Chinese Grammar Guides
Short explanations of the grammar points learners get stuck on, each with patterns, examples with pinyin and the mistakes to avoid. Tap any Chinese word to hear it. For practice with exercises, every topic is taught step by step in the Chinese lessons.
A1 · Foundations · HSK 1
是 and Simple Sentences: Pronouns, 是 and 不
How Chinese builds its first sentences: personal pronouns, 是 (to be) between two nouns, negation with 不, and the number sentences that need no 是 at all.
Read the guide →Yes-No Questions: 吗, 呢, A-not-A and 是不是
Four ways to ask a question without a question word: add 吗, bounce it back with 呢, say the verb twice (忙不忙), or check a guess with 是不是. Plus how to answer without a word for yes.
Read the guide →Question Words: 什么, 谁, 哪儿, 几, 多少 and 怎么
Chinese question words stay where the answer goes, with no change of word order. The full A1 set, from 什么 and 谁 to 几 vs 多少 and 怎么 vs 怎么样.
Read the guide →Adjectives: 很, 太…了, 最 and Other Degree Words
Why Chinese says 我很忙 and not 我是忙, what 很 really adds, and how to say very, too, not very, the most and a little bit.
Read the guide →Measure Words, 这/那/哪, 二 vs 两, 些 and 第
Why Chinese needs a measure word between every number and noun, the common ones (个, 本, 杯, 口, 只), this/that/which, when 二 becomes 两, and plurals with 些.
Read the guide →的: Possession and Description
How 的 joins an owner or a description to a noun, when it drops out (我妈妈, 新书), and how 大的 means "the big one".
Read the guide →有, 没有 and 和: Having, There Is and And
有 means both "have" and "there is", it's negated only with 没, and 和 joins nouns but never sentences. Plus when to use 有 and when to use 在.
Read the guide →在 and Position Words: Where Things Are and Where Things Happen
在 as "to be at", 在 + place before the verb (我在银行工作), and the position words that follow a noun: 上, 下, 里, 旁边, 前面, 后面, 左边, 右边.
Read the guide →Word Order: Time, Place, How and Who With
The order of a Chinese sentence: time before the verb, 也 and 都 before the verb, then who with, how and where, and the action last. Covers transport, 去 + place + verb and 跟…一起.
Read the guide →先, 再, 还 and 最后: First, Then, Again and Still
Putting actions in order with 先…再… and 最后, 再 for "again" and "then" in the future, 还 for "still" and "also", and 马上 and 一会儿.
Read the guide →了 and 没: Finished Actions, Not Yet and Change
了 isn't a past tense: it marks a completed action or a new situation. How to use verb + 了, sentence-final 了, 没 for "didn't" (with no 了) and 还没 for "not yet".
Read the guide →想, 要, 会, 能, 喜欢 and 觉得: Wanting, Ability, Likes and Opinions
The A1 helping verbs: 想 vs 要 for wanting, 会 vs 能 for can, 喜欢 + noun or verb for likes, and 觉得 for giving an opinion.
Read the guide →Verbs and Their Objects: 说中文, 知道 vs 认识, 看 vs 看见, 给 and 告诉
Verb-object words like 说话 and 吃饭, the three "knows" (知道, 认识, 会), look vs see (看 vs 看见), and verbs with two objects: 给我一杯茶.
Read the guide →Requests and Suggestions: 请, 吧, 别, 不用 and 帮
Asking politely with 请, suggesting with 吧, telling someone not to with 别, saying "no need" with 不用, and asking for help with 帮 + person + verb.
Read the guide →A2 · Everyday Chinese · HSK 2
过 and 在: Experiences and Actions in Progress
Verb + 过 for things you have ever done, 在 / 正在 … 呢 for actions happening right now, and how to choose between 了, 过, 着 and 在.
Read the guide →着: Lasting States and Doing Things in a Certain Way
Verb + 着 for a state that lasts (门开着, 他穿着红衣服), and verb + 着 + verb for the way something is done (笑着说, 坐着看书).
Read the guide →Comparisons: 比, 没有…那么, 更, 像 and 一样
A 比 B + adjective, how to add "much" or "a bit", not as … as with 没有, even more with 更, and saying things are the same or alike with 一样, 像 and 差不多.
Read the guide →得 and 地: How Well and How Something Is Done
Verb + 得 + description (说得很好), what to do when there's an object (说汉语说得很好), adjective + 地 + verb (慢慢地走), and the three de's: 的, 地, 得.
Read the guide →有点儿, 一点儿, 这么, 这样 and 多么: Degree and Exclamations
有点儿 (a bit too) vs 一点儿 (a bit more), 这么 / 那么 (so) vs 这样 / 那样 (like this), and exclaiming with 多么 and 啊.
Read the guide →Result Complements: 看完, 听懂, 找到, 做好 and 变成
Verb + result (看完, 听懂, 写错, 找到, 做好) shows whether an action achieved anything. How to negate it with 没, the common result words, and becoming with 变 and 变成.
Read the guide →Direction Complements: 来, 去, 拿出来, 走进去 and 送给
Verb + 来 / 去 for movement toward or away from the speaker, compound directions (拿出来, 走进去, 带回来), where the object and place go, and verb + 给 + person.
Read the guide →把 Sentences: Doing Something to Something
The 把 construction (我把门关上了) puts the object before the verb to say what was done to it and with what result. When you need it, its word order and its rules.
Read the guide →Because, Although, But: 因为…所以, 虽然…但是 and the Four Buts
Linking reasons and contrasts: 因为…所以…, 虽然…但是…, the four words for but (但是, 可是, 不过, 但), asking why with 为什么, and which half of a pair can drop.
Read the guide →If, Or, While and The More: 如果, 的话, 还是, 或者, 一边, 越…越
如果…就… and …的话 for if, 还是 vs 或者 for or, 一边…一边… for doing two things at once, and 越…越… for the more … the more.
Read the guide →Before, After, When and From … To: 以前, 以后, 的时候, 从…到…
Time clauses that come before the main verb: …以前, …以后, …的时候, 从…到…, and telling events in order with 然后, 后来 and 当时.
Read the guide →已经, 就, 才, 要…了 and Other Time Adverbs
已经 (already), 就 vs 才 (sooner or later than expected), 要…了 (about to), 还 and 一直 (still, all along), and 忽然, 原来 and 最近.
Read the guide →How Long and How Often: Duration, 次, 遍 and Separable Verbs
Verb + duration (学了两年), where the object goes (学汉语学了两年), counting times with 次 and 遍, and separable verbs like 见面 and 洗澡 that split around 了, 过 and counts.
Read the guide →Should, Must, May and Only: 应该, 得, 必须, 可以, 不用, 只
The A2 helping verbs for obligation and permission: 应该 (should), 得 and 必须 (must), 可以 (may), 不用 (no need), 不要 and 别 (don't), plus 打算 and 愿意 and only with 只.
Read the guide →How Sure: 可能, 也许, 一定, 会, 以为 and 感觉
Saying how sure you are with 可能, 也许 and 一定, 会 for the likely future, 以为 for a belief that turned out wrong, 感觉 vs 觉得, and 其实 / 实在 for what's really true.
Read the guide →给, 让 and 往: For Someone, Letting Someone, Toward
给 + person + verb (doing something for or to someone), 让 + person + verb (let, make, ask someone to), and 往 / 向 for direction.
Read the guide →咱们, 自己, 所有, 什么样 and 怎么办: Useful A2 Words with Grammar
Inclusive 咱们, 自己 (oneself), 大家 (everyone), quantity words like 所有…都 and 大部分, question phrases 什么样 and 怎么办, and the verbs 出现, 发现 and 进行.
Read the guide →B1 · Independent Chinese · HSK 3
Opinions and Comparisons: 认为, 比较, 更加, 跟…相比 and 多 + Adjective
觉得 vs 认为 for opinions, 比较 (fairly) vs 最 (most), 更加 and 相当, comparing with 跟…相比 and 区别, and measuring questions like 多高 and 多远.
Read the guide →是…的: Stressing When, Where and How
Use 是…的 to talk about the details of something that already happened: when, where, how, with whom or who did it. How it differs from 了, and where the object goes.
Read the guide →Potential Complements: 看得懂, 听不懂, 买不到, 来不及
Verb + 得 / 不 + result says whether something can or can't be achieved: 听不懂, 吃不完, 回不来. How it differs from 能 and 不能, and the fixed ones like 来不及, 受不了 and 买不起.
Read the guide →起来, 出来, 下去 and 下来: Figurative Direction Complements
Direction complements beyond movement: 起来 (start, seem, recall), 出来 (make out, come up with), 下去 (keep going), 下来 (come to a stop, write down), plus 看上去 and 显得.
Read the guide →被, 受, 由 and 使: Passives and Making Someone Feel
The 被 passive (我的钱包被偷了), when Chinese doesn't need a passive at all, 受 for what you undergo (受欢迎, 受伤), 由 for who's responsible, and 使 for causing a feeling.
Read the guide →把 in Depth: 把…成, 把…到, Negatives, Breaking Things and 买大了
Beyond basic 把: turning one thing into another (把…翻译成), moving it (把…送到), where 没 and 别 go, the break verbs 破, 断 and 坏, and verb + adjective + 了 for results that missed.
Read the guide →又, 再, 再也不 and 继续: Again, Never Again and Keep On
又 for "again" about the past, 再 about the future, 再也不 / 再也没 for never again, 重新 and 反复, and 继续, 不断, 持续 and 连续 for keeping on.
Read the guide →刚, 曾经, 从来, 自从 and Verb + 了 + Time + 了
刚 vs 刚才 (just), 曾经 (once), 从来不 vs 从来没…过 (never), 自从 (since), still with 仍然, and the double 了 for something that's still going on.
Read the guide →看看, 一下, 趟, 左右 and 至少: Brief Actions and Rough Numbers
Reduplicated verbs (看看, 试一试, 休息休息) and 一下 for doing something briefly, verb measure words (次, 遍, 趟, 顿, 场), approximate numbers (左右, 多, 大概) and 至少 / 整整.
Read the guide →又…又…, AABB Adjectives and 极了: Describing Vividly
Listing qualities with 又…又… (又便宜又好吃), doubled adjectives (慢慢, 高高兴兴, 干干净净), and strong degree endings like 极了, 死了, 坏了 and 得很, plus 简直.
Read the guide →Emphasis: 连…都, 一点儿也不, 根本, 不是…吗, 难道 and 到底
Even with 连…都, total negatives (一个人也不认识), 根本 and 绝对, and rhetorical questions with 不是…吗, 难道…吗, 到底 and casual 干吗.
Read the guide →Any, Every and Some: 什么都, 每, 任何, 某 and 不论
Question words + 都 / 也 for any-, every- and no- (什么都吃, 谁都不认识), 每 and 各, 任何 and 一切, 某 for "a certain", and 不论 for "no matter".
Read the guide →Conditions: 只要…就, 只有…才, 要是 and 没有…就没有
As long as (只要…就) vs only if (只有…才), spoken if with 要是…的话 and otherwise with 要不, and necessary conditions with 没有 A 就没有 B.
Read the guide →Adding Ideas: 不但…而且, 不仅, 除了…以外, 一方面 and 同时
Not only … but also (不但…而且, 不仅…还), besides vs except (除了…以外 with 还 or 都), two sides with 一方面…另一方面, and 同时, 并且 and 另外.
Read the guide →由于…因此, 为了, 只好 and 不得不: Causes, Purposes and Having No Choice
The formal cause-and-effect pair 由于…因此, 为了 for purpose, and 只好 vs 不得不 for doing something because you have no other option.
Read the guide →一…就, 直到…才 and Hurry Words: 立刻, 马上, 赶紧, 连忙
As soon as with 一…就, not until with 直到…才, verb + 到 + time, and the difference between 立刻, 马上, 赶紧 / 赶快 and 连忙.
Read the guide →本来, 原来, 果然, 终于, 其实 and 突然: Expectations and What Really Happened
Words that compare what you expected with what happened: 本来 (originally) vs 原来 (so it turns out), 果然 (sure enough) vs 竟然 (unexpectedly), 终于 (at last), 其实 vs 确实, and 突然.
Read the guide →敢, 需要, 值得, 尽量, 恐怕 and the Certainty Scale
Daring (敢), needing (需要, 必要, 不必), worth (值得, 值), trying your best (尽量, 千万), how likely something is from 必然 to 不可能 (with 恐怕), and 往往 vs 常常 vs 通常.
Read the guide →B1 Prepositions: 对, 关于, 为, 按照, 朝 and 通过
对 (toward, to) vs 关于 (about), 为 (for someone) vs 为了 (in order to), 按照 (according to), 往, 向 and 朝 (toward), 通过 and 利用 (by means of), and position words like 周围 and 背后.
Read the guide →Long Modifiers and Scene Descriptions: 我昨天买的书, 墙上挂着一张地图
Relative clauses before the noun with 的 (我昨天买的书, 写这篇文章的人), where 那本 and 这个 go, dropping the noun (我要的是…), and existential sentences: place + verb + 着 + thing.
Read the guide →B2 · Upper-Intermediate Chinese · HSK 4
Even If and No Matter What: 即使…也, 不管…都, 哪怕…也, 再…也
Four ways to say something holds whatever happens: 即使…也 for one supposition, 不管/无论…都 for every possibility, 哪怕…也 for the extreme case, and 再 + adjective + 也 for 'however …'.
Read the guide →Since, Otherwise, What If, Once and Unless: 既然, 否则, 万一, 一旦, 除非
The B2 condition words: 既然…就 (since that's so), 否则 and 不然 (otherwise), 万一 and 假如 (what if), 一旦…就 (once) and 除非…才 (unless, only if).
Read the guide →Contrast at B2: 尽管, 却, 不是…而是, 既…又 and 相反
How to set two ideas against each other: 尽管 (even though), the adverb 却 (yet), 不是…而是 (not A but B), 既…又 (both … and) and 相反 (on the contrary).
Read the guide →And So, In the End, Luckily, No Wonder: 于是, 结果, 幸亏, 难怪
Telling what happened next and why: 于是 (and so), 结果 (in the end, as it turned out), 幸亏…不然 (luckily … otherwise) and 难怪 / 怪不得 (no wonder).
Read the guide →Actually, Almost, After All, To My Surprise: 并, 差点儿, 几乎, 毕竟, 竟然
Adverbs that carry the speaker's attitude: 并不 / 并没有 (actually not), 差点儿 (nearly), 几乎 (almost), 毕竟 (after all), 或许 and 说不定 (maybe), 的确 (indeed), 竟然 and 没想到 (to my surprise).
Read the guide →Can and Can't: V得了 / V不了, V得起 / V不起, 来得及, 过来 and 过去
The potential complements you need at B2: 了 (manage to), 起 (afford), 来得及 (be in time), plus figurative 过来 (come round) and 过去 (pass out).
Read the guide →So Much That: 得 + Clause, 把…V得…, V着V着 and Paired Question Words
Describing results and manner in full: 得 followed by a whole clause (高兴得跳了起来), 把 + object + V得 + result, V着V着 (while doing, suddenly…) and 想吃什么就吃什么.
Read the guide →Written Chinese at B2: 是否, 与, 以及, 曾, 此, 作为 and 无法
The first step into formal written Mandarin: the written words for whether, and, as well as, once, this and cannot, plus 作为 (as) and the language of official notices.
Read the guide →For Me, In Terms Of, Regarding: 对…来说, 在…方面, 对于, 关于, 在于, 根据
The frames that set up a discussion: 对…来说 (for someone), 在…方面 / 在…上 (in terms of), 拿…来说 (take … for example), 对于 vs 关于 (regarding), 在于 (lies in) and 根据 (according to).
Read the guide →Change, Trends and Amounts: 随着, 逐渐, 纷纷, 倍, 分之 and Exact Comparisons
How to describe change and quantity: 随着 (as … changes), 逐渐 / 渐渐 / 逐步 (gradually), 纷纷 and 陆续 (one after another), 倍 and 分之 (times, fractions), 比 with exact amounts, and 位于 / 距离 (located at, distance from).
Read the guide →Even, Especially, As If: 甚至, 尤其, 似乎 and 像…似的
Adding a stronger example with 甚至, singling one out with 尤其 / 特别是, and saying how things seem with 似乎 and 像…似的.
Read the guide →Spoken Patterns: 叫 and 让 Passives, 替 / 帮 / 给 and 随手
Everyday spoken alternatives at B2: the colloquial passives with 叫 and 让, and doing something for someone with 替, 帮 and 给.
Read the guide →C1 · Advanced Chinese · HSK 5–6
Contrast and Choice: 然而, 而, 固然, 与其…不如, 宁可, 就算 and 要不是
Advanced ways to contrast and choose: written 然而 and 而 (however, whereas), 固然…但 (admittedly … but), 与其…不如 (rather than … better to), 宁可…也不 (would rather), 就算 / 即便 (even supposing) and 要不是 (if it weren't for).
Read the guide →Building an Argument: 首先, 之所以…是因为, 从而, 可见, 一来…二来, 以致
The discourse markers of structured Chinese: ordering points, stating the reason why, drawing consequences (从而, 进而, 因而, 以致), concluding (可见, 总之) and rephrasing (换句话说).
Read the guide →Degree and Emphasis: 极其, 得不得了, 简直, 明明, 可, 倒是 and 令人
Saying how strongly you feel: degree words (极了, 极其, 得不得了, 得要命), 简直 (simply) and 明明 (obviously), emphatic 可 and 倒是, 罢了 and 算了, and 令人 + feeling.
Read the guide →Even and Let Alone: 甚至, 何况, 更不用说, 尚且…何况 and 别说…连
Building up to the strongest case: 甚至 (even), 何况 and 更不用说 (let alone, not to mention), 尚且…何况 (if even X, then surely Y) and 别说…连…也 (never mind …, not even …).
Read the guide →Against Expectations: 反而, 反正, 不料, 偏偏, 总算, 未必 and 难免
Adverbs for when things don't go as expected: 反而 (on the contrary), 反正 (anyway), 不料 and 居然 (unexpectedly), 偏偏 (just my luck, insist on), 总算 and 好不容易 (at long last), 未必 and 不见得 (not necessarily), and 难免 / 不免 / 未免 (bound to, rather too).
Read the guide →Spoken Structures at C1: Figurative Complements, 把 Revisited, 彼此 and 动不动就
Advanced spoken grammar: figurative directional complements (想起来, 坚持下去), fixed potential forms (舍不得, 看不惯), 把 with negation and modals, colloquial 给, 彼此 and 互相, 动不动就, and frames like 爱V不V and 说V就V.
Read the guide →Passives in Full: 被, 叫, 让, 给, 为…所 and 遭到 / 受到
Every way Chinese expresses the passive, from spoken 叫 and 让 to written 为…所 and 被…所, plus the 'suffering' verbs 遭, 遭到, 受到 and 挨.
Read the guide →Classical Traces: 之, 其, 所 and 此, 该, 本, 某, 各
The classical words that survive in modern written Chinese: 之 (the written 的), 其 (his, its, their), 所 + verb (what is …), and the written demonstratives 此, 该, 本, 某 and 各.
Read the guide →Formal Frames and Prepositions: 以…为, 于, 将, 加以, 凭, 鉴于, 就…而言, 至于 and 使
The building blocks of formal Chinese: 以…为 (take A as B), written 于 and 将, the verbs 进行 / 加以 / 予以 / 给予, 凭 and 趁, 视为, 鉴于 / 本着 / 基于, 就…而言 and 至于, 由…组成, and the written causatives 使 and 令.
Read the guide →Rules, Warnings and Requests: 无, 未, 勿, 非…不可, 禁止, 务必, 免得 and 尽量
The language of rules, notices, contracts and safety instructions: written negatives (无, 未, 勿, 非…不可), prohibitions (禁止, 严禁, 不得), strong advice (务必, 千万, 切记), 免得 / 省得 (so as not to) and the 尽 family (尽量, 尽快, 尽早).
Read the guide →Reading the News: 据报道, 已 / 仍 / 尚未, 日益, 屡次 and Numbers at C1
The grammar of the press: reporting verbs (表示, 称, 指出, 强调), written time words (已, 曾, 正, 将, 仍, 尚未), gradual and repeated change (日益, 逐步, 一再, 屡次), approximate numbers, 成 and 折, and measure words for abstract things.
Read the guide →Telling a Story: 着, 了, 过 in Narration, 顿时, 不由得 and 时而…时而
The grammar of narrative: how 着, 了 and 过 work in a story, double 了 with durations, story timing words (顿时, 随即, 一下子), involuntary reactions (不由得, 不禁, 忍不住) and alternation (时而…时而, 要么…要么).
Read the guide →C2 · Proficient Chinese · HSK 7–9
Classical Function Words I: 者, 即, 乃 and 何
Four classical words that run through modern written Chinese: 者 (the one who; 前者 and 后者), 即 and 乃 (is, namely), and 何 (what, why, how) in 何时, 为何, 如何 and 何必.
Read the guide →Classical Function Words II: 也, 矣, 乎, 焉, 哉, 之 and 以
The classical final particles you meet in quotations and set phrases, 之 as a pronoun and in fixed phrases (总之, 久而久之), and the full range of 以: by means of, because of, according to and in order to.
Read the guide →Linking in Writing: 因…而, 而, 则, 且, 亦, 皆, 所 and 无非
The written linkers of advanced prose: 因…而… (because of … therefore), the full range of 而, 则 (then, whereas), 且, 亦, 皆 and 均 (and, also, all), 有所 and 无所, and 无非 / 不外乎 / 不过是…而已 (nothing but).
Read the guide →Formal Conditions and Purpose: 以便, 以免, 倘若, 纵然, 唯有 and 为…起见
The written forms of if, even if, only if and so that: 以便 and 以免 (so that, so as not to), 倘若 / 若 / 假若 (should it be that), 纵然 / 纵使 / 虽说 (even though), 唯有…才 and 唯独 (only), 非…莫属, and 为…起见 / 出于…考虑 (for the sake of).
Read the guide →Rhetoric: 比喻, 排比, 对偶, 夸张, 拟人 and Descriptive Adjectives
The figures of speech every Chinese student learns by name: simile and metaphor (比喻; 仿佛, 如同, 犹如, 宛如), parallelism and antithesis (排比, 对偶), hyperbole (夸张), personification and metonymy (拟人, 借代), and vivid ABB and AABB adjectives.
Read the guide →Questions, Tone and Attitude: 反问, 岂, 何尝, 莫非, 语气词 and 罢了
How Chinese shows attitude: rhetorical questions (反问) with 难道, 岂, 何尝 and 莫非; the sentence-final particles 吧, 嘛, 呗, 啊 and 呢; 而已 and 罢了 (just, merely); and gentle contradiction with 不是…吗, 还不是 and 可不是.
Read the guide →Register: Spoken and Written Words, Officialese, 致使, Verb + 于 and New Words
How Chinese changes between registers: spoken and written pairs (买 and 购买), single-character written words (购, 需, 获, 均, 仍), official notices (兹, 特此, 届时), cause verbs by register (致使, 导致, 引发, 促成), verb + 于 compounds (有助于, 致力于, 源于), and how new words and abbreviations are made.
Read the guide →Arguing in Writing: 与其说…不如说, 诚然, 究其原因, 综上所述 and Hedging
The grammar of academic and argumentative writing: reframing with 与其说…不如说, conceding with 诚然 and 不可否认, analysing causes (究其原因, 归根到底), hedging and certainty (或许, 有待, 显然, 毋庸置疑), defining terms, rebutting and concluding (由此可见, 综上所述).
Read the guide →Regional Mandarin: Southern and Taiwan Grammar and Colloquial Frames
How Mandarin grammar varies: southern features (有 + verb, 先 at the end, 给 for 让), Taiwan Mandarin usage (有没有 + verb, 会 for adjectives, different words), and colloquial frames like 想来想去, 东找西找 and 不吃白不吃.
Read the guide →Reading 文言 and How 成语 Work
The basics of Classical Chinese grammar (one-character words, omission, inverted word order, nouns as verbs) and how four-character idioms are built and used in a modern sentence.
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