Structure: 为 + [some part] + V Meaning: When you work for a company, or do other sorts of physical (and even mental) activities for another party, you’re likely to use the Chinese preposition 为 (wèi), which is often translated Continue Reading

Structure: Object + Subject + Verb + 错 + Meaning: To express that an action resulted in an error, you can use a result complement with -错. This covers what is often expressed with the adverb “incorrectly” in English Examples: Continue Reading

Structure: Object + Verb + 好 + 了 Meaning: Forming a result complement with 好 has a very similar meaning to forming one with 完. It expressed that the action has been completed successfully. When using result complements, it’s very Continue Reading

Structure: V + Number + M Meaning: The grammar pattern is very similar to English. For example, “看三次” and “saw three times” mirror each other in structure. In Chinese sentences, these measure words can either come after the verb (as Continue Reading

Structure: 像 + [items] + 之类的 Meaning: 之类的 can be translated as “and so on” or “and stuff like that.” As in English, this grammar point is used to continue a list without explicitly mentioning further items within it. Examples: Continue Reading

Structure: 就是 + Adjective Meaning: 就是 can be used to modify an adjective to mean “really”, or “really that and nothing else”. Examples: 1. 他 就是 聪明，考试 总是 第 一 名。     Tā jiù shì cōnɡ mínɡ ， kǎo shì Continue Reading

Structure: 总 + [ other character ] + Verb Meaning: In this structure, 总, with its companion character (usually a modal/auxiliary verb), means “always will (fill in character/action here)” Once again, it gives the feeling of something very concrete and Continue Reading

Structure: Adjective/Verb + 什么 + (Adjective/Verb) Meaning: Adding 什么(shénme) to the end of an adjective (or less frequently a verb) can be used to form a rhetorical question. In the phrase 你急什么？”what are you worried about?”, the speaker is implying Continue Reading

Structure: Adjective + 得不得了 Meaning: 得不得了 (de bùdéliǎo) can be used as a complement to suggest a situation is serious, or is likely to result in perhaps terrible consequences. It can be used in a positive sense, like in English Continue Reading

Structure: Subject + 干脆 + Verb Meaning: 干脆 is an adverb meaning “you might as well” or “just”, and is normally used by the speaker to propose a straightforward course of action within a difficult situation. Examples: 1. 家里什么都没有，干脆出去吃吧。     Continue Reading