HSK 5
7 min
Correction with 纠正 and 改正
Correct pronunciation, reports, misunderstandings, and habits with precise HSK 5 wording.
HSK 2.0
HSK 5 grammar
All 116 grammar points introduced at HSK 5 (HSK 2.0), each with example sentences and a short practice drill.
Learn HSK 5 words for good
HSK 5
7 min
Emphasis with 不只是...更是
Use 不只是...更是 to make advanced Chinese explanations sound layered and persuasive.
HSK 4
7 min
Concession with 尽管
Build stronger HSK 5 concession sentences with 尽管, 仍然, and 还是.
HSK 4
7 min
Universal Conditions with 无论...都
Practice 无论...都 for advanced condition sentences about rules, habits, and values.
HSK 6
7 min
Restrictive Conditions with 除非...才
Use 除非...才 to say that an outcome is possible only under a specific condition.
HSK 5
7 min
Trigger Conditions with 一旦...就
Use 一旦...就 for policies, risks, and actions that start after a trigger.
HSK 7–9
7 min
Preference with 宁可...也不
Use 宁可...也不 to express committed preference in advanced Chinese.
HSK 7–9
7 min
Committed Choice with 非得
Use 非得 to express insistence, pressure, or a must-do choice.
HSK 6
7 min
Alternatives with 要么...要么
Use 要么...要么 to frame choices, tradeoffs, and decisions at HSK 5.
HSK 5
7 min
Contrast with 反而 and 却
Practice advanced contrast sentences with 反而, 却, and expectation shifts.
HSK 5
7 min
Result with 从而
Use 从而 to build written HSK 5 cause-and-result sentences.
HSK 5
7 min
Development with 随着
Use 随着 for advanced trend, time, and development sentences.
HSK 5
7 min
Standpoint with 从...角度看
Use 从...角度看 to make advanced opinions precise and fair.
HSK 4
7 min
Domain Framing with 在...方面
Use 在...方面 for careful HSK 5 descriptions and comparisons.
HSK 5
7 min
Formal Topic Phrasing with 就...来说
Use 就...来说 to make formal comments about a topic, group, or case.
HSK 5
7 min
Treating Something As with 把...当作
Use 把...当作 and 把...看作 for advanced categorization sentences.
HSK 4
7 min
Passive Nuance with 被, 让, and 给
Compare 被, 让, and 给 in advanced passive sentences without flattening them into English.
HSK 3
7 min
Abstract Directional Complements
Practice 看出来, 想起来, 说下去, and other abstract directional complements.
HSK 5
7 min
Advanced Result Complements
Use advanced result complements to say whether an action became clear, complete, or successful.
HSK 5
7 min
Advanced Potential Complements
Practice 做得到, 来不及, 受不了, and other potential-complement chunks.
HSK 5
7 min
Advanced Degree Complements
Use degree complements like 得不得了, 得多, and 得要命 without overusing 很.
HSK 3
7 min
把 for Result and Location
Practice 把 sentences where the final state or location matters.
HSK 5
7 min
了 in Complex Clauses
Review how 了 behaves when advanced sentences have more than one clause.
HSK 5
7 min
Even Emphasis with 连...都
Use 连...都 to make advanced emphasis sentences precise and natural.
HSK 5
6 min
The Noun Suffix 头 in 木头, 里头 and 看头
Recognise and use the neutral-tone suffix 头 in everyday nouns (木头), place words (里头) and “worth doing” nouns (没什么看头).
HSK 5
6 min
Formal Pronouns 彼此, 如此 and 本
Use 彼此 for “each other”, 如此 for “like this, so” and 本 for “this (our own)” in more formal Chinese, and know their everyday equivalents.
HSK 5
8 min
Measure Words 朵, 颗, 根, 群, 架 and More
Pick the right measure word for flowers, stars, pens, crowds, planes, glasses, episodes and more with the 15 noun measure words of HSK 5.
HSK 5
7 min
Degree Adverbs 过于, 相当, 极其, 格外, 较 and 可
Say “too”, “quite”, “extremely”, “especially” and “really” with the right register using 过于, 相当, 极其, 格外, 较 and spoken 可…了.
HSK 5
7 min
Time Adverbs 曾经, 早已, 时刻, 立刻, 连忙 and 急忙
Talk about what you once did with 曾经, what happened long ago with 早已, what you always keep in mind with 时刻, and how fast someone acts with 立刻, 连忙 and 急忙.
HSK 5
7 min
Time Adverbs 始终, 渐渐, 即将, 尽快 and 早晚
Describe something that stays the same all along with 始终, a slow change with 渐渐, and what is coming with 即将, 尽快 and 早晚.
HSK 5
6 min
Manner Adverbs 尽量 and 亲自
Say “try to, as much as possible” with 尽量 and “in person” with 亲自, and tell 亲自 apart from 自己.
HSK 5
6 min
Modal Adverbs 似乎 and 仿佛
Make a careful guess with 似乎 (“it seems”) and describe what something feels like with 仿佛 (“as if”), and know when plain 好像 is better.
HSK 5
8 min
Mood Adverbs 毕竟, 居然, 果然, 的确, 简直, 反而
Show your attitude in one word: 毕竟 for “after all”, 居然 for surprise, 果然 for “sure enough”, 的确 for “indeed”, 简直 for exaggeration and 反而 for “instead”.
HSK 5
7 min
Mood Adverbs 反正, 根本, 绝对, 白, 刚好 and 可
Say “anyway” with 反正, “not at all” with 根本, “absolutely” with 绝对, “for nothing” with 白, “just right” with 刚好, and add emphasis with 可.
HSK 5
6 min
Prepositions 自从, 朝 and 沿着
Say “ever since” a past event with 自从, “toward” someone or somewhere with 朝, and “along” a road or river with 沿着.
HSK 5
6 min
Basis Prepositions 凭, 据 and 依据
Say what something is based on: 凭 for “relying on” what you have, 据 for “according to” a source, and 依据 for “on the basis of” rules and facts.
HSK 5
7 min
Connectors 可见, 总之, 假如 and 从而
Link ideas like a fluent writer: draw a conclusion with 可见, sum up with 总之, imagine with 假如, and state a result with 从而.
HSK 5
6 min
像……似的 for “As If” and “Like”
Use 像……似的 to say what something looks or seems like, as in 像没听见似的 “as if he hadn’t heard”.
HSK 5
6 min
A来A去 for Doing Something Over and Over
Use A来A去, as in 想来想去 and 跑来跑去, to describe an action repeated back and forth, often before saying how it turned out.
HSK 5
6 min
A着A着 for “While Doing…, Suddenly…”
Use A着A着, as in 走着走着 and 说着说着, to say that something unexpected happened while an action was going on.
HSK 5
6 min
没A没B Set Phrases like 没完没了
Understand and use set phrases like 没完没了, 没日没夜 and 没大没小, and tell them apart from 不A不B phrases like 不大不小.
HSK 5
5 min
说A就A for Acting Without Hesitation
Use 说A就A, as in 说走就走 and 说变就变, to say someone acts the moment they decide, or that something happens in an instant.
HSK 5
5 min
用不着 for “There’s No Need”
Use 用不着 to say there is no need to do something or no use for something, and 用得着……吗 to ask if it is really necessary.
HSK 5
7 min
(自)……以来 for “Since” and 由……组成 for “Made Up Of”
Use (自从)……以来 to talk about a period from a past point until now, and 由……组成 to say what something is made up of.
HSK 5
5 min
A的A，B的B for “Some Do This, Some Do That”
Use 走的走，留的留 to paint a lively picture of a group splitting up, with some people doing one thing and others doing another.
HSK 5
5 min
不X白不X for “Silly Not To”
Use 不吃白不吃 and 不看白不看 to say a free chance would be wasted if you didn’t take it.
HSK 6
5 min
不X不...，一X... for “You Don’t Know Until You Try”
Use 不X不……，一X…… to say you only discovered something surprising once you actually did X.
HSK 4
6 min
不...也... and 再...也... for “Even If” and “No Matter How”
Use 不...也... for “even without …” and 再...也... for “no matter how …,” with the result staying the same.
HSK 5
5 min
不管怎样说 for “Whatever Else Is True”
Use 不管怎样说 to set other details aside and come back to the point that matters most.
HSK 4
6 min
Compressed Sentences Like 有事打电话
Squeeze two short clauses into one with no comma and no connecting word, as in 有事打电话.
HSK 6
5 min
到...为止 for “Up To” and “Until”
Use 到……为止 to mark the end point of a time span, a total so far, or an action that continues until a goal is reached.
HSK 4
5 min
还X呢 for “And You Call Yourself …?”
Use 还X呢 to tease someone who doesn’t live up to a title or a claim, as in 还大学生呢.
HSK 6
5 min
好（不）容易 for “Finally, After Much Effort”
Use 好不容易 or 好容易 before a verb, usually with 才, to say something happened only after a lot of effort.
HSK 4
6 min
...，好... and ...，以便... for “So That”
Add a second clause with 好 or 以便 to say what the first action makes possible.
HSK 5
6 min
没有...就没有... for “Without A, There Would Be No B”
Use 没有...就没有... to say that one thing is what makes another possible.
HSK 6
5 min
那倒（也）是 for “That’s True, Fair Point”
Reply with 那倒是 or 那倒也是 when someone makes a point you hadn’t thought of and you accept it.
HSK 6
6 min
算了 and 得了 for “Forget It” and “That’s Enough”
Use 算了 to drop a plan or let something go, and 得了 to say “that’s enough,” “that’ll do” or “come off it.”
HSK 6
6 min
Verb/Adjective + 透了 for “Completely, Through and Through”
Add 透了 after a verb or adjective to say something is complete or extreme: soaked through, fully ripe, really awful.
HSK 4
5 min
Verb + 一X是一X for “Every Bit Counts”
Use patterns like 能省一点是一点 to say you’ll take whatever you can get, however small.
HSK 5
6 min
万一...（就）... for “In Case” and “What If”
Use 万一 for an unlikely, usually unwanted possibility and what to do if it happens.
HSK 5
5 min
X什么X and 什么X不X的 for Brushing Things Off
Use 吵什么吵 and 什么钱不钱的 to tell someone to stop fussing, or to wave away money and thanks between friends.
HSK 5
5 min
X是它，Y也是它 for “It’s Behind Both”
Use 让我开心的是它，让我着急的也是它 to say that one thing is behind two very different results.
HSK 5
5 min
X也不是，Y也不是 for “Stuck Either Way”
Use 坐也不是，站也不是 and 进也进不得，退也退不得 to describe feeling stuck when no choice works.
HSK 5
5 min
X着也是X着 for “Might as Well”
Use 闲着也是闲着 to say a situation is going nowhere anyway, so you might as well do something useful.
HSK 4
5 min
有的是 for “Plenty Of”
Say 有的是 when there is more than enough of something, often to tell someone not to worry.
HSK 6
5 min
这也不X，那也不Y for “Nothing Is Good Enough”
Use 这也不X，那也不Y to complain that someone rejects one thing after another.
HSK 5
5 min
真有你的 for “You’re Really Something!”
Use 真有你的 to admire someone’s skill, or to tease them for doing something surprising.
HSK 7–9
5 min
爱A不A for “Do It or Don’t, I Don’t Care”
Use 爱去不去 and 爱吃不吃 to say it is up to the other person, and you are not going to push any more.
HSK 7–9
6 min
不瞒你说, 老实说 and 说真的 for “To Be Honest”
Open with 不瞒你说, 老实说 or 说真的 to signal that what comes next is frank: a personal confession, an honest opinion, or a serious point.
HSK 7–9
5 min
别提（有）多...了 for “You Can’t Imagine How …”
Use 别提有多高兴了 and 别提多好吃了 to say something is so extreme that words can hardly describe it.
HSK 7–9
6 min
不是 and 不是我说你 for “No, Wait” and “I Hate to Say It”
In speech, 不是 can open a reply to mean “No, wait” or “Hang on,” and 不是我说你 softens the friendly criticism that follows it.
HSK 7–9
6 min
打 for “From” and “Since”
In casual speech, 打 can mean “from” or “since”, marking where or when something starts, as in 打明天起 and 你打哪儿来？
HSK 7–9
6 min
不见得、绝不、无从、无须、无可、勿 for Formal Negatives
Six HSK 7–9 negative adverbs: 不见得 “not necessarily”, 绝不 “never”, 无从 “no way to”, 无须 “no need to”, 无可 “nothing can” and 勿 “do not”.
HSK 7–9
5 min
蒙后省略 for Leaving Out a Subject Named Later
Learn how Chinese drops the subject of the first clause when the same subject is named in the clause that follows.
HSK 7–9
6 min
该X就X，该Y就Y for “Do Each Thing at the Right Time”
Use 该学习就学习，该玩就玩 to say that each thing should be done when its time comes, without fuss or hesitation.
HSK 7–9
5 min
可不（是嘛） for “Exactly!”
Reply with 可不, 可不是 or 可不是嘛 to agree strongly with what someone just said.
HSK 7–9
7 min
多重复句 for Sentences with Two Layers of Logic
Learn to read long Chinese sentences that combine two relations, such as cause inside contrast, by finding the outer layer first.
HSK 7–9
5 min
你看你 and 真是的 for Gentle Complaints
Use 你看你 to gently scold someone for a slip, and 真是的 to say “Honestly!” when something annoys you.
HSK 7–9
6 min
什么A的B的 for “Things Like A and B”
Use 什么A的B的 in casual speech to list a few loose examples, like 什么画画的、跳舞的, meaning “things like painting, dancing and so on.”
HSK 7–9
5 min
说到哪儿去了 for “Not at All!”
Use （你）说到哪儿去了 to politely brush off thanks, apologies, praise or a wrong guess.
HSK 7–9
6 min
话题延伸 and 话题转换 for Building On and Changing the Topic
Learn how Chinese speakers and writers build on the current topic, and how they move smoothly to a new one with 至于, 对了 and 另外.
HSK 7–9
5 min
幸亏...，不然... for “Luckily …, Otherwise …”
Use 幸亏 or 幸好 with 不然 or 否则 to say that something lucky happened and saved you from a worse result.
HSK 7–9
5 min
要（让）我说 for “If You Ask Me”
Start with 要我说 or 要让我说 to give your own opinion or advice: “If you ask me …”.
HSK 7–9
5 min
这样一来 for “As a Result”
Use 这样一来 to introduce the result of a change or action you just mentioned.
HSK 7–9
6 min
A + Adjective + 于/过 + B for “A Is More … Than B”
Compare two things the compact written way, as in 多于去年 and 不少于八百字, or with lively 强过 and 胜过.
HSK 6
6 min
把 with a Cause as Subject: 这件事把我累坏了
In advanced 把 sentences the subject can be a thing or event (一场大雨把衣服淋湿了), and the object after 把 can be the person who ends up laughing, worrying or tired (这个笑话把大家都逗笑了).
HSK 5
6 min
把...一 + Verb and 把 + Object + Verb + Object
把 + object + 一 + verb shows a quick action that leads to something else, and 把 + object 1 + verb + object 2 adds a second object that is part of or attached to the first.
HSK 7–9
6 min
承前省略 for Leaving Out Something Already Mentioned
Once a person or thing has been named, Chinese usually leaves it out of the following clauses instead of repeating it or using 他 and 它.
HSK 7–9
6 min
别说……，（连）……都/也…… for “Never Mind …, Even …”
Wave away an obvious case with 别说 and then give a more extreme one with 连……都 or 就是……也: 别说我，连老师都没做出来.
HSK 4
6 min
并, 而 and 与 for Formal “And”
In formal Chinese, 与 joins nouns, 并 joins verb phrases, and 而 joins adjectives.
HSK 5
6 min
不但不/没有...，反而... for “Not Only Not …, But Instead …”
不但不 / 不但没有……，反而…… says the expected thing didn’t happen and the opposite happened instead: 雨不但没停，反而越下越大了.
HSK 5
5 min
不是...，还/还是... for “Not Just …, But Also …”
不是……，还…… says the first idea is too little and adds more: 他不是一个人来的，还带了两个朋友.
HSK 7–9
6 min
……不说，还…… for “Not Only …, But Also …”
Pile one point on top of another in casual Chinese with ……不说，还……, as in 这家饭馆菜贵不说，服务还特别慢.
HSK 5
6 min
从...来看 for “Judging from …”
Use 从……来看 (or 从……看来) to name the evidence or point of view behind a judgment, as in 从这件事来看，他是个很负责的人.
HSK 5
6 min
A 大 B 三岁 for “Three Years Older Than”
With a few short adjectives like 大, 小, 高, 早 and 晚, Chinese can compare without 比: 我哥哥大我三岁 means my brother is three years older than me.
HSK 5
6 min
Verb/Adjective + 得 + Phrase or Clause for “So … That …”
After 得, Chinese can add a whole verb phrase, a small clause or a set phrase to show the result: 高兴得跳了起来, 说得大家都笑了, 忘得一干二净.
HSK 7–9
6 min
X得要命 and X得要死 for “Extremely” in Casual Speech
Put 得要命 or 得要死 after an adjective or feeling verb to exaggerate, like “to death” or “terribly” in English: 累得要命, 热得要死.
HSK 7–9
6 min
（连……都……，）更不用说……了 for “Let Alone …”
Make the obvious case follow from a surprising one with 更不用说……了: 这个字连老师都不认识，更不用说我们了.
HSK 7–9
6 min
或……，或…… for “Either … Or …” Between Clauses
List two or more possible actions with 或……，或……, the written way to say “either … or …” or “some … , others …”.
HSK 5
5 min
或是...，或是... for “Either … Or …”
或是……，或是…… lists two or more possibilities in a statement, like 或者 but a little more formal.
HSK 5
6 min
假如...，（就）... for “Suppose” and “If”
假如 means “if, suppose” and is a little more formal than 如果; it is good for imagined situations like 假如你是校长.
HSK 5
6 min
老是, 通常 and 时常 for “Always,” “Usually” and “Often”
老是 complains that something keeps happening, 通常 states the normal routine, and 时常 means “often” in a slightly written tone.
HSK 5
6 min
哪怕...也... and 就算...也... for “Even If”
哪怕 and 就算 introduce an “even if” situation, and 也 in the second clause says the result stays the same.
HSK 6
6 min
虽...，但/可/却/也... for Written “Although”
虽 is the written, one-character form of 虽然; it usually follows the subject, and the next clause turns with 但, 可, 却 or 也.
HSK 7–9
6 min
虽说……，但/可…… for “Although …, Still …”
Use 虽说 as a lively, spoken-style 虽然, followed by 但 or 可 in the next clause: 虽说已经到了春天，可天气还是很冷.
HSK 7–9
6 min
时间顺序 for Telling Events in Time Order
Organise a story or account in time order: anchor each step with a time word, and link the steps with 起初, 后来, 接着 and 终于.
HSK 7–9
6 min
V都不V and V都没V for “Not Even (Look, Think, Try)”
Repeat a verb around 都不 or 都没 (看都不看, 想都没想) to stress that someone did not even do the smallest, most expected action.
HSK 5
5 min
Verb + 什么（就）是什么 for “Whatever It Is, That’s It”
Use verb + 什么（就）是什么 to accept whatever comes without choosing: 你点什么就是什么, 他说什么就是什么.
HSK 5
6 min
Verb + 得/不得 for “Can” and “Must Not”
Verb + 不得 means something must not or should not be done (急不得, 关不得), and verb + 得 says it is fine to do.
HSK 5
5 min
……，为的是... for “All in Order To”
Put 为的是 in the second clause to explain the purpose of an action you have just described: 他每天六点起床，为的是多读一会儿书.
HSK 7–9
6 min
X（倒）是X（了），…… for “It’s X All Right, But …”
Admit a point and then turn it around by repeating a word around 是, as in 好看倒是好看，就是太贵了.
HSK 5
5 min
X来X去，都是/就是... for “Over and Over, Still the Same”
Use verb + 来 + verb + 去 for doing something again and again, then 都是 or 就是 for the same result every time.
HSK 4
6 min
X是X，就是/不过... for “It’s X, But …”
Repeat a word around 是 to admit something is true, then add 就是, 不过 or 但是 to bring in the problem.
HSK 5
6 min
……，因而... for “And So” in Written Chinese
因而 introduces a result in written Chinese, like 所以 but more formal, and it can come after the subject of the result clause.
HSK 5
6 min
有着 and Verb + 有 for Formal “Has” and “Bears”
有着 is a formal “has” for abstract things like history and dreams, and verb + 有 (写有, 印有, 刻有) says what is written, printed or fitted on something.
HSK 4
6 min
与... for Formal “With”
Use the preposition 与 like a more formal 跟 or 和: 与……联系, 与……有关, 与……相比.
Make HSK 5 stick
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