18 Chinese Grammar Points about "被"

• 1. 被 can be used in noun phrases.
• 2. 被 can be used in verb phrases.
• 3. 被 - Preposition + Transitive verb
  In a 被-sentences, a passive action verb follows the preposition 被. The Verb used with 被 is a transitive verb.
• 4. 被 vs. 把
  Usually 把 is followed by the receiver of the action, while 被 is followed by the doer of the action. 把 is for active voice, 被 is for passive voice.
• 5. To express passive voice：让 + doer + verb
  The structure of 让 + doer + verb is to express the passive voice.
• 6. To express passive voice：叫 + doer + verb
  The passive preposition 叫 + doer + verb acts as an adverbial adjunct to express passive voice.
• 7. To express passive voice：给 + (doer) + verb
  "给" can be used in passive voice. It can either replace "被" or be used with "被." Compared with "被," "给" is more casual.
• 8. To express passive voice：受
  受 can work as a passive marker to express passive voice.
• 9. Long form：被 + Doer + Verb
  The structure of 被 + Doer + Verb is the long form of the passive voice. The structure without doer(被 + Verb) is the short form.
• 10. 被 - Monosyllabic verb
  In a 被-sentence, if the predicate verb is monosyllabic, such as 去 in the sample sentence, it should be used with other elements.
• 11. Negation：没/没有 + 被
  To negate a 被 sentence, one needs to insert 没 or 没有 directly in front of 被.
• 12. 被 - Between 是-的
  The structure of 被 + verb can be used between 是 and 的.
• 13. 被 - To act as an attributive
  The structure of 被 can act as an attributive to describe the head word. 被打伤的 is the attributive of the head word 孩子. 被高估的 is the attributive of the head word 货币.
• 14. 被 - To act as the subject
  The structure of 被 can be the subject in the sentence.
• 15. 被 - verb + 成 + noun
  In 被-sentence, 成 followed by the result of an action works as a verb complement.
• 16. 被 - 为(wéi) "as"
  When used after the structure of 被, 为 means "be, as".
• 17. 被 - 到/在 + location
  到/在 + location can be placed after the structure of 被.
• 18. 被 - Question Forms of 被 Sentences
  To change a 被 sentence into a question, you can use a question particle 吗, or use an affirmative-negative phrase.

22 Chinese Grammar Points about "把"

• 1. 把-Verb
  When used as a verb, 把握 means 'to be sure'; 把守 means 'to guard'.
• 2. 把-Noun
  When used as a noun, 把戏 means 'trick'; 把手 means 'handle, knob'.
• 3. 把-Measure word
  As a measure word, 把 can be used on objects with handle.
• 4. 把-Adjective
  When used as an adjective, 把 means 'about'.
• 5. 把-Preposition
  As a preposition, 把 can be placed before the direct object, followed by the transitive verb.
• 6. 把-Verb + 完 "finish"
  In the 把-sentence, 完 can be placed after the verb to describe a completed actions or an action with duration.
• 7. Formal: 将
  把 and 将 are interchangeable, however 将 is the formal expression.
• 8. 把-在 + location
  In the 把-sentence, 在 followed by a location/place can be used after the verb.
• 9. 把-到 + location
  The structure of a verb + 到 + location describes to move an item to a new location.
• 10. 把-一 + verb
  It is possible to end a 把 sentence with a verb.
• 11. 把-Verb + 给 + an object
  The structure of a verb + 给 + an object can indicate an action that causes something to change hands or certain information to be conveyed.
• 12. 把-Verb + 成 + noun
  In the 把-sentence, 成 followed the result of an action works as a verb complement.
• 13. 把-Verb + 掉
  掉 can be Used after certain verbs to indicate the result of the action.
• 14. Negation| 不，没有，别 "no, not"
  In the 把-sentence, the negative word 不，没 or 别， should appear before 把.
• 15. Imperative sentences
  把 can be used in Imperative sentences.
• 16. Negation| Imperative sentences
  In a negative imperative sentence, negative word, 不要 or 别， should appear before 把.
• 17. 得 + verb complement
  In a 把 sentence, a complement of verb can follow 得.
• 18. Comparison| 比, "than"
  Comparison word 比, meaning "than", can be used in the 把-sentence.
• 19. Direction complement| 过来/过去
  过去 or 过来 can be placed after the verb as the direction complement.
• 20. 把-+ Frequency
  In the 把-sentence, the verb can be followed by frequency.
• 21. Modal verb + 把-structure
  The modal verbs cannot be put after 把. The modal verbs must precede 把.
• 22. The time phrase + 把-structure
  In a 把-sentence, the time phrase normally precede 把.

Learn 10 Chinese Characters with Radical 又-"right hand" (HSK 1-4)

Radical "又" means "and", "again" or "right hand". Characters with radical "又" can express actions or things related to the hand. The original scripts of "又" are pictograms for the 'right hand'.




又 及 友 双 反 发 叔 取 受 变

17 Chinese Grammar Points about "是"

• 1. Verb | "be; exist"
  是, meaning "be; exist", is used to connect nouns and to identify the subject.
• 2. Verb | 是-的
  The element between 是-的 can be a verbal phrase or an adjective.
• 3. Verb | Negation of 是-的(1)
  Only 不 can negate sentences that contain 是-的. 没 can not negate 是.
• 4. Verb | Negation of 是-的(2)
  The negative form of modal verbs can be placed between 是-的.
• 5. 根本"at all"/毕竟"after all"-不是
  根本"at all"/毕竟"after all" can be placed before 不是 to emphasize the negation.
• 6. Conj.| 还是 "or"
  还是 is used to offer choices. When more than two options are offered, 还是 is placed between the last 2 options.
• 7. Conj.| 不是-就是 "either-or"
  The conjunction 不是-就是 means "either-or" which connects two choices.
• 8. Conj.| 要是-(的话) "if"
  The conjunction 要是 means "if". In casual speech, 要是 can be 要是-的话。 When 的话 is used, 要是 becomes optional.
• 9. Conj.| 不是-而是
  不是-而是 means "not A, but rather B." 是-而不是 means "is A, but not B."
• 10. Conj.| 但是;可是 "but"
  The conjunctions 但是 and 可是 mean "but".
• 11. Conj.| 是因为 "because"
  The Causal Conjunction 是因为 means "because".
• 12. Conj.| 于是 "so"
  The conjunction 于是 means "so".
• 13. Question:是不是 "isn't it"
  The affirmative-negative phrase 是不是 can be used to ask a tag question.
  是 with the modal particle 吧 used at the end of a sentence to express interrogation.
• 14. Adv.| "yes"
  是 alone can give a positive answer.
• 15. 是否 "whether"
  否 means "no". 是否 is a formal version of 是不是, meaning "whether".
• 16. 总是,老是 "always"
  The adverbs 总是 and 老是 mean "always".
• 17. With 都"all"，也"also"
  也 means "also". 都 means "all". Both are adverbs. They can be placed before 是, but they cannot precede a noun or a pronoun.

19 Chinese Grammar Points about "不"

• 1. 不 - Negation of verb
  不 can be placed before verbs to express negation.
• 2. 不 - Negation of adv.
  不 can be placed before or after some adverbs to express negation. The position of 不 related to the adverb could represent different meanings of the sentences.
• 3. 不 - Negation of adj.
  不 can be placed before adj. to express negation.
• 4. 不 - Negation of the complement clause
  不 is placed between the verb and the verb complement to indicate inability to achieve the result.
• 5. 不 - Negation of modal verbs
  Modal verbs in Chinese are auxiliary verbs to express necessity or possibility. They are placed directly before other verbs. They are generally negated by 不.
• 6. 不 - Affirmative-negative clause
  Affirmative-negative clause can be formed with a positive verb followed by its negative form.
• 7. 不 - Tag questions
  Tag questions can be formed with an affirmative or negative question tag following the statement.
• 8. 不 - Double negation
  A double negative is a grammatical structure occurring when a sentence consists of two forms of negation.
• 9. 不 - Answer a question
  不 alone can give a negative answer.
• 10. 不 - "no matter how"
  The conjunction 不论 or 不管 means "no matter how".
• 11. 不 - "neither…nor"
  The conjunction 既不-也不 means "neither…nor".
• 12. 不 - "without"
  不 can be used as "without" in English.
• 13. 不 - "no need to"
  不必,用不着 as adverbs mean "no need to".
• 14. 不 - Comparisons:不如
  不如 in comparisons means A is 'not as good as' B.
• 15. 不 - 不要 "Don't"
  不要 when used in an imperative sentence means "Don't".
• 16. 不 - "not only-but also"
  Conjunctions 不但-而且 and 不仅-而且 mean "not only-but also". To be noted, if the word followed 不 pronounces the fourth tone, 不 here should pronounce the second tone, such as 不但.
• 17. 不 - Contrast:不过，不然
  The conjunction 不然 means "otherwise" ; 不过 means "however".
• 18. 不 - Conj.| 不是-就是, 不是-而是
  The conjunction 不是-而是 means means "not A, but rather B."; 不是-就是 indicates 'either-or' .
• 19. 不 - 不 vs. 没
  Both 不 and 没 can be placed in front of a verb or an adjective to negate its meaning. However, 不 and 没 usually are not interchangeable. 不 is generally used in present tense; 没 Negates Past Actions.

Learn 10 Chinese Characters with Radical 八 (HSK 1-4)

Radical 八(bā) and its reversed form 丷(bā) typically do not mean 'eight', but mean 'dividing'. Radical 丷(bā) must be combined with other components to form characters. It is often placed on top of the characters, such as in 美 and 羡.


八 公 六 共 兴 其 具 典 美 羡

20 Chinese Grammar Points about "就"

• 1. 就 - Adv.| already
  The Adv.就 can express that something happened earlier than expected or the result can be achieved easily.
• 2. 就 - Adv.| only
  The Adv.就 means "only" in the sentence.
• 3. 就 - Adv.| at once/right off
  就 can be used to imply an action that will be done without delay.
• 4. 就 - Adv.| then
  The Adv.就 means "then" in the sentence.
• 5. 就 - Adv.|就会,就要
  就 can be used with 会/要+了 to indicate that an event is going to happen very soon. 就要 is similar to 就会, meaning "will/about to."
• 6. 就 - Adv.|才 vs.就
  Both 才 and 就, when placed before verbs, can express time. However, 才 implies it is later than usual, while 就 implies it is earlier than expected.
• 7. 就 - Adv.| Expressing indifference
  就 can show an attitude of "I don't care".
• 8. 就 - Prep.| With regard to, on
  When used as a preposition, 就 could mean "With regard to, on".
• 9. 就 - Verb| move towards
  When used as a verb, 就 could mean "move towards； go to； enter etc."
• 10. Conj.|就算,就连 even if
  就算/就连 are informal ways to say "even if", 就算⋯⋯又怎么样？Even if..., so what?
• 11. Conj.| 一-就 as soon as
  The conjunction 一-就 means "as soon as" and indicates that the 2nd action immediately follows/followed the 1st action. The subject in the 2nd clause must come before 就。And when the subject is the same in both clauses, there is no need to repeat the subject.
• 12. Conj.| 早在-就 as early as
  就 can express "as early as".
• 13.  Conj.| 只要-就 as long as
  只要⋯⋯就 means "as long as" in English.
• 14.  Conj.| 如果/要是+就 If-then
  如果/要是-就 means "If-then" in English.
• 15.  Conj.| 不是-就是
  不是-就是 can describe a situation as being one of only two possibilities.
• 16. 就 - 就是,就在
  The adverb 就 can be placed before the predicate-在/是 to emphasize, similar to "just, exactly".
• 17. 就 - Hypothetical situation
  要是-就 indicates a hypothetical situation, the modal particle 了 is often used at the end of sentence.
• 18. 就 - Imperative sentence
  就 can be used to make an Imperative sentence.
• 19. 就 - Question：吗
  就 can be used with 吗 to raise a question.
• 20. 就 - Whatever, however
  就 can work as "Whatever, however".

19 Chinese Grammar Points about "过"

• 1. 过 - Verb Suffix (1)
  过 can serve as an aspect particle to indicate that the event is completed. In this case, 过 must immediately follow a verb in a sentence.
• 2. 过 - Verb Suffix (2)
  过 can be placed after a verb to indicate experience from a past action.
• 3. Adj.+过
  Most of time 过 is used with a verb, but it also can be placed after an adjective.
• 4. 过 can be used with "没有 or 吗" to raise a question.
• 5. Negation: The negative word 没 can be used with verb and 过 to negate the sentence.
• 6. 过 - 从来没/没有 is used to express strong negation.
• 7. 过 - 还没有+verb+过+(呢) means "not yet" or "never". 呢 is optional but is often used in conversation.
• 8. Verb+过 can be used with frequency word.
• 9. 过 can express Completion by the present time, which is equivalent to Present perfect tense in English.
• 10. 过 can also express Completion in the past, the equivalent expression to past perfect tense in English.
• 11. 过 can express Completion in the future. It uses the same pattern as completion in the past. The difference in meaning is conveyed by the context.
• 12. 过 - with Modal Particle 了
  A sentence with 过 can have modal particle 了 at the end to emphasize 'already'.
• 13. 过 - with 曾/不曾
  曾/曾经 can be used with 过 to make the speech sound more formal. The negative form is '不曾/未曾'+verb+过.
• 14. The fixed expressions “比不过” or “比得过” means comparision.
• 15. 过 - with "来" or "去"
  Together with Directional verbs "来" or "去", the phrase expresses direction from the speaker's perspective. 来 means "come" (towards the speaker), while 去 means "go" (away from the speaker).
• 16. 过分/过头 means over the top
• 17. 过 - Telling the time: past
  几点 + 过 + 几分 = [minutes] past [hour]. 分 means minute; 点 means hour；过 means 'past'.
• 18. 再过+duration of time
  再过 can be placed before time to express for how long a certain action will occur.
• 19. 过 - Talking about crossing
  verb + 过 can express the meaning of "across".

Learn 10 Chinese Characters with Radical Rap [攵] (HSK 1-4)

Characters with radical 攵 are usually related to hand movements (such as knocking, hitting) and activities of doing or performing.

17 Chinese Grammar Points about "了"

• 1. 了(le) - Completion of an action
  When placed after a verb, the particle 了 indicates the action has been completed.
• 2. 了(le) - With 快/要/就
  When used with 快/要/就, 了 indicates that an event is going to happen very soon. 快/要/就 are considered interchangeable.
• 3. 了(le) - In the imperative sentence
  As a modal particle, 了 can be placed at the end of an imperative sentence to indicate a change of situation. 好了 could mean enough/stop/no more and also used to show one's impatience.
• 4. 了(le) - When placed at the end of a sentence, 了 could express exclamation.
• 5. 了(le) - 了 can be used in the passive sentences.
• 6. 了(le) - 完了
  了 can be placed after 完 (wán) to indicate that an action is over. On its own, 完 (wán) means "to finish" or "to complete.
• 7. 了(le) - Questions
  The modal particle 了 can be used at the end of a sentence to ask a question.
• 8. 了(le) - End with 了吗?
  can be used with 吗 to ask a question.
• 9. 了(le) - 了+没有
  没有 can be used at the end of a sentence to express uncertainty state.
• 10. 了(le) - 了(perfective aspect particle)-了(modal particle)
  The perfective aspect particle 了 can follow a verb to indicate completion;a modal particle 了 can be placed at the end of a sentence to indicate 'already'.
• 11. 了(le) - Past actions and states
  When placed after a verb, together with an adverb of past time, 了 can describe a past action or state.
• 12. 了(le) - Continuation from past to present
  To indicate Continuation of action from past to present.
• 13. 了(le) - Completion in the past
  When placed after a verb, together with an adverb of past time, 了 could describe the completion in the past.
• 14. 了 - 极了(le) extremely / 不得了(liǎo) extremely.
• 15. 了(liǎo) - When follow a verb with 不, 了 could mean an impossible situation.
• 16. 了(liǎo) - When placed after a verb with“得”, 了 indicates possibility or finality.
• 17. 了(liǎo) - 了 can be used as the verb complement in 得了-不了 expression.

16 Chinese Grammar Points about the Particle "着"

• 1. 着(zhe) - Duration or Continuity(1)
  When 着 is used as a particle, it is pronounced 'zhe'. It is placed right after the verb to indicate that the action is in progress or the state continues.
• 2. 着(zhe) - Duration or Continuity(2)
  The verb suffix 着 marks the duration or continuity of a situation.
• 3. 着(zhe) and '一直' can be used together to indicate that the action is continuing.
• 4. 着(zhe) and '在/正在' can be used to indicate the action in progress.
• 5. Adjective+着(zhe)
  着 can be used after some adjectives to indicate the degree of comparison.
• 6. Preposition+着(zhe)
  着 can be added after some verbs to make them prepositions.
• 7. 着(zhe) - To be used in an imperative sentence.
• 8. 着(zhe)+呢
  着呢 can be used at the end of a sentence to indicate the continuous aspect of an action. 呢 is optional.
• 9. End with 着(zhe)
  着 can appear at the end of the sentence.
• 10. 着(zhe) - The existence of a situation
  the particle 了/着 can be considered interchangeable in the existential sentence.
• 11. Location+Verb+着(zhe)
  The location phrase can be placed in the position of subject.
• 12. 着(zhe) - Multiple verbs
  Sometimes there are multiple verbs in the same sentence.
• 13. 不着(zháo) indicates there would be no outcome or result of the action. 
• 14. 得着(zháo) indicates there would be an outcome/result of the action.
• 15. 着(zháo) can be used after the verb and indicates that it has achieved its purpose or has the result. 
• 16. 着(zhuó) refers to clothing, or to be used as the verb 'wear'. 

Learn 10 Chinese Characters with Radical Eye [目] (HSK 1-4)

Radical [目] means "eye". Characters with [目] are usually related to eye or the activities of eyes. E.g. 看-to look at; 眼睛-eye; 睡-to sleep.


目 直 相 省 看 真 着 眼 睛 睡

16 Chinese Grammar Points about the Particle 得

• 1. Verb complement: 得 + Adj.
  The particle 得 has no counterpart in English. It is usually used in Verb complements.
• 2. 【的地得】地vs.得
  的，地，得 are the 3 most commonly used structural particles in modern Chinese. 得 is most often used with verb complements; 地 is most often used with adverbial phrases. In Chinese, adverbs always appear before the verb, and complements appear after the verb, following the particle 得.
• 3. 【的地得】的vs.得
  的，地，得 are distinguished in writing, each with its own uses. 的 is most often used to modify nouns; 得, most often used with complements. In Chinese, adjective always comes before the noun or pronoun in the sentence; complements appear after the verb, following the particle 得.
• 4. 得 - Four-Character Expressions
  Idioms or Four-Character expressions can be used as complement, following 得.
• 5. 得 - so-that(1)
  In most cases, 得 can be used with the complement of degree. Such a sentence is usually translated into English as "so that". The complement is usually a complete sentence or a verb phrase.
• 6. 得 - so-that(2)
  得 can be followed by a verb phrase.
• 7. 得 - + Reduplicated Adj.
  In Chinese, adjectives come in 2 forms: simple and reduplicated. Reduplicated form is always followed by the particle 的.
• 8. 得 - Complement vs. Predicate
  In the first example, '很好' is the predicate and follows the subject. In the second example, '很好' is the complement and follows the verb+得.
• 9. 得 - The complement of direction
  得 can be placed between the verb and the complement of direction.
• 10. Comparison
  Unlike in English, Chinese adverbs have no comparative forms. A complement together with 得 is used to express comparison.
• 11. Comparisons: Verb + 得-一样
  Verb + 得-一样 is used to indicate that A and B perform an action in a similar way.
• 12. Negation: Verb + 得不
  Different from English, the negative word 不 ('not') appears in the complement, not with the verb.
• 13. 得 - Fixed expressions:+ 要命/要死
  There are many fixed expressions with 得 that are considered as the complements of degree.
• 14. Fixed expressions:+ 不得了/很
  不得了/很 can be used as verb complements after the particle 得, meaning 'very/extremely'.
• 15. Question: 得+怎么样/好不好?
  怎么样/好不好 can be used to ask questions. 好不好 is the affirmative and negative part in the question.
• 16. Question: 得+complement+吗？
  得+Modal particle 吗 is used to form a question.