nǐ
You
你说 (nǐ shuō) + 你 (nǐ) + 一个 (yí ge) + X (person/role) + , + Explanation
Pattern diagram
Rule structure
A colloquial set phrase: the speaker reproachfully or with puzzlement points out that someone's behavior does not match their role or position. X is usually a person or role (e.g. 学生 (xué shēng), 大人 (dà rén), 医生 (yī shēng)). After the comma comes a short explanation of the mismatch. It usually sounds like a mild rebuke rather than direct rudeness.
Rule structure
A colloquial set phrase: the speaker reproachfully or with puzzlement points out that someone's behavior does not match their role or position. X is usually a person or role (e.g. 学生 (xué shēng), 大人 (dà rén), 医生 (yī shēng)). After the comma comes a short explanation of the mismatch. It usually sounds like a mild rebuke rather than direct rudeness.
Examples
你说你一个学生,怎么能天天迟到?
Nǐ shuō nǐ yí ge xuésheng, zěnme néng tiāntiān chídào?
How can you, a student, be late every single day?
Examples
你说你一个学生,怎么能天天迟到?
Nǐ shuō nǐ yí ge xuésheng, zěnme néng tiāntiān chídào?
How can you, a student, be late every single day?
Two short exercises: see how the rule works in a dialogue and in a sentence. No sign-up needed.
Use the structure: 你说 (nǐ shuō) + 你 (nǐ) + 一个 (yí ge) + X (person/role) + , + Explanation. For example: 你说你一个学生,怎么能天天迟到? — “How can you, a student, be late every single day?”.
你说你一个学生,怎么能天天迟到? — “How can you, a student, be late every single day?”.
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.0 Levels 7–9.
Tomyo
Grammar explanations, exercises and spaced repetition — all in one app.
动不动 就 — at the slightest thing, just
Subj. + 动不动 (dòngbudòng) 就 (jiù) + Verb
仅次于 — second only to
Subj. + 仅次于 (jǐn cì yú) + X
个 — casual small action
Verb + 个 (ge) + Noun
除外 — except for, excluding
Noun + 除外 (chúwài)
不亚于 — no worse than
Subject + 不亚于 (bú yà yú) + Noun
可不 — enthusiastic agreement
可不 (kě bu) / 可不是嘛 (kě bú shì ma) — a standalone confirming reply
说到哪儿去了 — polite reply to praise
说到哪儿去了 (shuō dào nǎr qù le) — a standalone polite reply
非 — neither A nor B
非 (fēi) + Noun/Adj. A + 非 (fēi) + Noun/Adj. B
Got the rule? Test yourself
Two exercises, under a minute.