OneDotDot Chinese Grammar · HSK 3 Grammar Point · HSK 3 “Only” in Chinese 1 — 只只 zhǐ & 只是只是 zhǐshì The basic word for “only” in Chinese is 只只 zhǐ. Unlike English “only,” it always goes before the verb. To use it with a noun or an adjective, use 只是只是 zhǐshì. 只只 zhǐ limits…
Author: tiffany
Chinese Adverbs for Degree 12
OneDotDot Chinese Grammar · HSK 5 Grammar Point · HSK 5 格外 géwài ・ 極其极其 jíqí — Formal Intensifiers 格外 géwài singles something out as particularly notable, in a formal or literary register. 極其极其 jíqí pushes a description to an extreme, and pairs naturally with two-syllable adjectives. Both are formal, written-register words — you’ll meet…
Chinese Adverbs for Degree 5
OneDotDot Chinese Grammar · HSK 3 Grammar Point · HSK 3 比較比较 bǐjiào ・ 還还 hái ・ 更 gèng ・ 特別特别 tèbié — Comparative Degree Adverbs 比較比较 bǐjiào softens a description to “relatively,” while 還还 hái and 更 gèng escalate a degree past a comparison point, and 特別特别 tèbié singles something out as particularly notable….
Chinese Adverbs for Degree 7
OneDotDot Chinese Grammar · HSK 4 Grammar Point · HSK 4 多麼多么 duōme — “How…!” A more formal, written-feeling cousin of 多多 duō. 多麼多么 duōme turns a description into an exclamation of degree, and shows up in both speech and writing. The pattern is Subject + 多麼多么 duōme + Adjective, usually closed with an exclamation…
Adverbs for degree 1
OneDotDot Chinese Grammar · HSK 1 Grammar Point · HSK 1 非常 fēicháng ・ 很 hěn ・ 真 zhēn — Basic Degree Adverbs Adjectives in Chinese almost never stand alone — they need a degree adverb in front of them. 很很 hěn, 非常非常 fēicháng, and 真真 zhēn are the first three you’ll meet, and each…
How and How long in Chinese
Grammar Point:In Chinese, “how” can be translated as 怎么样 zěnme yàng or simply 怎么 zěnme, depending on the context. As for “how long,” it can be translated as 多久 duō jiǔ. How – 怎麼/怎么 zěnme Depending on the context, 怎麼怎么 zěnme can be translated as “how” or “what”. It is used to indicate the manner…
“May” in Chinese
OneDotDot Chinese Grammar · HSK 2 Grammar Point · HSK 2 可能可能 kěnéng — “may” / “possibly” 可能可能 kěnéng expresses possibility. Use it to say that something is likely or might be true. 可能可能 kěnéng goes right after the subject and before the verb or adjective, just like “may” or “probably” in English. 1Structure S…
”Should“ in Chinese
Grammar Point:In Chinese grammar, the term 應該应该 yīnggāi is used to express “should” or “ought to” in a general sense. It indicates what is considered the proper or expected course of action. Structure S + 應該应该 + V + O The term 應該应该 yīnggāi can be shortened to just 該该 gāi while still conveying a…
“These” and “those” in Chinese
OneDotDot Chinese Grammar · HSK 1 Grammar Point · HSK 1 這些这些 zhèxiē & 那些那些 nàxiē — “these” & “those” “These” in Chinese is 這些这些 zhèxiē, and “those” is 那些那些 nàxiē — the plural forms of “this” and “that.” The easy way to remember it: take 這这 zhè (“this”) or 那那 nà (“that”), and add…
Counting Money in Chinese
OneDotDot Chinese Grammar · HSK 1 Grammar Point · HSK 1 Counting Money in Chinese —塊 kuài块 kuài, 元 yuán, 毛 máo, 角 jiǎo, 分 fēn Numbers plus a money unit — that’s all it takes to read any price tag or pay at the market. Counting money in Chinese is simply Chinese numbers plus…