kè yì
Deliberately, intentionally
Subj. + 刻意 (kèyì) / 有意 (yǒuyì) + Verb; Subj. + 任意 (rènyì) + Verb; Subj. + 擅自 (shànzì) / 私自 (sīzì) + Verb
Pattern diagram
Rule structure
刻意 (kèyì) and 有意 (yǒuyì) indicate intention, 任意 (rènyì) indicates arbitrariness, and 擅自 (shànzì) / 私自 (sīzì) indicate acting without permission. 有意 (yǒuyì) can also mean "intend to", but here only the "on purpose" sense is covered.
Rule structure
刻意 (kèyì) and 有意 (yǒuyì) indicate intention, 任意 (rènyì) indicates arbitrariness, and 擅自 (shànzì) / 私自 (sīzì) indicate acting without permission. 有意 (yǒuyì) can also mean "intend to", but here only the "on purpose" sense is covered.
Examples
他刻意把声音放低,不想吵醒孩子。
Tā kèyì bǎ shēngyīn fàng dī, bù xiǎng chǎo xǐng háizi.
He deliberately lowered his voice, not wanting to wake the child.
Examples
他刻意把声音放低,不想吵醒孩子。
Tā kèyì bǎ shēngyīn fàng dī, bù xiǎng chǎo xǐng háizi.
He deliberately lowered his voice, not wanting to wake the child.
Two short exercises: see how the rule works in a dialogue and in a sentence. No sign-up needed.
kè yì
Deliberately, intentionally
yǒu yì
Intentionally
rèn yì
Arbitrary, at will, as one pleases
shàn zì
Without authorization, arbitrarily
sī zì
Without permission, on one's own
tā
He
bǎ
Preposition putting the object before the verb; measure word for things with a handle
shēngyīn
Sound, voice
fàng
To put, to place
dī
Low
bù
No, not
xiǎng
To want, to think, to miss
Use the structure: Subj. + 刻意 (kèyì) / 有意 (yǒuyì) + Verb; Subj. + 任意 (rènyì) + Verb; Subj. + 擅自 (shànzì) / 私自 (sīzì) + Verb. For example: 他刻意把声音放低,不想吵醒孩子。 — “He deliberately lowered his voice, not wanting to wake the child”.
他刻意把声音放低,不想吵醒孩子。 — “He deliberately lowered his voice, not wanting to wake the child”.
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.0 Levels 7–9.
Tomyo
Grammar explanations, exercises and spaced repetition — all in one app.
向来 — always previously
Subj. + 向来 (xiànglái) + Verb / Adj.
偏 — contrary to expectations
Subj. + 偏偏 (piānpiān) + Verb (undesirable coincidence)
无非 — nothing but
无非 (wúfēi) + Noun / Clause (dismissive)
何必 — why bother
何必 (hébì) + Verb Phrase (rhetorical, unnecessary)
按理 — logically speaking
按理 (ànlǐ) / 按说 (ànshuō) + Clause (conclusion that clashes with the fact)
不妨 vs 务必 — advice vs requirement
不妨 (bùfáng) + Verb Phrase (soft suggestion) / 务必 (wùbì) + Verb Phrase (insistent requirement)
照常 — as usual
Subj. + 照常 (zhàocháng) / 照例 (zhàolì) / 照样 (zhàoyàng) + Verb
碰巧 / 恰巧 — coincidence
Subj. + 碰巧 (pèngqiǎo) / 恰巧 (qiàqiǎo) + Verb Phrase
Got the rule? Test yourself
Two exercises, under a minute.