HSK 5 grammar covers approximately 85 core patterns for advanced B2-level communication, with a strong focus on formal written registers, complex clause structures, academic discourse connectives, and nuanced modal expressions.
| Pattern |
Register |
Example |
English |
| 因此 |
formal |
市场不稳定，因此投资者谨慎。 |
The market is unstable; therefore investors are cautious. |
| 从而 |
written |
提高效率，从而降低成本。 |
Improve efficiency, thereby reducing costs. |
| 以致/致使 |
written |
管理不当，以致项目失败。 |
Poor management led to the project's failure. |
| 于是 |
neutral-formal |
他迟到了，于是被批评了。 |
He was late and was consequently criticized. |
| 进而 |
written |
了解问题，进而找到解决方案。 |
Understand the problem and further find a solution. |
| Pattern |
Register |
Example |
English |
| 固然…但是/然而 |
formal |
固然有困难，但仍需坚持。 |
True there are difficulties, but one must persevere. |
| 诚然…然而 |
literary |
诚然如此，然而不可一概而论。 |
Admittedly so, yet one cannot generalize. |
| 尽管如此 |
written |
尽管如此，计划照常进行。 |
Despite this, the plan proceeds as normal. |
1.3 Contrast and Transition
| Pattern |
Register |
Example |
English |
| 然而 |
formal |
计划很好，然而执行困难。 |
The plan is good; however, execution is difficult. |
| 反之 |
written |
努力则成功，反之则失败。 |
Work hard and you succeed; conversely, you fail. |
| 相反 |
neutral |
不是变好了，相反，变糟了。 |
It didn't improve; on the contrary, it got worse. |
| 况且 |
spoken-formal |
已经很晚了，况且还下雨。 |
It's already late, and moreover it's raining. |
2. Complex Conditional Structures
2.1 Hypothetical and Contrary-to-Fact
| Pattern |
Example |
English |
| 假如/假设…就/那么 |
假如有机会，我就去留学。 |
If I had the chance, I'd study abroad. |
| 倘若/倘使 (formal) |
倘若失败，当如何应对？ |
If we fail, how should we respond? |
| 一旦…就/便 |
一旦决定，就要坚持。 |
Once decided, one must persevere. |
| 万一…就/也 |
万一失败，也不要放弃。 |
Even if we fail, don't give up. |
2.2 Graduated Conditions
| Pattern |
Example |
English |
| 即使…也 |
即使再难，也要坚持。 |
Even if it's harder, must still persevere. |
| 哪怕…也 |
哪怕下雪，也要出发。 |
Even if it snows, we must set off. |
| 就算…也 |
就算累了，也不能停。 |
Even if tired, cannot stop. |
3. Advanced Modal and Epistemic Expressions
3.1 Possibility and Certainty
| Expression |
Register |
Meaning |
Example |
| 未必 |
formal |
not necessarily |
他未必知道。He doesn't necessarily know. |
| 势必 |
formal |
inevitably |
这势必影响结果。This will inevitably affect the results. |
| 必将 |
written |
will certainly |
努力必将得到回报。Hard work will certainly be rewarded. |
| 理应 |
formal |
ought to, should rightly |
理应受到奖励。Should rightfully be rewarded. |
| 难免 |
neutral |
unavoidable, bound to |
难免出错。Bound to make mistakes. |
3.2 Subjective Evaluation Adverbs
| Expression |
Meaning |
Example |
| 似乎/仿佛 |
seem as if |
他似乎不高兴。He seems unhappy. |
| 显然 |
obviously |
显然这是错的。Obviously this is wrong. |
| 明显 |
clearly/evidently |
明显有所改善。Clearly there has been improvement. |
| 大概/约 |
approximately / probably |
大概需要三天。Probably takes three days. |
| 究竟 |
after all / exactly |
究竟是谁？Who exactly is it? |
| Pattern |
Example |
English |
| 毫无 + N |
毫无疑问 |
without any doubt |
| 毫不 + V |
毫不犹豫 |
without any hesitation |
| 绝非 |
这绝非巧合。 |
This is by no means a coincidence. |
| 并非 |
问题并非如此简单。 |
The problem is by no means that simple. |
| 非但/不但不…反而 |
非但没改善，反而更糟。 |
Not only didn't it improve, it got worse. |
5. Relative Clauses and Nominalization
5.1 的 as Nominalizer
| Pattern |
Example |
English |
| V + 的 → Noun |
来的是我朋友。 |
The one who came is my friend. |
| Adj + 的 → Noun |
好的要多学习。 |
Good students should study more. |
| Clause + 的 → Noun |
我说的都是真的。 |
What I said is all true. |
| Pattern |
Example |
English |
| 所 + V + 的 + N |
他所说的话 |
the words he said |
| 所 + V + 的 + N |
我们所面临的挑战 |
the challenges we face |
| 所 + V |
各尽所能。 |
Each does their utmost. (lit. each exerts what they can) |
6.1 被 in Formal Contexts
| Pattern |
Example |
English |
| 被 + V + 为/作 |
被誉为最佳。 |
(Was) acclaimed as the best. |
| 被迫 + V |
被迫接受条件。 |
Forced to accept the conditions. |
| 受到 + N |
受到批评。 |
Received criticism. |
| 遭到/遭受 + N |
遭到反对。 |
Met with opposition. |
| 得到 + N |
得到认可。 |
Received recognition. |
7. Expressing Degree and Scope
7.1 程度副词 (Degree Adverbs)
| Adverb |
Meaning |
Example |
| 相当 |
quite, considerably |
相当重要 quite important |
| 颇 |
quite, considerably (literary) |
颇有成效 quite effective |
| 格外 |
especially, particularly |
格外重要 especially important |
| 尤为/尤其 |
especially, particularly |
尤为关键 particularly critical |
| 极其 |
extremely |
极其复杂 extremely complex |
| 十分 |
very, fully |
十分满意 very satisfied |
7.2 范围副词 (Scope Adverbs)
| Adverb |
Meaning |
Example |
| 均 |
all (formal) |
均已完成。All have been completed. |
| 皆 |
all (literary) |
皆大欢喜。Everyone is pleased. |
| 凡 |
every, all that (formal) |
凡参与者均有奖。All participants get a prize. |
| 一概 |
without exception |
一概不接受。Accept none without exception. |
| 一律 |
uniformly, all alike |
一律按规定处理。Handle all according to regulations. |
8. Advanced Aspect and Temporal Patterns
8.1 了 in Complex Structures
| Pattern |
Example |
English |
| V1 + 了 + V2 (sequential) |
吃了饭再去。 |
Eat first, then go. |
| V + 了 + Numeral + 之后 |
等了三个小时之后才来。 |
Came only after waiting three hours. |
| Pattern |
Example |
English |
| 将 + V |
会议将于明天举行。 |
The meeting will be held tomorrow. |
| 将要 + V |
工程将要竣工。 |
The project is about to be completed. |
| 即将 + V |
即将公布结果。 |
The results are about to be announced. |
8.3 正值/恰逢 — Just When, Coinciding With
| Pattern |
Example |
English |
| 正值 + N |
正值国庆节期间 |
during the National Day holiday |
| 恰逢 + N |
恰逢百年纪念 |
just coinciding with the centennial anniversary |
9.1 Text-Organizing Markers
| Marker |
Function |
Example |
| 首先…其次…最后 |
listing order |
首先分析，其次讨论，最后总结。 |
| 一方面…另一方面 |
two-sided |
一方面要…另一方面也要… |
| 就…而言 |
as for, regarding |
就教育而言，政策需要改革。 |
| 综上所述 |
in summary |
综上所述，该项目可行。 |
| 由此可见 |
from this we can see |
由此可见问题所在。 |
| 换言之 |
in other words |
换言之，这是不可能的。 |
9.2 Quotation and Attribution
| Pattern |
Example |
English |
| 据 + Source + 称/说 |
据报道，事件已解决。 |
According to reports, the incident has been resolved. |
| 正如 + Source + 所说 |
正如专家所说，问题复杂。 |
As experts have said, the problem is complex. |
| 对此，…认为 |
对此，学界认为… |
Regarding this, academics believe… |
10. Rhetorical and Argumentative Structures
10.1 Concession–Rebuttal Pattern
| Pattern |
Example |
English |
| 诚然/固然 + Concession，但/然而 + Rebuttal |
诚然改革有风险，但不改革风险更大。 |
True that reform carries risks, but not reforming carries greater risks. |
10.2 Hypothetical Argument
| Pattern |
Example |
English |
| 试想/试问 |
试想，若无规则，社会将如何？ |
Just imagine: if there were no rules, what would society look like? |
| 倘若如此 |
倘若如此，后果难以设想。 |
If that were the case, the consequences would be hard to imagine. |
10.3 Emphasis by Inversion
| Pattern |
Example |
English |
| 正是…才… |
正是这种精神，才使他成功。 |
It is precisely this spirit that made him succeed. |
| 之所以…是因为 |
之所以失败，是因为准备不足。 |
The reason for failure was insufficient preparation. |
11. Key Patterns Summary
| Pattern |
Example |
English |
| 固然…但是 |
固然难，但可以克服。 |
Admittedly hard, but surmountable. |
| 一旦…就 |
一旦确定，就行动。 |
Once confirmed, act. |
| 即使…也 |
即使失败，也要尝试。 |
Even if failing, must try. |
| 并非 |
并非不可能。 |
It's not impossible. |
| 之所以…是因为 |
之所以成功，是因为努力。 |
Succeeded because of hard work. |
| 正是…才 |
正是挑战，才使人成长。 |
It is precisely challenges that make people grow. |
| 综上所述 |
综上所述，建议如下。 |
In summary, recommendations are as follows. |