A + 被 (+ B) + verb
The 被 passive puts the thing acted on first; the doer comes after 被 and can be vague, like 人 'someone'. For example, 书被人借走了 means 'the book was borrowed by someone'.
A 比 B + adjective + 了很多 — much more than
比 compares two things. Putting 了很多 (or 多了) after the adjective shows the gap is big; never add 很 before the adjective in a 比 sentence.
A 跟 B 差不多（A and B are about the same）
差不多 between two things being compared says they're nearly identical, with only a small difference.
Adjective + 得 + description — so… that…
得 links an adjective to how strong it is: 高兴得像个孩子一样。
A没有用，B才有用 (only B is useful)
才 here means 'only then' — pairing 没有用 with 才有用 contrasts something useless with the one thing that actually helps.
V + 了 + duration + 了 — has been doing for…
The second 了 shows the action is still true now: 中国人用筷子已经用了几千年了。
V + 了 + 一遍 (to do something through once)
一遍 after a verb counts one complete pass through an action.
V1 + 着 + V2
着 after the first verb shows the manner or state in which the second action happens, e.g. 站着说话 'talk while standing'.
Verb + 得 + description — how well something is done
得 links a verb to a comment on how it is done; repeat the verb after the object: 你用筷子用得比我还好。
V着V着，就…（while doing X, gradually…）
Repeating a verb with 着 twice shows an action going on until something changes as a result.
adj/verb + 得 + degree — describing the extent of a result
得 links an action or feeling to how extreme it was.
adjective + 地 + verb
地 turns an adjective into an adverb describing how an action happens, e.g. 慢慢地走 'walk slowly', 认真地学习 'study seriously'.
time word + 多少钱 (how much for...)
To ask the price for a period of time, put the time word right before 多少钱: 一个月多少钱？(How much per month?)
verb + 不到
不到 after a verb means the action cannot achieve its result: 找不到 'cannot find', 买不到 'cannot manage to buy'.
verb + 不懂
不懂 after 听 or 看 means you cannot understand what you hear or read: 听不懂 'can't understand (by listening)', 看不懂 'can't understand (by reading)'.
verb + 了 + duration (how long you did something)
To say how long an action lasted, put the length of time after the verb and 了, e.g. 我们等了半个小时 'we waited for half an hour'.
verb + 好 (resultative)
Adding 好 after a verb shows the action is finished successfully or brought to a good state, e.g. 饭做好了 'the food is ready'.
verb + 得 + adverb/adjective — describing how an action is done
得 connects a verb to a phrase describing its manner or extent.
verb + 过 — have ever done sth
过 after a verb marks past experience. In 我吃过的最好吃的蛋糕 the whole 过-phrase describes the cake: 'the best cake I have ever eaten'.
verb/adjective + 得 + degree
得 after a verb or adjective introduces how far the action or state goes — its degree or result, e.g. 他跑得很快.
……以前，才…… (not until before X)
……以前 marks a point in time; 才 before the verb shows the action only happened at or right before that point, not earlier.
……才 + verb
才 before the verb signals that something happened later than expected — 'only after / not until'. It often follows a duration, e.g. 等了很久才来.
一 + measure word + 都/也 + 没/不 (not even one)
This pattern emphasizes 'not a single one': 一个人都没有 (not a single person), 一句话也不说 (not say a single word).
一 + verb1 + 就 + verb2
一…就… means 'as soon as A happens, B happens' — the second action follows the first immediately, e.g. 我一到家就给你打电话.
一天吃三次 (take it three times a day)
To describe medicine dosage, say 一天 + 吃 + number + 次 for how often, then 一次 + amount for how much each time.
一本一本地 (one by one) — reduplicated measure word + 地
Repeating a measure word before 地 shows an action done item by item, in order.
一点儿也不 + adjective — not … at all
一点儿也不 (or 一点儿都不) before an adjective or verb is a strong negative: 'not even a little'.
一点儿都不 + adjective (not ... at all)
一点儿都不 before an adjective emphasizes a complete absence of that quality.
一点儿都没 + verb (not even a little)
一点儿都 + 没 + verb emphasizes 'not even a little' — completely unchanged.
一直 + verb
一直 means 'straight' with direction verbs, or 'continuously' with other verbs.
一直走 (go straight)
一直走 tells someone to keep walking straight in the same direction without turning.
一般不会 + verb (usually wouldn't...)
一般不会 + verb says something doesn't usually happen — used here to say what people wouldn't normally ask back home.
下去 after a verb（to go down）
verb + 下去 shows movement downward from where the speaker is, such as going downstairs to get something.
不一定 (not necessarily)
不一定 says something isn't certain or doesn't always hold — a mild way to disagree with someone's absolute claim.
不但 A,还 B — not only… but also…
"Not only … but also"; the second part adds something further: 他不但没有兔子吃，还成了全宋国的笑话。
不够 (not enough)
不 + 够 says an amount falls short of what's needed, often used for money or time.
为了 + goal (in order to)
为了 introduces the purpose of the action that follows.
为了 + purpose — in order to
为了 introduces the goal of an action. It stands before the main clause, or right after 就是 to mean 'just in order to'.
为什么不……呢? — why not…?
A friendly way to make a suggestion: 你为什么不坐地铁呢?
了 marking a completed action
了 after a verb shows the action has happened or been completed.
于是 (so; as a result)
于是 links a situation to the action that naturally followed, "so / thereupon": 裤子越来越紧，于是决定去健身房锻炼。
互相 + verb (to do something to each other)
互相 goes right before the verb to mean 'each other' or 'mutually'.
什么时候……，什么时候……
Repeating a question word like 什么时候 turns it into 'whenever / whatever': the second clause happens at the same (unspecified) time as the first, e.g. 你什么时候来，我什么时候等你.
你 V, 我 V (mirrored actions)
Repeating the same verb with 你 and 我 in turn shows two people doing the same thing back and forth, often out of hesitation.
你先 (after you)
你先 politely lets someone go, take, or do something ahead of you — a small, everyday courtesy.
你哪儿不舒服？(Where does it hurt?)
哪儿不舒服 literally asks 'where are you uncomfortable' — the standard way a doctor or pharmacist asks what's wrong.
保重（take care）
保重 is a warmer send-off than 再见 — it's used when someone is going away for a while, and wishes them wellbeing rather than just saying goodbye.
像……一样 (to be like...)
像 + noun + 一样 compares something to another: 像家人一样 (just like family), 像春天一样暖和 (as warm as spring).
先...然后...（first...then...）
先…然后… links two actions in order: 'first ..., then ...'. Each part is a full verb phrase, e.g. 先吃饭，然后看电影.
先……再……
"First ..., then ..." puts two actions in order, with the second waiting for the first: 先等三天再决定。
先…，别… (first..., don't...)
先 puts one action before another, often paired with 别 or 不要 to say what not to do instead.
再 + verb + 一点儿 (do a bit more)
再 + verb + 一点儿 is what a host says to encourage a guest to eat, drink, or do something a little more.
再也不…了
再也不 + verb + 了 means 'never do something again' — a firm decision made after an experience.
几点开门？(What time does it open?)
几点 asks for a specific clock time; paired with 开门 (to open for business) or 关门 (to close), it's the standard way to ask a shop's hours.
刚 A，就 B — no sooner had A than B
刚 marks something that just happened; 就 in the next clause says the second thing followed immediately. The pair is what makes the timing feel tight.
别 + 让 + person + verb + 了 (don't make someone keep doing sth)
别让 + person + verb + 了 asks someone to stop making another person do something — here, stop making the guest eat more.
到了 + time word (by the time X came)
到了 followed by a time word marks reaching that point in time, often to introduce a change that happened by then.
到现在还…… (even now still...)
到现在还 + verb shows that something continues to be true up to the present moment.
加个 + N + 吧 (let's add each other on...)
加个 + noun + 吧 is how people suggest exchanging contact info in Chinese — 加 means 'to add' as a contact.
加油 (literally "add fuel")
加油 literally means to add fuel/oil to a car, but Chinese speakers shout it to cheer someone on — like saying "Come on!" or "You can do it!"
只 + verb (only...)
只 goes right before a verb to say that's the only thing you're doing — nothing more.
只好 (have no choice but to)
只好 shows the speaker is forced to take an action because there is no better option.
可以 + verb + 吗？ (May I / can we ...?)
可以 + verb + 吗 asks for permission — a common way to check what's allowed before you act.
可以...吗？(May I...?)
可以 + verb + 吗 is the everyday way to ask for permission to do something.
因为 (because)
因为 introduces the reason for something; the clause it attaches to explains 'why'.
因为...才... (only because of X)
才 placed after a reason clause stresses that the reason is exactly why something happened, as if nothing else could explain it.
地 (adverbial marker)
Adjective + 地 + verb turns the adjective into an adverb describing how the action is done: 认真地回答 (answer seriously), 慢慢地走 (walk slowly).
够 + verb（enough to）
够 before a verb shows there's now enough of something to do that action.
好久不见 (long time no see)
好久不见 is what Chinese speakers say when running into someone they haven't seen in a long time — 好久 means 'a long time' and 不见 means 'haven't seen each other'.
小心 (watch out / be careful)
小心 can stand alone as a warning — "Watch out!" — or be followed by a noun to mean 'watch out for ___': 小心车 (watch out for cars), 小心地滑 (careful, slippery floor).
就停这儿吧（just stop right here）
就 right before 停 pins down the exact spot you want the driver to stop, and 吧 softens it into a suggestion.
就在……的时候 (right when...)
就在 + clause + 的时候 marks the exact moment something happened, often right before another event.
就是（that means; simply）
就是 clarifies what something means or amounts to.
就要…了 (about to happen soon)
就要…了 says something is about to happen soon, often with a time word before it, e.g. 火车就要开了 'the train is about to leave'.
差不多了（almost done; almost ready）
差不多 describes something nearly finished or nearly at its target, often followed by 了.
差不多，就 V 吧（good enough — just go with it）
Said about a choice, 差不多 means something is close enough to be acceptable, so there's no need to keep deliberating.
师傅，前面帮我停一下（Excuse me, please stop up ahead）
师傅 is how you address a taxi or bus driver, and 停（一下）asks them to pull over — the key phrase for telling a driver where to stop.
干杯 (Cheers!)
干杯 literally means 'dry the cup' — it's what people say together before drinking at a Chinese meal, often after a toast.
并 + 不/没 — emphatic negation
并 strengthens a negative, meaning 'not at all' rather than a simple 'not'.
当然 (of course)
当然 answers a request or question with confident, easy agreement — "of course", "sure", "naturally".
往 + direction + 走 (walk towards...)
往 marks the direction of movement — 往 + left/right/front + 走 means to walk in that direction.
心里很 + adjective (deep down, very...)
心里 means "in one's heart," and pairing it with 很 + an adjective describes how someone truly feels inside.
心里想 (to think to oneself)
心里想 introduces a thought that isn't spoken out loud, often followed by what the person was actually thinking.
快一点 / 快点 (hurry up!)
快 + 一点 (often shortened to 快点) is a common way to urge someone to move faster — usually said as a short, urgent command.
快要……了 — about to; soon
Says something is going to happen very soon: 春节快要到了。
怎么 + verb？（how to do something）
怎么 before a verb asks how an action is done.
怎么办？(what should I do?)
怎么办 asks what to do when you're stuck and don't know the solution — often said out loud when something goes wrong.
恭喜 + person (Congratulations, ...)
恭喜 is used to congratulate someone on good news — finding a job, passing an exam, getting married, or having a baby. Add 你 to speak directly to the person, or just say 恭喜恭喜 to a group.
您的快递到了（Your package has arrived）
This is the standard line a delivery notification or courier uses — 到 plus 了 marks that the package has just arrived.
想不想 (do you want to...?)
Repeating a verb as V+不+V makes a yes/no question, just like 是不是 or 去不去 — 想不想 asks 'do you want to or not.'
我也这么想 (I think so too)
也 (also) + 这么想 (think this way) is a natural way to say you feel the same as the person before you.
我同意 (I agree)
我同意 is a simple, direct way to agree with what someone just said — literally "I agree."
我饿了 / 我渴了 (I'm hungry / thirsty)
Adjective + 了 marks a new state — 饿了 means 'have become hungry' and 渴了 means 'have become thirsty.'
手机卡 (SIM card)
手机卡 literally means 'phone card' — it's the everyday word for a SIM card. Buying one in China usually requires showing an ID or passport.
才 + number (only; just)
才 before an amount makes it feel smaller or slower than expected — here it stresses how little time has passed.
才 + time period（only; not until — something is less than expected）
才 before a time expression emphasizes that only that much time had passed, showing it felt quick.
才 + time（only; not yet — something is earlier than expected）
才 before a time expression shows that a point is still early, or hasn't been reached yet.
才 + 不会 (only then...won't)
才 here means 'only then' — used with 不会 to say doing something this way prevents a problem.
才 — later or harder than expected
才 indicates that something happens only under a certain condition, often translated as "only then": 我把工作都安排好了，这样才能放心地休息。
打算 + verb (to plan to do something)
打算 introduces a plan or intention for the future.
找到 (to successfully find)
找 means 'to look for', but 到 after it shows the search succeeded — 找到 means 'found it', while 没找到 means 'didn't find it.'
把 (the 把 construction)
把 + object + verb moves the object in front of the verb to show what happens to it — common when handing something over: 把护照给他 (hand him the passport).
把 + object + verb + complement (do something to an object)
The 把 sentence moves the object before the verb to show what you do to it; the verb needs a result or direction after it, e.g. 把门关好 'close the door properly'.
把 + object + verb + result
The 把 structure moves the object before the verb to show what is done to it, with a result after the verb.
把 + object + verb + 上 — 把 with a result complement
把 puts the object before the verb when the action changes or disposes of it. Here 上 is a result complement meaning 'shut / closed'.
把 + object + verb + 了一下 — the 把 construction
把 moves the object in front of the verb to show what you did to it. The verb cannot stand bare — it needs something extra such as 了一下, 完 or 好.
把 + object + verb + 出来 — expressing things out (result complement)
把 moves the object before the verb, and 出来 shows the result of the action bringing something out.
把 + object + verb + 给 + person
The 把 structure moves the object before the verb; 给 then introduces the person who receives the result.
把 + object + verb + 进/好
In a 把 sentence, a direction or result word like 进 or 好 follows the verb to show where the object ends up, e.g. 把书放进包里.
把 + object + verb — disposal construction
把 moves the object in front of the verb to emphasize what happens to it — 把伞还给我 means "return the umbrella to me."
把 + object + 给 + person（handing something over）
把 moves the object in front of the verb to focus on what is being handed to someone.
把 + object + 还给 + sb
In a 把-sentence the object moves before the verb to show what is being handled; 还给 'return to' then names the receiver, e.g. 请把书还给老师.
抢着 + verb (to rush to be the one who does it)
抢 means 'to grab/rush', and 抢着 + verb shows someone hurrying to do something before anyone else can.
拿起 + object (to pick something up)
拿 means 'to hold/take', and adding 起 shows the object being lifted up — 拿起杯子 is 'to pick up the glass.'
放心吧 (relax; rest assured)
放心吧 is a softer, more reassuring way to say 'don't worry' — often used to calm someone down.
数字 + 多 + 量词 (more than a number)
多 placed after a number and before the measure word shows the true amount is a bit more than that number.
数字读成幺 (reading '1' as yāo)
For phone numbers, Chinese speakers often read the digit 一 (yī) as 幺 (yāo) instead, so it isn't confused with other numbers.
早点儿 + verb (do something sooner)
早点儿 before a verb suggests doing it a bit earlier, rather than waiting.
更 (comparative: more; -er)
更 is placed before an adjective to compare two things without using 比.
有的……有的…… — some… others…
Talks about different members of a group: 有的月饼是甜的，有的里面还有鸡蛋。
来不及 vs. 来得及
来不及 means there isn't enough time left to do something; 来得及 means the opposite — there's still time. Both are often used with 了 or 还.
比 + A + adj + 多了 (much more ... than A)
比 compares two things; adding 多了 after the adjective means 'much (more) ...', a big difference, e.g. 今天比昨天冷多了.
比 … 多了 (much more … than)
A + 比 + B + adjective + 多了 makes a strong comparison: 我比以前年轻多了 (I look much younger than before).
比……还要…… (even more than)
比 compares two things; adding 还要 before the adjective strengthens the comparison to 'even more'.
没想到 (unexpectedly)
没想到 introduces something that turned out differently from what was expected.
没意思 (boring)
没意思 describes something with no fun or appeal — the opposite of 有意思 (interesting). It works for movies, classes, or anything dull.
洗手间在哪儿？(Where is the bathroom?)
洗手间在哪儿 is the standard way to ask where the restroom is — 在哪儿 means 'is where' and follows the place you're asking about.
点外卖 (to order delivery)
点 means 'to order' and 外卖 means 'takeout/delivery food' — together, 点外卖 is the everyday phrase for ordering food to be delivered.
用 + noun + verb (use something to...)
用 introduces the tool or method right before the verb it applies to.
疑问词 + 都/也 (question word for 'any/every')
A question word + 都/也 + (不/没) means 'everyone/anyone', 'everything/anything': 谁都不认识 (not know anyone), 什么都想吃 (want to eat everything).
着…就… (do one thing, then right away another)
着 marks an action still in progress; adding 就 + another verb shows what happens immediately after, often in a hurry.
祝你 + wish (I wish you...)
祝 introduces a blessing: 祝 + person + the thing you wish them. At a birthday, 身体健康 and 工作顺利 are common wishes to add after 生日快乐.
祝你... (I wish you...)
祝你 + a good wish is how Chinese speakers offer blessings, especially at birthdays and celebrations.
离 + place + 很近/远（distance from a place）
离 marks the reference point when saying how close or far something is.
算了 (never mind / forget it)
算了 is said when you decide to drop a complaint or a plan instead of pushing it further — it marks giving up on being upset.
终于 + verb — finally
终于 goes before the verb and marks a result that came after a long wait or effort. Use 然后 or 后来, not 终于, when you are simply listing steps.
给 + person + 介绍 (to introduce someone to someone)
给 + person + 介绍 + (a friend) means to introduce that person to someone — a common offer in Chinese social life.
能 + verb + 一下 + 吗？（polite request）
Adding 一下 after a verb softens the request, and 能...吗 asks politely whether something is possible.
要多长时间？(How long does it take?)
多长时间 asks about duration — how long something takes — while 多远 asks about distance instead.
谁也不 + verb (nobody does...)
谁也不 + verb stresses that not a single person acts — everyone is holding back at the same time.
越 A 越 B — the more A, the more B
"The more A, the more B." Two 越 link a condition and its result: 越忙压力越大。 The related 越来越 means "more and more over time": 生活越来越快。
越来越 + adjective — more and more…
越来越 before an adjective means something keeps increasing over time, like "more and more", as in 城市越来越快.
越来越…… — More and more
越来越 + adjective describes something increasing over time: 越来越好 (better and better), 越来越冷 (colder and colder).
跟...很像 (similar to...)
跟 + noun + 很像 compares two things, saying one looks a lot like the other.
跟……一起 + verb — to do sth together with sb
跟 introduces the person you do something with, and 一起 sits right before the verb. 和 can replace 跟 with no change in meaning.
还可以……，也可以…… (you can still..., you can also...)
This pattern lists more than one option still available, often used to comfort someone by showing things aren't over.
还是 + adj + 的 (still ...)
还是 before an adjective, with 的 at the end, says something remains in that state.
还是 + verb (still)
还是 shows that an attitude or answer doesn't change, even after being asked again.
还是那么 + adj (still just as...)
还是那么 says someone or something hasn't changed — still just as [adjective] as before.
还没 + verb，……就…… (before X even happened, ...)
还没 says something hasn't happened yet, and pairing it with 就 shows another action already cutting in.
还没有 + verb (haven't yet)
还没有 (or 还没) before a verb shows that an action hasn't happened yet, even though it was expected.
还要 (also plan to; still want to)
还要 says someone plans to do one more thing, adding it on top of what was just mentioned.
这个字怎么读？(How do you read this character?)
怎么 + verb asks how to do something — here it asks how an unfamiliar character is pronounced.
那 + clause (in that case, ...)
那 at the start of a sentence means 'in that case' or 'then', responding to what just happened.
都是 + 我一个人 + 在 + verb (it's all me doing X alone)
一个人 stresses that only one person is carrying out the action — often pointing out it's unfair that no one else is helping decide.
随便 (whatever you like)
随便 means any option works for the speaker — handy when you don't want to choose, though it can leave everyone else stuck.
饱了 / 吃不下了 (I'm full / I can't eat any more)
饱了 says you've become full; 吃不下了 says you physically can't fit any more in — both are polite ways to stop eating at a Chinese meal.
麻烦你 + verb（asking a favor politely）
麻烦你 before a verb softens a request — it shows you know the favor takes the other person's time or effort.
麻烦你了（thanking someone for their trouble）
麻烦你了 is said after someone has already helped — it thanks them for the specific effort or inconvenience, heavier than a plain 谢谢.
How to use this page
Every pattern below was pulled out of an HSK 3 reading on this site. The example is the actual sentence it appeared in, and the links under it go to the readings where you can see it in context.
Grammar sticks through reading, not through lists. Skim this page to see what B1-level Chinese asks of you, then go read the HSK 3 texts and come back when a sentence confuses you.