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'.
比 compares two things; add 多了 for "much more": 地铁比公共汽车快多了。
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.
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.
差不多 between two things being compared says they're nearly identical, with only a small difference.
还是 puts two choices in one question: 'A or B?'. It is used in questions, e.g. 你喝茶还是喝咖啡？
得 links an adjective to how strong it is: 高兴得像个孩子一样。
极了 after an adjective makes it very strong: 漂亮极了。
Repeating a verb or adjective with 不 in between makes a yes/no question, e.g. 辣不辣 'is it spicy or not.'
才 here means 'only then' — pairing 没有用 with 才有用 contrasts something useless with the one thing that actually helps.
The second 了 shows the action is still true now: 中国人用筷子已经用了几千年了。
一遍 after a verb counts one complete pass through an action.
得 links a verb to a description of how the action is done — 跑得很快 means "runs (very) fast."
来得正好 uses 得 to attach a description of the result — arriving right on time.
得 connects a verb to a word describing the manner of the action, such as how slowly traffic is moving.
着 after a verb shows the action's result continues, often describing manner.
着 after a verb shows the action continuing, often while something else happens at the same time.
着 attached to a verb shows a state continuing — here, the door staying shut, and later, staying open.
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'.
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。
着 after a verb shows a lasting state, not an action: 茶馆的门天天开着。
着 shows a continuing state, often describing how another action is done: 妈妈笑着说……
Repeating a verb with 着 twice shows an action going on until something changes as a result.
Placed after an adjective, 多了 means 'much more (adj)' — used for a big change compared with before.
得 links an action or feeling to how extreme it was.
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'.
极了 comes after an adjective to mean 'extremely'. It replaces 很 or 非常, so never use them together.
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?)
不到 after a verb means the action cannot achieve its result: 找不到 'cannot find', 买不到 'cannot manage to buy'.
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)'.
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'.
Put 了 right after the verb, then add how long — 找了很久 means 'looked for a long time.'
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'.
完 attaches right after a verb to show the action is finished — 唱完 is 'finish singing', 说完 is 'finish speaking.'
得 connects a verb to a phrase describing its manner or extent.
着 after a verb shows a state that continues (放着 = is lying there) or how a second action is done (笑着说 = said with a smile).
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'.
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 marks a point in time; 才 before the verb shows the action only happened at or right before that point, not earlier.
'After ..., (then) ...' — 以后 follows a time or action; 就 signals that the next thing happens right away.
才 marks that something happens later than hoped or expected — 'not until'. It goes right before the verb, e.g. 他十点才起床.
的时候 after a phrase means 'when/while ...', setting the time of the main event, e.g. 吃饭的时候别看手机.
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…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.
To describe medicine dosage, say 一天 + 吃 + number + 次 for how often, then 一次 + amount for how much each time.
Repeating a measure word before 地 shows an action done item by item, in order.
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 before an adjective emphasizes a complete absence of that quality.
一点儿都 + 没 + verb emphasizes 'not even a little' — completely unchanged.
一直 means 'straight' with direction verbs, or 'continuously' with other verbs.
一直走 tells someone to keep walking straight in the same direction without turning.
一般不会 + verb says something doesn't usually happen — used here to say what people wouldn't normally ask back home.
一边...一边... describes two actions happening at the same time.
Two actions happening together: 我们一边吃月饼，一边看月亮。
一边 before two verb phrases shows both actions happening at the same time.
Two actions happening together: 我们一边吃饭，一边聊天。
一边 + verb1 + 一边 + verb2 describes two actions happening at the same time.
一边 A 一边 B describes two actions happening at the same time, each 一边 followed by a verb, e.g. 他一边吃饭一边看电视.
一边 + verb1，一边 + verb2 describes two actions happening at the same time.
一边 A 一边 B says the two actions happen at the same time. Each slot takes a verb phrase, e.g. 一边走一边说.
一边 before each of two verbs shows both actions happen together.
一边 + verb, 一边 + verb describes two actions happening at the same time: 一边刷牙，一边找衣服。
Two 一边 clauses show two actions happening at the same time.
verb + 下去 shows movement downward from where the speaker is, such as going downstairs to get something.
Repeating 不 before two opposite adjectives says something lands right in the middle — not too much of either.
不一定 says something isn't certain or doesn't always hold — a mild way to disagree with someone's absolute claim.
The second half must add MORE on top of the first: 不但会用筷子,还会做中国菜.
不 + 够 says an amount falls short of what's needed, often used for money or time.
不用 politely turns down an offer of help, saying it isn't necessary.
为了 introduces the purpose of the action that follows.
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'.
A friendly way to make a suggestion: 你为什么不坐地铁呢?
了 after a verb shows the action has happened or been completed.
于是 links two clauses to show the second happened as a natural result of the first.
互相 goes right before the verb to mean 'each other' or 'mutually'.
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.
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 politely lets someone go, take, or do something ahead of you — a small, everyday courtesy.
哪儿不舒服 literally asks 'where are you uncomfortable' — the standard way a doctor or pharmacist asks what's wrong.
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 + noun + 一样 compares something to another thing, meaning 'just 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 marks the first step and 然后 marks the step that follows.
先…然后… links two actions in order: 'first ..., then ...'. Each part is a full verb phrase, e.g. 先吃饭，然后看书.
先 + action 1, 然后 + action 2 puts actions in order: 先刷牙洗脸，然后吃早饭。
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 is what a host says to encourage a guest to eat, drink, or do something a little more.
再也不 + verb + 了 means 'never do something again' — a firm decision made after an experience.
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 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 gives a friendly command not to do something: 别忘了放盐。
别 before a verb tells someone not to do something — 别担心 (don't worry) is one of the most common uses.
别让 + person + verb + 了 asks someone to stop making another person do something — here, stop making the guest eat more.
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 + verb shows that something continues to be true up to the present moment.
加个 + noun + 吧 is how people suggest exchanging contact info in Chinese — 加 means 'to add' as a contact.
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!"
又 marks that an action happens again; here it shows the narrator practicing the reading a second time.
又…又… links two qualities or actions that are true at the same time. Both slots must be the same kind of word (two adjectives, or two verb phrases).
又 A 又 B links two qualities or results that are true at the same time: 'both A and B', e.g. 这个菜又便宜又好吃.
又 before each of two adjectives or verbs shows both qualities or actions are true at once.
只 goes right before a verb to say that's the only thing you're doing — nothing more.
只好 shows the speaker is forced to take an action because there is no better option.
可以 before a verb, with 吗 at the end, politely asks for permission to do something.
可以 + verb + 吗 is a simple, polite way to ask if you're allowed to do something.
可以 + verb + 吗 asks for permission — a common way to check what's allowed before you act.
可以 + verb + 吗 is the everyday way to ask for permission to do something.
因为 introduces the reason for something; the clause it attaches to explains 'why'.
才 placed after a reason clause stresses that the reason is exactly why something happened, as if nothing else could explain it.
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 before a verb shows there's now enough of something to do that action.
太...了 wraps around an adjective to say something is excessively so.
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'.
如果 introduces a condition and 就 introduces the result: 'if ..., then ...'. For example, 如果明天下雨，我们就不去.
如果 opens the condition. 就 belongs to the second clause and stands after its subject, right before the verb.
如果 introduces a condition, and 就 introduces the result that follows.
对 marks who the words are directed at — 对她说 means 'said to her', placed right before 说.
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 right before 停 pins down the exact spot you want the driver to stop, and 吧 softens it into a suggestion.
就在 + clause + 的时候 marks the exact moment something happened, often right before another event.
就是 clarifies what something means or amounts to.
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'.
就要 + verb + 了 shows an action will happen very soon, often with a time word before it.
就要 + verb + 了 says something is going to happen very soon.
就要 + verb + 了 means something is going to happen soon, often with a time word: 下个月我就要上班了。
差不多 describes something nearly finished or nearly at its target, often followed by 了.
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 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.
希望 can be directly followed by a full clause describing what someone hopes will happen.
干杯 literally means 'dry the cup' — it's what people say together before drinking at a Chinese meal, often after a toast.
并 strengthens a negative, meaning 'not at all' rather than a simple 'not'.
当然 answers a request or question with confident, easy agreement — "of course", "sure", "naturally".
往 marks the direction of movement — 往 + left/right/front + 走 means to walk in that direction.
心里 means "in one's heart," and pairing it with 很 + an adjective describes how someone truly feels inside.
心里想 introduces a thought that isn't spoken out loud, often followed by what the person was actually thinking.
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.
Says something is going to happen very soon: 春节快要到了。
怎么 before a verb asks how an action is done.
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 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.
This is the standard line a delivery notification or courier uses — 到 plus 了 marks that the package has just arrived.
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.'
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 is a simple, direct way to agree with what someone just said — literally "I agree."
Adjective + 了 marks a new state — 饿了 means 'have become hungry' and 渴了 means 'have become thirsty.'
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 placed before a number emphasizes that the number is small — 'only twenty-something.'
才 before a time expression emphasizes that only that much time had passed, showing it felt quick.
才 before a time expression shows that a point is still early, or hasn't been reached yet.
才 here means 'only then' — used with 不会 to say doing something this way prevents a problem.
才 before a verb shows the result came late or took effort: 我看了三天，才买到一张票。
打算 introduces a plan or intention for the future.
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.'
Subject + 把 + object + verb (+ other elements) moves the object before the verb to emphasize what happens to it.
Subject + 把 + object + verb + result moves the object before the verb to show what is done to it: 经理把我介绍给大家。
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 moves the object in front of the verb to show exactly what happens to it.
把 moves the object before the verb to focus on what happens to it.
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 moves the object before the verb when you want to stress what happens to it — often followed by a result like 好, 完, or 走.
The 把 structure moves the object before the verb to show what is done to it, with a result after the verb.
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 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 moves the object before the verb, and 出来 shows the result of the action bringing something out.
The 把 structure moves the object before the verb; 给 then introduces the person who receives the result.
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 moves the object before the verb to emphasize what happens to it.
把 moves the object before the verb to show what you do with it: 我把月饼送给老师。
把 moves the object in front of the verb to stress what happens to it.
把 moves the object in front of the verb to focus on what is being handed to someone.
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 means 'to grab/rush', and 抢着 + verb shows someone hurrying to do something before anyone else can.
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 is a softer, more reassuring way to say 'don't worry' — often used to calm someone down.
多 placed after a number and before the measure word shows the true amount is a bit more than that number.
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 before a verb suggests doing it a bit earlier, rather than waiting.
是……的 is used for a past action to emphasize a specific detail, such as how, when, or where it happened.
更 is placed before an adjective to compare two things without using 比.
有点儿 goes right before an adjective to soften a complaint, showing something is a little more than you'd like.
有点儿 softens an adjective, often for something mildly inconvenient, like a box being heavy.
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 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.
正在 before a verb shows an action is happening right now, ongoing at that moment.
比 A + adjective + 多了 compares two things, saying one is much more so than the other.
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 compares two things; adding 还要 before the adjective strengthens the comparison to 'even more'.
没想到 introduces something that turned out differently from what was expected.
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 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 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 introduces the tool or method right before the verb it applies to.
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 marks an action still in progress; adding 就 + another verb shows what happens immediately after, often in a hurry.
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 + a good wish is how Chinese speakers offer blessings, especially at birthdays and celebrations.
离 marks the reference point when saying how close or far something is.
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 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 + (a friend) means to introduce that person to someone — a common offer in Chinese social life.
Adding 一下 after a verb softens the request, and 能...吗 asks politely whether something is possible.
Both halves must appear in Chinese, unlike English where 'although' alone is enough.
虽然 introduces a fact, and 但是 introduces the contrast that follows.
虽然 introduces a fact that seems to go against what follows; 但是 introduces the actual result, giving a contrast.
Introduces a fact that contrasts with what follows, showing a concession.
多长时间 asks about duration — how long something takes — while 多远 asks about distance instead.
让 introduces who is being asked or caused to do an action.
让 means 'to have / ask someone to do something', introducing the person before the action.
让 introduces the person and the action they are caused or allowed to do.
谁也不 + verb stresses that not a single person acts — everyone is holding back at the same time.
Shows one thing growing along with another: 我越喝越觉得好喝。
越来越 + adjective describes something increasing over time: 越来越好 (better and better), 越来越冷 (colder and colder).
越来越 means 'more and more', describing a quality that keeps growing over time, e.g. 他汉语说得越来越好.
越来越 shows a quality is continuing to increase over time.
越来越 shows a quality increasing over time.
跟 + noun + 很像 compares two things, saying one looks a lot like the other.
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.
This pattern lists more than one option still available, often used to comfort someone by showing things aren't over.
还是 before an adjective or verb shows that a situation hasn't changed — it's still the same as before.
还是 shows that despite something happening, a feeling or situation stays the same.
还是 before an adjective, with 的 at the end, says something remains in that state.
还是 shows that an attitude or answer doesn't change, even after being asked again.
还是那么 says someone or something hasn't changed — still just as [adjective] as before.
还没 says something hasn't happened yet, and pairing it with 就 shows another action already cutting in.
还没有 (or 还没) before a verb shows that an action hasn't happened yet, even though it was expected.
还要 says someone plans to do one more thing, adding it on top of what was just mentioned.
怎么 + verb asks how to do something — here it asks how an unfamiliar character is pronounced.
那 at the start of a sentence means 'in that case' or 'then', responding to what just happened.
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 means any option works for the speaker — handy when you don't want to choose, though it can leave everyone else stuck.
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 before a verb softens a request — it shows you know the favor takes the other person's time or effort.
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.