HSK 7–9 Grammar (HSK 3.0) with Examples and Practice

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 7–9 8 min

Limiting with 无非 and 不过

Use 无非 and 不过 to say what something amounts to, often with a skeptical tone.

HSK 7–9 8 min

Necessity with 非...不可

Use 非...不可 for strong necessity in advanced spoken and written Chinese.

HSK 7–9 8 min

Labeling with 所谓

Use 所谓 to discuss terms, labels, and claims in advanced Chinese.

HSK 7–9 8 min

Summing Up with 总而言之

Use 总而言之 for formal summaries and essay conclusions.

HSK 7–9 8 min

Rephrasing with 换句话说

Use 换句话说 to clarify abstract HSK 6 explanations.

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 5 min

半A半B for “Half … Half …”

Use 半信半疑 and 半工半读 to say two different states are mixed together, half one and half the other.

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

别看...，... for “Don’t Be Fooled by …”

Use 别看……，…… to say that something looks one way on the surface, but the truth is different.

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A而B for “B Happens Without A”

Use 不约而同 and 不翼而飞 to say a result happens even though the usual condition or action was missing.

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 7 min

不亚于, 仅次于 and 莫过于 for Formal Comparisons

Use 不亚于 (“no less than”), 仅次于 (“second only to”) and 莫过于 (“nothing is more … than”) to compare things in formal Chinese.

HSK 7–9 5 min

不知...是/才好 for “Not Know What to Do”

Use 不知怎么办才好 and 不知如何是好 to say you are at a loss and don’t know what would be best.

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 5 min

东A西B for “Here and There, All Over”

Use 东张西望 and 东奔西走 to say an action is scattered in many directions or places.

HSK 7–9 5 min

动不动就... for “At the Slightest Thing”

Use 动不动就 to complain that someone or something does an unwelcome thing far too easily and too often.

HSK 7–9 5 min

凡...者，均可... for “All Who … May …”

Use 凡……（者），均（可）…… in notices and rules to say that everyone who meets a condition gets the same right or duty.

HSK 7–9 6 min

反过来说 and 退一步说 for “Conversely” and “Even If …”

Use 反过来（说） to look at the same idea from the opposite side, and 退一步说 to fall back to a smaller, safer claim.

HSK 7–9 5 min

非A非B for “Neither A Nor B”

Use 非亲非故 and 非驴非马 to say something is neither one thing nor the other.

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 6 min

向...致以... and 值此...之际 for Formal Greetings

Use 值此……之际 to open a speech or letter “on the occasion of …” and 向……致以…… to extend greetings, thanks or respect to someone.

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

归根到底 for “In the Final Analysis”

Use 归根到底 to point to the most basic reason or truth behind a situation.

HSK 7–9 5 min

（你）还别说 for “You Know, It’s Actually True”

Use （你）还别说 to admit that something turned out better or truer than you expected.

HSK 7–9 6 min

何 and 怎么着 for Formal and Casual Questions

Use 何 in formal written questions like 何时 and 有何不同, and 怎么着 in casual speech to ask “what’s the plan?” or to show surprise.

HSK 7–9 6 min

何至于, 谈何 and 有何 for Formal Rhetorical Questions

Use 何至于, 谈何 and 有何 to ask formal rhetorical questions: “surely it’s not that bad,” “how can you even talk of …,” and “what … is there?”

HSK 7–9 6 min

忽A忽B and 时A时B for “Now A, Now B”

Use 忽冷忽热 for sudden, unpredictable changes and 时好时坏 for things that switch back and forth over time.

HSK 7–9 6 min

话是这么说 and 话又说回来 for “That’s True, But …”

Use 话是这么说 to accept someone’s point before adding a “but”, and 话（又）说回来 to turn around and show the other side.

HSK 7–9 5 min

或A或B for “Some A, Some B” and “More or Less”

Use 或坐或站 to say different people or things are in different states, and 或多或少 for “more or less.”

HSK 7–9 6 min

看在X的面子上 for “For X’s Sake”

Use 看在X的面子上 to say you agree, forgive or help because of your respect for, or relationship with, someone.

HSK 7–9 5 min

可A可B for “Either Way Is Fine”

Use 可有可无 and 可长可短 to say either option works, or that something doesn’t really matter.

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 5 min

连A带B for “A and B Together”

Use 连A带B to say that two things come together as one lot, as in 连菜带饭, or that someone does two actions at once, as in 连说带笑.

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 6 min

乃 for a Formal “Is”

Use 乃 as a formal, written “is” in sayings, speeches and official statements, as in 失败乃成功之母.

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

你说你一个X，…… for “Look at You, a Grown X …”

Use 你说你一个X，…… to gently tease or scold someone whose behavior doesn’t match who they are, like a university student who can’t write a simple character.

HSK 7–9 6 min

后... and 亲... Prefixes for “Post-” and “Friendly To”

Learn how 后 forms words like 后工业时代 (“post-industrial age”) and how 亲 forms words like 亲民 (“close to ordinary people”).

HSK 7–9 5 min

七A八B for “All Over the Place”

Learn the 七A八B idioms, such as 七嘴八舌, 七手八脚 and 七上八下, where 七 and 八 mean “many and in a muddle,” not seven and eight.

HSK 7–9 5 min

任...也... for “No Matter How …, Still …”

Use 任……也…… to say that however someone acts, or however strong a situation is, the result stays the same.

HSK 7–9 6 min

若干 and 人次 for “Several” and “Person-Times”

Use formal 若干 for “a certain number of” and the compound measure word 人次 to count visits, as in 接待游客十万人次.

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 6 min

视...而定 for “Depending On …”

Use 视……而定 in formal Chinese to say a decision depends on something, as in 视天气情况而定, “depending on the weather.”

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

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 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 6 min

Verb + 得个... and Verb + 个... for Lively Results

Use 落得个两手空空, 弄得个手忙脚乱 and 说个明白 to add a lively, colloquial result or degree after a verb with 个.

HSK 7–9 6 min

无A不B and 无A可B for “All” and “Nothing to …”

Tell apart two look-alike idioms: 无A不B, as in 无所不知, means “all, without exception,” while 无A可B, as in 无话可说, means “nothing to …”.

HSK 7–9 6 min

X到这个地步/份上 for “To Such an Extent”

Use 到这个地步 and 到这个份上 to say a situation has gone so far that it is surprising, serious or hard to undo.

HSK 7–9 5 min

X就X个Y for “If You Do It, Do It Fully”

Use 玩就玩个痛快 and 吃就吃个饱 to say that if you are going to do something, you should do it all the way.

HSK 7–9 5 min

X了Y，Y了X for “Over and Over Again”

Use 吃了睡，睡了吃 and 写了擦，擦了写 to describe two actions going round in a circle again and again.

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 6 min

要X有X，要Y有Y for “Has Everything You Could Want”

Use 要X有X，要Y有Y to say someone or somewhere has everything needed, and 要X没X，要Y没Y to say it has nothing at all.

HSK 7–9 5 min

...，以至于... for “So Much That …”

Use ……，以至（于）…… to show that something reached such a degree that it led to a striking result.

HSK 7–9 6 min

（在）...之余 for “In Spare Time From …” and “Besides Feeling …”

Use （在）工作之余 for what someone does in the time left over from work or study, and 高兴之余 for a second feeling alongside the first.

HSK 7–9 5 min

这不 for “See? Here’s Proof”

Use 这不 to point to something happening right now that proves what you just said.

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 5 min

自A自B for “By Oneself, For Oneself”

Learn 自A自B idioms such as 自言自语, 自给自足 and 自由自在, where both actions are done by yourself, to yourself or for yourself.

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 7–9 6 min

巴不得 and 恨不得 for “Can’t Wait To” and “Wish I Could”

Use 巴不得 for something you eagerly hope will happen and 恨不得 for an urgent, often exaggerated wish you can’t really carry out.

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

只是...罢了 and 矣: Final Particles for “That’s All” and Classical “Already”

Use 罢了 at the end of a sentence to play something down (“that’s all”), usually with 只是, 不过 or 无非; meet classical 矣 in set phrases like 足矣 and 为时晚矣.

HSK 7–9 6 min

本着, 基于, 鉴于, 经 and 依 for “On the Basis Of”

Use the formal prepositions 本着 (a principle), 基于 (a basis), 鉴于 (a situation), 经 (a process) and 依 (a standard) to say what a decision or action rests on; 鉴于 can also join a whole clause.

HSK 7–9 6 min

彼, 兹 and 这么着 for “That”, “Hereby” and “Like This”

Learn three special pointing words: literary 彼 “that, the other”, notice-style 兹 “hereby” and chatty 这么着 “like this, let’s do this”.

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 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 7–9 6 min

当着...的面 and 就... for “In Front Of” and “On (a Topic)”

Use 当着 + person (+ 的面) for doing something in someone’s presence, and the formal preposition 就 + topic before verbs like 讨论 and 提出 to mean “on, regarding”.

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

犯不着 and 犯得着 for “It’s Not Worth It”

Use 犯不着 to say something isn’t worth doing, and 犯得着…吗？ to ask the same thing as a rhetorical question.

HSK 7–9 6 min

颇, 略微, 分外 and 越发: Formal Degree Adverbs

Learn fourteen written-style degree adverbs in three groups: strong (颇, 大为, 分外, 尤为, 万分, 极度, 何等, 极力), slight (略, 略微, 稍稍, 微) and increasing (越发, 愈加).

HSK 7–9 6 min

予以, 有所, 可谓, 可否 and 除外 for Formal Writing

Learn five formal verbs from notices and reports: 予以 “give (support, praise)”, 有所 “to some extent”, 可谓 “can be called”, 可否 “may I ask whether” and 除外 “except”.

HSK 7–9 6 min

屡次, 一连, 连连 and 相继 for Repeated Actions

Learn ten advanced frequency adverbs: 屡次/屡屡 “time and again”, 一连 “in a row”, 连连 “again and again”, 一个劲儿 “non-stop”, 相继 “one after another”, 再度 “once again”, 时而, 时时 and 频.

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 7–9 6 min

假若/假使……，…… for a Formal “If” or “Suppose”

Make a supposition in formal Chinese with 假若 or 假使, the written relatives of 如果: 假若明天下雨，运动会就改到下周举行.

HSK 7–9 6 min

况且, 加之, 乃至 and 且 for Adding More

Use 况且 to add one more reason for a decision, 加之 to add one more cause of a result, 乃至 for “and even (a bigger one)”, and written 且 for “and also”.

HSK 7–9 6 min

按说, 不由得, 截然 and 日趋: Adverbs of Expectation and Change

Learn the manner adverbs 按说/按理 “normally, by rights”, 不由得 “can’t help”, 骤然 “suddenly”, 截然 “completely (different)”, 日趋 “day by day” and the notice word 特此 “hereby”.

HSK 7–9 6 min

趁机, 专程, 照常 and 如期: Adverbs of Timing and Arrangement

Learn manner adverbs that say when or how an action is arranged: 趁机, 趁早, 专程, 就近, 如期, 照常, 照例, 照样, 一并 and 逐一.

HSK 7–9 6 min

拼命, 尽情, 一举 and 百般: Adverbs of Effort and Force

Learn manner adverbs that show how much effort or force goes into an action: 拼命, 竭力, 尽情, 百般, 大肆, 火速, 一举, 一手 and 瞎.

HSK 7–9 6 min

擅自, 刻意, 执意 and 毅然: Adverbs of Will and Attitude

Learn manner adverbs that show a person’s will or attitude: 擅自, 私自, 公然, 强行, 任意, 执意, 刻意, 有意, 毅然 and 断然.

HSK 7–9 6 min

Measure Words 枚, 则, 幢, 截 and Other Advanced Counters

Learn ten advanced noun measure words: 枚 for small objects, 则 for news and notices, 幢 for buildings, 截 for pieces, 缕 for wisps, 摊 for puddles, 码 for “matters”, 重 for layers, 宗 for deals and 丸 for small balls.

HSK 7–9 6 min

免得 and 以防 for “So As Not To” and “In Case”

Start the second clause with 免得 to say what bad result an action avoids, or with written 以防 to say what possible problem it guards against.

HSK 7–9 6 min

何必, 何尝, 莫非 and 难怪 for Rhetorical Questions and “No Wonder”

Learn the mood adverbs that make rhetorical questions (何必, 何苦, 何不, 何尝), guesses (莫非) and sudden realisations (难怪, 怪不得).

HSK 7–9 6 min

偏偏, 好在, 反倒 and 碰巧: Adverbs for Luck and Surprise

Learn the mood adverbs that react to how things turned out: 碰巧/恰巧 “by chance”, 偏偏 “of all things”, 好在 “fortunately”, 竟 “unexpectedly”, 愣 “stubbornly” and 反倒 “instead”.

HSK 7–9 6 min

索性, 未免, 不免 and 宁愿: Adverbs of Decision and Judgement

Learn five mood adverbs for decisions and judgements: 索性 “might as well”, 未免 “a bit too”, 不免 “naturally, can’t avoid”, and 宁愿/情愿 “would rather”.

HSK 7–9 6 min

务必, 势必, 万万 and 分明: Adverbs of Certainty and Insistence

Learn the mood adverbs that make a statement certain or a request firm: 必定, 必将, 势必, 务必, 切, 万万, 终究, 分明 and 果真.

HSK 7–9 6 min

若 and 倘若 for a Written “If”

Use 若 and 倘若 as written words for “if”: the condition comes first, and the result clause often uses 就, 便 or (with 若) 则.

HSK 7–9 6 min

皆, 均, 统统 and 唯独: Advanced Words for “All” and “Only”

Learn the advanced scope adverbs for “all” (皆, 均, 尽, 统统/通通, 一概, 概), for “only” (唯, 唯独, 唯有, 无非) and 大体 “on the whole”.

HSK 7–9 6 min

……尚且……，（更）何况…… for “Even …, So How Much More …”

Argue from a strong case to a weaker one in formal Chinese with 尚且……，何况……: 大人尚且搬不动这个箱子，何况小孩子呢？

HSK 7–9 6 min

Suffixes 观, 鬼, 界, 然, 坛, 为 and 制 for Building Words

Learn seven word-building suffixes: 观 for outlooks, 鬼 for teasing labels, 界 and 坛 for professional circles, 然 for manner words, 为 for “become/as” verbs and 制 for systems.

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

向来, 随即, 暂且 and 届时: Formal Time Adverbs

Learn thirteen written-style time adverbs: 向来/历来 “always”, 即/随即/即时 “at once”, 届时 “when the time comes”, 一经 “once”, 就此 “at this point”, 暂且/姑且 “for now”, 尚 “still”, 尽早/早日 “as soon as possible”.

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 7–9 6 min

为（了）……起见 for “For the Sake of …”

Give the reason for a rule or precaution in formal Chinese with 为（了）……起见, as in 为了安全起见，请不要在楼梯上奔跑.

HSK 7–9 6 min

无论……与否，都…… for “Whether or Not …”

Say that the result stays the same whether something happens or not, the formal way: 无论成功与否，我们都应该认真对待.

HSK 7–9 6 min

无论如何 for “No Matter What” and “In Any Case”

Use 无论如何 + 都/也 for a firm “no matter what”, 无论如何也 + negative for “just can’t, however hard I try”, and 无论如何， at the start to mean “in any case, anyway”.

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 7–9 6 min

想X之所想，急X之所急 for “Put Their Needs First”

Use the formal pair 想X之所想，急X之所急 to praise people who understand others’ needs and act on them quickly.

HSK 7–9 6 min

X也好，Y也罢 and 也罢 for “Whether X or Y” and “Oh Well”

Use X也好，Y也罢 to say that the result is the same whichever case is true, and 也罢 on its own to accept something reluctantly: “oh well, fine”.

HSK 7–9 6 min

……，以…… for “In Order To …” in Formal Writing

State an action first and its purpose second with 以: 学校延长了图书馆的开放时间，以满足同学们的学习需要.

HSK 7–9 6 min

一来……二来…… and 一则……二则…… for Listing Reasons

Give two or three reasons for one decision with 一来……，二来……（，三来……）, or with the more formal 一则……，二则…….

HSK 7–9 6 min

因……而…… for “Because of …, (Something Happens)”

Link a cause and its result inside one compact written clause with 因……而……, as in 比赛因下雨而推迟.

HSK 7–9 6 min

（因）……，故…… for “Since …, Therefore …”

Read and write formal notices with （因）……，故……, where 故 means “therefore” and 因 means “because of”.

HSK 7–9 6 min

Verb + 一通 for “A Round of” Talking or Doing

Use the action measure word 通 (tòng) after a verb for one long, often noisy or careless burst of an action: 乱说一通, 夸了一通, 找了一通.

HSK 7–9 6 min

没什么/有什么 + Verb + 头儿 for “Not Worth Doing”

Say something isn’t worth watching, eating or talking about with casual 没什么看头儿 or the rhetorical question 有什么看头儿？

HSK 7–9 6 min

与其……，宁可/宁愿…… for “Rather Than …, I’d Rather …”

Reject one option and firmly choose another with 与其……，宁可……, as in 与其在家里干等，我宁可出去找找.

HSK 7–9 6 min

总的来说, 概括来说, 简而言之 and 综上所述 for Summing Up

Learn four summary markers and when to use each: 总的来说 for an overall judgement, 概括来说 for the main points, 简而言之 for “in short”, and 综上所述 for the conclusion of an essay.

HSK 7–9 6 min

纵然/纵使……，也…… for a Formal “Even If”

Say “even if … still …” in formal Chinese with 纵然 or 纵使, as in 纵然困难再多，我们也要把这项工作完成.