A 是 A，但是……
Repeating the adjective concedes a point before turning to what matters more: 麻烦是麻烦，但是它让我们重新认识了自己的生活。
V + 不 + 动
The potential complement 不动 means you lack the strength to do the action: 疼得连楼梯都爬不动。
V + 得 + complement
A degree complement paints how far the action goes — here the pressure is so heavy one cannot breathe.
V + 起（来）
起来 after a verb can mean "to start to"; an object goes between 起 and 来 or replaces 来: 刮起了大风，下起了大雨 / 龙从墙上飞了起来。
V来V去
A verb repeated with 来 and 去 means doing it back and forth or all over the place: 它每天在井里跳来跳去。
adjective + 得 + complement
得 after an adjective introduces a complement describing the degree, often with a vivid comparison, as in 热闹得像过节一样 or 白得发亮.
verb/adjective + 得 + complement
得 introduces a complement showing the degree or result of an action or state, as in 累得只好坐下来休息 or 激动得说不出话来.
……的时候……的时候……(对比)
Repeating "……的时候" lets you contrast two different times or situations: 好的时候和不好的时候差别很大。
……的话
的话 attaches to a clause to mark it as a condition, similar to "if": 东西质量好的话，用起来跟新的差不多。
…，却… (yet; however)
却 means "yet / however" and sits after the subject, inside the second clause, to mark a contrast: 城市给了我新的生活，故乡却留着我最老的记忆。 Unlike 但是, it cannot start the clause before the subject.
一 + 量词 + 也/都 + 不/没…… — not even one
This pattern emphasises a complete zero: 重要的事一件也没做；一次也不看。
一直…… — Continuously / always
Describes a state or action that continues without change over time.
一直……，直到…… — kept …ing, until…
一直 marks a state that continued without change, and 直到 gives the moment it ended.
不仅……而且……
"Not only A, but also B" — the 而且 part adds something further and often more important, as in 不仅是美丽的风景，而且是那种让人慢下来的生活.
不但……也……
"Not only... but also..." links two related results: 学车不但让我学会了开车，也让我明白了耐心的重要。
不但……而且…… — not only… but also…
不但 introduces the first fact and 而且 adds a second, stronger one about the same subject: 他不但记得每个人的名字，而且知道谁家白天没有人。
不再……而是……
'no longer A, but instead B' — an old way replaced by a new one.
不只是……更是……
'not only... but even more...' — the second part is the deeper or more important point.
不是……只是…… — It's not X, it's just Y
Softens a claim by rejecting one interpretation and offering a smaller, simpler one instead.
不是……就是……
'if not A, then B' — the situation is always one of two (often undesirable) options.
不是……的
Used at the end of a sentence to soften or emphasize a statement about how things are: 效果不是马上就能看到的。
不是…而是… — it's not X, but rather Y
Corrects an assumption by negating one option and affirming another: 'it is not A, but rather B'. Common for reframing who or what is really responsible. 例：改变现状的，不是运气，而是坚持。
不用 + V
'no need to...' — a soft way to say something is unnecessary. Note the tone change: bú yòng.
不管…都… (no matter…, …)
"No matter A, B still holds." 不管 introduces a condition that makes no difference, and 都 stresses that the result never changes, as in 不管刮风下雨，我都得带它出去散步.
也算是……
"Can also be considered as..." — used to reframe something in a positive light: 也算是一种收获。
从来不 + verb
从来不 means "never (as a habit)" and describes something the speaker has never done and does not do, as in 我从来不告诉网上的朋友自己的地址.
再 + adj + 也……
'no matter how (adj), still...' — an extreme degree that still cannot change the result.
再也没（有）……过
"Never … again" — something stopped happening from a certain point on: 他的羊再也没有丢过。
到处都是…… — … is everywhere
到处 means "all over the place" and is normally followed by 都, showing there are no exceptions.
即使……也……
"Even if A, still B." 即使 introduces an extreme or hypothetical situation, and 也 shows the result does not change, as in 即使是半夜，我也会爬起来陪她聊天.
原来 (sudden realization)
原来 introduces a sudden realization of something that was true all along: 原来我怀念的不是办公室，而是人和人之间的温度。
反而 — on the contrary; instead
Introduces a result that is the opposite of what one would expect: 'on the contrary, instead', e.g. 吃了药，病反而更重了.
只有…才… (only if / only… can…)
"Only if A can B happen." 只有 states the one necessary condition, and 才 marks the result that follows only from it, as in 只有你能对它负责，才应该把它带回家.
只要……就…… — As long as... then...
"As long as A, then B." 只要 introduces a sufficient condition, and 就 marks the result: 只要用手机选好菜，饭就送到了门口。
只要……都/就…… — as long as…
只要 gives the one condition that is enough, and 都 or 就 states the result: 只要努力，属什么都一样。
只要……都…… — As long as..., everyone/anyone...
States a condition that, once met, applies to every possible subject (谁, 什么, etc.).
在于 (to lie in; to consist in)
"(The key/problem) lies in..." points to where the real cause is: 问题在于我们是不是清楚自己真正需要什么。
好像…… — It seems like...
Expresses that something appears or seems to be the case, without stating it as fact.
好像……一样
"As if; just like." 好像 plus 一样 wraps around a situation to say something seems or feels that way, as in 好像从来没有分开过一样.
对……感兴趣
'to be interested in...' — the object of interest goes after 对, before 感兴趣.
对……来说 — as far as … is concerned
对……来说 marks whose point of view you are taking, and is often used twice to contrast two people: 对我来说……；对他来说……。
尽管……，还是……
"Although / despite A, still B" admits a fact but keeps the conclusion: 尽管有这些问题，我还是觉得方向不会改变。
并不是……的
An emphatic negation meaning "is definitely not...": 并不是随便穿穿就行的。
忍不住 — Can't help but...
Placed before a verb phrase to show someone cannot resist doing something.
想什么时候……就什么时候……
The same question word used twice with 就 means "whenever / wherever / whatever you like": 我想什么时候游泳就什么时候游泳。
把 + O + V + 了一遍
The 把 structure moves the object before the verb; 一遍 means doing the action once from start to finish.
把 + O + V + 补语
The 把 construction moves the object before the verb to emphasize what happens to it, often followed by a result or complement: 把空调调暖和一点儿。
把 + object + 放在 + place — the 把 construction
把 moves the object in front of the verb when you say what happens to it, especially where it ends up.
把 + object + 留在 + place
The 把 structure highlights where something ends up being left or kept: 工作把我留在了这里；把心留在了远方。
把 A 当成 B — to treat A as B
'To treat A as B' — 把 fronts the object, 当成 (also 当作) states the identity assigned to it, often a mistaken one. 例：别把客气话当成承诺。
无论……，……都/就……
"No matter..." 无论 introduces a question word or choice, and the following clause states a result that holds regardless: 无论假期怎么过，重要的是让自己真正放松下来。
无论…，都… — 'no matter what..., always...'
'No matter how/what A, B still holds' — 无论 introduces an open-ended condition (often with a question word like 多么/什么), and 都 asserts the unchanging result. 例：无论遇到什么困难，都不要放弃。
既……又……
'Both A and B' — coordinates two merits (or faults) of the same thing, giving the sentence a balanced, essayistic rhythm. 例：这个办法既省钱，又省时间。
既然……
"Since (a fact already holds)..." draws a conclusion from an accepted premise: 既然本科学历已经不够用了，很多人觉得只有读研才能让自己更有竞争力。
既然……也就……
"Since (a fact is already true), then naturally..." draws a conclusion from an accepted premise: 既然白天大家都在上班上学，晚上出来放松一下，也就成了一种生活习惯。
既然……就…… — since…, then…
既然 states a fact both speakers already accept, and 就 draws the natural conclusion from it.
本来……结果…… — Originally... but it turned out...
Contrasts an original plan or expectation with an unexpected actual outcome.
比……还…… — even more … than
比 makes the comparison and 还 says the difference is bigger than expected: 比一份午饭还贵。
甚至
甚至 means "even" and introduces the most extreme or surprising case in a list or statement, as in 我很累，甚至有点儿后悔养了它.
直到……才……
"Not until A did B happen." 直到 marks the turning point, 才 stresses that B happened late: 直到生病住院，我才明白健康有多重要。
看起来……，其实…… — it looks…, but actually…
看起来 gives the first impression, and 其实 corrects it with the real situation.
竟然
竟然 marks that something is unexpected or surprising to the speaker, like "amazingly" or "to my surprise", as in 她竟然和我想的一模一样.
让人 + V
'makes people...' — 让 introduces the person affected and the resulting action or feeling.
谁……，谁就……
A question word used twice refers to the same (not yet known) person, like "whoever": 谁先画完，酒就是谁的。
谁也……不了……
"No one can..." 谁 here means "whoever/anyone," and 也 emphasizes that not even one person can do it: 谁也说服不了谁。
跟……一样
"The same as; just like"; can follow 得 to describe how something is done: 这些龙画得跟真的一样。
跟……没有关系 — to have nothing to do with…
A 跟 B 有/没有关系 says whether two things are connected; 多大 before 关系 softens it to "not much".
还没……就……
"Before (A) has even happened, (B) already…": 它的左脚还没进去，右腿就已经卡在井口了。
这才……
"Only then" — something happens later than it should have, after a trigger: 发现羊又少了一只，这才后悔没听邻居的话。
连……都/也……
"Even ..." highlights an extreme case to stress the point: 连小偷都快找不到工作了；连一瓶水都买不了。
连…也… (even…)
"Even" — stresses an extreme case, usually in a negative sentence: 他连一只兔子也没等到。 (He didn't get even one rabbit.)
连…都… — even…
'Even…' — 连 fronts the most extreme or most basic item, and 都 (or 也) marks it as included, implying everything lesser follows. 例：他连自己的生日都忘了。
除了……以外，再/还……
"Besides A, also B" adds something on top of what is already there: 除了普通话以外，再学几句当地的方言。
随着…… — Along with / as...
Means 'along with, as' — one change happens in step with another change, usually at the start of the sentence, e.g. 随着经济的发展，生活水平提高了.
难道……吗？ — surely you don't mean…?
A rhetorical question that expects the answer 'no'; the writer uses it to make an objection feel obvious rather than to ask for information.
靠 (to rely on)
"To rely on; to depend on", followed by what you depend on: 只想靠运气的人 (people who only want to rely on luck).
首先……其次……另外……最后……
A set of connectors for listing points in order: 首先 (first), 其次 (second), 另外 (in addition), 最后 (finally). The text uses them to organize the interview tips.
How to use this page
Every pattern below was pulled out of an HSK 4 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 B2-level Chinese asks of you, then go read the HSK 4 texts and come back when a sentence confuses you.