Grammar Reference

用不着

Phrase / fixed phrase · 用不着 (yòngbuzháo)

• 你有话可以直接说，用不着害怕。 Nǐ yǒu huà kěyǐ zhíjiē shuō, yòngbuzháo hàipà. You can say what you have to say directly — there's no need to be afraid.
• 用不着听他的，他什么都不懂。 Yòngbuzháo tīng tā de, tā shénme dōu bù dǒng. There's no need to listen to him — he understands nothing.
• 这点儿小病，用不着去医院。 Zhè diǎnr xiǎobìng, yòngbuzháo qù yíyuàn. Such a little illness — no need to go to the hospital.
• 这件事用不着大家都来帮忙，我自己就能完成。 Zhè jiàn shì yòngbuzháo dàjiā dōu lái bāngmáng, wǒ zìjǐ jiù néng wánchéng. There's no need for everyone to help — I can finish it myself.

其他

从⋯⋯来看

Fixed pattern · 从 (cóng)⋯⋯来看

• 从这个角度来看，很多问题都可以解决。 Cóng zhège jiǎodù lái kàn, hěn duō wèntí dōu kěyǐ jiějué. Seen from this angle, many problems can be solved.
• 从他的考试成绩来看，他平时根本没有认真学习。 Cóng tā de kǎoshì chéngjì lái kàn, tā píngshí gēnběn méiyǒu rènzhēn xuéxí. Judging from his exam results, he never studied seriously at all.

到⋯⋯为止

Fixed pattern · 到 (dào)⋯⋯为止 (wéizhǐ)

• 到目前为止，他还没有舟过什么错。 Dào mùqián wéizhǐ, tā hái méiyǒu zhōu guò shénme cuò. Up to now, he hasn't made any mistakes.
• 我的报告到此为止，谢谢！ Wǒ de bàogào dàocǐwéizhǐ, xièxie! My report ends here — thank you!

够⋯⋯的

Fixed pattern · 够 (gòu)⋯⋯的 (de)

• 眼前这几件事就够他忙的了。 Yǎnqián zhè jǐ jiàn shì jiù gòu tā máng de le. These few matters at hand are already enough to keep him busy.
• 他可真够聪明的，竟然抓住了这个机会。 Tā kě zhēn gòu cōngming de, jìngrán zhuāzhù le zhège jīhuì. He really is clever — he actually seized this opportunity.

拿⋯⋯来说

Fixed pattern · 拿 (ná)⋯⋯来说

• 拿成绩来说，他绝对是第一。 Ná chéngjì lái shuō, tā juéduì shì dìyī. Take his grades — he's absolutely first.
• 拿这件事来说，你没有做错什么。 Ná zhè jiàn shì lái shuō, nǐ méiyǒu zuòcuò shénme. Take this matter — you did nothing wrong.

A的A，B的B

A的A，B的B · A的 (de)A，B的 (de)B

• 衣服大的大，小的小，没有一件合适的。 Yìfu dà de dà, xiǎode xiǎo, méiyǒu yí jiàn héshì de. Of the clothes, some too big and some too small — not a single one fits.
• 家里老的老，少的少，我们得帮帮她。 Jiālǐ lǎo de lǎo, shǎo de shǎo, wǒmen de bāng bāng tā. With the old too old and the young too young at home, we must help her.
• 这些汉字写得大的大、小的小，一点儿也不整齐。 Zhèxiē hànzì xiě de dà de dà, xiǎode xiǎo, yìdiǎnr yě bù zhěngqí. These characters are written some big and some small — not at all neat.
• 广场上孩子们跑的跑，跳的跳，热闹极了。 Guǎngchǎng shàng háizimen pǎo de pǎo, tiào de tiào, rènao jíle. On the square the children ran and jumped — wonderfully lively.

在 …… 看来

Fixed pattern · 在 (zài) …… 看来 (kànlai)

• 在我看来，这次中文考试实在是太难了。 Zàiwǒkànlái, zhè cì zhōngwén kǎoshì shízài shì tài nán le. In my opinion, this Chinese exam was simply too hard.
• 在很多人看来，这件事没有那么简单。 Zài hěn duō rén kànlai, zhè jiàn shì méiyǒu nàme jiǎndān. In many people's eyes, this matter is not that simple.

宾语的语义类型1

Sentence element / object

• 家里来了一位客人。 Jiālǐ lái le yí wèi kèrén. A guest has come to the house.
• 门口站着一个人。 Ménkǒu zhàn zhe yígèrén. A person stands at the door.

多项状语

Adverbial

• 他昨天在教室里认真地写完了作业。 Tā zuótiān zài jiàoshì lǐ rènzhēn de xiěwán le zuòyè. Yesterday he finished his homework carefully in the classroom.
• 她为了通过考试昨天在家复习了一整天。 Tā wèile tōngguò kǎoshì zuótiān zàijiā fùxí le yì zhěngtiān. To pass the exam, she reviewed at home all day yesterday.
• 他为了锻炼身体每天早上在公园里跑步。 Tā wèile duànliàn shēntǐ měitiān zǎoshang zài gōngyuán lǐ pǎobù. To build up his health, he runs in the park every morning.
• 他昨天晚上一个人在图书馆认真地复习了三个小时。 Tā zuótiān wǎnshang yígèrén zài túshūguǎn rènzhēn de fùxí le sān gè xiǎoshí. Last night he studied alone in the library for a full three hours.

趋向补语 4：表示时间意义（引申用法）

Sentence element / complement

• 这孩子又玩儿上游戏了。 Zhè háizi yòu wánr shàng yóuxì le. This child is playing games again.
• 他大声地哭起来了。 Tā dàshēng de kū qǐlai le. He burst out crying loudly.
• 听着窗外的雨声，我的心慢慢地平静下来了。 Tīng zhe chuāng wài de yǔshēng, wǒ de xīn mànmàn de píngjìng xiàlai le. Listening to the rain outside the window, my heart slowly calmed down.
• 不知道是什么原因，他的声音渐渐低了下去。 Bù zhīdào shì shénme yuányīn, tā de shēngyīn jiànjiàn dī le xiàqù. For some unknown reason, his voice gradually sank lower.

趋向补语3

可能补语2：动词+得/不得

Sentence element / complement · 可能补语2(动词 (dòngcí)+得 (dé)/不得 (bùdé))

• 这种药吃得还是吃不得，得听医生的。 Zhèzhǒng yào chī de háishi chī bùdé, de tīng yìshēng de. Whether this medicine may be taken must be left to the doctor.
• 这些东西你可拿不得，很危险的。 Zhèxiē dōngxī nǐ kě ná bùdé, hěn wēixiǎn de. You must not take these things — they're very dangerous.
• 伤害人的玩笑可开不得。 Shānghài rén de wánxiào kě kāi bùdé. Jokes that hurt people must never be made.
• 这院是出得还是出不得，得先问问医生的建议。 Zhè yuàn shì chū de háishi chū bùdé, de xiān wèn wèn yìshēng de jiànyì. Whether one may leave this ward must first be asked of the doctor.

程度补语2

Sentence element / complement

• 爸爸答应去公园，儿子开心得不得了。 Bàba dāying qù gōngyuán, érzi kāixīn de bùdéliǎo. Dad agreed to go to the park, and the son was overjoyed.
• 我只是累得慌，休息休息就好了。 Wǒ zhǐshì lèi de huāng, xiūxi xiūxi jiù hǎo le. I'm just feeling tired — a rest will fix it.
• 收到大学的录取通知书，她激动得不得了。 Shōudào dàxué de lùqǔ tōngzhīshū, tā jīdòng de bùdéliǎo. On receiving the university's admission letter, she was beside herself with excitement.
• 听到父亲被送去急诊的消息，她担心得不得了。 Tīngdào fùqīn bèi sòngqù jízhěn de xiāoxi, tā dānxīn de bùdéliǎo. At the news that her father had been rushed to the emergency room, she was worried beyond words.

状态补语2：动词/形容词+得+短语

Sentence element / complement · 状态补语2(动词 (dòngcí)/形容词 (xíngróngcí)+得 (dé)+…)

• 他难过得吃不下饭。 Tā nánguò de chībuxià fàn. He was so sad he couldn't eat.
• 她气得说不出话来。 Tā qì de shuōbuchū huà lái. She was so angry she couldn't speak.
• 孩子们玩儿得忘了时间，直到天黑才回家。 Háizimen wánr de wàng le shíjiān, zhídào tiānhēi cái huíjiā. The children played till they forgot the time, and only went home when it was dark.
• 面对自己喜欢的明星，他紧张得说不出话。 Miànduì zìjǐ xǐhuan de míngxīng, tā jǐnzhāng de shuōbuchū huà. Facing the star he adored, he was so nervous he couldn't speak.

“有”字句3

Sentence type / special pattern · “有 (yǒu)”字句 (zìjù)3

• 两个国家之间有着长期的友好关系。 Liǎng gè guójiā zhījiān yǒuzhe chángqī de yǒuhǎo guānxi. The two countries have long enjoyed friendly relations.
• 他们之间有着很深的误会。 Tāmen zhījiān yǒuzhe hěn shēn de wùhuì. There is a deep misunderstanding between them.
• 尽管是兄弟，但是他们心里有着很深的矛盾。 Jǐnguǎn shì xiōngdì, dànshì tāmen xīnli yǒuzhe hěn shēn de máodùn. Brothers though they are, deep conflicts lie between their hearts.
• 两国之间有着长期友好的关系。 Liǎngguózhījiān yǒuzhe chángqī yǒuhǎo de guānxi. The two countries have long had friendly relations.

“把”字句3：表处置

Sentence type / special pattern · “把 (bǎ)”字句 (zìjù)3(表处置)

• 他总是把东西到处乱扔。 Tā zǒngshì bǎ dōngxī dàochù luànrēng. He is always throwing his things about everywhere.
• 下雨了，她赶紧把外面的东西往回收。 Xiàyǔ le, tā gǎnjǐn bǎ wàimiàn de dōngxī wǎng huíshōu. It started to rain, and she hurried to bring in the things outside.
• 孩子把书包一扔，坐在地上哭了起来。 Háizi bǎ shūbāo yì rēng, zuò zài dìshang kū le qǐlai. The child flung down the schoolbag, sat on the floor, and began to cry.
• 经理把任务一说，员工们就开始干活了。 Jīnglǐ bǎ rènwu yìshuō, yuángōng men jiù kāishǐ gànhuó le. The moment the manager explained the task, the staff set to work.

被动句3：意念被动句

Passive sentence

被动句3：意念被动句

• 蛋糕吃光了。 Dàngāo chī guāng le. The cake has all been eaten up.
• 衣服穿破了。 Yìfu chuānpò le. The clothes have been worn through.
• 我新买的衣服被他给洗坏了。 Wǒ xīn mǎi de yìfu bèi tā gěi xǐ huàile. My newly bought clothes were ruined by his washing.
• 她的帽子叫风给吹跑了。 Tā de màozi jiào fēng gěi chuī pǎo le. Her hat was blown away by the wind.

连动句3：前后两个动词性词语具有因果、转折、条件关系

Serial-verb sentence · 连动句3：前后两个动词性词语具有因果、转折 (zhuǎnzhé)、条件关系

连动句3：前后两个动词性词语具有因果、转折、条件关系

• 李老师生病住院了。 Lǐ lǎoshī shēngbìng zhùyuàn le. Teacher Li has fallen ill and is in the hospital.
• 这本书她借了没看。 Zhè běn shū tā jiè le méi kàn. She borrowed this book but never read it.
• 她丈夫生病住院了。（因果） Tā zhàngfu shēngbìng zhùyuàn le. ( yīnguǒ) Her husband fell ill and is in hospital. (cause and effect)
• 王经理开会忘了带会议资料。（转折） Wáng jīnglǐ kāihuì wàng le dài huìyì zīliào. ( zhuǎnzhé) Manager Wang forgot to bring the meeting materials to the meeting. (turn)

兼语句3

Serial-verb-plus-object sentence

• 老师叫她早点儿回去。 Lǎoshī jiào tā zǎodiǎnr huíqu. The teacher told her to go back a little earlier.
• 这件事令她吃不下饭。 Zhè jiàn shì lìng tā chībuxià fàn. This matter took away her appetite.

比较句5

Sentence type / special pattern

• 跟上次考试相比，这次没有那么难。 Gēn shàngcì kǎoshì xiāngbǐ, zhè cì méiyǒu nàme nán. Compared with the last exam, this one isn't so hard.
• 跟别人相比，我的想法太简单了。 Gēn biéren xiāngbǐ, wǒ de xiǎngfǎ tài jiǎndān le. Compared with others, my ideas are too simple.

或是⋯⋯，或是⋯⋯

Sentence type / compound sentence · 或是 (huòshì)⋯⋯，或是 (huòshì)⋯⋯

• 这件事或是哥哥做的，或是弟弟做的。 Zhè jiàn shì huòshì gēge zuò de, huòshì dìdi zuò de. Either the older brother did it, or the younger brother did.
• 你或是参加这次考试，或是明年再学一遍这门课。 Nǐ huòshì cānjiā zhè cì kǎoshì, huòshì míngnián zài xué yíbiàn zhè mén kè. Either you take this exam, or you take the whole course again next year.