Structure: 所有的 + Noun + 都 + Adjective Meaning: “所有的… 都…” (suǒyǒu… dōu…) is a pattern used to refer to “every” or “all” of a noun, with the quantity of said noun usually being fairly large. Examples: 1. 所有 的 自行车 Continue Reading

Structure: Subject + 总算/终于 + Verb Meaning: Grammatically, 总算 and 终于 are basically used the same way. They are both adverbs, and they can be placed before the subject or after the subject. However, in comparison to 终于, 总算 is Continue Reading

Structure: Part A, 后来, Part B Meaning: 后来 is a time noun, and it can only be used on its own. It describes a certain time period in the past to the present, and it allows the speaker to described Continue Reading

Structure: Subject + Verb + 以后/的时候, Comment Meaning: The complicated thing about “以后” and “的时候” is that they both appear in the same place in the sentence. That is, after the verb Examples: 1. 下班 以后 我们 一起 去 吃饭。 Continue Reading

Structure: 以后 + Subject +Verb + Object Meaning: 以后 is used when talking about things that happen at some unspecified point in the future. Examples: 1. 他 以后 不 想 住 在 日本 。     Tā yǐ hòu bú xiǎnɡ Continue Reading

Structure: Noun1 + 像 + Noun2 + (那么…Adjective) Meaning: 像 (xiàng) is used to compare a specific characteristic of two things or people, and can be used in the following structure: Examples: 1. 我 也 像 你 那么 爱 花 Continue Reading

Structure: Verb + 什么 + Objec Meaning: Adding 什么 (shénme) to the end of a verb can be used to change a sentence into a rhetorical question. This usage is often used with separable verbs. Examples: 1. 过什么 年 啊，还 Continue Reading

Structure: (Subject)+ 难免 + Ver Meaning: 难免 (nánmiǎn) means “to be unavoidable” or “inevitable” and is most commonly placed before a verb, often an auxillary verb such as 会 or 要. It can only be used to introduce an inevitable Continue Reading

Structure: 将 + [imminent event Meaning: 将 (jiāng) can be used to denote something is about to happen in the near future, a bit like “about to” in English. It is generally used in formal contexts. Examples: 1. 我们 公司 Continue Reading

Structure: Noun/Adjective + 化 Meaning: You can take some Chinese nouns and adjectives and add a 化 to the end of them to make “-ize” or “-ify” them. Basically, 化 takes the noun or adjective and makes it into a Continue Reading