Grammar Point Destination Marker 到 dào 到 dào marks a destination: the place you go to or arrive at. It’s often followed by 來 lái来 lái or 去 qù, and then what you do there. Together with 從 cóng从 cóng, it also means “from… to…” 一 到 + Place (+ 來来 / 去) Subject +…
Author: tiffany
Chinese Causative Verbs – jiào, ràng, shǐ and lìng
Grammar Point:In Chinese, if you want to say that someone makes another person do something, or that something causes a feeling or action, you can use special words called causative verbs. The most common ones are 叫 jiào, 讓让 ràng, 使 shǐ, and 令 lìng. They all mean something like “make,” “let,” or “cause,” but they are used in different…
Furthermore – 而且 érqiě
Grammar Point Furthermore: 而且 érqiě 而且 érqiě means “and also,” “furthermore,” or “what’s more.” It adds a second point on top of the first, often a stronger one. Pair it with 不但 búdàn to say “not only… but also…” 一 A，而且 B A，而且 B 而且 érqiě links two adjectives, verb phrases, or whole clauses. It’s…
Without A, there is no B – 沒有 A 就沒有 B
Grammar Point:The Chinese pattern 沒有 méiyǒu A 就沒有 jiù méiyǒu B expresses a cause-and-effect relationship: A is the condition or foundation for B. It’s similar to the English expression “without A, there is no B. Structure 沒有 méiyǒu A + 就沒有 jiù méiyǒu B 沒有méiyǒu你nǐ就jiù沒有méiyǒu今天jīntiān的de我wǒ没有méiyǒu你nǐ就jiù没有méiyǒu今天jīntiān的de我wǒWithout you, then there’s no today’s me. 沒有méiyǒu努力nǔlì就jiù沒有méiyǒu成功chénggōng没有méiyǒu努力nǔlì就jiù没有méiyǒu成功chénggōngWithout hard work, there…
No matter how… still… – 再 zài… 也 yě…
Grammar Point:This structure 再 zài… 也 yě… emphasizes that B will not change, no matter how much or how many times A happens. It often shows determination, resistance, or a fact that doesn’t change. Structure S 再 zài A，(S) 也 yě B 他tā再zài努力nǔlì， 也yě考kǎo不bú上shàng那nà所suǒ大學dàxué他tā再zài努力nǔlì， 也yě考kǎo不bu上shang那nà所suǒ大学dàxuéNo matter how hard he tries, he still can’t get into that…
Shuō A jiù A
Grammar Point:This pattern 說说 shuō A 就 jiù A suggests that something unexpected happens suddenly or faster than anticipated, from the speaker’s perspective. It’s similar to the English expressions ‘just like that’ or ‘before you know it.’ Structure 說说 shuō A 就 jiù A The phrase is often used in informal settings and can convey…
Synonym of Serious in Chinese
嚴格 · 嚴肅 · 嚴重 — 近義詞辨析 Similar words 嚴格严格 yángé · 嚴肅严肃 yánsù · 嚴重严重 yánzhòng Three ways to say “serious” or “strict” in Mandarin — and how each one targets a different kind of seriousness. The words 嚴格严格 yángé, 嚴肅严肃 yánsù, and 嚴重严重 yánzhòng all relate to the idea of “strictness” or “seriousness,”…
Chinese expressing “still” with 還 hái
Grammar Point “Still” in Chinese: 還还 hái 還 hái还 hái means “still” or, in negative sentences, “(not) yet.” It shows that a situation hasn’t changed: it’s still early, he’s still sleeping, I still haven’t found a job. 一 還还 + Adjective Subject + 還还 + Adjective 還 hái还 hái goes before the adjective to say…
“Verbing away” with 著 着 zhe
Grammar Point:A repeated verb followed by the particle 著着 zhe indicates that an action has been ongoing for a period of time, leading to a new situation that the speaker wants to comment on. Verb1 + 著着 zhe + Verb2 It is used to indicate two actions happening at the same time, with the first action being…
Aspect Particle – 著 着 zhe
Grammar Point:The aspect particle 著着 zhe is used to indicate ongoing actions or a continuous state in Mandarin Chinese. While it’s common in narratives or storytelling, it’s not something you’ll hear often in everyday conversations. In daily life, people usually use 在 zài to talk about actions in progress. When do we use it? How would you describe these…