Grammar
Chinese Grammar Patterns
354 grammar patterns from our podcast episodes. Each pattern includes explanations, example sentences in context, and links to episodes where the pattern is used.
All Patterns
...以前 / ...以后 (yǐ qián / yǐ hòu)
easy2 ex.
...以后 — after...
easy2 ex.
...以至于... (yǐzhìyú)
medium1 ex.
...就是...
beginner2 ex.
...意味着什么
normal1 ex.
...方面...
normal2 ex.
...更不用说
normalnormal1 ex.
...本身就是...
normal1 ex.
...的意思就是...
mediummedium6 ex.
...的时候
beginnerbeginner7 ex.
...的是
normal1 ex.
...的直接效果是...
normal1 ex.
...的结果
normal1 ex.
A + 对 + B + Adjective
beginner1 ex.
A + 怎么 + B?
beginner2 ex.
A + 还是 + B
beginner1 ex.
A 不是 B，是 C — 'not A but B' contrast structure
medium2 ex.
A 有 (的) B
easy3 ex.
A 比 B + Adjective
easyeasy9 ex.
A 比 B + Adjective + (Degree)
easy1 ex.
A 让 B + Verb
easy3 ex.
A不A (Affirmative-Negative Question)
beginner1 ex.
Noun + 之一 (zhī yī)
beginner1 ex.
Noun + 是 + Noun
easy2 ex.
Place + 上/里/前 + 有 + Object
beginner3 ex.
Place + 有 + Noun
beginner3 ex.
Place + 有 + Object
beginnerbeginner16 ex.
Place A + 离 + Place B + (Adverb) + 近/远
easy2 ex.
Subject + 会 + verb
beginner3 ex.
Subject + 会 + Verb
beginner2 ex.
Subject + 动词 + 结果补语 (了/到)
beginner3 ex.
Subject + 在 + Place (+ Location Word)
beginner2 ex.
Subject + 在 + Place + Verb
beginner2 ex.
Subject + 在 + Verb + Object
beginner2 ex.
Subject + 想 + verb
beginner2 ex.
Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + Result/Direction
beginner2 ex.
Subject + 是 + Noun
beginner3 ex.
Subject + 走得 + Adjective
beginner1 ex.
V/A + 起来
normal2 ex.
Verb + 一 + Verb (想一想, 看一看)
beginner3 ex.
Verb + 了
beginnerbeginner6 ex.
Verb + 了 (completed action)
beginner3 ex.
Verb + 完
beginner1 ex.
Verb + 完 + 了以后
medium2 ex.
Verb + 得 + Adjective
beginnereasy3 ex.
Verb + 得 + Adjective (Complement of degree)
easy2 ex.
Verb + 得 + Adjective / Adverb
beginner3 ex.
Verb + 得 + Adverb + Adjective
easy3 ex.
Verb + 得 + Adverb/Adjective (Degree Complement)
beginner3 ex.
Verb + 得 + Complement
beginner2 ex.
Verb + 得 + Degree Complement
beginner2 ex.
Verb + 着 (zhe)
beginner3 ex.
Verb + 过 (guò)
beginner1 ex.
Verb Reduplication (Verb + 一 + Verb / Verb + 了 + Verb)
beginner2 ex.
一天比一天 + Adjective
easy1 ex.
一边... 一边...
easy1 ex.
一边... 一边... (yìbiān... yìbiān...)
medium1 ex.
一边...一边...
medium1 ex.
一边...一边... (yìbiān... yìbiān...)
easy1 ex.
不仅... 更...
normal2 ex.
不仅……，还/也……
medium2 ex.
不仅……更……
normal2 ex.
不仅……更是……
normal2 ex.
不仅……而且/也/还……
normal2 ex.
不仅...也... (bùjǐn... yě...)
medium1 ex.
不仅...而且... / 不但...而且...
medium2 ex.
不仅...还/也...
medium1 ex.
不仅不 ... 反而 ... (Bùjǐn bù ... fǎn'ér ...)
normal1 ex.
不仅仅是 ... 更是 ... (Bùjǐnjǐn shì ... gèng shì ...)
normal2 ex.
不仅仅是A，更是B
normal2 ex.
不仅无法/不... 反而会...
normal1 ex.
不仅是...，更是...
normal1 ex.
不仅是...更是...
normal1 ex.
不但... 而且... (búdàn... érqiě...)
medium2 ex.
不但... 而且/还... (búdàn... érqiě/hái...)
medium2 ex.
不但……而且…… (not only... but also...)
medium2 ex.
不但……还……
medium1 ex.
不但...而且...
medium2 ex.
不但...而且... (búdàn... érqiě...)
medium2 ex.
不但...而且... (bùdàn...érqiě...)
medium2 ex.
不但...还/而且... (bù dàn... hái/ér qiě...)
medium2 ex.
不再是...
normal1 ex.
不再是...而是...
mediumnormal2 ex.
不只...还...
easy1 ex.
不只是...
medium1 ex.
不只是...也...
mediumeasy2 ex.
不只是...还要...
easy1 ex.
不同的是...
normal1 ex.
不是... 就...
easy2 ex.
不是... 而是... (búshì... érshì...)
medium2 ex.
不是……而是…… (bú shì... ér shì... / 不再... 而是...)
normal1 ex.
不是...而是...
normalmedium9 ex.
不是A，而是B
normal2 ex.
不是A，而是B (bú shì A, ér shì B) — not A, but rather B
normal0 ex.
不是A而是B
normalnormal5 ex.
不然就...
easy1 ex.
不用...
beginner2 ex.
不管... 都...
easy2 ex.
不管……都……
medium1 ex.
不管……都…… (no matter... all/still...)
medium2 ex.
不管...都...
beginnermedium8 ex.
不要太... (bú yào tài...)
easy2 ex.
与其……不如…… (yǔ qí... bù rú...)
normal1 ex.
与其……不如…… / 甚至……
normal2 ex.
与其说……不如说…… (Implied)
normal1 ex.
与其说...不如说...
normal1 ex.
与其说A不如说B
normalnormal1 ex.
与此同时
normal1 ex.
与此同时 (yǔ cǐ tóngshí) — meanwhile; at the same time
normal0 ex.
为了 (wèile)
easy2 ex.
为了...
easymedium4 ex.
为了... (wèile...)
easy1 ex.
为什么……因为……
easy2 ex.
为什么...因为...
easy1 ex.
之前...
medium1 ex.
之所以... 归功于...
normal1 ex.
之所以... 是因为...
normal1 ex.
之所以...不仅仅是因为...
normal1 ex.
之所以...正是因为... (zhī suǒyǐ...zhèng shì yīnwèi...)
normal1 ex.
什么都 + Verb/Adjective
beginner1 ex.
从 + Place + 来
beginner1 ex.
从...，到...，从...，再到...，没有任何...
normal1 ex.
从……到……再到……
normal1 ex.
从……到……再到…… (from... to... and then to...)
medium2 ex.
从...以后
medium1 ex.
从...到...
easyeasy3 ex.
从...变成了...
normal1 ex.
从...开始
medium1 ex.
从...看
normal1 ex.
从...角度
normal1 ex.
从...角度看
normalnormal8 ex.
从A转向B
normal2 ex.
以 ... 为由 (Yǐ ... wéiyóu)
normal1 ex.
以前...现在...
easybeginner2 ex.
以至于 (yǐ zhìyú) — to such an extent that; so much so that
normal0 ex.
会 (huì) for Ability
beginner3 ex.
会 (huì) for ability and possibility
easy3 ex.
会 + Verb
beginnerbeginner6 ex.
但是...
mediumeasy4 ex.
值得一提的是
normal1 ex.
先...后...
beginner2 ex.
关于……
easy2 ex.
其实 (qíshí) — 'actually / in fact'
medium3 ex.
凭借...
normal1 ex.
到底 (dàodǐ) — 'on earth / exactly / after all'
medium3 ex.
即使... 也...
normal1 ex.
即使... 也/还...
medium1 ex.
即使...也...
easymedium2 ex.
即便 (jíbiàn) — even if; even though
normal0 ex.
又……又…… (double 又 pattern)
medium1 ex.
又...又...
beginner1 ex.
又...又... — both...and...
easy2 ex.
只有... (zhǐyǒu...)
beginner2 ex.
只有... 才... (zhǐyǒu... cái...)
medium1 ex.
只有...才...
normal2 ex.
只有...才... (zhǐyǒu... cái...)
easy1 ex.
只有...才能... — only if...then can...
easy2 ex.
只有...才能... (zhǐyǒu...cái néng...) — 'only if...then can...'
medium2 ex.
只能 + Verb Phrase
easy2 ex.
只要... (zhǐyào...)
easy1 ex.
只要... 就/都可以... (zhǐyào... jiù/dōukěyǐ...)
medium3 ex.
只要...，就...
normal2 ex.
只要……，(就)……
medium2 ex.
只要...就...
mediummedium3 ex.
只要...就... (zhǐyào... jiù...)
medium3 ex.
叫 / 让 / 要 + Person + Verb
beginner2 ex.
可以 + Verb
beginner1 ex.
可以...
beginner2 ex.
可以概括为
normal1 ex.
可以说...
medium1 ex.
可以说是...
easy1 ex.
可能 + Verb / 会 + Verb
medium3 ex.
可能会被...替代
easy1 ex.
和...一样
beginner1 ex.
和...有关 / 和...有关系 (hé... yǒu guān / hé... yǒu guān xì)
easy2 ex.
哪怕……也…… (nǎ pà... yě...)
normal1 ex.
哪怕...也...
normal1 ex.
哪怕只是...，也...
normal1 ex.
哪怕只是为了...
normal1 ex.
因为 … (giving reasons)
beginner2 ex.
因为...
beginnerbeginner4 ex.
因为... (yīnwèi...)
beginner2 ex.
因为……所以…… (yīnwèi... suǒyǐ...)
beginner2 ex.
因为...所以...
mediummedium29 ex.
因为...所以... (yīn wèi... suǒ yǐ...) for Cause and Effect
easy2 ex.
因为...所以... (yīnwèi...suǒyǐ...)
easy3 ex.
在 + Place
beginner3 ex.
在 + Place + Action
beginner3 ex.
在 + Place + Verb
beginner2 ex.
在 + Verb (progressive aspect)
easy3 ex.
在 + 时间 + 做 + 事
normal3 ex.
堪称...
normal0 ex.
太 + Adjective + 了
beginnerbeginner5 ex.
太...了
beginner2 ex.
如同...令...
normal0 ex.
如果 + Condition, (Subject +) 就 + Result
easy2 ex.
如果...
easy3 ex.
如果... (就)...
easy2 ex.
如果... (那)...
easy3 ex.
如果... 就... (rúguǒ... jiù...)
medium2 ex.
如果...会...
beginner2 ex.
如果...就...
mediumeasy16 ex.
如果...就... (rú guǒ... jiù...)
easymedium4 ex.
如果...就... (rúguǒ...jiù...)
medium2 ex.
如果...那么...
normal2 ex.
如此……以至于……
normal1 ex.
对 + Person + 说话
beginner2 ex.
对……说
easy2 ex.
对...来说 (duì... láishuō)
medium2 ex.
对于...来说
normal1 ex.
对于...来说 (duìyú...lái shuō) — for (someone); from the perspective of
normal0 ex.
将 + Object + 拉回 + Place/State
normal1 ex.
就像...一样
normal1 ex.
就是 (definition)
beginner2 ex.
就是...
mediumbeginner4 ex.
就是...一样 (jiùshì...yíyàng) — 'just like...'
medium2 ex.
就是...的意思
easy1 ex.
就等于...
normal1 ex.
就算...也...
mediumnormal7 ex.
已经 + Verb/Time word
easy1 ex.
已经...了
beginner1 ex.
并不...
medium2 ex.
并不是...而是... (bìng bú shì...ér shì...)
normal2 ex.
并非……而是……
normal2 ex.
并非/不是……而是……
normal2 ex.
归根结底
normal0 ex.
当... 时，...
normal2 ex.
很 + Adj
beginnerbeginner4 ex.
很 + Adjective
beginnerbeginner10 ex.
得 + Verb Phrase
easy2 ex.
怎么 + Verb
beginner2 ex.
总的来说
medium1 ex.
恰恰 (qiàqià) — precisely; exactly (often with ironic or emphatic force)
normal0 ex.
恰恰是...
normal1 ex.
恰恰是因为...才...
normal1 ex.
想 + Verb
beginnerbeginner5 ex.
愈演愈烈
normal0 ex.
所谓的 (suǒwèi de) — 'so-called'
medium2 ex.
所谓的...
normal1 ex.
才 (cái)
easy1 ex.
才 + [number/fact] — emphasizing "only" or "just"
easy2 ex.
才能 (cáinéng)
beginner1 ex.
把 (bǎ) Construction
medium4 ex.
把 (bǎ) Sentence Structure
easy3 ex.
把 / 让 Structure (Causative)
easy2 ex.
把 + Object + Verb
easymedium5 ex.
把 + Object + Verb + Complement
easy1 ex.
把 + Object + Verb + Result
medium2 ex.
把 + Object + Verb Complement (disposal construction)
medium4 ex.
把 Structure (Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + Result/Direction)
beginner2 ex.
把... 当成... (bǎ... dāngchéng...)
medium2 ex.
把……转向……
normal1 ex.
把...当成...
easy1 ex.
把...想成... (bǎ...xiǎng chéng...)
easy1 ex.
把字句 (bǎ sentence)
easymedium6 ex.
把字句 (bǎ zì jù)
medium2 ex.
按照 (ànzhào) — 'according to / based on'
medium2 ex.
换成是你
medium1 ex.
无一不...
normal0 ex.
无论 ... 还是 ... (Wúlùn ... háishì ...)
normal2 ex.
无论 / 不管...都...
medium3 ex.
无论……还是…… (wú lùn... hái shì...)
normal2 ex.
无论A还是B，都……
normal1 ex.
无论如何 (wúlùn rúhé) — regardless; no matter what
normal0 ex.
无论是...还是...抑或是... (wúlùn shì...háishì...yìhòshì...)
normal1 ex.
既然……(那)就……
medium1 ex.
既然...也... (jìrán... yě... / jìrán... jiù...)
medium1 ex.
既然...就... (jì rán... jiù...)
medium2 ex.
是 + noun + 的
beginner2 ex.
是... 的
easy2 ex.
是... 的 (shì... de)
beginner2 ex.
是……的
medium3 ex.
是……的 (emphasis structure)
medium2 ex.
是...的
beginnermedium13 ex.
是...的 (shì... de)
medium2 ex.
是...的 (shì...de) for emphasis
medium2 ex.
是...还是...
normal1 ex.
是A还是B
normal1 ex.
有 + noun (existence)
beginner3 ex.
有的...有的...
beginner2 ex.
某种程度上
normal1 ex.
正如……所说/所言
normal2 ex.
每一个...都...
beginner1 ex.
比 (bǐ) for Comparison
easy2 ex.
比...+Adjective
beginner2 ex.
比...大
medium1 ex.
比...更... (bǐ...gèng...)
medium2 ex.
比你想象的要...
medium1 ex.
比喻论证
normal2 ex.
比如
easymedium5 ex.
比如 (bǐrú)
easy3 ex.
比如说
beginner1 ex.
比如说 (bǐ rú shuō) — "for example"
easy2 ex.
特别是...
easy1 ex.
现在...不一样了
beginner1 ex.
甚至...都...
normal1 ex.
用A作为B来C
normal1 ex.
由... V ...
medium1 ex.
疑问词+问号+解释结构
normal2 ex.
直到 + Time/Condition, Subject + 才 + Verb
normal1 ex.
看似...但如果... (kànsì...dàn rúguǒ...)
normal1 ex.
简单说就是
normal1 ex.
绝不是... 更不是...
normal1 ex.
绝非……
normal1 ex.
莫过于 (mò guò yú)
normal1 ex.
虽然... 但是...
easyeasy5 ex.
虽然……但是……
mediumeasy3 ex.
虽然……但是…… (although... but...)
medium3 ex.
虽然...但是...
mediummedium14 ex.
虽然...但是... — although...but...
easy2 ex.
虽然...但是... (suī rán... dàn shì...)
easymedium4 ex.
虽然...但是... (suīrán... dànshì...)
easyeasy4 ex.
虽然...但是... (suīrán...dànshì...)
easymedium4 ex.
表面上看 + Clause 1, 然而 + Clause 2
normal1 ex.
被 (bèi) Sentence for Passive Voice
easy3 ex.
被……所……
normal1 ex.
被...所...结构
normal2 ex.
要...不要...
beginner3 ex.
要不要 / 有没有
beginner3 ex.
要么A要么B
normal1 ex.
让 + Object + Verb
easy3 ex.
让 + Object + Verb/Adj
easy1 ex.
让 + Object + Verb/Adjective
easy3 ex.
话说回来
medium1 ex.
说...就...
normal1 ex.
说到 + Topic, ...
easynormal2 ex.
说到...
easynormal6 ex.
说到...，最引人注目的莫过于...
normal1 ex.
说到……
normal1 ex.
说白了就是
normal1 ex.
说白了就是...
normalnormal2 ex.
谁...谁就...
beginner1 ex.
越... 越... (yuè... yuè...)
medium1 ex.
越……越……
medium2 ex.
越……越…… (the more... the more...)
medium2 ex.
越...越...
mediumeasy4 ex.
越...越... (yuè... yuè...)
medium1 ex.
越是A，越B
normal1 ex.
越来越 (yuè lái yuè) for Gradual Change
easy2 ex.
越来越 + Adjective/Verb
easy1 ex.
越来越...
beginnermedium16 ex.
还没有 + Verb
beginner3 ex.
这...是什么概念
medium2 ex.
这/那 + 是 + Noun/Pronoun
easy3 ex.
这也是为什么...
normal1 ex.
连……都……
mediummedium3 ex.
通过... (tōngguò...)
medium1 ex.
除了 + Noun/Verb, (Subject +) 也 + Verb
easy1 ex.
除了... 还有...
easyeasy3 ex.
随着 (Suízhe) ...
normal2 ex.
随着...
normal2 ex.
随着……
normalmedium3 ex.
非...莫属 (fēi...mò shǔ)
normal2 ex.
非但没有...反而...
normal0 ex.