Word types/classes
Adjective (Adj)
An adjective describes the qualities or states of being of nouns.
Adverb (Adv)
An adverb describes a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or a word
group (expressing a relation of place, time, circumstance, manner,
cause, degree, etc.).
Verb: he sings loudly
Adj: very tall
Adv: too quickly
Clause
A clause is a group of words that contains a verb (and usually other
components too). A clause may form part of a sentence or it may be a
complete sentence in itself.
- He was eating a bacon sandwich (clause)
- She had a long career (clause), but she is remembered mainly for one
early work (clause).
Conjunction
A word used to connect clauses or sentences or to coordinate words in
the same clause (e.g., and, but, if).
Exclamation
An exclamation is a sudden cry or remark expressing surprise, strong
emotion, or pain. E.g., You are amazing!
Interjection
An abrupt remark, especially as an aside or interruption such as ‘ahh’,
‘nah’, ‘woops’.
Modal Verb (Mv)
A modal is a type of auxiliary (helping) verb that is used to express:
ability, possibility, permission or obligation. E.g.: 可以: can, may.
Proper noun (Np)
A noun that serves as a name for a specific place, person, or thing. They
are always capitalized.
Preposition (Prep)
A preposition is a word or group of words used before a noun, pronoun,
or noun phrase to show direction, time, place, location, spatial
relationships, or to introduce an object. Some examples of prepositions
are words like "in," "at," "on," "of," and "to."
Pronoun (Pr)
They stand in for a noun that has already been mentioned or refer to
yourself and other people. E.g.: I, she, him.
Vocabulary and grammar structures
Adj/V – 是 – adj/verb – 可是/但是
This structure implies that the speaker accepts the validity of a certain
point of view but wishes to offer an alternative perspective or emphasize
a different aspect of the matter.
“It’s good, but…”
Q：滑冰難不難？
Is ice skating difficult?
A：滑冰難是難，可是很有意思。
It is difficult, but it is very interesting.
Q：你喜歡這張照片嗎？
Do you like this photo?
A：我喜歡是喜歡這張照片，可是這張照片太小了。
I do, but this picture is too small.
*This structure can be used only when the adjective or verb in it has
already been mentioned in the conversation.
Ba 吧
吧 is a sentence-final particle that is often used to soften the tone of a
command or suggestion.
Bié 別
別 (don’t) is used to advise someone to refrain from doing something.
Depending on the context, it can be used to express a polite request, a
gentle reminder, or a serious admonition/warning.
A：別客氣。You are welcome.
B：你別說。 Do not say anything.
Bùdéliǎo 不得了
不得了 means ‘extremely’. It indicates a high degree in the speaker’s
judgement of the attribute signified by the adjective. It often comes after
the structure ‘Adjective + 得’.
A：那個地方夏天惹得不得了。
Summer is unbearable hot in that place.
Verbs like 想，喜歡，and 愛 can also be followed by Adj – 得 – 不得了.
A：她的孩子真可愛，大家喜歡得不得了。
Her kid is so adorable. Everyone just loves him.
Cái 才
The adverb 才 indicates the occurrence of an action or situation later
than the speaker expects. It suggests the perceived lateness of an
action.
Structure: Time – 才 – verb
A：他晚上很晚才睡覺。He goes to bed very late at night.
B： 他六點半才來。He did not arrive until six-thirty.
Cì 次
次 is the measure word that is most frequently used to express how
many times an action is performed. Structure: verb – number – 次.
A：上午打了兩次電話。 / 上午打電話打了兩次。
I made two phone calls this morning.
B：我昨天吃了三次藥。
I took medicine three times yesterday.
If the object represents a person or a place, 次 can go either between the
verb and the object or after the object.
A：去年我去了一次中國。去年我去了中國一次。
Last year I went to China one.
If the object is a personal pronoun, 次 must be placed after the object.
A：我昨天找了他兩次，他都不在。
Yesterday I went looking for him twice, but he was not around either
time.
Chúle… yǐwài, hái/yě… 除了。。。以外，還/也。。。
除了。。。以外，還/也。。。 means ‘apart from’ or ‘in addition to’.
When followed by 還/也, it indicates inclusiveness of the content inserted
between 除了 and 以外. If the activities are performed by the same
subject you use 還.
A：我除了學專業課以外，還學中文。
Besides the courses in my major, I also take Chinese.
B：上個週末我們除了看電影以外，還聽音樂了。
Last weekend, besides seeing a movie, we also listened to music.
C：他除了喜歡聽音樂以外， 還喜歡打球。
In addition to listening music, he also likes to play ball.
If the activities are done by different subjects, you have to use the adverb
也.
In these cases, the first subject follows 除了, and the second subject
precedes (gaat vooraf aan) 也.
A：除了小王以外，小李也喜歡唱歌，跳舞。
Like Xiao Wang, Xiao Li also enjoys singing and dancing.
Dào 到 – place – qù 去 – action
This structure denotes the purpose of going somewhere. It is the same
as
‘去 – place – action’.
A：我要到電腦中心去網上。
I want to go to the computer center to use the Internet.
B：我們到公園去滑冰吧。
Let’s go ice skating in the park.
Děi 得
‘Must, have to’. Negative form: 不用 (need not) or 不必 (need not). It’s a
modal verb (Mv).
A：我現在得去開會。
I have to go to a meeting right now.
B：我有事兒，得去學校。
I have some business to attend to. I have to go to school.
C：你不必去圖書館。You don’t have to go to the library.
Dōu 都
The adverb 都 (both, all) indicates inclusiveness. It always occurs in front
of a verb (and is therefore an adverb). It refers to things or people, so it
must be used at the end of an enumeration (opsomming).
王朋，李友 和高文中都 是學生。
Wang Peng, Li You and Gao Wenzhong are all students.
都 is negated with both 沒有 and 不。
Not all of … have is negated with 不 。
他們不都是中國人。Not all of them are Chinese.
他們不都有弟弟。Not all of them have younger brothers.
None of them have… is negated with 沒有
他們都不是中國人。None of them are Chinese.
他們都沒有弟弟。None of them have any younger brothers.
Duì 對
The preposition 對 (to, for, towards) indicates a person or thing that is
affected by someone or something else. It introduces the target of the
verb. It can be combined with either an action or an adjective.
With action verbs:
A：醫生對你說什麼？What did the doctor say to you?
B：他對我笑。He smiles at me.
With adjectives:
A：我對這裡的交通情形很了解。
I understand the traffic situation here very well
B：中國人對風水很講究。
Chinese people are very particular about Fengshui
Duō 多 (indicating an approximate number)
多 can be placed after a number to indicate an approximate number. The
combination indicates not an exact number but a general numeric range.
If the amount is not divisible into smaller units and the number is ten or a
multiple of ten, 多 is placed before the measure word.
A：二十多個人。More than twenty people.
B：三十多個學生。More than thirty students.
If the amount can be divided into smaller units, there are two
possibilities:
- The number is ten or a multiple of ten, 多 can be placed both
before or after the measure word.
A：我們班有二十多個學生。
There are over twenty students in our class (but less than
thirty)。
- The number is not ten or a multiple of ten, 多 should be used after
the measure word.
A ：一個多星期。
More than one week (but less than two weeks).
Duō/shǎo + verb 多/少 + verb
To express doing something ‘more’ or ‘less’, place 多 or 少 before the
verb.
A：爸爸告訴媽媽做菜的時候少方鹽，多放點兒糖。
Dad asked mom to add less salt and more sugar when cooking.
B：上中文課得多說中文， 少說英文。
In Chinese class, one should speak more Chinese and less English.
多/少+verb can also be used to denote (aanduiden op) 啊 deviation from
the correct number or amount.
A：你多找了我一塊錢。
You gave me one dollar too many.
B：老師說要寫五十個字，我寫了四十五個，少謝了五個。
The teacher told us to write fifty-five characters. I wrote fory-five.
I was five short.
Èr 二 and liǎng 兩
Both mean ‘two’.
二： used when counting numbers.
兩： used in front of common measure words to express quantity.
In compound numerals 二 is always used in the last two digits, e.g. 二十
二 (22) and 一百二十五 (125). But 二百二十二 (222) can also be written
as 兩百二十二。
Gāng 剛 vs gāngcái 剛才
As an adverb, 剛 (just) indicates an action or change in situation, took
place in the very recent past.
A：我哥哥剛從中國來，在這兒一個朋友都沒有。
My older brother just came from China. He does not have a single
friend here.
B：我剛洗完澡，舒服庭了。
I just showered and feel great.
剛才 (just now) is a time word that refers to the period just moments
before.
Q：你知道王朋在哪兒嗎？
Do you know where Wang Peng is?
A： 他剛才在這兒，我不知道他去哪兒了。
He was here a moment ago. I do not know where he went.
Also, 剛 cannot be followed by 不 or 沒 (unlike 剛才).
Q：你剛才為什麼沒說？Why did you not say anything a moment ago？
A：我剛才不想說。I did not want to say anything a moment ago.
-我剛為什麼沒說？Wrong
-我剛不想說。Wrong
剛 cannot end with 了, while sentences that include 剛才 often end with
了.
A：我剛才去圖書館了。
I went to the library just now.
B：我剛開始準備。
I just started preparing.
Gēn/hé… (bù) yíyàng 跟/和。。。（不）一樣
跟/和。。。（不）一樣 is used to express (dis)similarity between
objects, people, or actions.
A：你的襯衫跟我的一樣。
Your shirt is the same as mine.
B：貴的衣服和便宜的衣服不一樣。
Expensive clothes are different from other ones.
Guò 過 particle
過 is used to denote a past experience or occurrence that has not
continued to the present but that still has a bearing/relevance on the
present.
In this kind of sentences, expressions of time are often either unspecific
or completely absent. If there is no time expression, the implied time for
the action or event is 以前 (before, previously). Sometimes 以前 can
appear in the sentence as well.
A：我在中國城工作過一年，所以我知道怎麼走。
I worked in Chinatown for a year, so I know how to get there.
(The fact that the speaker worked in China town for a year is the
reason
why he/she knows how to get there).
B：我以前去過中國城， 知道怎麼走。
I have been to Chinatown before. I know how to get there.
C：我見過李友，（所以）她很高。
I have met Li You, (so I know) she is tall.
Even though expressions of time are often either unspecific or
completely absent, an expression indicating a specific time can also
occasionally appear in a sentence with 過.
Q：你見過李小姐嗎？
Have you ever met Miss Li?
A：見過，上個月還見過她。
Yes. I saw her (recently as?) last month.
Hái 還
還 as an adverb can mean ‘still’.
A：上午十一點了，他還在睡覺。
It is 11:00 a.m. He is still sleeping.
B：今天的功課我還沒寫完。
I am still not done with the homework of today.
Hái 還 + positive adjective
還 can be used before a positive adjective to indicate that something is
acceptable but not truly outstanding.
Q：你對那家旅館的印象怎麼樣？
What was your impression of that hotel?
A： 還好。
It was okay.
B ：這個廚房還好，挺乾淨的。
This kitchen is all right. It is pretty clean.
Háishi 還是
還是 can be used to form an alternative question (a question that
presents two or more possible answers and presupposes that only one is
true).
A：你哥哥是老師還是學生？
Is your older brother a teacher or a student?
B： 他喜歡吃中國菜還是美國菜？
Does he like to eat Chinese or American food?
還是 as an adverb means ‘also, too, as well’. It indicates that the action
or situation denoted (aanduiden) by the verb involves someone or
something else. E.g.:
白英愛請高文中和王朋，還 李友。
Bai Ying’ai is inviting Gao Wenzhong and Wang Peng, and Li You, too.
王朋喜歡吃中國菜，還 喜歡吃美國菜。
Wang Peng like to eat Chinese food, and American food, too.
Háishi ba 還是 吧
“Had better”. 還是吧 can be used to suggest an alternative.
A：我們星期五去看電影，好不好？
Let’s go to a movie on Friday. How’s that?
B：還是星期六去吧。
Let’s go on Saturday instead.
Hǎo as a resultative complement
好 can serve as a resultative complement following a verb to signify the
completion of an action and readiness to start another.
A：飯做好了， 快來吃吧。Dinner is ready. Come and eat.
B：功課好了，我要睡覺了。My homework is done, and I am going to
bed.
Hǎo ma 好嗎
To solicit someone’s opinion, we can ask 好嗎？(OK?) after stating an
idea or suggestion. As an alternative, we can also say 好不好？(All
right?).
A： 我們去看電影，好嗎？
We will go see a movie, ok?
B ： 我們今天晚上吃中國菜。好不好？
We will eat Chinese food tonight, all right?
Hǎo/nán 好/難+ verb
Some verbs can be preceded by 好 (fine, good) or 難 (difficult); the
resulting compounds become adjectives. In this case, 好 usually means
‘easy’, while 難 means ‘difficult’.
- 好受 easy to bear
- 難受 hard to bear
- 好寫 easy to write
- 難寫 hard to write
However, in other compounds, 好 suggests that the action represented
by the verb is pleasant, while 難 means the opposite.
- 好吃 delicious
- 難吃 unappetizing
- 好看 pretty
- 難看 ugly
Huòzhě vs háishi 或者 vs 還是
Both 或者 and 還是 connect words or phrases to indicate alternatives. 或
者 is used in statements, while 還是 is used in questions.
A：我今天晚上聽音樂或者看電影。
Tonight, I am going to listen music or watch a movie.
B：你週末想看電影還是跳舞？
Would you like to see a movie or go dancing this weekend?
Huì 會
會 (will) indicates an anticipated event or action. Negated with 不會
A：白老師現在不在辦公室，可是他明天會在。
Teacher Bai is not in the office now, but he will be tomorrow.
B：他說他晚上會給你發短信。
He said he will send you a text message in the evening.
Jiù 就 (I)
就 is used before a verb to suggest the earliness, brevity, or quickness of
an action. When commenting on a past action, 就 is used with 了 to
indicate promptness. Structure: Time – 就 – verb – (了).
(就 vs 才： 就 suggests the perceived earliness or promptness of an
action, while 才 suggests the perceived lateness of an action. 才 is never
used with 了.
A： 八點上課，小白七點就來了。
Class started at 8:00, but Xiao Bai came early at 7:00.
(B：八點上課，小白八點半才來。)
Class started at 8:00 but Xiao Bai did not come until 8:30.
Jiù 就 (II)
就 (Adv) connects two verbs or verb phrases to indicate that the second
action happens as soon as the first one is completed.
A：他今天早上起床以後就聽中文錄音了。
He listened to the Chinese radio right after he got up this morning.
B：王朋看了電視以後就去睡覺了。
Wang Peng went to bed right after watching TV.
Jiù 就 (III) + 因為/要是
In this structure, the first clause conveys a condition or reason while the
second clause denotes the result or conclusion. 就 indicates the close
relationship between the two. The relationship is often casual or
conditional.
A：（因為）小高喜歡吃中國菜，（所以）我們就吃中國菜。
(Because) Xiao Gao likes Chinese food, so we went for Chinese
food.
B：（因為）小王的專業是中文，（所以）我們就請他教我怎麼說中文。
(Because) Xiao Wang’s major is Chinese, so I asked him to teach
me
how to speak Chinese.
C： 要是我同學幫我複習，我考試就考得很好。
If my classmates help me review, I do very well on my tests.
D：要是你不能來，我就去你哪兒。
If you cannot come over, I will go to your place.
Jiù 就 (II)
When used before a noun, pronoun or verb, 就 means ‘only, just’.
Often, the noun, pronoun or verb can be modified by a numeral-measure
word combination.
A：我們班人很少，就七個學生。
Our class is small, with just seven students.
B：今天功課很少，就寫五個漢字。
There is little homework today. We only have to write five characters.
C：今天我就有一節課。
Today I only have one class.
Le 了
了 can be used in different situations and has different meanings.
 了 in set structures
The most basic use of the 了 (le) particle is in specific set
structures. Try to understand these is as set vocabulary items
that just are, rather than trying to do any deeper analysis.
These set patterns can be used to intensify or strengthen the
adjective used. It emphasizes the adjective used.
Note that the 极了 (jíle) structure is only used with positive
adjectives, and the 死了(sǐle) structure is only used with negative
adjectives.
The most common examples of these words/patterns include:
-太 Adj 了：太好了！Amazing
- Adj 极了: 你的普通話好極。Your Mandarin is very good.
- Adj 死了：我們餓死了： We’re starving!
- 可 Adj 了：這隻狗可臭了！：This dog stinks！
 了 used to mark change of state or a new situation
It signifies:
- The occurrence or completion of an action or event
- The emergence of a situation (past and future)
In English, this can be expressed with ‘now’ or ‘no longer/anymore’.
This 了 only used at the end of a sentence. (‘Sentence 了)
A ：他是老師了。 He is a teacher now.
B ：我不喝酒了。 I do not drink anymore.
C ： 他們不住在這裡了。 They do not live here anymore.
 了 as an aspect marker / completed action.
This aspect is used to indicate that an action is complete within the
time frame we are talking about. That could be in the past, present
or future. It has nothing to do with the past tense. It is about the
completeness of an action, not when it happened.
了 comes right after the verb (‘verb 了), but in interrogative and
declarative sentences, it sometimes appears after a verb and the
object of the verb.
Simple VO + 了 ：Verb – Object – 了：
我吃飯了。 I have eaten.
Specified VO + 了：Verb – 了– Specify – Object ：
我吃了兩個餃子。 I have eaten three dumplings.
A： 昨天我偷了三輛車。
I stole three cars yesterday.
B* ：我賣了這些車以後，我就會有很多錢。
After I’ve sold these cars, I’ll have a lot of money.
C ：昨天晚上你去打球了嗎？
Did you play ball last night?
Occurrence or completion of an event, in the past,
interrogative.
D ：明天我吃了晚飯去看電影。
Tomorrow I’ll go see a movie after I eat dinner.
Occurrence or completion of an action in the first part of the
sentence, in the future.
B* The cars have been stolen. The speaker is already in the city.
The cars will have been sold in the timeframe that the speaker is
talking about.
 Two times 了
‘Verb 了’ together with ‘sentence 了’. Such a sentence expresses
both completed action and change of state. It expresses what has
been completed up until now or so far.
A：他應吃了八碗麵條了。
He has eaten eight bowls of noodles.
B ：他並了三天了。
He has already been sick for three days.
了 is negated with 沒（有）。了 is omitted.
Q：你吃飯了嗎？
A：我沒吃。
 When 了 isn't le at all
Liǎ 倆
This is a colloquial equivalent of 兩個.
Lián… dōu/yě…。。。都/也
連 is an intensifier which is always used in conjunction with 都/也.
A：姐姐很聰明，連日語都會說。
My sister is very smart. She can even speak Japanese.
B：你怎麼連要都忘了吃？
How can you even forget to take you medicine?
Nà(me) 那麼
那麼 means ‘then, in that case’. Following a statement by speaker A,
speaker B can often start with 那（麼）, which links up the sentences by
the two speakers.
A： 今天晚上沒事兒。
We have nothing to do tonight.
B： 那麼，我們去看電影，怎麼樣？
In that case, let’s go to see a movie. How about that?
A： 我今天很忙，晚上不去吃晚飯。
I am very busy today and will not go to dinner tonight.
B： 那， 明天呢？
Then how about tomorrow?
Ma 吗
When 吗 is added to the end of a declarative sentence, that statement
turns into a question.
Nàme 那麼
那麼 is often placed before adjectives or verbs such as 想，喜歡， 會，
能 and 希望，to indicate a high degree. By using 那麼，the speaker
attributes a certain quality or characteristic to something or somebody.
A：你那麼不喜歡法短信，就別發了吧。
Since you dislike sending text messages so much, stop doing it then.
B：弟弟沒有哥哥那麼帥，那麼酷。
The younger brother is not as handsome and cool as the older
brother.
Ne 呢 (I)
呢 often follows a noun or pronoun to form a question when the content
of the question is already clear from the context.
Q : 請問，你貴姓？What’s your family name?
A : 我姓李，你呢？My name is Li. How about you?
Ne 呢 (II)
呢 at the end of a sentence indicates that the action denoted by the verb
is in progress. In this sense, it is similar to 在. However, 在 is not used at
the end of a sentence, but put before the verb. 呢 and 在 can also be
used together.
A：你寫什麼呢？
What are you writing?
B：你在寫什麼呢？
What are you writing?
在 can also be preceded by 正. The phrase 正在 further emphasizes that
the action is ongoing.
A：我昨天給他打電話的時候，他正在做功課呢。
When I called him yesterday, he was right in the middle of doing his
homework.
Qi lai 起來
起來 indicates the beginning of an action or state. If there is an object
when 起來 is used, the object is placed between 起 and 來.
A：我們一見面就聊起來了。
We started to chat as soon as we met.
B：下了課以後，學生們打起球來。
The students started playing ball once class was over.
Qù 去
‘To go + action’. Use 去 if the performance of an action involves a
change of location.
我們明天去看電影。We are going to see a movie tomorrow.
週末我去跳舞。I’ll go dancing this weekend.
Shì 是
是 (to be) is a verb that can be used to link two things that are in some
way equivalent. These two things can be nouns, pronouns, or noun
phrases.
You cannot use 是 to link an adjective.
Q： 你是老師嗎？
A：我是老師
A：他是很高 = wrong
他很高 = correct
Shì… de 是。。。的
This structure is used to emphasize a detail in a sentence and these
sentences are usually about past events. The thing we emphasize is
some detail about the action of the verb. This detail is often time, manner
or place, but really it can be anything.
Structure: subject – 是 – thing to be emphasized – verb – 的
Q：（是）跟誰學的？
Who did you study with?
A：（是）跟王老師學的
With teacher Wang.
Q：你（是）在哪裡吃的？
Where did you eat?
A：（是）在學生餐廳吃的。
In the student cafeteria.
是 cannot be omitted in negative statements. It is negated with 不是。
Q：你是在中國學的中文嗎？
Did you study Chinese in China?
A：我不是在中國學的，是在美國學的。
No, I did not study Chinese in China. I studied it in the U.S.
Sǐ le 死了
Placed after an adjective, 死 can serve as a complement to indicate an
extreme degree of the condition described by the adjective.
死 often follows adjectives with a pejorative (ongunstige) meaning,
however, 高興+死了 is one of the few exceptions.
A：打針疼死了。Getting shots is extremely painful.
B：我餓死了。I am starving.
C：今天熱死了。It is awfully hot today.
D：知道了這件事，他高興死了。
He was incredibly happy when he found out about this.
Suīrán… kěshì/dànshì 雖然。。。可是/但是
This pair of conjunctions links two clauses to form a complex sentence.
However, 雖然 (although) is often optional.
A：雖然這雙鞋很便宜，可是大小不合適。
Although this pair of shoes is very inexpensive, they’re not the right
size.
B：這件襯衫大小很合適，可是太貴了。
This shirt is the right size, but it’s too expensive.
Xiān… zài 先。。。再
In this structure, 再 (then) indicates a sequence of actions rather than
repetition.
A：我想先打球在去圖書館。
I would like to play ball and then go to the library.
B：下課以後再打。
I will call her after class.
Xiǎng 想
‘Want to, would like to’.
A：你想聽音樂嗎？Would you like to listen to some music?
B： 你想不想看中國電影？ Do you feel like going to see a Chinese
movie?
Xià qu 下去 (indicating continuation)
下去 signifies the continuation of an action that is in progress.
A：說下去。
Go on speaking.
B：你別念下去了。
Please stop reading.
C：中文很有意思，我想學下去。
Chinese is very interesting. I would like to continue learning it.
Yào 要 (I)
‘To want, to be going to’ (to want, stronger than 想). The negative form is
不 rather than 不要.
A： 明天我要去小白家玩兒。你呢？
I am going to visit Xiao Bai tomorrow. How about you?
B： 明天我不去小白家玩兒， 我要開會。
I am not going to visit Xiao Bai tomorrow. I am going to a meeting.
Yào 要 (II)
要 can also mean ‘to desire to do something’. To negate, use 不想.
A：明天是週末，我要做什麼？
Tomorrow is the weekend. What do you want to do?
B：我要去圖書館看書。
I want to go to the library to read.
C：我不想去圖書館。
I do not want to go to the library.
Yào…le 要。。。了
The 要。。。了(soon) structure indicates the imminence (about to
happen) of an action or situation. It appears In the form of: 快要。。。了.
A：新年快要到了！
New Year is around the corner!
B：寒假寒假要到了，你要做什麼？
It’ll be winter break soon. What do you want to do?
C：電影快要開始了，你買票了嗎？
The movie is going to start soon. Did you get tickets?
D：快要考試了， 我們大家得準備一下。
The exam is coming. We have to prepare.
Yě 也
The adverb 也 means ‘too’ or ‘also’. In Chinese, adverbs, especially onesyllable adverbs, normally appear after subjects and before verbs. It
cannot be put before the subject or at the very end of a sentence.
A : 我也是學生。I am also a student.
When 也 is used together with the negative adverb 不 (not, no), 也 is
placed before 不.
A : 我也不是學生。I am also not a student.
Yìbiān… yìbiān 一邊。。。一邊
This structure describes two simultaneous actions. Typically, the first
action is the principal one which begins before the second,
accompanying action.
A：我們一邊吃晚飯，一邊練習說中文。
We practiced speaking Chinese while having dinner.
B：他常常一邊吃飯一邊看電視。
He often eats and watches TV at the same time.
Yì diǎnr 一點兒 (I)
It can soften the tone of a question or an imperative sentence (sentence
which is used to convey a command, a request, or a forbiddance). 一點
modifies the object (nouns).
A：你想吃點兒什麼？What would you like to eat?
B： 喝一點兒茶吧。 Have some tea.
Yì diǎnr 一點兒 (I)
Adjective + 一點兒 indicates slight qualification. 一 can often be omitted
in casual speech.
A：老師，請您說話說得慢一點兒。
Teacher, please speak a bit more slowly.
Yì… jiù… 一。。。就。。。
‘As soon as… then…’This structure combines two habitual or two onetime actions. In a habitual situation, whenever the first action occurs, the
second action immediately follows.
A：他一上課就想睡覺。
He feels very sleeping every time class starts.
B：李先生一累就和咖啡。
Mr. Li drinks coffee whenever he feels tired.
In a one-time situation, the second action takes place as soon as the first
is completed.
A：我們一進飯館兒，服務員就告訴我們沒位子了。
As soon as we entered the restaurant, the waiter told us there were
no
seats available.
B：我一看就懂。
I understood it as soon as I read it.
Yí xià 一下
To express that a verb is carried out briefly or "a little bit," you can add 一
下 (yīxià) after it. Sometimes 一下 (yīxià) can soften the tone.
Structure: subject – verb – 一下 – object
A：你看一下，這是誰的照片？Take a look. Whose photo is this?
Yì… yě/dōu… bù/méi… 一。。。也/都。。。不/沒
This structure is used for emphatic negation; they express the meaning
‘not at all’ or ‘not even one’.
Subject – 一 – measure word – object – 也/都+不/沒（有）- (verb)
A：小李一個朋友也沒有。
Li You doesn’t have a single friend.
B：爸爸今天一杯茶都沒和。
My father didn’t have a single cup of tea today.
Topic (object) – subject – 一 – measure word – 也/都+不/沒（有） – verb
A：這些襯衫我一件也不喜歡。
I don’t like any of these shirts.
B：哥哥的鞋，弟弟一雙都不能穿。
The younger brother cannot wear a single pair of his older brother’s
shoes.
If the noun after 一 is countable, a measure word should be used
between 一 and the noun. If the noun is uncountable, the phrase 一點兒
is usually used instead.

Subject – 一點兒 – object – 也/都+不/沒（有）– verb
A：他去了商店，可是一點兒東西也沒買。
He went to the store but didn’t buy anything at all.
B：媽媽做菜一點兒味精都不放。
Mom doesn’t use any MSG in her cooking.
一點兒+也/都+不/沒 can also be used before an adjective to express
emphatic negation.
A：這兒的冬天一點兒也不冷。Winter here isn’t cold at all.
B：哪個學校一點兒也不漂亮。That school isn’t pretty at all.
C：這個杯咖啡一點兒也不好喝。This cup of coffee doesn’t taste good at
all.
Yuè lái yuè 越來越
越來越（more and more…）denotes a progressive change over time.
A：李友的中文越來越好。
Li You’s Chinese is getting better and better.
B：天氣越來越暖和了。
The weather is becoming warmer and warmer.
Yǒu 有
有 can indicate possession or existence.
有 is always negated with 沒有。Not with 不。
Indicating possession:
Q ： 王先生有弟弟嗎？Does Mr. Wang have a younger brother?
A ： 王先生沒有弟弟。Mr. Wang doesn’t have any younger brothers.
Indicating existence:
A：我家有五口人。There are five people in my family.
B：小高家有兩個大學生。There are two college students in Little Gao’s
family.
Yǒu (yì) diăn 有（一）點兒
有一點兒 means ‘somewhat, rather, a little bit’. It precedes (gaat vooraf
aan) adjectives or verbs. It often carries a negative tone (A). However,
when the sentence describes a change in situation, it can carry a positive
tone (B).
A： 我覺得中文有（一）點兒難。
I think Chinese is a little hard.
(Cannot say: 我覺得中文有點兒容易)
B：我以前不喜歡他，現在有一點兒喜歡他了。
I used to dislike him, but now I rather like him.
Do not confuse with 一點兒. 一點兒 (a little) usually modifies nouns.
E.g.: 給我一點咖啡 (give me a little coffee).
Yòu 又
又 indicates the recurrence/repeating of an action (past).
A：昨天下雪，今天又下雪了。
It snowed yesterday and snowed again this morning.
If the verb is 是 or a modal verb 又 is required regardless of the timing of
the action.
A：明天又是星期一了。
Tomorrow is Monday again.
* Both 再 (zài) and 又 (yòu) express the repeating of an action and can
be roughly translated in English to "again." However, 再 is used to
express actions that have not yet occurred (the "future again") and 又 is
used for actions that have already occurred (the "past again").
I went dancing yesterday. I’d like to go dancing again tomorrow.  use
再：
我昨天去跳舞了，我想明天再去跳去。
Yòu… Yòu 又。。。又
This structure is used to describe something or someone as ‘both…
and…’. Only adjectives can be used in this structure. They must both be
either positive or both negative.
A：他又聰明又用功。
He is both smart and hardworking.
B：今天的功課又多又難。
The homework of today is both a lot and difficult,
Zài 在
在 is a preposition when used in the structure 在 + location. In this case,
it appears before a verb.
Q：你在那兒工作？ Where do you work?
A： 我在這兒工作。 I work here.
A： 我在這個大學學中文。 I study Chinese at this university.
Zàishuō 再說
The expression 再說 (moreover) introduces an additional reason for an
action taken or decision made. (It is different from 再+說 ‘to say again’.
Q：你為什麼不去紐約？
Why are you not going to New York?
A：我沒有時間， 再說也沒有錢。
I do not have the time, and besides, I do not have the money.
Zěnme 怎麼
怎麼（how, how come）is an interrogative pronoun. It is used to ask
about the manner of an action, the reason, or the clause of an action.
Both 怎麼 and 為什麼 are used to ask about the cause or reason of
something. However, 怎麼 conveys the speakers surprise, whereas 為什
麼 does not.
A：請你教我怎麼寫‘懂’這個字。
Please teach me how to write the character ‘懂’.
B：你怎麼才來？
How come you’ve just arrived?
C：你怎麼沒去看電影？
How come you did not go see the movie?
Zhě 著
著 signifies the continuation of an action or a state. Its function is
descriptive. When 著 is used between two verbs, the first verb signifies
the accompanying action, while the second verb signifies the main
action.
A：我喜歡躺著聽音樂。
I like to listen to music while lying down.
B：老師站著教課，學生坐著聽課。
While the teacher stood lecturing, the students sat listening.
*著 is used after a verb to indicate a continuing action or state. 在 is used
before a verb to indicate an ongoing action. They are not
interchangeable.
Zhèngzài 正在
The 正在 v structure (‘be doing’), denotes (geeft aan) an ongoing or
progressive action at a certain point of time. It is more emphatic than 在,
which can serve the same function.
Q：李友，你在做什麼？Li You, what are you doing?
A：我在練習寫漢字。I am practicing writing Chinese characters.
Q：你知道不知道王老師在哪兒？Do you know where teacher Wang is?
A：他正在辦公室開會。He is having a meeting in his office.
B：我們現在正在上課，你別打電話。
We are in class right now. Don’t make phone calls.
C：我昨天到他的時候，他正在練習發音。
When I got to his dorm yesterday, he was in the middle of practicing
pronunciation.
Grammar
Adjective reduplication (I)
When monosyllabic adjectives are reduplicated, the accent usually falls
on the second occurrence. Reduplication of adjectives often suggests an
approving and appreciative attitude on the speaker’s part when they are
attributives* and predicates**.
*A quality or characteristic of a person, place, or thing.
**The part of a sentence, or a clause, that tells what the subject is doing
or what the subject is.
A：王朋高高的，很帥。
Wang Peng is tall and handsome.
B：可樂涼涼的，很好喝。
Cola is nicely cold and tasty.
C：酸辣湯酸酸的， 辣辣的，非常好喝。
The hot and sour soup is a bit sour and a bit hot; it tastes great.
Affirmative + negative (A – not – A) questions (How to
form a question)
Besides adding 嗎, another common way of forming a question is to
repeat the verb or adjective in its affirmative and negative form.
你今天忙不忙？
Are you busy today?
你媽媽喜歡不喜歡吃中國菜？
Does your mother like to eat Chinese food or not?
王先生有沒有事？
Is sir Wang free today or not?
In this type of question, there can be no adverbs before the verb other
than time words. If there is another adverb such as 都 (all) or 常常 (often)
before the verb, 嗎 must be used instead to form a question.
Are they all students:
他們都是不是學生？Wrong
他們都是學生嗎？Correct
If there is more than one verb, the question form applies to the first verb.
E.g.: Do you like dancing?
你喜歡跳舞不跳舞？Wrong
你喜歡不喜歡跳舞？Correct
Bǎ 把 construction
Is placed before the object. There has to be an object if you want to use
the 把 construction. 把 ‘ to grasp’, ‘to hold’ .
The 把 structure is used to talk about the result of the action on the
object.
Normal word order: Subject – verb – object
把 word order: Subject – 把 object – verb (– other complement/ 了, etc.)
There are three conditions to use the 把 structure:
1. The object must be specified (the, this, these, those, etc.)
Therefore, the object is often something that is already known to
both the speaker and the listener.
A：老王給了小張一些錢。
Lao Wang gave Xiao Zhang some money. (Unspecified)
B：老王把錢給小張了。
Lao Wang gave the money the Xiao Zhang. (Specified)
2. The object has been affected, changed or used (by the verb)
Something has happened to its position, state, ownership,
qualities, etc. If the sentence seems to be focusing on what
happened to the object, then you should try use 把. It gives a bit
more extra information about what happened to the object.
A：我吃麵條。
I eat noodles.
B：我把麵條吃了。
I ate the noodles.
C：我把我的包放在桌子上了。
I put my bag on the table.
3. The verb cannot exist of only one character. Solutions:
- Redouble the verb
- place 了 after an completed action (resultative complement)
- Complement (E.g.: 錯了)
- 一下’even’.
Bǎ 把 construction (II) directional complement
The 把 construction can also be used in combination with a directional
complement.
把 with simple directional complement:
Subject – 把 – object – verb – 來/去
A：請把你的床搬來。
Please move your bed here.
B：小王把冰茶拿去了。
Xiao Wang took the ice tea (with him)
Subject – 把 – object – verb – 上/下/ 進/出/回/過/起/開/到 – place word
A：你把孩子送回爺爺家。
Take the child back to Grandpa’s
B：媽媽把椅子搬上樓了。
Mom took the chair upstairs.
把 with compound directional complement:
Subject – 把 – object – verb - 上/下/ 進/出/回/過/起/開+來/去
A：你把書拿起來。
Pick up the book.
B：小李把車開回去了。
Xiao Li drove the car back.
Sub – 把 – object – verb - 上/下/ 進/出/回/過/起/到 – place word – 來/去
A：麻煩把包拿上桌來。
Please put the bag on the table.
B：他把剛買的桌子搬進房間來了。
He moved the table that he had just bought into the room.
Continuation of an action (likely into the future)
Verb – 了– numeral – measure word – noun – 了. This structure usually
implies that the action has been continuing for some time and will likely
last into the future.
Q：你開出租汽車開了幾年了？
How many years have you been driving a cab for?
A：一年半了。
For a year and a half now.
B：他病了三天了。
He has been sick for three days (and will likely continue to be).
This is different from 他病了三天。(He recovered on the fourth day).
However, structure can be followed by another clause that suggests that
the action will likely cease (stop). This can refer to both time and
quantity.
A：衣服我已經買了三件了，再買兩件就夠了。
I have already bought three pieces of clothing. I will buy two more
and
that will be plenty. (Quantity)
B：我打掃房子打掃了一上午了，想休息一下。
I have been cleaning the house all morning. I would like to take a
break. (Time)
Comparing
比
X – 比 – Y – adjective
A：李友比大姐高。Li You is taller than her oldest sister.
B：今天比昨天冷。Today is colder than yesterday.
X – 比 – Y – adjective + 一點兒/得多/多了
A：今天比昨天冷一點兒 。Today is a little colder than yesterday.
B：明天比今天冷得多/多了。 Tomorrow will be much colder than today.
X – 比 – Y – 更/還 – adjective.
A：昨天冷， 今天比昨天更/還冷。
Yesterday was cold. Today is even colder than yesterday.
In a sentence were 比 is used, a numeral + measure word combination
can be placed after the adjective to indicate a disparity in numerical
terms.
X – 比 – Y – adjective – numeral – measure word – noun
A：我的表弟比我小三歲。
My cousin is three years younger than I am
B：我們班比你們班多四個學生。
Our class is larger than yours by four students.
C：這件襯衫比那件襯衫貴二十塊錢。
This shirt is twenty dollars more expensive than that shirt.
跟/和 (not) the same
X – 跟/和 – Y – (不) 一樣 – adjective
A：這個教室和那個教室一樣大。
This classroom and that classroom are the same size.
B：這個教室和那個教室不一樣大。
This classroom and that classroom are not the same size
沒有 not as… Adj as…
In a comparative sentence using 沒有, the pronoun 那麼 is sometimes
added. ‘Not as – Adj – as…
A：弟弟沒有我高。
My younger brother is not as tall as I am.
B：北京沒有上海熱。
It is not as hot in Beijing as in Shanghai.
C：他姐姐沒有他哥哥那麼喜歡買東西。
His sister does not like shopping as much as his older brother does.
Currency
Usage
Unit of
1/10 of a Unit
1/100 of a Unit
角 jiǎo (10
分 fēn (1 cent)
Currency
Standard
元 yuan (euro)
cent)
Colloquial/informal 塊 kuài
毛 máo
分 fēn
*Store prices are typically listed in 元 and 角.
Structure: number + 塊 + number + 毛 + number + 分 + (錢).、
One or more zeroes occurring internally in a complex number are read
as 〇(líng) to avoid ambiguity (onduidelijkheid).
¥ 8.55
八塊五毛五（分）（錢）
¥ 15.30
十五塊三（毛）（錢）
¥ 103
一百〇三塊
¥ 100.30
一百塊〇三毛
¥ 100.03
一百塊〇三分
Dates
X 年 Year
X 月 Month
X 號/日 Day
星期 X Week
In Chinese, time expressions proceed from the largest to the smallest
unit.

2019, August 12, 07:00 p.m.
二〇一九年八月十二日晚上七點。
De 的 particle
The particle 的 is used between the ‘possessor’ and the ‘possessed’. It’s
equivalent to the “’s” structure in English, as in 老師的名字 = teacher’s
name.
It is often omitted in colloquial speech (weggelaten in spreektaal).
Order: bepaling – 的 – kern
A：王朋的媽媽。 Wang Peng’s mother/the mother of Wang Peng
的 can be omitted when personal pronouns such as 我，你， 他，are
followed by a term indicating a close personal relationship. E.g., 我媽
媽，他弟弟。
De 的 particle (I)
We get a 的 structure when an adjective is followed by 的. This makes
the adjective the equivalent of a noun.
A： 我寫了十個字，五個難的， 五個容易的。
I wrote ten characters, five difficult ones and five easy ones.
B： 他是一個男的。
He is a male (one).
De 的 particle (II)
When an adjective of more than one syllable (lettergreep) modifies a
noun, the particle 的 is usually inserted between the adjective and the
noun. However, with monosyllabic adjectives (one syllable), 的 is
generally not required.
- 漂亮的學校 Beautiful school
- 容易的漢字 Easy character
- 有意思的電影 Interesting movie
- 新課 New text
- 大教室 Big classroom
If 很 comes before the adjective, 的 cannot be dropped, so it must be
inserted.
- 很大的教室 Very big classroom.
Descriptive complements
A descriptive complement is used to describes the action of a verb.
Adjectives often serve as a descriptive complement.
Structure : Verb – 得.
A：他吃得很好。 He eats very fast.
If the verb is followed by an object, the verb has to be repeated before it
can be followed by 得 (Verb – object – verb – 得).
A：他寫字寫得很好。He writes characters very well.
B： 他昨天睡覺睡得很晚。He went to bed very late last night.
Descriptive complements (II)
The subject of a sentence can also be described by a descriptive
complement.
A：我們玩兒得很高興。
We had a happy time playing. (We played and we were happy).
B：孩子小笑得很可愛。
The kid gave a very cute smile. (The kid smiled, and the kid looked
cute).
The verbs 玩兒 and 笑 give the causes, while the complements 高興 and
可愛 describe the effects on the subject.
Direction complements (I)
A directional complement is used to describe the direction of a verb. It
therefore indicates the direction in which a person or object moves.
If the action moves towards the speaker or comes closer in any way, use
來. If the action moves further away from the speaker or becomes more
distant in any way, use 去.
- Simple direction complement
Subject – verb – place word/noun (phrase) – 來/去
A：他下樓來。
He comes downstairs.
B：你給他送一點兒吃的東西去。
Take some food to him.
C：妹妹給爸爸拿了一杯咖啡來。
My younger sister brought dad a cup of coffee. (Completed
action).
If the action is completed the sentence can appear also appear in
the following pattern:
Subject – verb – 來/去 – noun
A：他買來了一些水果。
He bought and brought over some fruit. (Completed action).
- Compound directional complement
Subject – verb – 上/下/進/出/回/過/起/到 – place word/noun – 來/去.
A：他走下樓來。
He walks downstairs.
B：老師走進教室來/去。
The teacher walks into the classroom.
(來: speaker is in the classroom, 去: speaker is outside the
classroom).
C：他拿出了一張紙來。
He took out a piece of paper (completed action)
If the action is completed the sentence can appear also appear in
the following pattern:
Subject – verb - 上/下/進/出/回/過/起 – 來/去 – noun
A：他買回來了一些水果。
He bought some fruit (and brought it back here). (Completed
action).
Another explanation
Step 1: action verb (拿，走，跑)
Step 2: verb + direction (上，下，出，進，會)
Step 3: verb + direction + place/object.
Step 4: verb + direction + place/object + 來/去
Direction and location words
Most common words to describe location:
- 上 shàng: on, above
- 下 xià: under, below
- 前 qián: in front
- 後 hòu: behind
- 左 zuǒ: right
- 右 yòu: left
- 裡 lǐ: in
- 外 wài: out
- 東 dōng: east
- 西 xī: west
- 北 běi: north
- 南 nán: south
- 旁 pang: side
The combination of a direction word with one of these following words
can follow a noun to indicate a location.
- 邊 biān
- 面 miàn
- 頭 tóu
A：東邊/面
The east side
B：圖書館旁邊
Next to the library
There are a few special cases:
-
旁邊: beside/next to
-
對面: opposite/across
-
中間: in the middle
When you want to say ‘beside/next to’ you cannot use 面.
When you want to say ‘opposite/across’ you cannot use 邊.
When you want to say that something is ‘in the middle’ you should use
間.
You can use location words as an attributive or as a center word.
When the location word is used as an attributive, you must add 的.
When it is used as a center word, 的 is optional and may be omitted.
A：外面的汽車
The car outside
B：汽車（的）外面
Outside the car
Duration of inactivity
To indicate that an action has not been or was not performed for a
certain period of time, you use the following structure:
Time expression + 沒有 + verb + 了
A：他三天沒有上網了。
He has not been online for three days.
B：我的狗病了，一天沒有吃東西了。
My dog is sick, she has not eaten anything for a day.
Measure words
A measure word comes after a number or a demonstrative pronoun.
(aanwijzend voornaamwoord).
三個人
這個人
這三個人
Ordinal numbers (rangtelwoorden)
Ordinal numbers are formed by placing 第 before the cardinal (normal)
number. However, 第 is not used before months or to indicate the birth
order of siblings (大哥，二個，三個 oldest brother, second oldest
brother, third oldest brother).
第一 ：the first
第一杯茶：the first cup of tea
第二杯茶：the second cup of tea
Passive-voice sentences using 被/叫/讓
Passive voice: something is being done by someone. E.g.: Passive: the
dog was let out by its owner; Active: the owner let out his dog.
In Chinese, the passive voice is not used as often as it is in English. It
carries a negative connotation and is often used in situations where
something is lost or in situations that are unpleasant for the receiver of
the action.
In passive-voice sentences with 被/叫/讓, the agent of the action does
not always have to be specified. If the agent of the action is someone
that is not identifiable or does not need to be specified, the agent can
simply be referred to as 人 (someone, people).
Structure: Receiver of the action – 被/叫/讓 – agent of the action – verb –
other complement (了, etc.)
A：我的信用卡被/叫/讓人拿走了。
My credit card was taken away by someone.
B：我的功課被/叫/讓狗吃了。
My homework was eaten by my dog.
Potential complements (I)
Verbs can take potential complements to indicate whether an action is
possible. 得 or 不 is placed after the verb that is being modified.
- Affirmative form
Subject – verb – 得 – complement
A：你沒帶眼睛， 看得清楚嗎？
You are not wearing glasses. Can you see clearly?
B：我看得懂。
I can understand it.
- Negative form
Subject – verb – 不 – complement
A：我看不清楚。
I cannot see clearly.
Potential complements (II)
The structure: Verb – 不下, suggest that a location or container in
question does not have the capacity to accommodate a certain number
of people or things.
A：這個客廳大是大，不過坐不下二十個人。
This living room is quite spacious, but it still is not large enough to
seat
twenty people.
B：這個冰箱放不下兩個西瓜。
This refrigerator is not big enough for two watermelons.
Question pronouns using 都/也
When a question pronoun is followed by 都/也, it means ‘all’, or ‘none’.
Thus, everything in question in either included or excluded.
A：這些公寓我哪套都不租。
I am not renting any of these apartments.
B：中國我什麼地方都沒去過。
I have not been anywhere in China.
C：我誰都沒認識。
I did not get to know anybody.
Question pronouns as indefinite references
Whoever, whatever, etc.
The equivalent of the ‘question pronoun + -ever’expression in English is
formed by repeating a question pronoun in two separate but related
clauses in the same sentence. The first occurrence refers to an indefinite
person, object, time, place, etc. The second occurrence then refers to
that same person, object, time, place, etc.
A：誰想去， 誰就去。
Whoever want to go can go.
B：你吃什麼， 我就吃什麼。
I will have whatever you are having.
C：怎麼進，怎麼走。
Let’s take whichever is the shortest.
Sometimes the two occurrences of the question pronoun have a different
grammatical function. For example:
A：哪雙鞋便宜，就買哪雙。
Buy whichever pair of shoes is the cheapest.
In this sentence, the first 哪雙 is the subject
whereas the second 哪雙 is the object.
Resultative complements (I)
Following a verb, an adjective or another verb can be used to denote
(aanduiden op) the result of the action.
A：小白菜賣完了。The baby bok choy is sold out.
B：太好了，這個字你寫對了。Great! You wrote this character correctly.
The negative form is formed by placing 沒 or 沒有
A：小白菜沒玩買. The baby bok choy is not sold out.
Collocations* such as these, made up of a verb and a resultative
complement, are best to be learned as set phrases.
*A collocation is made up of two or more words that are commonly used
together
List of resultative complements:
 完
- 看完: finish reading/watching
- 吃完: finish eating
- 喝完: finish drinking
- 考完: finish taking a test
- 買完: finish buying
- 賣完: finish selling, sell out, sold out
 到
- 找到: find (something/someone) successfully
- 看到: see (something/someone)
- 聽到: hear (something/someone)
- 買到: buy (something) successfully
 見
-看見: see (something/someone) same as 看到
-聽見: hear (something/someone) same as 聽到
 好
- 做好: complete doing something (and now be ready for the next
action)
- 買好: complete buying something (and now be ready for the next
action)
- 準備好: prepare something (and now be ready for the next
action)
 錯
- 買錯: buy the wrong thing
- 找錯: find the wrong person/thing, give the wrong change
- 寫錯: write (something) incorrectly
- 說錯: say (something) incorrectly
- 走錯: go the wrong way
 懂
- 聽懂: comprehend what one hears
- 看懂: comprehend what one reads or sees
 清楚
- 看清楚: see (something) clearly
- 聽清楚: hear (something) clearly
 會
- 學會: acquire a skill (to do something that one was previously
unable to do)
Time
點（鐘）O’clock/hour
半 Half hour
刻 Quarter hour
分 Minute
Hour:
兩點（二點 is not used） 2:00 a.m.
十一點 11:00 a.m.
Half hour:
兩點半 2:30 a.m.
十一點半 11:30 a.m.
Quarter hour:
兩點一刻 2:15
十一點三刻 11:45
(兩刻 is not used)
Minute:
十二點四十（分）12:40 a.m.
五點三十（分）5:20 a.m.
兩點〇五（分）2:05 a.m.
八點十分 8:10 a.m.
When telling the time, 〇 (líng, zero) is usually added before a singledigit number and 分 (fēn, minute).
分 can be omitted (weggelaten worden) from the end of the expressions
if the number for the minutes appear in two syllables. So, add 分 if the
number for the minutes appear in one syllable. E.g., 一點十分
Evening:
晚上七點 07:00 p.m. / 19:00
晚上八點〇五 08:05 p.m. / 20:05
晚上九點一刻 09:15 p.m / 21:15
晚上十點半 10:30 p.m. / 22:30
Time duration (I)
To indicate the duration of an action the following structure is used:
Subject – verb – (object+verb) – 了– duration of time
Time duration must not be put before the verb.
A：老高想在上海住一年。
Old Gao would like to live in Shanghai for a year.
B：我每天在書店工作三個鐘頭。
I work at the bookstore for three hours every day.
C：昨天下雪下了一天。
It snowed for a whole day yesterday.
Time-when + time duration: Subject – time-when - verb – (object+verb) –
了– duration of time
A：我昨天上中文課上了兩個鐘頭。
Time duration (II)
When a sentence contains both a time duration of an action and an
object, the verb must be repeated or the time duration must be placed
before the object (often with 的).
Structure 1: Subject – verb, object, verb – 了- duration of time
Structure 2: Subject – verb – (了) - duration of time – (的) – object
She listens to the audio for an hour every day.
1. 她每天聽錄音聽一個小時。
2. 她每天聽一個小時（的）錄音。
She reads English newspapers for two hours every day.
1. 她每看英文報紙看兩個小時。
2. 她每天看兩個小時的英文報紙。
Time-when expressions
Time-when expressions come before the verb.
A：我們十點 上課。We start class at ten.
B：我們幾點去？ What time are we going?’
C：他明天上午八點來。He will come at eight tomorrow morning.
Directional complements
來 and 去 can serve as directional complements after verbs such as 進
(to enter) and 回(to return).
來：movement towards the speaker. 去：movement away from the
speaker or the speaker’s own movement away from a current location.
A：你什麼時候回來？When are you coming back?
B： 快進去吧！Just go in, quickly!
C： 我六點回去。I’ll be back at six.
Question words
 Duōshǎo, duōjiǔ, duōdà: how many, how long, how big >10
 Jǐ: how many <10
 Nǎ/něi: which
 Nǎr/nǎlǐ: where
 Shéi: who
 Shénme: what
 Shénme shíhòu: when
 Wèishénme: why
 Zěnme: how
Verb Object (VO) as a detachable compound
Verbs such as 睡覺 (to sleep) and 唱歌 (to sing) are each treated as a
word, but grammatically speaking, they are verb – object compounds.
When an attributive element modifies the object, such as an adjective, it
must be inserted between the verb and the noun.
睡覺 to sleep
睡一個覺 have a good sleep
唱歌 to sing
唱英文歌 sing an English song
跳舞 to dance
條中國舞 do a Chinese dance
Verb reduplication (I)
Like adjectives, verbs can be reduplicated in imperative sentences (a
sentence which is used to convey a command, a request, or a
forbiddance). Verb reduplication softens the tone of a request or
suggestion.
A：老師，您再說說什麼時候用‘了’，好嗎？
Teacher, would you say a bit more about when to use ‘le’, please?
B：媽，您看看，我這樣寫對不對？
Mom, take a look – did I write this correctly or not?
C：我用用你的電腦可以嗎？
Could I use your computer for a minute?
If a sentence includes both a modal verb and an action verb, only the
action verb can be reduplicated.
A：他想看看我的新手機。
He wants to take a look at my new cell phone.
Word order sentences
Subject – Adverb – Verb – (Object)
Subject: agent of the action
Adverb: time, place, manner
Object, receiver of the action
王朋週末常常聽音樂。
Wang Peng often listens to music on weekends.