B2 Grammar Patterns (HSK 5)
154 Mandarin grammar patterns at B2 level (HSK 5), with structure formulas, examples, pinyin, and notes.
154 grammar patterns at HSK 5 / CEFR B2 level. The 60 most important are listed below.
| # | Pattern | Structure | Example ZH | Pinyin | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 不仅…还/而且 (formal) | 不仅 + S1, 还/而且 + S2 | 不仅如此，还需要更多努力。 | Bùjǐn rúcǐ, hái xūyào gèng duō nǔlì. | Not only that, but more effort is also needed. | More formal than 不但…而且 |
| 2 | 反而 on the contrary | S + 不但不 + V1, 反而 + V2 | 他不但不道歉，反而骂我。 | Tā bùdàn bù dàoqiàn, fǎn'ér mà wǒ. | Not only did he not apologize, he scolded me instead. | Reversal of expected outcome |
| 3 | 固然…但/却 | 固然 + concession, 但/却 + counter | 固然重要，但也有问题。 | Gùrán zhòngyào, dàn yě yǒu wèntí. | Granted it's important, but there are also problems. | Concedes point while countering; formal |
| 4 | 诚然…然而 | 诚然 + fact, 然而 + counter | 诚然有优点，然而缺点更多。 | Chéngrán yǒu yōudiǎn, rán'ér quēdiǎn gèng duō. | Admittedly there are merits, however the flaws are more. | Formal written concessive |
| 5 | 以…为 take X as | 以 + N1 + 为 + N2 | 以诚信为本。 | Yǐ chéngxìn wéi běn. | Take sincerity as the foundation. | Formal; establishes principle |
| 6 | 就…而言 as far as…is concerned | 就 + topic + 而言 | 就这件事而言，你是对的。 | Jiù zhè jiàn shì éryán, nǐ shì duì de. | As far as this matter is concerned, you are right. | Topic-comment formal framing |
| 7 | 从…来看 from the perspective of | 从 + perspective + 来看 | 从长远来看，这是好事。 | Cóng chángyuǎn lái kàn, zhè shì hǎo shì. | From a long-term perspective, this is good. | Signals analytical viewpoint |
| 8 | 在…方面 in the area of | 在 + domain + 方面 | 在语言方面，她很有天赋。 | Zài yǔyán fāngmiàn, tā hěn yǒu tiāncái. | In the area of language, she is very talented. | Scopes domain of statement |
| 9 | 对…来说 for (someone) | 对 + person + 来说 | 对我来说，这很重要。 | Duì wǒ lái shuō, zhè hěn zhòngyào. | For me, this is very important. | Perspective-marking |
| 10 | 除了…以外 besides/except | 除了 + N + 以外, S + 都/也 + V | 除了他以外，都来了。 | Chúle tā yǐwài, dōu lái le. | Everyone came except him. | 都 = except; 也 = in addition |
| 11 | 至于 as for | 至于 + topic, S + V | 至于原因，我不清楚。 | Zhìyú yuányīn, wǒ bù qīngchǔ. | As for the reason, I'm not sure. | Shifts to a secondary topic |
| 12 | 于是 thereupon/so | S1 + V1, 于是 + S2 + V2 | 下雨了，于是他决定回家。 | Xià yǔ le, yúshì tā juédìng huí jiā. | It rained, so he decided to go home. | Immediate consequence; slightly formal |
| 13 | 况且 moreover/besides | S + V, 况且 + additional reason | 太远了，况且我没有时间。 | Tài yuǎn le, kuàngqiě wǒ méiyǒu shíjiān. | It's too far, besides I don't have time. | Adds reinforcing reason |
| 14 | 何况 let alone/much less | N/V1, 何况 + N/V2? | 大人都不行，何况小孩？ | Dàrén dōu bù xíng, hékuàng xiǎohái? | Even adults can't do it, let alone children. | Argues from easier to harder case |
| 15 | 甚至 even/so much as | 甚至 (连) + extreme case + 都/也 | 甚至连他的名字都忘了。 | Shènzhì lián tā de míngzi dōu wàng le. | He even forgot his name. | Extreme intensifier |
| 16 | 所谓 so-called | 所谓的 + N | 所谓的专家其实不专业。 | Suǒwèi de zhuānjiā qíshí bù zhuānyè. | The so-called expert is actually not professional. | Sceptical or distancing tone |
| 17 | 以至于 to the extent that | V/Adj + 以至于 + result | 他忙得以至于没时间吃饭。 | Tā máng de yǐzhìyú méi shíjiān chīfàn. | He was so busy that he had no time to eat. | Extreme consequence; formal |
| 18 | 毕竟 after all | 毕竟 + S + V | 毕竟他还年轻。 | Bìjìng tā hái niánqīng. | After all, he is still young. | Mitigating reminder of underlying fact |
| 19 | 难道…吗 rhetorical | 难道 + S + V + 吗？ | 难道你不知道吗？ | Nándào nǐ bù zhīdào ma? | Surely you know, don't you? | Rhetorical question implying "of course" |
| 20 | 莫非 could it be that | 莫非 + S + V？ | 莫非他已经走了？ | Mòfēi tā yǐjīng zǒu le? | Could it be that he has already left? | Speculation; slightly literary |
| 21 | 不得不 have no choice but | S + 不得不 + V | 我不得不承认错误。 | Wǒ bùdé bù chéngrèn cuòwù. | I have no choice but to admit the mistake. | Compelled by circumstances |
| 22 | 禁不住 can't help but | S + 禁不住 + V | 她禁不住笑了起来。 | Tā jīn bu zhù xiào le qǐlái. | She couldn't help but laugh. | Involuntary reaction |
| 23 | 忍不住 can't resist | S + 忍不住 + V | 他忍不住哭了。 | Tā rěn bu zhù kū le. | He couldn't hold back his tears. | Emotional impulse overcoming restraint |
| 24 | 尽量 as much as possible | S + 尽量 + V | 你尽量早点来。 | Nǐ jǐnliàng zǎo diǎn lái. | Come as early as possible. | Effort within ability |
| 25 | 尽管如此 despite this | 尽管如此，S + V | 尽管如此，我们仍要坚持。 | Jǐnguǎn rúcǐ, wǒmen réng yào jiānchí. | Despite this, we must persist. | Formal concession connector |
| 26 | 然而 however (formal) | S1 + V1, 然而 + S2 + V2 | 他努力了，然而没有成功。 | Tā nǔlì le, rán'ér méiyǒu chénggōng. | He worked hard, however he did not succeed. | Formal adversative; = 但是 |
| 27 | 从而 thereby/thus | V1, 从而 + V2 | 改善环境，从而提高生活质量。 | Gǎishàn huánjìng, cóng'ér tígāo shēnghuó zhìliàng. | Improve the environment, thereby raising quality of life. | Formal result connector |
| 28 | 因而 therefore (formal) | Cause, 因而 + result | 他没出席，因而错过了机会。 | Tā méi chūxí, yīn'ér cuòguò le jīhuì. | He didn't attend, therefore he missed the opportunity. | Formal = 所以/因此 |
| 29 | 进而 furthermore/going further | S + V1, 进而 + V2 | 他学会了基础，进而开始深入研究。 | Tā xuéhuì le jīchǔ, jìn'ér kāishǐ shēnrù yánjiū. | He learned the basics and then went further into research. | Progression to deeper level |
| 30 | 相反 on the contrary | 相反, S + V | 他没变好，相反，更糟了。 | Tā méi biàn hǎo, xiāngfǎn, gèng zāo le. | He didn't improve; on the contrary, it got worse. | Introduces opposite result |
| 31 | 总之 in short/in a word | 总之, S + V | 总之，这件事很复杂。 | Zǒngzhī, zhè jiàn shì hěn fùzá. | In short, this matter is very complicated. | Summarizing conclusion |
| 32 | 综上所述 in summary (formal) | 综上所述, S + V | 综上所述，我们应该采取行动。 | Zōng shàng suǒ shù, wǒmen yīnggāi cǎiqǔ xíngdòng. | In summary, we should take action. | Written conclusion formula |
| 33 | 就算…也 even if…still | 就算 + hypothetical, 也 + result | 就算下雨，我也不改变计划。 | Jiùsuàn xià yǔ, wǒ yě bù gǎibiàn jìhuà. | Even if it rains, I won't change my plan. | = 即使…也; slightly less formal |
| 34 | 哪怕…也 even if (strong) | 哪怕 + condition, 也 + result | 哪怕再难，我也要坚持。 | Nǎpà zài nán, wǒ yě yào jiānchí. | No matter how hard, I will persist. | Strongest concessive; colloquial-formal |
| 35 | V得/不了 can/cannot complete | V + 得了/不了 | 吃得了这么多吗？ | Chī de liǎo zhème duō ma? | Can you really eat that much? | Potential complement for feasibility |
| 36 | V得/不下 fit or not | V + 得下/不下 | 这里坐不下二十个人。 | Zhèlǐ zuò bù xià èrshí gè rén. | Twenty people can't fit here. | Space/capacity potential complement |
| 37 | V起来 start doing / seems | V + 起来 | 他笑起来了。/ 看起来不错。 | Tā xiào qǐlái le. / Kàn qǐlái bùcuò. | He started laughing. / It looks good. | Start of action or evaluative |
| 38 | V下去 continue doing | V + 下去 | 你能坚持下去吗？ | Nǐ néng jiānchí xiàqù ma? | Can you keep going? | Continuation of ongoing action |
| 39 | 什么…什么 whatever | 想 + 什么 + V + 什么 | 你想吃什么就吃什么。 | Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme jiù chī shénme. | Eat whatever you want. | Free choice pattern |
| 40 | 谁…谁 whoever | 谁 + V1, 谁 + V2 | 谁先到，谁先选。 | Shéi xiān dào, shéi xiān xuǎn. | Whoever arrives first, chooses first. | Conditional with indefinite subject |
| 41 | 越…越 (formal) | 越 + Adj/V, 就越 + Adj/V | 考虑得越多，就越难决定。 | Kǎolǜ de yuè duō, jiù yuè nán juédìng. | The more you think, the harder it is to decide. | Extended form with 就 |
| 42 | 不是…就是 either…or | 不是 + A, 就是 + B | 不是你的错，就是他的错。 | Bú shì nǐ de cuò, jiùshì tā de cuò. | It's either your fault or his. | Exhaustive either/or |
| 43 | 既…也 both…and (formal) | 既 + V/Adj, 也 + V/Adj | 这样既省时，也省力。 | Zhèyàng jì shěng shí, yě shěng lì. | This saves both time and effort. | Parallel formal balance |
| 44 | 按理 according to reason | 按理 (来说), S + V | 按理来说，他应该知道。 | Ànlǐ lái shuō, tā yīnggāi zhīdào. | By rights, he should know. | Logical expectation |
| 45 | 照理 as logic dictates | 照理 + S + V | 照理他不会这么做。 | Zhào lǐ tā bú huì zhème zuò. | Logically he wouldn't do this. | Similar to 按理; slightly more formal |
| 46 | 就连…也 even (emphatic) | 就连 + NP + 也 + V | 就连他也不知道。 | Jiù lián tā yě bù zhīdào. | Even he doesn't know. | More emphatic than 连…也 |
| 47 | A之B nominalization | A + 之 + B (formal 的) | 中国之美 | Zhōngguó zhī měi | the beauty of China | Classical; used in titles and formal text |
| 48 | 为此 for this reason/purpose | 为此, S + V | 为此，他做了大量准备。 | Wèicǐ, tā zuò le dàliàng zhǔnbèi. | For this purpose, he made extensive preparations. | Formal reference to previously stated goal |
| 49 | 对此 regarding this | 对此, S + V | 对此，我表示赞同。 | Duìcǐ, wǒ biǎoshì zàntóng. | Regarding this, I express agreement. | Formal reference to prior topic |
| 50 | 有助于 be helpful to | N + 有助于 + N/V | 运动有助于健康。 | Yùndòng yǒuzhùyú jiànkāng. | Exercise is helpful to health. | Formal benefit expression |
| 51 | 无助于 unhelpful to | N + 无助于 + N/V | 争吵无助于解决问题。 | Zhēngchǎo wúzhùyú jiějué wèntí. | Arguing is unhelpful in solving problems. | Formal negation of benefit |
| 52 | 导致 lead to (negative) | Cause + 导致 + result | 粗心导致了失败。 | Cūxīn dǎozhì le shībài. | Carelessness led to failure. | Formal cause→negative outcome |
| 53 | 促使 prompt/cause (positive) | Agent + 促使 + S + V | 失败促使他更加努力。 | Shībài cùshǐ tā gèng jiā nǔlì. | Failure prompted him to work harder. | Formal cause→positive outcome |
| 54 | 引起 give rise to | Cause + 引起 + effect | 这件事引起了广泛关注。 | Zhè jiàn shì yǐnqǐ le guǎngfàn guānzhù. | This matter aroused widespread attention. | Formal; action triggers reaction |
| 55 | 体现 embody/reflect | S + 体现 + N | 这体现了他的价值观。 | Zhè tǐxiàn le tā de jiàzhíguān. | This embodies his values. | Abstract realization in concrete form |
| 56 | 强调 emphasize | S + 强调 + clause | 他强调了纪律的重要性。 | Tā qiángdiào le jìlǜ de zhòngyào xìng. | He emphasized the importance of discipline. | Formal discourse verb |
| 57 | 指出 point out | S + 指出 + clause | 报告指出存在严重问题。 | Bàogào zhǐchū cúnzài yánzhòng wèntí. | The report points out that serious problems exist. | Formal reporting verb |
| 58 | 表明 indicate/show | S + 表明 + clause | 数据表明情况在改善。 | Shùjù biǎomíng qíngkuàng zài gǎishàn. | The data indicates the situation is improving. | Evidence-based claim |
| 59 | 从事 be engaged in | S + 从事 + N/V | 他从事教育工作多年。 | Tā cóngshì jiàoyù gōngzuò duō nián. | He has been engaged in education for many years. | Formal = 做 for occupation |
| 60 | 针对 in response to / target | 针对 + N, S + V | 针对这一问题，我们提出了方案。 | Zhēnduì zhè yī wèntí, wǒmen tíchū le fāng'àn. | In response to this issue, we proposed a plan. | Formal; directed at a specific problem |