Author: tiffany
Adverbs: 常 cháng – usually
Grammar Point 常 cháng & 常常 chángcháng Both 常 and 常常 mean “often” or “usually,” and both go before the verb, not at the end of the sentence like English. The one real difference: only 常 can be used in a negative sentence. 一 Subject + 常常 + Verb Phrase 常常 describes something that happens…
“Therefore” in Chinese – yīncǐ
Grammar Point:The Chinese word 因此 yīncǐ is a conjunction that is often used to indicate a logical consequence, inference, or conclusion. It is similar in meaning to the English phrases “as a result” or “therefore,” and it is commonly used in formal writing. Structure Cause + 因此 yīncǐ + effect 我wǒ太tài累lèi了le， 因此yīncǐ决定juédìng早點zǎodiǎn上床shàngcháig睡覺shuìjiào我wǒ太tài累lèi了le， 因此yīncǐ决定juédìng早点儿zǎodiǎnr上床shàngcháig睡觉shuìjiàoI’m too tired,…
As much as possible – jǐnliàng
OneDotDot Chinese Grammar · HSK 5 Grammar Point · HSK 5 儘量尽量 jǐnliàng — “As Much As Possible” The term 儘量尽量 jǐnliàng in Chinese serves as an adverb and is used to convey the idea of “as much as possible” or “to the greatest extent.” It’s often used in various contexts to indicate a strong…
Spices & Herbs in Chinese
Spices & Herbs in Chinese — OneDotDot Chinese (Redesign) 香香草草與与香香料料 · Chinese Vocabulary Spices & Herbs in Chinese 香香草草與与香香料料 The numbing tingle of Sichuan peppercorns, the warm sweetness of star anise, the sharp bite of raw scallion — this guide covers the herbs and spices behind those flavors, with the dishes and stories that go…
也 yě – also
Grammar Point 也 yě 也 means “also,” “too,” or “either” — it shows that something applies the same way to another person or situation. The one thing to lock in early: it always sits between the subject and the verb, never anywhere else. 一 Subject + 也 + Verb Subject + 也 + Verb 我wǒ喜歡xǐhuān喜欢xǐhuan狗gǒu，我wǒ弟弟dìdi也yě喜歡xǐhuān喜欢xǐhuan狗gǒu…
Adverb 都 dōu
Grammar Point 都 dōu 都 means “all” or “both.” It goes right before the verb or adjective to show that more than one person or thing is involved. One rule to remember above everything else: a Chinese sentence never starts with 都. 一 Structure Subject + 都 + Verb / Adjective 他們tāmen都dōu會huì說shuō中文zhōngwén他们tāmen都dōu会huì说shuō中文zhōngwén They all can…
Giving Suggestion with 吧 ba
Grammar Point 吧 ba 吧 is a small word with three different jobs: checking something you already suspect, softening a suggestion, and reluctantly going along with something. The tone you say it with matters as much as the sentence around it. 一 Checking or Confirmation Compare this to 嗎吗 — with 吧, you already have…
“In person” in Chinese – qīnzì
OneDotDot Chinese Grammar · HSK 5 Grammar Point · HSK 5 親自亲自 qīnzì — “In Person” The phrase “in person” in Chinese is 親自亲自 qīnzì. It refers to doing something yourself or in one’s own physical presence, rather than through a representative or by some other indirect means. 親自亲自 qīnzì has a small family of…
Expressing “not even one” in Chinese
Grammar Point:In English, you can express the idea of having absolutely no money, not even a single penny. This notion of “not even one” can also be conveyed in Chinese. Structure 一 yì + MW + N + 也 yě or 都 dōu + negation 他tā一yí句jù中文zhōngwén也yě不會búhuì說shuō他tā一yí句jù中文zhōngwén也yě不会búhuì说shuōHe can’t speak a single word of Chinese. 我wǒ一yí個ge歐洲ōuzhōu國家guójiā也yě沒méi去qù過guò我wǒ一yí个ge欧洲ōuzhōu国家guójiā也yě没méi去qù过guòI haven’t…