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Grammar Point:In Chinese, 才 cái can express the meaning of “only if” or “only when.” When it is used with 如果 rúguǒ, it shows that a certain condition must be met before the result in the main clause can happen. However, even if the condition is met, the result is not automatically guaranteed. It simply becomes possible. Structure…
Grammar Point:When 就 jiù is used with 如果 rúguǒ, it usually implies that if the condition in the “if” clause is met or becomes true, then the result or consequence in the main clause will also happen. It can be translated as “in the case that” or “if…then…” in English Structure 如果 rúguǒ ··· +…
OneDotDot Chinese Grammar · HSK 2 Grammar Point · HSK 2 就 jiù — Earliness 就 jiù can flag something happening earlier or sooner than expected — or something about to happen right away, in the very near future. This use of 就 jiù has two closely related jobs: signaling something is about to happen…
Grammar Point:As an adverb, 就 jiù can be placed before the predicate to add emphasis. “就是 jiùshì” is used to emphasize or confirm a statement. It can be translated into English as “exactly,” “indeed,” or “only because.” Structure 就是 jiùshì + N/SV A： 喂wéi？ 請qǐng找zhǎoTiffany A： 喂wéi？ 请qǐng找zhǎoTiffany Hello? May I speak to Tiffany, please?B： 我wǒ就是jiùshìB： 我wǒ就是jiùshìThis…
TouchHover over the space to see the answers. Linking sounds practice – 喔 / 嘍喽 / 耶 / 嘛 Situation You and your friend are going to attend a friend’s party. You are running out of time, but your friend is still making coffee… 👩🏻 : 快kuài點diǎn（ D ） ！ 快kuài点diǎn（ D ） ！ Hurry…
TouchHover over the space to see the answers. Linking sounds practice – 啊 / 呀 / 哇 / 哪 Different way to say “YES” in Chinese 可以kěyǐ（ 呀ya） 可以kěyǐ（ 呀ya） 對duì（ 呀ya） 对duì（ 呀ya） 好hǎo（ 哇wa） 好hǎo（ 哇wa） 是shì（ 啊a） 是shì（ 啊a） 行xíng（ 啊a） 行xíng（ 啊a） 要yào（ 哇wa） 要yào（ 哇wa） 會huì（ 呀ya） 会huì（ 呀ya） Okay…
Grammar Practice · Final Particles 嗎吗, 吧, 呢 Practice Three little words that change the shape of a sentence. 嗎吗 ma turns a statement into a yes/no question. 呢 ne asks a quick follow-up (“and you?”) or wonders where someone/something went. 吧 ba softens a suggestion, a guess, or a command — less like an…
OneDotDot Chinese Grammar · HSK 2 Grammar Point · HSK 2 就 jiù — “Then” 就 jiù often maps to “then” in English, but not always — it marks the action that follows once the situation set up earlier in the sentence has happened. 就 jiù sits right before the verb phrase and points to…
Grammar Point: The 是 shì … 的 de structure is used in Chinese to provide emphasis on specific details of a past action or event. It is used to draw attention to the time, place, manner, or other specific details of an action or event, and to give additional information or explanation. This structure is…
Grammar Point:The Chinese grammar particle 得 děi is used to express the necessity or obligation to do something. It can be translated into English as “must,” “have to,” or “should.” I know it can be very confusing because it is the same character as 得 de, but actually, you can distinguish between them based on…