HSK 2
6 min
虽然...但是...
Make “although...but...” sentences that connect opposing ideas.
HSK 2.0
HSK 4 grammar
All 101 grammar points introduced at HSK 4 (HSK 2.0), each with example sentences and a short practice drill.
Learn HSK 4 words for good
HSK 3
6 min
只要...就... and 只有...才...
Separate “as long as” from “only if.”
HSK 3
6 min
除了...以外
Handle inclusion and exclusion with the fuller HSK 4 exception pattern.
HSK 3
6 min
越来越...
Describe trends that become more and more true.
HSK 3
6 min
不但...而且...
Build polished “not only...but also...” sentences.
HSK 4
6 min
既然...就...
Make “since this is true, then...” reasoning sentences.
HSK 4
6 min
由于...因此...
Upgrade 因为...所以... into a more formal connector pair.
HSK 4
6 min
以及 and 并且
Connect items and clauses in more written Chinese.
HSK 3
6 min
Advanced 把 and 被 Sentences
Handle longer object-fronting and passive sentences with complements.
HSK 4
6 min
Extended Directional Complements
Read movement, return, continuation, and perspective in longer verb phrases.
HSK 4
6 min
Formal Comparisons
Compare options, data, and situations beyond everyday 比.
HSK 4
6 min
Aspect Review: 了, 过, 着
Review the three major aspect markers together.
HSK 4
6 min
Condition Chains
Build longer conditional sentences without losing the relationship.
HSK 4
6 min
Topic Emphasis with 是
Highlight the part of a statement that matters most.
HSK 4
6 min
Written-Style Connectors
Make essays, summaries, and formal notes flow more clearly.
HSK 4
6 min
对于 and 关于 Topic Markers
Introduce formal topics in opinions, forms, and written explanations.
HSK 4
6 min
敢 for “Dare to”
Say what someone dares or doesn’t dare to do with 敢 and 不敢, and tell 不敢 apart from 怕 and 不能.
HSK 4
7 min
各, 各位, 各种, 任何 and 此 for Each, Any and This
Use 各 and 各种 to talk about each member or every kind, 各位 to address a group politely, 任何 for “any at all”, and 此 in formal words like 因此.
HSK 4
6 min
Measure Words 打, 袋, 棵, 台 and 幅
Count dozens with 打, bags with 袋, trees with 棵, machines with 台 and paintings with 幅 instead of falling back on 个.
HSK 4
7 min
Degree Adverbs 十分, 更加, 稍微, 尤其 and 多么
Say “very” with 十分, “even more” with 更加, “slightly” with 稍 and 稍微, “especially” with 尤其, and make exclamations with 多么.
HSK 4
7 min
Scope Adverbs 共, 全, 光, 仅, 仅仅 and 至少
Give totals with 共, say “all” with 全, “only” with 光, 仅 and 仅仅, and set a minimum with 至少.
HSK 4
6 min
Time Adverbs 按时 and 从来
Say that something happens on schedule with 按时, and that you never do or have never done something with 从来不 and 从来没…过.
HSK 4
6 min
Future Adverbs 将 and 将要
Use 将 as the formal “will” in notices and news, and 将要…了 for something that is about to happen.
HSK 4
6 min
Frequency Adverbs 往往 and 偶尔
Describe what usually happens in a given situation with 往往, say “once in a while” with 偶尔, and know when 常常 is the right choice instead.
HSK 4
6 min
Manner Adverbs 故意, 互相 and 相互
Say someone did something on purpose with 故意, and that people do something to each other with 互相 or the more formal 相互.
HSK 4
6 min
Rhetorical 难道…吗 and Urgent 千万
Use 难道…吗？ to ask a question that shows surprise or disbelief, and 千万 to urge someone strongly, as in 千万别忘了.
HSK 4
7 min
Prepositions 自, 当, 由, 随着 and 等 for Time and Place
Say where or when something starts with 自 and 由, set a moment with 当…的时候, describe change with 随着, and say “once…” with 等.
HSK 4
7 min
将, 由, 叫 and 让 for the Doer and the Receiver
Use 将 as a formal 把, 由 to say who is in charge of a task, and 叫 or 让 as spoken passives like 被.
HSK 4
6 min
作为, 按 and 按照 for Roles and Rules
Use 作为 to say what role you speak or act from, and 按 or 按照 to say which rule, plan or order you follow.
HSK 4
6 min
Adding a Point with 此外 and 另外
Use 此外 and 另外 to add one more point, and use 另外 on its own to mean “another” or “separately”.
HSK 4
6 min
甚至 for “Even” and 不过 for “However”
Use 甚至 to push a point to its most surprising case, and 不过 to add a soft “but” after a statement.
HSK 4
7 min
Particles 者, 之, 等 and 就是
Use 者 for “a person who”, 之 as a formal 的, 等 to end a list, and 就是(了) to say “just…, that’s all”.
HSK 4
6 min
Four-Character Pattern 一A一B
Use 一A一B phrases like 一模一样 and 一前一后 to say “completely, every bit” or to describe two people or things as a pair.
HSK 4
6 min
Four-Character Pattern 无A无B
Use 无A无B phrases like 无忧无虑 and 无缘无故 to say something has no A and no B at all.
HSK 4
6 min
Four-Character Pattern 有A有B
Use 有A有B to say two things are both there, as in 有说有笑, or that a group is mixed, as in 有大有小.
HSK 4
6 min
In Time or Too Late: 来得及 and 来不及
Use 来得及 to say there is still time to do something, and 来不及 to say it is too late.
HSK 3
6 min
说不定, 不怎么 and 不怎么样
Use 说不定 for “maybe”, 不怎么 + verb or adjective for “not very”, and 不怎么样 for “not that great”.
HSK 4
6 min
Rephrasing with 就是说 and 换句话说
Use (这)就是说, 也就是说 and 换句话说 to say an idea again in plainer words or spell out what it means.
HSK 4
6 min
Ever More with 一天比一天 and 一个比一个
Use 一 + measure word + 比 + 一 + measure word to say something keeps getting more so, or that each one in a group outdoes the last.
HSK 4
6 min
Giving an Example with 拿……来说
Use 拿……来说 to pick one example and use it to back up a general point.
HSK 4
6 min
Never Again with 再也不 and 再也没
Use 再也不 to say you will never do something again, and 再也没(有) to say something never happened again after a point in the past.
HSK 4
6 min
No Matter How with 怎么都不 and 怎么也没
Say that something just won’t happen however hard you try, as in 我怎么也睡不着 and 我怎么找都没找到.
HSK 4
6 min
Doing Something for a Goal with 为了……而……
Use 为了 + goal + 而 + action to say what someone does for a purpose, as in 他为了考上大学而努力学习.
HSK 4
6 min
Nothing Worth Doing with 没什么好……的
Say there’s no reason to worry, cry or argue with 没什么好担心的, and ask “what’s there to fear?” with 有什么好怕的.
HSK 4
5 min
Keeping Things Apart with X是X，Y是Y
Use X是X，Y是Y to say two things are separate and shouldn’t be mixed, as in 工作是工作，生活是生活.
HSK 4
5 min
Like It or Not with X也得X，不X也得X
Say that something must be done whether anyone wants to or not, as in 去也得去，不去也得去.
HSK 4
6 min
Rhetorical Questions with 难道……吗
Use 难道……吗？ to show surprise or disbelief, as in 难道你不知道吗？ “Surely you know?”
HSK 4
7 min
Rhetorical Questions with 谁, 什么, 哪儿 and 怎么
Use question words to make strong statements, like 谁不想去？ “Who wouldn’t want to go?” and 我哪儿知道？ “How would I know?”
HSK 4
6 min
Double Negatives for Emphasis: 不得不, 不能不, 没有……不
Use two negatives to make a strong positive, like 不能不去 “have to go” and 没有人不知道 “everyone knows”.
HSK 4
7 min
Comparisons with A不如B and 跟……相比
Say “A isn’t as good as B” with 不如 and “compared with…” with 跟……相比, as in 我的汉语不如他好.
HSK 2
6 min
Pivot Sentences with 让, 叫, 请 and 使
Say who asks, invites or makes someone do something, as in 老师让我们读课文 and 这件事让我很高兴.
HSK 4
6 min
Approximate Numbers with 大约, 左右 and 前后
Give rough numbers and times with 大约 before the number, 左右 after it, and 前后 after a point in time, as in 春节前后.
HSK 3
6 min
看起来 and 看上去 for “It Looks …”
Say how someone or something looks, and what you guess from it, with 看起来 and 看上去.
HSK 4
5 min
不是...而是... for “Not … But …”
Use 不是……，而是…… to reject one idea and give the right one instead.
HSK 4
5 min
不是...就是... for “Either … Or …”
Use 不是……，就是…… to say it’s always one of two things, or to guess between two options.
HSK 4
6 min
...，否则... and 要不然 for “Otherwise”
Use 否则, 要不然 and 不然 to say what will happen if something doesn’t.
HSK 4
5 min
够...的 for “Really Quite …”
Wrap an adjective in 够……的 to say something is really quite cold, tiring or difficult, with feeling.
HSK 4
5 min
既...又/也... for “Both … And …”
Use 既……，又/也…… to say something has two qualities or does two things at once.
HSK 4
5 min
你X你的吧 for “Go Ahead, Don’t Mind Me”
Say 你忙你的吧 or 你吃你的吧 to tell someone to carry on with what they’re doing.
HSK 4
6 min
说什么也得... and 怎么也得... for “Must, No Matter What”
Use 说什么也得 and 怎么（着）也得 to say something has to happen whatever stands in the way.
HSK 4
5 min
X就X（点儿）吧 for “So What, That’s Fine”
Use X就X（点儿）吧, as in 贵就贵点儿吧, to accept a downside and move on.
HSK 4
5 min
X就是了 for “Just Do X, That’s All”
End a sentence with 就是了 to reassure someone, promise something or say “just do X, no big deal.”
HSK 4
5 min
也许 and 恐怕 for “Perhaps” and “I’m Afraid”
Use 也许 for a neutral guess and 恐怕 for a guess about something you would rather not happen.
HSK 4
6 min
于是... and 便... for “So … Then …”
Use 于是 and 便 to tell what happened next because of what came before.
HSK 7–9
6 min
空间顺序 and 逻辑顺序 for Organising a Paragraph
Organise a Chinese paragraph by space (walking the reader through a place) or by logic (first, second, finally; in short).
HSK 4
6 min
啊 and 嗯 as Interjections for “Oh!” and “Mm-hm”
At the start of a sentence, 啊 shows surprise or asks “huh?”, and 嗯 means “mm-hm, yes” or asks “hm?” depending on its tone.
HSK 4
6 min
把 with “Twice,” “For an Hour” and “Carefully”
In a 把 sentence, a count or a time length goes after the verb (读了两遍), and a manner word goes after the object, right before the verb (轻轻地关上).
HSK 4
6 min
本来 for “Originally” and “Of Course”
Use 本来 to say what was true or planned at first before things changed, and 本来就 to say something is naturally so.
HSK 4
6 min
表扬/批评 + Person + Action for Praising and Criticizing
After 表扬, 批评, 感谢 or 喜欢, name the person and then the action you praise, criticize or thank them for.
HSK 4
6 min
并不 and 并没有 for “Not Actually”
Put 并 before 不 or 没(有) to say that something is not true, even though people might think it is.
HSK 5
6 min
不...不... for “If Not …, Then Not …”
In condensed sentences, 不 A 不 B means “if not A, then not B”: 不见不散, 不去不行, 雨不停我们不出发.
HSK 5
6 min
得不得了 and 不得了 for “Extremely” and “Oh No!”
Use adjective + 得不得了 for “extremely,” 真不得了 for “amazing,” and 不得了了 as an alarmed “Oh no!”
HSK 4
6 min
不管...，都/也... for “No Matter …”
Use 不管 with a question word, an A不A choice or 还是 to say the result stays the same in every case, then add 都 or 也.
HSK 4
6 min
不仅... and 不光... for “Not Only … But Also”
Use 不仅 or 不光 in the first clause and 而且, 还 or 也 in the second to add a further point.
HSK 4
6 min
场, 顿, 趟 for Counting Rain, Meals and Trips
Use the verb measure words 场, 顿 and 趟 to count a whole event, a meal or scolding, and a round trip.
HSK 4
6 min
重新 and 再次 for “Start Over” and “Once Again”
Use 重新 when you redo something from the start, and 再次 when the same thing happens one more time.
HSK 6
6 min
除非...，否则/不然... for “Unless …, Otherwise …”
除非 names the only condition that works, and 否则 or 不然 says what will happen if it is not met: 除非你提前报名，否则不能参加.
HSK 4
6 min
此外 and 甚至 for “Besides” and “Even”
Use 此外 to add one more point, and 甚至 to add an extreme or surprising point that goes further.
HSK 4
6 min
从来不, 从来没...过 and 从不 for “Never”
Use 从来不 for things someone never does, 从来没...过 for things that have never happened, and the shorter 从不 and 从没 in neater speech and writing.
HSK 4
6 min
点, 分之, 百分之 and 倍 for Decimals, Fractions, Percentages and Multiples
Say 3.5 as 三点五, 1/3 as 三分之一, 50% as 百分之五十, and “twice as much” with 倍.
HSK 4
6 min
赶紧, 赶快 and 忽然 for “Hurry” and “Suddenly”
Use 赶紧 and 赶快 for doing something quickly without delay, and 忽然 for something that happens all of a sudden.
HSK 4
6 min
竟然, 究竟 and 到底 for Surprise and “What on Earth?”
Use 竟然 for something surprising that really happened, and 究竟 or 到底 to press for the real answer in a question.
HSK 4
6 min
即使...也... and 就是...也... for “Even If”
Use 即使 or 就是 to imagine a difficult case, then 也 to say the result still holds.
HSK 3
6 min
看来 for “It Seems” and “Looks Like”
Use 看来 after a fact you have noticed to draw a conclusion from it: 门关着，看来家里没人 “The door’s shut, so it seems nobody’s home.”
HSK 4
6 min
连...都...，...更... for “Even …, Let Alone …”
Name an extreme case with 连……都/也……, then use 更 to say the point is even more true for someone or something else.
HSK 5
6 min
Multiple Adverbials for “Yesterday, Already, With the Teacher”
When several adverbials come before one verb, Chinese puts time first, then adverbs like 都 and 已经, then descriptions and preposition phrases, with the verb last.
HSK 4
6 min
却 for “But” Against Expectation
Use 却 after the subject to show that the second part goes against what the first part leads you to expect.
HSK 4
6 min
让你X你就X for “Just Do as You’re Told”
Repeat the same verb in 让/叫你 + X + 你就 + X to tell someone firmly to do what they were asked, without arguing.
HSK 4
6 min
然而 and 而 for “However” and “Whereas”
Use 然而 to start a clause that goes against what came before, and 而 to set two different subjects side by side.
HSK 5
6 min
Serial Verbs for Cause, Contrast and Condition
Two verb phrases side by side can mean “so” (我有事不能去), “but” (他拿着书不看) or “if” (你有问题可以问老师), without any linking word.
HSK 4
6 min
Number + 来 + Measure Word for “About Ten,” “Twenty-Odd”
Put 来 between a round number and the measure word, as in 十来个人 or 三十来岁, to say “about, roughly.”
HSK 4
6 min
首先...，其次... and 首先...，然后... for “First … Second / Then …”
Use 首先 to open a list, 其次 for the second most important point, and 然后 for the next step in time.
HSK 4
6 min
...死了 and ...得厉害 for “Extremely”
Add 死了 or 得厉害 after an adjective or a feeling verb to say a state is extreme, as in 累死了 and 冷得厉害.
HSK 5
6 min
替, 同 and 较 for “For,” “With” and “Compared With”
替 means doing something for someone or in their place, 同 means “with” like 跟, and 较 means “compared with” in written Chinese.
HSK 4
6 min
Verb + 得了 / 不了 for “Can” and “Can’t Manage”
Add 得了 (de liǎo) or 不了 (bu liǎo) after a verb to say whether something can happen or can be finished.
HSK 4
6 min
选/收 + Person + 当/做/为 for “Choose Someone As”
Use 选 or 收 + person + 当, 做 or 为 + role to say someone is chosen or accepted as something, like 选他当班长.
HSK 4
6 min
要是...，就... for Everyday “If … Then …”
Use 要是 as a spoken “if,” often with 的话 after the condition and 就 before the result.
HSK 4
6 min
一脸, 一屋子, 一桌子 for “A Face Full,” “A Roomful”
Borrow nouns like 脸, 手, 盒, 屋子 and 桌子 as measure words to say “a box of” or “a whole face, room or table full of.”
HSK 4
5 min
由于 + Noun for “Due to …”
Use the preposition 由于 with a noun phrase, as in 由于天气原因，比赛推迟了, to name the cause of something in a formal way.
HSK 3
6 min
在...上, 在...下 and 在...中 for “In Terms Of,” “With” and “During”
Beyond real places, 在…上 frames an area (在学习上), 在…下 a condition or help (在老师的帮助下), and 在…中 a process or event (在旅行中).
HSK 4
6 min
只好, 差点儿, 正好 and 确实 for How Things Turned Out
Four everyday mood adverbs: 只好 (had no choice but), 差点儿 (almost), 正好 (just in time) and 确实 (really, indeed).
Make HSK 4 stick
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