Learn a little Chinese every day
Grammar Point:The Chinese phrase 由…組组成 yóu…zǔchéng is used to describe the composition or make-up of something. Structure S + yóu + Something + zǔchéng The 是 shì …的 de structure can be added to emphasize the composition or make-up of something in this grammar. 這zhè本běn書shū由yóu五wǔ個ge部分bùfèn組成zǔchéng这zhè本běn书shū由yóu五wǔ个ge部分bùfen组成zǔchéngThis book is composed of five parts. 這zhè個ge詞cí是shì由yóu兩liǎng個ge字zì組成zǔchéng的de这zhè个ge词cí是shì由yóu两liǎng个ge字zì组成zǔchéng的deThis word consists of…
Grammar Point:In Chinese, we use 有 yǒu to talk about the existence of something without specifying what it is. After 有 yǒu we describe what the thing does or is like. Structure 有 + (Number + MW) + N 有yǒu一天yìtiān有yǒu一天yìtiānOne day 有yǒu三sān隻zhī狗gǒu有yǒu三sān只zhī狗gǒuThere are three dogs. 有yǒu一個人yígerén來lái找zhǎo你nǐ有yǒu一个人yígerén来lái找zhǎo你nǐSomeone is coming to see you. 有yǒu天tiān你nǐ會huì知道zhīdào我的wǒde好hǎo有yǒu天tiān你nǐ会huì知道zhīdao我的wǒde好hǎoOne day you will…
Grammar Point 有 yǒu: Someone, Something In Chinese, the subject of a sentence is usually something both people already know about. So how do you talk about “someone” or “something” that hasn’t been mentioned yet? You start with 有 yǒu. After 有 yǒu comes the new person or thing, and then what it does or…
Grammar Point 就 jiù: Sooner Than Expected Put 就 jiù after a time word and it gives the sentence a feeling of “soon” or “early.” It can mean something is about to happen right away, or that something happened earlier or faster than you expected. English often doesn’t translate it at all; the feeling comes…
Grammar Point 因為因为 yīnwèi … 所以 suǒyǐ … “Because” in Chinese is 因為因为 yīnwèi, and “so” is 所以 suǒyǐ. Put them together and you get 因為因为…所以…, the most common way to link a reason with its result. 一 The Basic Pattern 因為因为 + Reason，所以 + Result 因為因为 yīnwèi introduces the reason, and 所以 suǒyǐ introduces…
Grammar Point:說说不定 shuōbudìng is an idiom in Chinese that means “perhaps” or “maybe.” It is used to indicate uncertainty or possibility. Structure shuōbudìng + V 說不定shuōbudìng他們tāmen已經yǐjīng到dào了le说不定shuōbudìng他们tāmen已经yǐjīng到dào了leMaybe they have arrived. 明天míngtiān說不定shuōbudìng會huì下雨xiàyǔ，你nǐ最好zuìhǎo想xiǎng一個yíge備案bèiàn明天míngtiān说不定shuōbudìng会huì下雨xiàyǔ，你nǐ最好zuìhǎo想xiǎng一个yíge备案bèiànIt might rain tomorrow, so you’d better have a backup plan. 這zhè件jiàn事shì說不定shuōbudìng還hái會huì改變gǎibiàn这zhè件jiàn事shì说不定shuōbudìng还hái会huì改变gǎibiànThis matter might still change. 說不定shuōbudìng下xià個ge億萬富翁yìwànfùwēng就是jiùshì你nǐ说不定shuōbudìng下xià个ge亿万富翁yìwànfùwēng就是jiùshì你nǐYou might be the next millionaire. 晚餐wǎncān別bié等děng我wǒ， 我wǒ說不定shuōbudìng趕gǎn不bù回來huílái晚餐wǎncān别bié等děng我wǒ， 我wǒ说不定shuōbudìng赶gǎn不bù回来huíláiDon’t wait…
Grammar Point Clause + 的 de + Noun A clause is a group of words with a verb in it, like “loves to eat candy” or “you bought.” In Chinese, you can put a clause in front of a noun to describe it, and 的 de links the two together. It does the same job…
Grammar Point:In Chinese grammar, 作為为 zuòwéi is used as a preposition to indicate the role, function, or identity of something or someone in a particular context. It is often translated as “as” or “in the capacity of” in English. Structure Zuòwéi + Noun (character or role) 作為zuòwéi一名yìmíng老師lǎoshī， 他tā擁有yōngyǒu豐富fēngfù的de教學jiāoxué經驗jīngyàn作为zuòwéi一名yìmíng老师lǎoshī， 他tā拥有yǒngyǒu丰富fēngfù的de教学jiāoxué经验jīngyànAs a teacher, he has rich teaching…
Grammar Point Reduplicated Adjectives: AA的 & AABB的 In Chinese you can say an adjective twice to make it stronger, a bit like adding 很 hěn. But it does more than that: it shows how you feel about something, not just the plain facts. That’s why you hear it a lot when people praise or complain,…
Grammar Point VV看 kàn Want to say “give it a try” in Chinese? Take a one-syllable verb, say it twice, and add 看 kàn. So 吃 chī becomes 吃吃看 chīchikàn: “have a taste and see.” It’s a friendly, relaxed way to invite someone (or yourself) to try something out. 一 The Basic Pattern Verb +…