Chinese grammar dictionary

Every HSK grammar point, organized by level. Tap any point for structure, examples, and study tools. Covers HSK 1 through HSK 9.

477 grammar points indexed.

HSK 1

58 grammar points

一～九十九

go to PLACE to do V

there is N at PLACE

there isn't N at PLACE

# hour # minute

上午／下午

(omission of 的)

(1 in telephony)

have not V'ed O

S 是 MANNER V 的

it is MANNER that S V

HSK 2

54 grammar points

(any # from 11 to 19)

是不是……？

Is it true that…?

每 M N (都) V

(omitting nouns after 的)

once (quickly/easily)

it's S who V'ed O

……的时候

the time when …

因为……所以……

because… so…

still haven't V'ed

V as early as TIME

N1 离 N2 DISTANCE

N1 is DISTANCE away from N2

(adding emphasis)

V only until TIME

(result complements)

(result complements)

the N which S V'ed

N2 is more A than N1

N2 is not as A than N1

(using adverbs)

(using adverbs)

V (O V) 得比 N A

V (O) more A than N

比 N V (O V) 得 A

V (O) more A than N

N 不是……吗？

往 DIRECTION V

V toward DIRECTION

虽然……但是

V 过 PLACE # 次

V'ed to PLACE # times

TIME (就) 要 V 了

about to V in TIME

HSK 3

62 grammar points

一 + M + N + 也／都 + 不 + V

not V even one N

V2 as soon as V1

(complements of direction)

V somewhere 来／去

(complements of direction)

(complements of direction)

(complements of direction)

能……吗？

how can you…?

either N1 or N2

N1 还是 N2 (indirect)

N1 or N2 (in question-like clauses)

PLACE + V + 着 + N

There is N V'ed in PLACE.

PLACE + 没 + V + 着 + N

There is not N V'ed in PLACE.

又……又……

not only… but also…

V1-ing while V2-ing

(didn't V but) now V

越来越 + A + (了)

more and more A

V + 得 + RESULT

can V to RESULT

V + 得 + DIRECTION

can V to DIRECTION

V + 不 + result

cannot V to RESULT

V + 不 + direction

cannot V to DIRECTION

V + 了 + DURATION + O

V'ed O for DURATION

V + 了 + DURATION + O + 了

have been V-ing O for DURATION

对 N 没兴趣

not interested in N

quarter hour (duration)

to (when telling time)

S + Q1 + 就 + Q2

S acts so Q1 = Q2

S1 + Q + S2 + 就 + Q

N1 跟 N2 一样

N1 跟 N2 一样 A

N1 is as A as N2

把 + O + V + 了

approximately #

一边 + V1 + 一边 + V2

把 + O + V + result

V the O until RESULT

把 + O + V + direction

V the O to DIRECTION

除了 N 以外

除了……(以外)，还……

not only…, but also…

如果……(的话), 就……

if …, then…

A + 得 + CLAUSE

so A that + CLAUSE

A (with characteristics)

V 了 DURATION 了

have been V-ing for DURATION

像……一样 A

V2 as soon as V1

只要……就……

不但……而且……

not only… but also…

只有……才……

是……的 (emphasis)

it is… that…

还是……吧

HSK 4

75 grammar points

不仅 S1……，S2 也……

Not only S1…, S2 also…

刚 + V + DURATION

have V'ed for just DURATION

即使……也……

even if…, still…

with regard to N

V'ed at just the right time

N & N 差不多

N & N are about the same

另外，……

In addition, …

首先……其次……

First… second…

to believe falsely

deal with it later

对……来说

(在) SITUATION 下

under SITUATION

只要……(就)……

as long as… then…

could it be that

after having gone through

the way S see it

at the same time…

再……也......

no matter how… still…

M + M + (N) + 都

consider N1 as N2

consequently…

and stuff like that

not necessarily

把 N1 叫作 N2

一……就……

as soon as … then …

HSK 7-9

139 grammar points

Love it or leave it; do as you please with A

Half A half B; partly A partly B

Neither A nor B

Without A but B; B without A

A here and B there; doing things randomly

Neither A nor B (literary)

Now A now B; alternating between A and B

Can be A or B; either is fine

Both A and B together

All sorts of A and B; messy, various

Sometimes A sometimes B

No A without B; wherever there is A there is B

No A to B; nothing A-able to B

Self A self B; doing both by oneself

To be honest with you; frankly speaking

反过来（说）

On the other hand; conversely

Generally speaking; to sum up

In the final analysis; at the root of it

话是这么说

That may be true, but...

话（又）说回来

Having said that; then again

简（而）言之

In short; to put it simply

可不（是嘛）

Exactly! Isn't that so!

Honestly speaking; to be frank

（你）还别说

You know what, actually...; surprisingly

说到哪儿去了

Where was I?; I've gone off topic

Seriously; to be honest

Even if we take a step back; at worst

No matter what; in any case

要（让）我说

If you ask me; in my opinion

See? Look!; Here it is

As a result; this way

Really! (expressing mild annoyance)

To summarize the above; in summary

Generally speaking; all in all

In a word; to sum up (literary)

If X then at least do it Y-ly

X did Y to, Y did X to; mutual action

X也好，Y也罢

Whether X or Y; be it X or Y

别提（有）多+形容词+了

Incredibly adj; you can't imagine how adj

不亚于……

No less than...; comparable to...

动不动就……

At the slightest provocation; always

动词+得个……

Verb to the point of...; verb resulting in...

Verb to one's heart's content

该X（就）X，该Y（就）Y

Do X when you should X, do Y when you should Y

何至于……

How could it come to...; is it really that bad

Second only to X

看在X的面子上

For the sake of X; out of respect for X

莫过于……

Nothing surpasses...; the best/worst is...

Things like A, B and so on (dismissive)

视……而定

Depends on...; to be determined by...

How can one talk about...; easier said than done

向……致以……

To extend/express...to... (formal)

因……而……

Because of...therefore... (literary)

（在）……之余

In addition to...; besides...

值此……之际

On this occasion of...; at this time of... (formal)

一来……，二来……

Firstly..., secondly...; for one thing...for another

一则……，二则……

Firstly..., secondly... (literary)

所谓……，就是……

The so-called...refers to...

或……，或……

Either...or... (literary)

X（倒）是X（了），……

X is X indeed, but... (concessive)

别看……，……

Don't be fooled by...; despite appearances

无论……与否，都……

Regardless of whether...or not, all...

凡……（者），均（可）……

All those who..., can/will... (formal)

（因）……，故……

Because..., therefore... (literary)

……，以至（于）……

...to the point that...; so much so that...

……不说，还……

Not only..., but also...

连……都……，更不用说……了

Even...let alone...

……尚且……，（更）何况……

Even...let alone...; much less...

为（了）……起见，……

For the sake of...; in the interest of...

……，以……

...so as to...; in order to... (literary)

非得……才……

Must...only then...; nothing short of...will do

任……也……

No matter how...still...

To be only too eager to; to wish desperately

Not at all; by no means

Not worth it; no need to

So-called; what is known as

Somewhat; to some extent

To give; to grant (formal)

A certain number of; several

Greatly; very much

Especially; particularly

How; what (rhetorical emphasis)

Extremely; to the utmost

With all one's strength; to the best of one's ability

Quite; rather; considerably

Extremely; very much

Even more; increasingly

Even more; all the more

All; without exception (literary)

All; without exception; equally

Without exception; across the board

For the time being; tentatively

Immediately; at once

At that time; when the time comes (formal)

Always; all along; historically

Still; yet (literary)

Immediately after; thereupon

Always; all along

Once; as soon as (formal)

For the time being; temporarily

Repeatedly; time and again

Again and again; repeatedly

From time to time; sometimes

One after another; in succession

Once again; for a second time

Resolutely; flatly; absolutely

Completely; sharply (different)

With all one's might; to do one's utmost

Without permission; without authorization

Resolutely; firmly; determinedly

One by one; individually

Must; certainly; surely

Might as well; there's no harm in

Unavoidably; inevitably

On the contrary; instead

Must; have to; insist on

Could it be that; is it possible that

No wonder; not surprisingly

Just; precisely (contrary to expectations)

Certainly will; is bound to

Might as well; simply

Absolutely (not); by all means (not)

Rather too; a bit too; unavoidably

Must; be sure to

After all; in the end; eventually

Based on; in line with (a principle)

Based on; in view of

In view of; considering; given that

Moreover; besides; what's more

So as to avoid; lest

If; supposing; in case

In order to prevent; just in case

As well as; and; along with

In addition; moreover; coupled with

And even; up to; to the point of

That's all; nothing more; merely