Learn a little Chinese every day
Grammar Point:The Chinese word 否則则 fǒuzé means “otherwise.” Unlike 要不然 yàoburán, it carries a slight sense of threat or warning, as it implies that if a certain action is not taken or condition is not met, there will be consequences. Structure Condition + fǒuzé + Result 你nǐ先xiān做zuò完wán作業zuòyè，否則fǒuzé別bié想xiǎng看kàn電視diànshì你nǐ先xiān做zuò完wán作业zuòyè，否则fǒuzé别bié想xiǎng看kàn电视diànshìFinish your homework first, otherwise, forget about watching TV….
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: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: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:The Chinese word 甚至 shènzhì means “even” or “go so far as to.” It is used to indicate that something is true to a surprising or extreme degree, often used to emphasize a point. Structure 甚至 shènzhì is commonly used together with 連连 lián…都 dōu/ 也 yě… to emphasize the extent or degree of…
Grammar Point:In Chinese, the word 可見见 kějiàn is a conjunction that that can be translated as “indicate” or “means.” It is often used to summarize the meaning of a previous statement. Structure Situation + kějiàn + Conclusion 可見见 kějiàn is often used when a speaker wants to express a judgment or insight based on facts,…
Grammar Point:此外 cǐwài means “in addition” or “moreover” in Chinese. It is used to introduce additional information or points that are related to the topic being discussed. Structure Statement 1 + 此外 cǐwài + Statement 2 他tā很hěn聰明cōngmíng， 此外cǐwài他tā還hái很hěn努力nǔlì他tā很hěn聪明cōngming， 此外cǐwài他tā还hái很hěn努力nǔlìHe is very smart, and moreover, he is very hardworking. 我們wǒmen公司gōngsī提供tígōng免費miǎnfèi午餐wǔcān， 此外cǐwài還有háiyǒu健身房jiànshēnfáng可以kěyǐ使用shǐyòng我们wǒmen公司gōngsī提供tígōng免费miǎnfèi午餐wǔcān， 此外cǐwài还有háiyǒu健身房jiànshēnfáng可以kěyǐ使用shǐyòngOur company provides free lunch,…
Here’s how Chinese expresses decimal, fraction, percentage, and multiple: Decimal 小數数 xiǎoshù: In Chinese, decimals are expressed using the same format as in English, with a decimal point. If the digits after the decimal point exceed two, we read them individually. 0.5: 零líng點diǎn五wǔ零líng点diǎn五wǔ 12.25: 十二shíèr點diǎn二èr五wǔ十二shíèr点diǎn二èr五wǔ 3.724: 三sān點diǎn七qī二èr四sì三sān点diǎn七qī二èr四sì 72.0029: 七十二qīshíèr點diǎn零líng零líng二èr九jiǔ七十二qīshíèr点diǎn零líng零líng二èr九jiǔ Fraction 分數数 fēnshù: To express fractions…
Grammar Point:In Chinese grammar, 替 tì and 代替 dàitì are prepositions used to indicate substitution or acting on behalf of someone or something. Structure Noun/Pronoun + 替 tì + Noun/Pronoun + V The nouns and pronouns here usually are human not objects. 他tā替tì我wǒ做zuò了le很hěn多duō工作gōngzuò他tā替tì我wǒ做zuò了le很hěn多duō工作gōngzuòHe did a lot of work for me. (substitution) 我wǒ替tì老闆lǎobǎn接jiē了le電話diànhuà我wǒ替tì老板lǎobǎn接jiē了le电话diànhuàI answered the phone…
Grammar Point:In Chinese, guānyú 關於关于 and duìyú 對於对于 are both prepositions that can be translated as “about” or “regarding” in English, but they are used slightly differently. Structure Guānyú + N or N Phrase It names a topic and often emphasizes a range, then introduces a comment related to it. 關於guānyú這個zhège提案tíàn， 你nǐ有yǒu什麼shénme想法xiǎngfǎ嗎ma？ 关于guānyú这个zhège提案tíàn， 你nǐ有yǒu什么shénme想法xiǎngfǎ吗ma？ Regarding…