过 (guo)

Expressing "as much as possible" with "尽量 (jǐnliàng)"

尽量 (jǐnliàng) + Verb Phrase

Expressing "feel free" with "尽管 (jǐnguǎn)"

尽管 (jǐnguǎn) + Verb Phrase

Expressing "just" do it with "干脆 (gāncuì)"

干脆 (gāncuì) + Verb Phrase

Expressing "simply" with "简直 (jiǎnzhí)"

简直 (jiǎnzhí) + Verb / Adj.

Expressing difficulty with "好不容易 (hǎo bù róngyì)" / "好容易 (hǎo róngyì)"

好不容易 (hǎo bù róngyì) / 好容易 (hǎo róngyì) + 才 (cái) + Verb Phrase

Expressing "over and over again" with "再三 (zàisān)"

再三 (zàisān) + Verb Phrase

Expressing "almost" using "差点没 (chàdiǎn méi)"

Subj. + 差点没 (chàdiǎn méi) + Verb

Expressing wasted efforts with "白 (bái)"

白 (bái) + Verb Phrase

Expressing a last chance with "再不 (zài bù) … 就 (jiù) …"

Subj. + 再不 (zài bù) + Verb Phrase, 就 (jiù) + result

Repeated past action with complaint or surprise using "又 (yòu)"

Subj. + (Time) + 又 (yòu) + Verb + 了 (le)

Advanced uses of "总 (zǒng)"

总 (zǒng) + Verb Phrase

Advanced uses of "都 (dōu)"

Subj. + 都 (dōu) + Predicate

Continuing state with "还 (hái)…呢 (ne)"

Subj. + 还 (hái) + Predicate + 呢 (ne)

Contrasting "差不多 (chàbuduō)" with "差很多 (chà hěn duō)"

Subj. + 差很多 (chà hěn duō)

Expressing "especially" with "格外 (géwài)"

格外 (géwài) + Adj. / Verb

Expressing future with "将 (jiāng)"

Subj. + 将 (jiāng) + Verb Phrase

Listing things with "啊 (a)"

Noun 1 + 啊 (a), Noun 2 + 啊 (a)…

Stating the effect before the cause

之所以 (zhīsuǒyǐ)⋯⋯，是因为 (shì yīnwèi) / 是为了 (shì wèile) / 是想 (shì xiǎng)⋯⋯

Complement "-坏了 (huàile)"

Verb / Adj. + 坏了 (huàile)

Complement "-着 (zháo)"

Verb + 着 (zháo)

Using "来 (lái)" and "去 (qù)" when "verbing around"

Verb 1 + 来 (lái) + Verb 1 + 去 (qù)

Advanced degree complements

Adj. + 得 (de) + 很 (hěn) / 不得了 (bù de le) / 要命 (yàomìng) / 不行 (bùxíng)

Advanced potential complements

Verb + 得 (de) / 不 (bù) + Result Complement

Advanced result complements "住 (zhù)", "开 (kāi)", and "出来 (chūlái)"

Verb + 住 (zhù) / 开 (kāi) / 出 (chū)(来 (lái))

Tricky uses of "到 (dào)"

Verb + 到 (dào)

Using "将 (jiāng)" as a formal "把 (bǎ)"

Subj. + 将 (jiāng) + Obj. + Verb + Complement

Basic comparisons with "不比 (bùbǐ)"

A + 不比 (bù bǐ) + B + Adj. (A is not more Adj. than B)

Expressing indifference with "就 (jiù)"

就 (jiù) + Verb / 就算了 (jiùsuàn le) / 就是了 (jiùshì le) — concessive indifference

Expressing "thanks to" with "多亏 (duōkuī)"

多亏 (duōkuī) + Person / Cause, 才 (cái) + Positive Result

Expressing "within" a period of time using "在 (zài) … 内 (nèi)"

在 (zài) + Time Period + 内 (nèi) + Verb

Expressing "if it were not for" with "要不是 (yàobushì)"

要不是 (yàobushì) + Condition, 就 (jiù) + Result (counterfactual)

Expressing "that's all" with "而已 (éryǐ)"

Clause + 而已 (éryǐ)

Expressing "from" with "从中 (cóngzhōng)"

从 (cóng) + Plural / Group + 中 (zhōng) + Verb

Expressing "let alone" with "更不用说 (gèng bùyòng shuō)"

⋯⋯，更不用说 (gèng bùyòng shuō)⋯⋯

Expressing "let alone" with "别说 (biéshuō)"

别说 (biéshuō)⋯⋯，就是 (jiùshì)⋯⋯

Expressing "can't do without" with "少不了 (shǎobuliǎo)"

Subj. + 少不了 (shǎobuliǎo) + Noun / Verb Phrase

Expressing "not only…, even…" using "不但 (bùdàn) … 甚至连 (shènzhì lián) …"

不但 (búdàn) + Clause 1, 甚至 (shènzhì) + 连 (lián) + Noun + 都 (dōu)/也 (yě) + Verb

Expressing "no wonder" with "难怪 (nánguài)"

Reason，怪不得 (guàibude) / 难怪 (nánguài) + Observation

Expressing "no" (noun) "to" (verb) with "无可 (wúkě) …"

无可 (wúkě) + Verb / Noun

Expressing "would rather" with "宁可 (nìngkě)"

宁可 (nìngkě) / 宁愿 (nìngyuàn) + A, 也不 (yě bù) + B

Expressing "equal to" with "等于 (děngyú)"

A + 等于 (děngyú) + B

Expressing "related to…" with "有关的 (yǒuguān de)"

跟 (gēn) / 和 (hé) / 与 (yǔ) + Noun + 有关的 (yǒuguān de) + Noun

Expressing "so-called" with "所谓 (suǒwèi)"

所谓 (suǒwèi) + Noun Phrase

Expressing simultaneous actions with "一面 (yímiàn)"

一面 (yímiàn) + Verb 1, 一面 (yímiàn) + Verb 2

Expressing purpose with "好 (hǎo)"

Clause 1, 好 (hǎo) + Clause 2 (purpose)

Providing two options with double "或者 (huòzhě)"

或者 (huòzhě) + Option A， 或者 (huòzhě) + Option B

Advanced uses of "把 (bǎ)"

Subj. + 把 (bǎ) + Obj. + Verb + Complex Complement

Conditions with "要 (yào) … 就 (jiù) …"

要 (yào) + Condition, 就 (jiù) + Result

Expressing "once…then…" with "一旦 (yídàn) … 就 (jiù) …"

一旦 (yídàn)⋯⋯，就 (jiù)⋯⋯

Expressing "how about" with "要不 (yàobù)"

要不 (yàobù) + Suggestion / Option

Expressing "when" using "当 (dāng)"

当 (dāng) + Time / Event + 的时候 (de shíhou), Main Clause

Expressing "each other" with "彼此 (bǐcǐ)"

彼此 (bǐcǐ) + Verb

Expressing "ever since" with "以来 (yǐlái)"

Time / Event + 以来 (yǐlái)，⋯⋯

Expressing "among" with "当中 (dāngzhōng)"

Noun / Group + 当中 (dāngzhōng)

Name-calling with "这个 (zhège)"

Noun + 这个 (zhège) + Category

Marking a topic with "嘛 (ma)"

Topic + 嘛 (ma), Comment

Advanced "了 (le)" with complements

Verb + Complement + 了 (le) + (Obj.)

Softening the tone of questions with "呢 (ne)"

Question Word + 呢 (ne)?

Sentence-final "了 (le)" after a verb-object phrase

Verb + Object + 了 (le)

Defining upper and lower limits

Number + 以上 (yǐshàng) (≥) / 以下 (yǐxià) (≤) / 之内 (zhīnèi) (≤) / 之外 (zhīwài) (>)

Expressing "including" with "在内 (zàinèi)"

包括 (bāokuò) + X + 在内 (zàinèi), Group + 都 (dōu) + Verb

Expressing "for…" with "而言 (ér yán)"

对 (duì) / 对于 (duìyú) + Topic + 而言 (ér yán)

Expressing "on the basis of" with "凭 (píng)"

凭 (píng) + Noun + Verb

Expressing "for" with "为 (wèi)"

Subj. + 是 (shì) + 为 (wèi) + Someone + 好 (hǎo)

Expressing "ever since" with "自从 (zìcóng)"

自从 (zìcóng) + Event, Subj. + 就 (jiù) / 一直 (yìzhí) + Verb

Expressing "with regards to" with "至于 (zhìyú)"

至于 (zhìyú) + Topic, Main Clause

Expressing passive voice with "给 (gěi)"

Subj. + 给 (gěi) + Agent + Verb (+ 了 (le))

Limiting scope with "就 (jiù)"

就 (jiù) + Measure Word / Noun (only, just)

Comparing "对 (duì)" and "对于 (duìyú)"

对 (duì) + Person + Verb / 对于 (duìyú) + Topic + Verb

Comparing "对于 (duìyú)" and "至于 (zhìyú)"

对于 (duìyú) + Topic (focus) / 至于 (zhìyú) + Topic (transition)

Comparing "朝 (cháo)" "向 (xiàng)" and "往 (wǎng)"

朝 (cháo) / 向 (xiàng) / 往 (wǎng) + Direction + Verb

Comparing "给 (gěi)" and "为 (wèi)"

给 (gěi) + Recipient + Verb (transfer) / 为 (wèi) + Beneficiary + Verb (for the sake of)

Opportune timing with "趁 (chèn)"

趁 (chèn) + Opportunity / Time, Main Clause

Comparing "以后 (yǐhòu)" and "之后 (zhīhòu)"

Event + 以后 (yǐhòu) / Event + 之后 (zhīhòu)

Comparing "平时 (píngshí)" and "平常 (píngcháng)"

平时 (píngshí): ordinary times / 平常 (píngcháng): usually, ordinary

Expressing "hard to avoid" with "难免 (nánmiǎn)"

难免 (nánmiǎn) + (会 (huì)) + Negative Outcome

Passive verbs with "受 (shòu)"

受 (shòu) / 受到 (shòudào) + Effect / Evaluation

Challenging a verb with "什么 (shénme)"

Verb + 什么 (shénme) + (Obj.) (rhetorical disapproval)

Making judgments with "算 (suàn)"

Subj. + 算 (suàn) + (是 (shì)) + Noun / Adj.

Using "难怪 (nánguài)" as a verb

这 (zhè) / 也 (yě) + 难怪 (nánguài) + Person

Making "-ize" and "-ify" verbs with "化 (huà)"

Noun / Adj. + 化 (huà) → Verb (to -ize/-ify)

Comparing "显得 (xiǎnde)" and "看起来 (kànqǐlái)"

Subj. + 显得 (xiǎnde) + Adj. (shows quality) / Subj. + 看起来 (kànqǐlái) + Adj. (looks)

Comparing "看起来 (kànqǐlái)" and "看来 (kànlái)"

看起来 (kànqǐlái) + Adj. (visual impression) / 看来 (kànlái) + Clause (inference)

Comparisons with "不如 (bùrú)"

A + 不如 (bùrú) + B + (那么 (nàme) + Adj.)

Comparing specifically with "像 (xiàng)"

A + 像 (xiàng) + B + 一样 (yíyàng) / 这么 (zhème) / 那么 (nàme) + Adj.

Comparisons with "比起 (bǐqǐ)"

比起 (bǐqǐ) + B + (来 (lái)), A + 更 (gèng) / 比较 (bǐjiào) + Adj.