B1 Grammar Patterns (HSK 4)
143 Mandarin grammar patterns at B1 level (HSK 4), with structure formulas, examples, pinyin, and notes.
143 grammar patterns at HSK 4 / CEFR B1 level. The 60 most important are listed below.
| # | Pattern | Structure | Example ZH | Pinyin | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 不但…而且 | 不但 + S1, 而且 + S2 | 他不但聪明，而且努力。 | Tā bùdàn cōngmíng, érqiě nǔlì. | He is not only smart but also hardworking. | Adds extra positive quality |
| 2 | 既然…就 | 既然 + fact, 就 + conclusion | 既然来了，就好好玩吧。 | Jìrán lái le, jiù hǎohǎo wán ba. | Since you're here, enjoy yourself. | Accepts fact, draws consequence |
| 3 | 即使…也 | 即使 + hypothetical, 也 + result | 即使下雨，我也要去。 | Jíshǐ xià yǔ, wǒ yě yào qù. | Even if it rains, I'll still go. | Hypothetical concession; stronger than 虽然 |
| 4 | 只要…就 | 只要 + condition, 就 + result | 只要你努力，就能成功。 | Zhǐyào nǐ nǔlì, jiù néng chénggōng. | As long as you work hard, you'll succeed. | Sufficient condition; = only if this, then |
| 5 | 尽管…还是/仍然 | 尽管 + concession, 还是 + result | 尽管很累，他还是坚持了。 | Jǐnguǎn hěn lèi, tā háishì jiānchí le. | Despite being tired, he persisted. | More formal than 虽然 |
| 6 | 与其…不如 | 与其 + V1, 不如 + V2 | 与其等，不如走。 | Yǔqí děng, bùrú zǒu. | Rather than wait, it's better to leave. | Prefers second option over first |
| 7 | 对于 regarding | 对于 + topic, S + V | 对于这个问题，我有不同意见。 | Duìyú zhège wèntí, wǒ yǒu bùtóng yìjiàn. | Regarding this issue, I have a different opinion. | Introduces topic; more formal than 对 |
| 8 | 关于 concerning | 关于 + topic + 的 + N | 关于这件事，我想说… | Guānyú zhè jiàn shì, wǒ xiǎng shuō… | Concerning this matter, I want to say… | Topic introduction; used for titles too |
| 9 | 按照 according to | 按照 + standard + V | 按照规定，不能抽烟。 | Ànzhào guīdìng, bù néng chōuyān. | According to the rules, no smoking. | Following a rule/standard/plan |
| 10 | 通过 through/by means of | 通过 + means + V | 通过练习，你会进步的。 | Tōngguò liànxí, nǐ huì jìnbù de. | Through practice, you will improve. | Method or channel |
| 11 | 不管…都 | 不管 + condition, 都 + result | 不管怎么样，我都要去。 | Bùguǎn zěnme yàng, wǒ dōu yào qù. | No matter what, I'm going. | Universal condition; = 无论…都 |
| 12 | 既…又 | 既 + Adj/V, 又 + Adj/V | 他既聪明又努力。 | Tā jì cōngmíng yòu nǔlì. | He is both smart and hardworking. | More formal than 又…又 |
| 13 | 宁可…也不 | 宁可 + V1, 也不 + V2 | 宁可不睡觉，也不放弃。 | Nìngkě bù shuìjiào, yě bù fàngqì. | I'd rather not sleep than give up. | Strong preference for hardship over alternative |
| 14 | 以便 in order to | V1, 以便 + V2 | 他早起，以便赶上第一班车。 | Tā zǎo qǐ, yǐbiàn gǎn shàng dì yī bān chē. | He got up early in order to catch the first bus. | Purpose that benefits the subject |
| 15 | 以免 so as to avoid | V1, 以免 + V2 | 多穿衣服，以免感冒。 | Duō chuān yīfu, yǐmiǎn gǎnmào. | Wear more clothes so as not to catch a cold. | Preventative purpose |
| 16 | 为了 for/in order to | 为了 + goal, S + V | 为了学好汉语，他每天练习。 | Wèile xué hǎo Hànyǔ, tā měitiān liànxí. | In order to master Chinese, he practices daily. | Goal or motivation |
| 17 | 由于 due to (formal) | 由于 + cause, S + V | 由于下雨，比赛取消了。 | Yóuyú xià yǔ, bǐsài qǔxiāo le. | Due to rain, the match was cancelled. | More formal than 因为 |
| 18 | 因此 therefore | S + V, 因此 + result | 他很努力，因此成功了。 | Tā hěn nǔlì, yīncǐ chénggōng le. | He worked hard, therefore he succeeded. | Formal result connector |
| 19 | 从而 so as to / thereby | V1, 从而 + V2 | 他努力学习，从而考上了大学。 | Tā nǔlì xuéxí, cóng'ér kǎo shàng le dàxué. | He studied hard, thereby getting into university. | Logical result; formal |
| 20 | 以 by means of (formal) | 以 + means + V | 以诚信赢得尊重。 | Yǐ chéngxìn yíngdé zūnzhòng. | Win respect through sincerity. | Written/formal; = 用 in speech |
| 21 | 并 and/moreover (formal) | S + V1 + 并 + V2 | 他接受了建议，并表示感谢。 | Tā jiēshòu le jiànyì, bìng biǎoshì gǎnxiè. | He accepted the suggestion and expressed gratitude. | Adds second action; formal |
| 22 | 甚至 even | 甚至 + extreme case | 他甚至连名字都忘了。 | Tā shènzhì lián míngzi dōu wàng le. | He even forgot the name. | Intensifies surprising extreme case |
| 23 | 究竟/到底 on earth | S + 究竟/到底 + V? | 你到底要什么？ | Nǐ dàodǐ yào shénme? | What on earth do you want? | Impatience or need for clarification |
| 24 | 反正 anyway | 反正 + S + V | 反正我不去。 | Fǎnzhèng wǒ bù qù. | Anyway, I'm not going. | Dismisses alternatives; "in any case" |
| 25 | 本来 originally/should have | 本来 + S + V | 他本来要来，但没来。 | Tā běnlái yào lái, dàn méi lái. | He was originally going to come but didn't. | Original plan or expectation |
| 26 | 终于 finally | S + 终于 + V | 他终于来了。 | Tā zhōngyú lái le. | He finally came. | Relief after long wait |
| 27 | 忽然 suddenly | 忽然 + V | 忽然下起雨来。 | Hūrán xià qǐ yǔ lái. | It suddenly started to rain. | Unexpected event; also 突然 |
| 28 | 好像 seems like | S + 好像 + clause | 他好像不太高兴。 | Tā hǎoxiàng bú tài gāoxìng. | He seems not very happy. | Appearance-based judgment |
| 29 | 其实 actually | 其实 + S + V | 其实我不喜欢。 | Qíshí wǒ bù xǐhuān. | Actually, I don't like it. | Corrects a misconception |
| 30 | 当然 of course | 当然 (+ S + V) | 当然可以！ | Dāngrán kěyǐ! | Of course! | Confirms obvious fact |
| 31 | 结果 as a result | V/Situation, 结果 + outcome | 他没准备，结果没通过。 | Tā méi zhǔnbèi, jiéguǒ méi tōngguò. | He didn't prepare, and as a result he failed. | Actual outcome, often negative |
| 32 | 另外 in addition | 另外, S + V | 另外，还有一个问题。 | Lìngwài, hái yǒu yī gè wèntí. | In addition, there is another problem. | Adds new separate point |
| 33 | 互相 mutually/each other | S(pl) + 互相 + V | 他们互相帮助。 | Tāmen hùxiāng bāngzhù. | They help each other. | Reciprocal action |
| 34 | 把 advanced: 当作 | 把 + O + 当作 + role | 我把他当作朋友。 | Wǒ bǎ tā dāngzuò péngyou. | I regard him as a friend. | 把 extension for treating/regarding |
| 35 | 被迫 be forced to | S + 被迫 + V | 他被迫离开了公司。 | Tā bèipò líkāi le gōngsī. | He was forced to leave the company. | Formal passive with compulsion |
| 36 | 受到 receive/be subject to | S + 受到 + N | 他受到了表扬。 | Tā shòudào le biǎoyáng. | He received praise. | Formal passive-like; receive influence |
| 37 | 来不及 not have time to | S + 来不及 + V | 我来不及解释了。 | Wǒ lái bu jí jiěshì le. | I don't have time to explain. | No time remaining for action |
| 38 | 来得及 have time to | S + 来得及 + V | 还来得及！ | Hái lái de jí! | There's still time! | Potential complement: time is sufficient |
| 39 | 随着 along with/as | 随着 + N/V + 的变化, S + V | 随着时间的推移，一切都变了。 | Suízhe shíjiān de tuīyí, yīqiē dōu biàn le. | As time passed, everything changed. | Parallel change over time |
| 40 | 对…有/没有 + N | S + 对 + O + 有/没有 + N | 运动对健康有好处。 | Yùndòng duì jiànkāng yǒu hǎochù. | Exercise is beneficial to health. | Evaluative pattern |
| 41 | Verb reduplication | V → VV / V一V | 你看看。/ 想一想。 | Nǐ kànkan. / Xiǎng yi xiǎng. | Take a look. / Think about it. | Softens request; implies brief action |
| 42 | Adj reduplication | AA / AABB | 慢慢走。/ 高高兴兴。 | Màn man zǒu. / Gāogāo xìngxìng. | Walk slowly. / Very happy. | Intensifies or adds affection |
| 43 | 以为 vs 认为 | 以为 (wrong belief) / 认为 (opinion) | 我认为这是对的。 | Wǒ rènwéi zhè shì duì de. | I think this is correct. | 认为 = neutral opinion; 以为 = mistaken |
| 44 | 感到 feel/sense | S + 感到 + Adj/N | 我感到很累。 | Wǒ gǎndào hěn lèi. | I feel very tired. | Emotional or physical sensation |
| 45 | 决定 decide to | S + 决定 + V | 我决定不去了。 | Wǒ juédìng bù qù le. | I decided not to go. | Commitment to a course of action |
| 46 | 表示 express/indicate | S + 表示 + N/clause | 他表示同意。 | Tā biǎoshì tóngyì. | He expressed agreement. | Formal communication |
| 47 | 认为 believe/think | S + 认为 + clause | 他认为这不公平。 | Tā rènwéi zhè bù gōngpíng. | He believes this is unfair. | Stating an opinion |
| 48 | 逐渐 gradually | S + 逐渐 + V/Adj | 天气逐渐变暖了。 | Tiānqì zhújiàn biàn nuǎn le. | The weather is gradually warming up. | Slow progressive change; formal |
| 49 | 万一 in case/if by chance | 万一 + bad event, S + V | 万一下雨，带把伞。 | Wànyī xià yǔ, dài bǎ sǎn. | In case it rains, bring an umbrella. | Low-probability precaution |
| 50 | 假如/假设 suppose/if | 假如/假设 + condition, S + V | 假如我有钱，我就去旅行。 | Jiǎrú wǒ yǒu qián, wǒ jiù qù lǚxíng. | If I had money, I would travel. | Hypothetical; more formal than 如果 |
| 51 | 仍然/还是 still | S + 仍然/还是 + V | 他仍然坚持自己的看法。 | Tā réngrán jiānchí zìjǐ de kànfǎ. | He still holds his own view. | 仍然 is more formal than 还是 |
| 52 | 继续 continue | S + 继续 + V | 他继续说。 | Tā jìxù shuō. | He continued speaking. | Resumption of interrupted action |
| 53 | 陆续 one after another | S + 陆续 + V | 客人陆续到达。 | Kèrén lùxù dàodá. | Guests arrived one after another. | Scattered over time |
| 54 | 相当 quite/fairly | 相当 + Adj | 这相当困难。 | Zhè xiāngdāng kùnnán. | This is quite difficult. | More neutral than 很; = considerably |
| 55 | 十分 very/extremely | 十分 + Adj | 我十分感谢你。 | Wǒ shífēn gǎnxiè nǐ. | I am very grateful to you. | Formal intensifier = 非常 |
| 56 | 总是 always | S + 总是 + V | 他总是迟到。 | Tā zǒng shì chídào. | He is always late. | Habitual, often slightly negative |
| 57 | 频率 frequency adverbs | 经常/常常/有时/偶尔 + V | 我经常去图书馆。 | Wǒ jīngcháng qù túshūguǎn. | I often go to the library. | All come before verb |
| 58 | Passive with 叫/让 | S + 叫/让 + Agent + V | 书让他拿走了。 | Shū ràng tā ná zǒu le. | The book was taken by him. | Colloquial passive; often negative |
| 59 | 之所以…是因为 | S + 之所以 + V, 是因为 + cause | 他之所以成功，是因为努力。 | Tā zhīsuǒyǐ chénggōng, shì yīnwèi nǔlì. | The reason he succeeded is that he worked hard. | Formal; emphasizes reason |
| 60 | 宁愿 would rather | S + 宁愿 + V1 + 也不 + V2 | 我宁愿一个人住，也不和他住。 | Wǒ nìngyuàn yī gè rén zhù, yě bù hé tā zhù. | I'd rather live alone than live with him. | Strong preference statement |