HSK 2 Grammar 基础语法

怎么样 placed after a topic asks what someone thinks of it.

比 compares two things: A 比 B 好 means A is better than B.

更 before an adjective can recommend one option over another by saying it's even more so.

更 before an adjective compares two things, saying one is even more so than the other.

比 compares two things: A is more ... than B.

比 compares two things: A 比 B 快 means 'A is faster than B'. Don't add 很 before the adjective in a 比 sentence.

比 puts two things side by side: A 比 B 好吃 = A is tastier than B. Do not add 很 before the adjective.

比 compares A to B; adding 还 before the adjective says A goes even further than B.

离 marks the distance between two places; put 近 (close) or 远 (far) after it, e.g. 我家离商店很远.

离 states the distance between A and B, followed by 近 (near) or 远 (far).

离 marks the reference point when talking about distance: A 离 B 近/远 means 'A is close to/far from B.'

离 measures the distance between two places: 我家离公司很近.

离 states the distance from one place to another.

还是 (háishi) links two options in an alternative question — 'A or B?'. Unlike English 'or', it is only used in questions, e.g. 你喝茶还是咖啡？

多了 after an adjective shows a big improvement compared to before.

极了 after an adjective intensifies it to mean "extremely."

得 after an adjective shows how far it goes: 热得不想说话 (so hot that ...).

一下 after a verb shows the action is brief or casual.

了 right after a verb marks the action as completed.

Repeating a verb with 了 in between (聊了聊, 看了看) shows the action was brief or casual.

了 after a verb, followed by a length of time, shows how long the action already lasted.

到 right after a verb like 寄, 走 or 送 marks the place the action reaches.

Adding 吧 after a verb turns it into a warm invitation rather than a command.

完 after a verb shows the action is finished.

完 right after a verb shows the action is finished; add 了 to mark it as a completed event.

完 shows the first action is finished; 就 introduces what happens right after.

完 right after a verb shows that action is complete.

得 links a verb to a description of how it's done or its degree: 住得很远 = 'lives far away.'

得 links a verb to a description of how the action happens.

听懂 and 看懂 add 懂 as a result to show the listening or reading was actually understood.

着 after a verb shows one action happening alongside another, like smiling while speaking.

着 after a verb can describe the manner of doing something else: 煮着吃 = 'eat (it) by boiling it.'

起来 after a verb like 站 shows upward movement, such as standing up.

Repeating a verb with 了 in between means doing it briefly or casually.

完 (wán) after a verb means the action is finished, e.g. 做完 'finish doing', 吃完 'finish eating'.

得 links a verb to a word that describes how the action is done: 开得很慢.

一点儿 after an adjective softens it: a bit cheaper, a bit bigger.

adj + 一点儿 asks for a small change and doesn't carry a complaint — the opposite feel from 有点儿.

Adding 一点儿 after an adjective and asking 可以吗 politely requests a small change, like a discount.

了 after an adjective shows a new state has appeared: became tired.

极了 goes right after an adjective to push it to the extreme — stronger than just 很.

A number needs a specific measure word before the noun — not just 个 for everything: 一本书 (a book), 一杯咖啡 (a cup of coffee), 一块蛋糕 (a piece of cake), 一件衣服 (a piece of clothing).

吧 at the end of a sentence turns it into a soft suggestion or invitation, e.g. 走吧 (let's go), 买吧 (go ahead and buy it).

Put a time word like 中午 or 晚上 before 见 to say when you'll see someone again.

次 counts how many times an action happens, and it goes after the verb: 洗一次 (wash one load), 去过两次 (been there twice).

完 after a verb shows the action is completed, e.g. 吃完 (finish eating), 做完 (finish doing).

得 after a verb introduces a comment on how the action is done, e.g. 说得很快 (speaks fast), 学得很好 (has learned well).

得 links a verb to how it is done: 跑得快 (run fast), 说得好 (speak well).

着 after a verb marks a continuing state or the manner of another action, e.g. 穿着 (be wearing), 笑着说 (say while smiling).

Put a word or phrase before 是什么意思 to ask what it means, instead of what someone intends.

以前 comes AFTER the time word or the action, the opposite of English: 三年以前 (three years ago), 吃饭以前 (before eating).

以后 follows the first action (听了以后 = after hearing), and 就 before the second verb shows it happened immediately.

The description goes BEFORE 的 + noun: 卖西瓜的人 = the person who sells watermelons. English puts it after the noun, Chinese never does.

Put 的时候 after a phrase to mean 'when / by the time that…', e.g. 吃饭的时候 (while eating).

Put the whole action in front of 的时候: 我做菜的时候 = while I was cooking. The main clause tells you whether it is past or present.

所以 (suǒyǐ) introduces the result of what was said before: '..., so ...', e.g. 天气不好，所以我们不去了.

所以 introduces the result of a reason: 公司离家很远，所以我坐公共汽车. Often paired with 因为.

一 is yì before a 1st/2nd/3rd-tone measure word (like 本, 杯) and yí before a 4th-tone one (like 个, 件, 块).

一 + V1，就 + V2 shows the second action happens right after the first.

一会儿 followed by 就 shows something happens quickly, after only a short while.

All three mean "see you," but the timing differs: 一会儿见 is very soon (minutes away), 回头见 is later the same day, and 明天见 is the next day.

一样 means 'the same'; adding 不 gives 不一样, 'different': 我们做的菜不一样。

一点儿 after a verb shows a small amount or limited ability.

一起 before a verb shows two or more people doing the action together.

一起 goes before a verb to show that people do the action together.

一边 + V1，一边 + V2 describes two actions happening at the same time.

These words mark different times of day and pair with different greetings or plans.

次 (cì) is the measure word for times or occasions: 上次 'last time', 这次 'this time', 下次 'next time', e.g. 下次再来.

下次 introduces a plan for a future occasion.

了 after a weather verb announces a change: 下雪了 (it has started snowing), 下雨了 (it has started raining).

不 is normally pronounced bù, but before a 4th-tone syllable it changes to bú for smoother speech: 不大 (bú dà), 不太 (bú tài).

不会 + verb says you never learned how to do something, like baking or cooking.

不客气 is the standard, polite reply when someone thanks you.

不用 + verb means there's no need to do something — different from 不能 ('cannot') or 不要 ('don't want to'): 不用坐车 = 'no need to take a car.'

不用谢 literally means "no need to thank" — another common way to brush off thanks.

不知道 followed by 怎么 and a verb expresses not knowing how to do something.

不知道 is followed directly by a question phrase like 在哪儿 or 是谁 — no 吗 needed.

不能 is different from 不会: it says you're not able to do something right now, not that you lack the skill.

为什么 sits where the answer would sit, right before the verb: 你为什么学中文? There is no word-order change like in English.

也 links a second negative statement to the first, showing another thing that also isn't the case.

也 goes right before the verb to agree with what someone just said.

也 goes right before 是 or a verb to mean 'also' or 'too'.

Sentence-final 了 marks a new situation: 生病了 (got sick — wasn't before), 好多了 (much better now than before).

了 placed after a verb marks that an action has happened or a new state has come about: 她认识了很多新朋友 = 'She has come to know many new friends.'

什么时候 asks broadly about when something happens — a day, a period, or 'someday'.

Works for both time and place: 从九点到十一点 (from 9 to 11), 从北京到上海 (from Beijing to Shanghai).

从 marks the starting point and 到 the ending point, for time or place.

从 marks the starting point and 到 the end point, for both time and place: 从早上到晚上, 从北京到上海.

从 + time + 开始 means 'starting from…', e.g. 从今天开始 (starting today).

从 + time + 开始 marks when a new habit or plan begins: 从明天开始, 从今年开始.

Time word/verb phrase + 以后 means 'after ~': 放学以后 = 'after school lets out.'

会 before an adjective or verb can mean "will (probably)": 明天会很冷。

会 before a verb means having the ability or skill to do it.

会 means 'know how to'; adding 了 shows a change — you couldn't before, but now you can.

会 means 'can' for learned skills like swimming or speaking a language: 我以前不会游泳，现在会了.

位 is used to count people politely, especially by service staff, while 个 is the plain, everyday measure word.

可以 here softly suggests an action — like saying 'you could' rather than asking permission.

你可以 turns a request into a soft question — 吗 at the end makes it a clear question.

在 here marks an ongoing action, so 你在做什么 asks what someone is doing right now.

This asks about a person's intention behind what they said — are they joking, criticizing, or something else?

Use 你说什么？when you didn't catch the words themselves — different from 听不懂, which means you heard the words but didn't understand the meaning.

先 before a verb shows that action happens before anything else.

先 before a verb shows that action happens before anything else, such as arriving before someone else.

再 before a verb tells someone to repeat or continue an action that hasn't happened yet.

再 marks a repeated action that hasn't happened yet; 又 marks one that already did.

再来 is a quick, colloquial way to ask for another one, often used when ordering food.

再要 followed by a quantity, plus 可以吗, politely asks to get one more.

准备 before a verb often means someone is getting ready to do it, right before it happens.

Waiters and staff use 几位 to politely ask how many people are in a group.

的 turns a time into "the one at that time", so you can drop the noun: 九点的 = the nine o'clock one.

几点 asks specifically for the hour, once the day is already settled.

别 before a verb tells someone not to do something.

别 makes a soft negative command, gentler than 不要. It appears all over spoken Chinese.

别 before a verb tells someone not to do something; 别怕 means "don't be afraid."

别 + verb + 了 tells someone to stop doing something: 别想了 (stop thinking).

别 + verb + 了 asks somebody to STOP something they are already doing: 别玩手机了, 别说了. Without 了 it is a plain 'don't do it'.

又 describes a repeat of an action that has already taken place, unlike 再 which is for something not yet done.

又 goes before a verb to show an action happening again, already in the past or present.

又 marks a repeated action that has already taken place, unlike 再 which marks one that hasn't happened yet.

又 + adjective + 又 + adjective describes two qualities happening at the same time.

又 marks a repeated action that has already happened, unlike 再 which is for an action not yet done.

只有 emphasizes a small or limited quantity.

只 right before a verb narrows things down to just one option.

叫 introduces the name of a thing right after 这个是 or on its own.

可以 expresses permission or possibility before a verb.

可以 offers permission or an option, often used when lending something to someone.

可能 right before 会 softens a prediction, useful for warning someone you might be late.

吧 at the end of a sentence makes a soft suggestion: 穿那件红的吧。

吧 at the end of a sentence turns a statement into a suggestion, softer than a command.

听不懂 means you heard the words but the meaning didn't get through — different from just not hearing at all.

回 followed by a place means going back there.

回头 describes turning your head to look behind you, often as you're walking away.

回来了 announces that someone has returned, and is also how you greet them when they walk in.

This pair links a reason and its result. Unlike English, Chinese often uses both words together, e.g. 因为下雨，所以我不去.

Chinese usually keeps BOTH halves of the pair, while English drops one of them. 因为 opens the reason, 所以 opens the result.

因为 introduces the reason; in casual speech the result can also follow directly without 所以.

因为 gives the reason and 所以 gives the result; both can appear together in the same sentence.

在 + noun + 下面 tells you exactly where something is.

在 marks where something or someone is located, usually placed right before the place word: 老师站在黑板前面 = 'the teacher stands in front of the blackboard.'

Put 在 before the verb for an action in progress: 他在看手机, 朋友在等我. 正在 means the same and is a little stronger.

在 right before a verb shows the action is happening at this moment.

Put a place before 怎么走 to ask for the route there.

多 before a verb, with 一点儿 after it, means to do a bit more of that action.

多少钱 is the standard way to ask how much something costs.

太好了 is said on its own to react to good news — happiness or agreement.

太...了 says something is excessively so, often with feeling.

太累了 says something is too much — here, too tired.

如果 introduces a condition, and 就 introduces the result that follows.

对 marks the target that something affects: X 对 Y 好 means 'X is good for Y.'

对 (duì) marks the person you speak to: 对某人说 'say to someone', e.g. 老师对我说.

对 introduces the person being spoken to before 说.

就 before a verb signals that something happens quickly or easily, e.g. 五分钟就好了 (ready in just five minutes).

就 right before an adjective shows something happens right away, as a direct result.

就 before the verb says something happened fast or earlier than you would think: 很快就好了 (it was ready in no time).

左边 and 右边 mark position, often used with 有/没有 to say what's there.

已经 (yǐjīng) with 了 at the end means something has 'already' happened or is already the case, e.g. 他已经走了.

已经 + verb (+ 了) shows something has already happened or become true: 已经习惯了 = 'already used to it.'

已经 pairs with sentence-final 了 to say something has already happened or is already the case.

已经 before a verb or time expression, with 了 at the end, shows something has already happened.

希望 introduces a whole sentence expressing what you hope for.

Tickets, paper and tables take 张, never 个: 两张票, not 两个票.

往 points a movement in a direction: 往前走 (walk ahead), 往左走 (go left).

很高兴认识你 is the standard line for meeting someone for the first time.

忘了 followed by 带 and an object means you forgot to bring that thing along.

快 + verb or adjective + 了 says something is on the point of happening: 鱼快好了 (the fish is nearly done), 我快到了 (I'm almost there).

怎么样 asks for someone's general opinion or how something is — broader than 好吃吗, which asks specifically about taste.

怕 followed directly by a noun says you're afraid of that thing.

想 followed directly by a person means 'to miss' them; followed by a verb it means 'want to'.

想 before a verb is a softer, more tentative wish; 要 before a noun is a direct, concrete request.

慢慢 doubled before a verb tells someone not to rush — a common reply when a friend says they'll be late.

到了 after 我 tells someone you have just arrived — the most common line to say or text when meeting up.

快到了 says you're nearly there, and 马上 emphasizes 'very soon' — the classic reassurance to send when someone is waiting for you.

我是说 introduces a clarification, used to explain your real meaning after a misunderstanding.

Both phrases announce that you're about to leave; 先 adds that you're leaving before others.

给 after 打电话 introduces who is being called.

不到 after a verb shows the action fails to reach its goal.

早上好 is the full morning greeting; 早 alone is a shorter, casual way to say the same thing.

Use 是…的 to highlight when, where, or how something already happened, e.g. 我是坐飞机来的 (I came by plane).

晚安 is said before going to sleep or leaving someone for the night.

最 means 'the most' and goes before an adjective or a verb like 喜欢, e.g. 最好, 最喜欢.

Adding 吗 after 有 + noun is the more common, simpler way to ask if something is available.

Repeat 有人 to describe a lively scene: 有人跑步,有人唱歌 (some are jogging, some are singing).

有什么 followed by a noun asks what kinds of something are available.

有多远 asks for the precise distance, once you already know it's 'far' in some sense.

有没有 puts 有 and 没有 back to back to ask a yes/no question about whether something exists or is available, without needing 吗.

有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr) before an adjective means 'a bit (too) ...', usually about something not ideal, e.g. 有点儿贵.

有点儿 goes before an adjective and adds a negative, complaining tone — something is a bit more than you'd like.

有点儿 before an adjective softens it to "a bit", usually hinting the speaker isn't fully satisfied.

有点儿 sits before the adjective to complain (有点儿贵、有点儿累); 一点儿 sits after the adjective to ask for or describe a small change, and isn't negative (便宜一点儿、快一点儿).

次 counts how many times something happens; the number goes before it: 两次 (twice), 每个星期去两次.

欢迎 greets someone arriving somewhere new, like a new coworker or a guest.

正在 emphasizes that an action is happening right now, even more clearly than 在 alone.

每 (měi) 'every' is almost always paired with 都 (dōu) before the verb, e.g. 我每天都喝茶.

每 (every) is usually followed by 都 before the verb: 每个星期日都去。

比 compares two things, and 更 adds emphasis to the difference.

A 比 B + adjective compares two things: 我比以前快. 一天比一天好 means better day by day.

没 + verb A + 就 + verb B shows B happened right away, skipping A: 我没吃早饭就出门了.

没事 is a more casual reply to an apology, common between friends and classmates.

没事 is a casual reply to thanks, common between family and close friends.

没事 answers a worried question like 你怎么了, telling someone nothing serious is wrong.

没事 also accepts an apology, meaning it's okay, no problem.

没事 can also reassure someone that a small mishap isn't a big deal.

没关系 means 'it's fine / never mind' — use it after someone says 对不起。

没关系 is the standard reply when someone apologizes to you.

清楚 means clear; 没听清楚 says the sound itself wasn't clear enough (too noisy, too far away) — not that the meaning was hard to understand.

没问题 means 'sure, I can do that' — use it to agree to a request or task.

Verb/clause + 的时候 means 'when ~ happens': 下课的时候 = 'when class is over.'

看看, a doubled verb, means to take a quick look at something.

看见 marks the moment you notice someone or something.

Ask 真的吗 when you hear something hard to believe, to check whether it's really true.

真的 alone answers 真的吗, confirming that something really is the case.

祝 (zhù) introduces a good wish for someone: 祝 + person + the thing you wish them, e.g. 祝你工作快乐.

第 turns a number into an ordinal: 第一 (first), 第二 (second). 第一次 = the first time.

等 directly followed by a person means you are waiting for them.

Both mean "wait a moment" and ask someone to hold on; 等一会儿 sounds a touch softer and slightly longer than 等一下.

Repeat the adjective or verb with 不 in the middle to make a yes/no question: 累不累? 是不是? 去不去? It means the same as adding 吗, and the 不 is unstressed.

了 marks a change, and 就 introduces what happens next: "once X, then Y."

给 puts the person who benefits before the verb: 给她买药 (buy medicine for her), 给他做饭 (cook for him).

"Although ... but ..." — both halves are used together in Chinese: 虽然我唱得不好，但是我很快乐。

虽然 starts the first clause and 但是 starts the second; unlike English, both words appear together.

This pair means 'although… , (but)…'. Chinese keeps both words in the sentence, e.g. 虽然很贵，但是很好.

要 directly before a noun is how you ask for or point at something you want.

要…了 says something is about to happen soon, e.g. 火车要开了 'the train is about to leave'.

要 + verb + 了 says something is going to happen soon: 他要来北京了。

要 + verb + 了 means something is about to happen very soon.

Person A + 让 + person B + verb: A asks or lets B do something. 他让我去看。

让 means to have or tell someone to do something: 医生让我多休息.

让 + person + verb means to have or ask someone to do something: 她让我帮助她.

请 makes a request polite; adding 一点 after 慢 softens it into "a bit slower."

请 before an action politely invites someone to do it, like English 'please'.

请帮我 + verb is a simple, polite way to ask someone to do something for you.

再...一次 asks someone to repeat an action one more time.

错 right after a verb shows the action was done incorrectly.

走 means to leave, and adding 吧 turns it into a friendly suggestion — 'let's go!'

到...的时候 marks the moment of arriving somewhere, showing what had already happened by then.

跟 introduces the person an action is done together with or toward.

过了 followed by a length of time shows how much time passed before the next thing happened.

还...着 describes an action that is still going on.

还 before a verb checks whether an action is still going to happen or still true.

还可以 gives a neutral answer to 怎么样 — not great, not bad, right in the middle.

还 (still) + 在 (in the middle of) means an action is continuing: 雪还在下, 他还在睡觉.

In QUESTIONS use 还是: 热的还是冰的? In statements use 或者: 我喝茶或者咖啡都可以.

还是 links two choices inside a question, e.g. 你想吃米饭还是面条？

还没 before a verb says the action hasn't happened yet.

还没 before a verb means something has still not happened: 车还没来 (the bus hasn't come yet).

还行 is the casual, spoken way to say something is not bad, often followed by a small complaint with 可是.

这个 points at something close by; 那个 points at something farther away.

This is the question to ask when you don't know a word — point at something and say this.

进 alone just means 'to enter'; adding 来 (进来) frames the movement as coming toward the speaker.

Repeating 远 with 不 in between makes an A-not-A question asking simply whether something is far.

送 (sòng) takes two objects: first the person, then the thing given, e.g. 送他一本书 'give him a book (as a gift)'.

送 puts the receiver right after the verb, then the gift — no 给 needed in between.

送 + person + place means to accompany or take someone there: 妈妈送她去学校 = 'Mom takes her to school.'

都 follows a plural subject like 我们 or 他们 to mean 'both/all': 我们都很忙 = 'we are both busy.'

都 sums up everyone or everything just mentioned before it.

马上 right before a verb says the action will happen very soon.

高兴 usually reacts to one moment — seeing someone, hearing news. 开心 describes an overall mood, like how a whole day felt.