HSK 3 Grammar · ⁨דקדוק HSK 3⁩

When something is off the charts — the best, the worst, the most you've ever seen — tack 极了 (jíle) onto the adjective. 极 means "the furthest point, the extreme" (it's the 极 of 北极, the North Pole), so 好极了 reads literally as "good — all the way to the pole." It works for praise and complaints alike, and it lives in casual, spoken Chinese.

Unusually for a degree phrase, 极了 clamps straight onto the adjective with no 得 — and the 了 is welded on: drop it and the sentence is simply wrong.

Structure: Subject + Adjective + 极了 Literally: "[subject is] adjective — to the extreme."

this这个zhè geidea主意zhǔ yigood好hǎoextremely极了jí le。

This idea is perfect.

the college exam高考gāo kǎothat day那天nà tiānI，我wǒnervous紧张jǐn zhāngextremely极了jí le。

I was incredibly nervous on the day of the gaokao.

that那个nà geboy男孩nán háiannoying讨厌tǎo yànextremely极了jí le！

That boy is unbelievably annoying!

Remember: 极 = pole, the furthest point (北极 = North Pole). 好极了 pushes "good" all the way to the pole — and 极 never travels without its 了.

Watch out

• The 了 is non-negotiable: 好极了 ✓, never 好极.
• No 得 — it attaches bare (好极了), unlike most degree complements (好得很).
• 极了 already carries the emphasis, so don't pile on 很 or 非常: 好极了, never 很好极了.

Repeat an adjective and it turns soft, warm, and vivid — less a cold fact, more a fond little picture. This doubling runs all through friendly, natural Chinese, especially for physical descriptions: colours, sizes, shapes.

A one-syllable adjective doubles as AA, usually with 的 before the noun — 大 ("big") → 大大的 ("nice and big, big and round"):

Structure: A + A + 的 (+ Noun)

the baby宝宝bǎo bao的deeyes眼睛yǎn jīngbig and round大大的dà dà de。

The baby has big, round eyes.

tonight今晚jīn wǎn的demoon月亮yuè liàngnice and round圆圆的yuán yuán de。

The moon is lovely and round tonight.

A two-syllable adjective doubles as AABB — repeat each character, not the whole word: 高兴 → 高高兴兴, 干净 → 干干净净, 舒服 → 舒舒服服. Used as an adverb, the AABB form takes 地 before the verb:

I我wǒwant to想xiǎngcomfortably舒舒服服shū shū fú fú地delie躺tǎngon在zàithe sofa沙发上shā fā shàng。

I just want to lie comfortably on the sofa.

Remember: doubling softens and warms — 大大的眼睛 isn't a flat "big eyes," it's the affectionate "lovely big eyes" a parent would coo. AA + 的 paints a noun; AABB + 地 colours a verb.

Watch out

• Not every adjective doubles — 好吃, 便宜, 麻烦 are never said as 好好吃吃 / 便便宜宜. Stick to common physical descriptors until you've heard a form used for real.
• A doubled adjective is already emphatic — never put 很 in front (很慢慢 is wrong).

To say how an action is done, park the particle 地 (de) after an adjective — it is Chinese's "-ly." 高兴 ("happy") → 高兴地 ("happily"); 认真 ("careful") → 认真地 ("carefully"). The adverb always sits in front of the verb.

Structure: Adjective + 地 + Verb Literally: "happy-ly — smiled."

he他tāhappy高兴gāo xìng地desmiled笑xiào了le。

He smiled happily.

the teacher老师lǎo shīcareful认真rèn zhēn地deread看kàn了lemy我的wǒ deessay作文zuò wén。

The teacher read my essay carefully.

Remember: 地 = "-ly". Three de's sound identical but split the work: 的 owns a noun (我的书), 地 drives a verb (慢慢地走), 得 rates the result (跑得快). The 地 here even carries 土 "earth" on its left — picture an adverb grounding how the verb is done.

Watch out

• This 地 is read de, not dì — same sound as 的 and 得, different job.
• The adverb phrase comes before the verb, never after it.

Something already happened one more time? Reach for 又 (yòu) — "again, once more." It looks backward at a repeat that's done, and it often carries a flick of annoyance, like English "again?!" (For "again" in the future, you want 再 instead — see the contrast below.)

Structure: (Subject +) 又 + Verb + 了 Literally: "again — [verb] — (and it's happened)."

you你nǐagain又yòulate迟到chí dào了le。

You're late again.

again又yòurain下雨xià yǔ了le！

It's raining again!

today今天jīn tiānagain又yòuhave to要yàowork overtime加班jiā bān了le！

We've got to work overtime again today!

Remember: 又 looks back, 再 looks forward. 又来了 = "here we go again" (it happened); 再来一次 = "do it once more" (it will). Future 再 takes no 了; past 又 needs it.

Watch out

• 又 also works with negatives: 他又没来 ("he didn't come again").
• For something about to repeat, pair it with 要: 又要…了 ("here it comes again").

一直 is literally "one straight (line)" — picture a single, unbroken line drawn through time. It describes an action or state that runs non-stop over a stretch — "continuously, the whole time, all along." English often lands it as "always."

Structure: Subject + 一直 + Predicate Literally: "in one straight line, [predicate]."

I我wǒall along一直yì zhívery很hěnlike喜欢xǐ huanyou你nǐ。

I've liked you all along.

the boss老板lǎo bǎnalways一直yì zhívery很hěnbusy忙máng。

The boss is always busy.

eighteen十八岁shí bā suìafter以后yǐ hòuhe，他tāhas … ever since一直yì zhíalone一个人yí ge rénlived住zhù。

Since he was eighteen, he's lived alone the whole time.

Remember: 一直 = one straight line through time — no breaks. It's unbroken duration; for a repeating habit ("always does X"), switch to 总是.

Watch out

• It often pairs with 在 (一直在学习) or 都 (一直都不抽烟).
• 一直走 also means "go straight ahead" — the same "straight line" idea, in space.

总是 is "always" in the sense of a habit or consistent pattern — something that just keeps recurring. 总 means "all in all, in every case," so 总是 says "in every case, it's like this." It's neutral in tone and sits before the verb.

Structure: Subject + 总是 + Verb · with an adjective: 总是 + 很 / 特别 + Adj

he他tāalways总是zǒng shìlate迟到chí dào。

He's always late.

your你nǐhome家jiāalways总是zǒng shìvery很hěnclean干净gān jìng。

Your home is always so clean.

Remember: 总 = "in every case." 总是 is the neutral "always" (a pattern); its grumbling twin 老是 (below) adds the eye-roll.

Watch out

• Before an adjective you must add a degree word: 总是很累 ✓, not 总是累.
• 总是 = a recurring habit; 一直 = one unbroken stretch. "He's always late" (each time) is 总是; "it rained the whole time" is 一直.

终于 marks something finally happening after a long wait — and it glows with relief or joy. 终 is "the end / finish line" (the 终 of 终点), so 终于 is "at the finish line, it came." Unlike English "finally," it can't stand alone, move to the front, or end a sentence — and it must team up with 了.

Structure: Subject + 终于 + Predicate + 了

you你nǐfinally终于zhōng yúarrived到dào了le！

You're finally here!

the homework作业zuò yèfinally终于zhōng yúdone做zuòfinished完wán了le！

I've finally finished the homework!

Remember: 终 = the finish line you've been straining toward — 终于 is the sigh of relief as you cross it, always sealed with 了.

Watch out

• The 了 is obligatory — 终于…了; never 终于 bare like English "finally" on its own.
• It implies a welcome outcome. For a flat, neutral "in the end," use 最后.

几乎 means "nearly, almost" — it gets you right up to the line without quite crossing it. It loves company: it very often teams up with an "all" word (每, 所有, 全 … 都) or a "none" word (没有, 不).

Structure: 几乎 + 每 / 所有 … 都 … · Subject + 几乎 + [不 / 没] + Predicate

almost几乎jī hūeveryone每个人měi ge rénall都dōuhas有yǒua phone手机shǒu jī。

Almost everyone has a phone.

almost几乎jī hūno没有méi yǒuone人rénbelieves相信xiāng xìnhim他tā。

Almost no one believes him.

my我wǒboss老板lǎo bǎnhardly几乎jī hūever不bùdrinks喝酒hē jiǔ。

My boss hardly ever drinks.

Remember: think of 几乎 as a needle stopping just short of the mark. 几乎 + 都 → "almost all"; 几乎 + 没有 → "almost none"; 几乎不 / 几乎没 → "hardly ever."

Watch out

• It points to one extreme (all or none) — pair it with a 都 / 没有 / 不 to land the meaning.

只 (zhǐ) is the everyday word for "only." It's an adverb, so it clings to the verb (or an auxiliary like 会 / 能) — never to the noun the way English "only" floats around.

Structure: 只 + Verb · 只 + 会 / 能 + Verb

I我wǒonly只zhǐhave有yǒuone一个yí geolder brother哥哥gē ge。

I only have one older brother.

I我wǒonly只zhǐwant想xiǎngto be with跟gēnyou你nǐtogether在一起zài yì qǐ。

I only want to be with you.

I我wǒonly只zhǐcan能néngsay说shuōtwo两liǎngsentences句jùChinese中文Zhōng wén。

I can only say a couple of sentences in Chinese.

Remember: 只 sits on the verb: 我只有一个 ("I only have one"), never 我有只一个. English "only" wanders; Chinese 只 stays glued to the verb.

Watch out

• 只 (zhǐ, "only") is written the same as 只 (zhī), the measure word for animals (一只猫) — same character, two readings and jobs.

Here's a word order that trips up English speakers. To say how long you have NOT done something, the duration jumps in front of the verb: time + 没 + verb + 了. Compare the normal "did it for ten years" (verb first), and you'll see the mirror image.

Structure: Subject + (已经 +) Duration + 没 + Verb + 了

we我们wǒ menalready已经yǐ jīngten years十年shí niánhaven't没méimet见jiàn了le。

We haven't seen each other for ten years now.

he他tāa week一个星期yí ge xīng qīhasn't没méishowered洗澡xǐ zǎo了le。

He hasn't showered in a week.

you你nǐhow long多久duō jiǔhaven't没méibeen home回家huí jiā了le？

How long has it been since you went home?

Remember: "have done" puts time after the verb; "haven't done" puts time before it. 看了十年 = "watched for ten years"; 十年没看了 = "haven't watched in ten years." The 了 here means "and counting."

Watch out

• Chinese avoids "since [a time point]." Say a duration instead (三年没…了), or 上次…是… ("the last time was…").

才 (cái) drags an action later than expected — "not until, as late as." If 就 says "already, sooner than you'd think," 才 is its grumpy opposite: "only then, finally, took its time."

Structure: Subject + Time + 才 + Verb

I我wǒyesterday昨天zuó tiāneleven o'clock十一点shí yī diǎnnot until才cáigot home到家dào jiā。

I didn't get home until eleven last night.

he他tātwenty-five二十五岁èr shí wǔ suìnot until才cáistarted上shànguniversity大学dà xué。

He didn't start university until he was twenty-five.

Remember: 才 = late / barely (就 = early / already). And 才 takes no 了 — the lateness is the point, not a completed result: 四十岁才结婚 ✓, never 才结婚了.

Watch out

• Same character does double duty: before a time it means "late" (this point); before a number it means "only a little" (point 2.12 below).

To line events up in order, frame them with 先 … 再 … — "first …, (and) then …." The trap: here 再 means "then / next," not its usual "again."

Structure: 先 + Verb 1 ，再 + Verb 2

first先xiānwash hands洗手xǐ shǒuthen，再zàieat吃chī。

Wash your hands first, then eat.

you你nǐshould要yàofirst先xiāndo做zuòhomework作业zuò yèthen，再zàiwatch看kànTV电视diàn shì。

Do your homework first, then watch TV.

Remember: in 先…再…, 再 is the "and then" of a sequence, not "again." Picture two stepping stones: step on 先 first, then 再.

Watch out

• 先…再说 means "do X first, then we'll see" — a "deal with it later" feeling: 先吃饭再说.
• Chain longer sequences with 然后 ("and then") and 接着 ("next").

Two deliberate actions happening at the same time? Frame both with 一边 … 一边 … — "(do X) while (doing Y)." 边 means "side," so it's literally "on one side … on the other side …" — two tracks running together.

Structure: Subject + 一边 + Verb 1 (，) 一边 + Verb 2

I我wǒoften常常cháng chángwhile一边yì biānshowering洗澡xǐ zǎo，一边yì biānsing唱歌chàng gē。

I often sing in the shower.

don't别biéwhile一边yì biāndriving开车kāi chē，一边yì biānmake calls打电话dǎ diàn huà。

Don't make calls while driving.

Remember: 边 = "side" — one action on each side, at once. Casually it shrinks to 边…边… (边走边聊, "chatting as we walk").

Watch out

• Both actions must be intentional; for "while X was going on," use …的时候.
• The main action is usually the second one in Chinese (English often flips the order).

老是 (or just 老) also means "always" — but it's the grumbling version, loaded with frustration, like "you're always on your phone." Swap it in for 总是 anywhere you want to add an eye-roll.

Structure: Subject + 老(是) + Predicate

you你nǐwhy怎么zěn mealways老是lǎo shìlate迟到chí dào？

Why are you always late?

this这个zhè gemachine机器jī qìalways老是lǎo shìhaving出chūtrouble问题wèn tí。

This machine is always breaking down.

Remember: 总是 is neutral; 老是 complains. If you could add "ugh" to the English, use 老是.

Watch out

• It's a complaint — don't use it for something good (use 总是 there).
• Before an adjective, add 不 / 很 / 这么: 老是不高兴.

A second job for 才 (cái): drop it before a number and it stresses the amount is smaller than you'd expect — "only, just, a mere." Where the "lateness" 才 says "late," this one says "barely that much."

Structure: 才 + Number + Measure Word + Noun · 才 + Verb + Number + MW + Noun

you你nǐonly才cáitwenty二十岁èr shí suì？

You're only twenty?

this这家zhè jiāshop店diànonly才cáibeen open开业kāi yèone一个yí geweek星期xīng qī。

This shop has only been open a week.

they他们tā menonly才cáiknown each other认识rèn shithree months三个月sān ge yuè！

They've only known each other three months!

Remember: one 才, two jobs — before a time it drags things late (2.8); before a number it shrinks the amount to only that much. Both share the feeling "less than expected."

Watch out

• After 才 + verb, the 了 is optional: 才来了两个月 ≈ 才来两个月.

Put 这么 or 那么 in front of an adjective to dial its degree up — English "so, this much, that much." The split mirrors English this vs that: 这么 points to something near or happening right now ("this cold"); 那么 points to something further off or already mentioned ("that clever").

Structure: Subject + 这么 / 那么 + Adjective

today今天jīn tiānhow come怎么zěn meso这么zhè mecold冷lěng？

Why is it so cold today?

you你nǐso那么nà meclever聪明cōng mingsurely，一定yí dìngcan能néngguess it猜到cāi dào。

You're so clever — you'll definitely guess it.

Remember: 这 = here / now, 那 = there / then; the 么 turns "this/that" into "this much / that much." Same split as English this/that.

Watch out

• Both translate as "so," but keep the near/far feel: 这么 for what's in front of you, 那么 for what's removed.
• Very common after 怎么 for a surprised "how come it's so …?": 怎么这么贵.

To say two things are alike, link them with 跟 (or 和) and 一样 — literally "one same (shape)." Add an adjective on the end and you get "equally …, as … as."

Structure: Noun 1 + 跟 / 和 + Noun 2 + 一样 (+ Adjective)

your home你家nǐ jiāas跟gēnmy home我家wǒ jiāthe same一样yí yàngbig大dà。

Your place is just as big as mine.

Beijing北京Běi jīng的deweather天气tiān qìand和héShanghai上海Shàng hǎinot不bùthe same一样yí yàng。

Beijing's weather isn't the same as Shanghai's.

Remember: 一样 = "one-same" — cut from the same cloth. The adjective rides after 一样 (一样大 = "equally big"), and 不 to negate goes before it (不一样).

Watch out

• Word order traps English speakers: it's …一样大, never 大一样.
• 跟 and 和 are interchangeable here; 跟 is more spoken, 和 a touch more neutral.

The frame 又 … 又 … stacks two qualities that hold at the same time — "both … and …." The one rule: the two adjectives must share the same feeling — both positive, or both negative. Mixing a plus and a minus jars the Chinese ear.

Structure: Subject + 又 + Adjective 1 + 又 + Adjective 2

this这个zhè gehouse房子fáng ziboth又yòubig大dàand又yòubright亮liàng。

This house is both big and bright.

here这里zhè lǐ的decoffee咖啡kā fēiboth又yòuexpensive贵guìand又yòubad-tasting难喝nán hē。

The coffee here is both pricey and nasty.

Remember: both 又's must point the same way — 又便宜又好 (both plus ✓), 又贵又难喝 (both minus ✓), but not 又贵又好 (mixed ✗).

Watch out

• For two simultaneous actions rather than qualities, use 一边…一边… instead.

比较 literally means "to compare," and as an adverb it means "fairly, rather, comparatively." It's a gentle hedge — softer and less absolute than 很 or 非常 — and it quietly implies "more so than the rest," even when nothing else is named.

Structure: Subject + 比较 + Adjective (also 比较 + feeling-verb)

this这个zhè gequestion问题wèn tífairly比较bǐ jiàosimple简单jiǎn dān。

This question is fairly simple.

I我wǒrather比较bǐ jiàoprefer喜欢xǐ huantaking坐zuòthe subway地铁dì tiě。

I rather prefer taking the subway.

Remember: 比较 has "compare" (比) baked in — it always whispers "relatively, compared to the alternatives." Use it to sound measured, not gushing.

Watch out

• Works with feeling-verbs too: 比较喜欢, 比较讨厌.

In an exclamation, 多 (or 多么) before an adjective means "how …!, so …!" — a quick, emotional burst of admiration or complaint. It usually closes with 啊.

Structure: Subject + 多 + Adjective + 啊！

your你nǐdaughter女儿nǚ érhow多duōclever聪明cōng ming啊a！

How clever your daughter is!

on your own一个人yí ge rénhow多duōnice好hǎo！

How nice it is to have the place to yourself!

Remember: the same 多 that asks about degree — 你多大？("how old?") — also exclaims it: 多大啊！("how big!"). The 啊 and the "!" are the tell.

Watch out

• It's an exclamation — pair it with 啊 and a "!".

To stick an adjective in front of a noun, glue them together with 的 — Chinese's all-purpose "of / 's" link. English just lines the words up ("a beautiful girl"); Chinese threads 的 between them.

Structure: Adjective + 的 + Noun

beautiful漂亮piào liang的degirl女孩儿nǚ háir

a beautiful girl

you你nǐwant要yàocold冷lěng的deor还是hái shìhot热rè的de？

Do you want a cold one or a hot one?

Remember: 的 clips an adjective onto a noun. A two-syllable adjective almost always needs it (漂亮的女孩); a tight one-syllable pairing can drop it (好朋友, "good friend").

Watch out

• Adj + 的 can stand alone for "the … one(s)": 我要甜的 ("I'll have the sweet one").

Use 或者 to lay out alternatives in a statement — "either … or." It tells, it doesn't ask: "coffee or tea, both fine." The moment you want the listener to choose, you must switch to 还是 (the last point in this topic) — this is the single most-tested "or" trap in Chinese.

Structure: Possibility 1 + 或者 + Possibility 2

I我wǒdrink喝hēcoffee咖啡kā fēior或者huò zhětea茶cháeither，都dōuis fine行xíng。

Coffee or tea — either's fine for me.

Saturday星期六xīng qī liùor或者huò zhěSunday星期天xīng qī tiānboth，都dōuwork可以kě yǐ。

Saturday or Sunday both work.

Remember: 或者 = "or" when you tell; 还是 = "or" when you ask. A statement ("either is fine") takes 或者; a question ("which one?") takes 还是.

Watch out

• It often closes with 都行 / 都可以 ("either one is fine").

那 (or the fuller 那么) picks up what was just said and draws a suggestion or conclusion from it — "then, so, in that case." It opens your reply, reacting to the other person's remark. (It's the same 那 as "that" — literally "that being so, …".)

Structure: Situation ，那(么) + Suggestion / Decision

he他tāwon't不bùlisten听tīngthen，那nàI我wǒshould应该yīng gāido what怎么办zěn me bàn？

He won't listen — so what should I do?

you你nǐdon't不bùlike喜欢xǐ huanthis one这个zhè gethen，那nàwe我们wǒ menswap换huànfor another一个yí ge。

You don't like this one — then let's swap it.

Remember: 那(么) = "that being so…" — it reacts and suggests in conversation. It is not 所以 ("therefore"), which states a cause→effect inside one thought.

Watch out

• A bare 那 is the most natural in speech; 那么 sounds a touch more formal.

Before the verb, 跟 marks the person you do something with — "(together) with." It frequently teams up with 一起 ("together"). 跟 also means "to follow / heel," which is why it leans toward doing things alongside someone.

Structure: Subject + 跟 + Person + (一起) + Verb

you你nǐwant to要yàowith跟gēnme我wǒtogether一起yì qǐgo去qù吗ma？

Do you want to come with me?

after跟gēnme我wǒread读dú。

Read after me.

Remember: 跟 literally "to follow" — so 跟我读 is "read after me." The "with" phrase always sits before the verb: 跟你见面 ✓, never 见面你.

Watch out

• 跟 ≈ 和 for plain "with," but only 跟 carries the "follow" sense (跟我来, "come with / after me").

When you ask someone to choose between options, use 还是 — never 或者. 还是 turns the sentence into an either/or question, and the asker is waiting for you to pick one.

Structure: (Subject + Verb +) A + 还是 + B + ？

you你nǐwant要yàodrink喝hētea茶cháor还是hái shìcoffee咖啡kā fēi？

Do you want tea or coffee?

he他tāis是shìAmerican美国人Měi guó rénor还是hái shìBritish英国人Yīng guó rén？

Is he American or British?

Remember: Questions → 还是; statements → 或者. This is the pair to keep glued together — see 或者 at the top of this topic.

Watch out

• Don't repeat 是 before B: 是水还是酒 ✓, not 是水还是是酒.

Place 以前 (yǐqián) after a time or an action to mean "before" it. The trap for English speakers is the order: the reference point comes first, then 以前 — the exact reverse of "before eating," which Chinese says as "eating-before."

Structure: Time / Verb Phrase + 以前 ，……

eating吃饭chī fànbefore以前yǐ qiányou，你nǐwash hands洗手xǐ shǒu了le吗ma？

Did you wash your hands before eating?

Friday星期五xīng qī wǔbefore以前yǐ qiányou，你nǐneed to要yàofinish做完zuò wánthis这些zhè xiēwork工作gōng zuò。

You need to finish this work before Friday.

Remember: Chinese stamps the time-word after the event: 吃饭以前 = "eating-before." Flip the English order and tack 以前 on the end.

Watch out

• "Verb + 以前" means "before [doing] the action" (做作业以前 = "before doing homework").

Drop 以前 at the front of a sentence and it means "in the past, back then" — a general earlier time, no specific event attached. It can also slip in right after the subject.

Structure: 以前 + Subject + Verb · Subject + 以前 + Verb

in the past以前yǐ qiánI，我wǒcouldn't不会bú huìspeak说shuōChinese中文Zhōng wén。

I couldn't speak Chinese before.

he他tāused to以前yǐ qiánbe是shìa chef厨师chú shī。

He used to be a chef.

Remember: one 以前, two spots — after an event it's "before X" (吃饭以前); at the front it's "in the past, used to." It usually contrasts the past with now (often with a 了 marking the change).

Watch out

• Front position or after-the-subject — both are correct.

刚才 (gāngcái) is a time word for the very recent past — "just now, a moment ago." Don't confuse it with the adverb 刚: 刚才 is a noun (a moment that just passed) and can stand alone, while 刚 ("just") clings to the verb.

Structure: (Subject +) 刚才 + Verb

you你nǐjust now刚才gāng cáisaid说shuōwhat什么shén me了le？

What did you just say?

just now刚才gāng cáiwho谁shéicame来lái了le？

Who came just now?

Remember: 刚才 = a noun (a moment in the past, can sit anywhere); 刚 = an adverb (glued to the verb). 我刚到 ("I just arrived") vs 刚才谁来了？("who came a moment ago?").

Watch out

• 刚才 can take a 了 / 的 on the verb (刚才到的); 刚 + verb usually doesn't.

时 is a compact, formal stand-in for 的时候 — "when, at the time of" — placed after a time or event. The thing to remember: it drops the 的.

Structure: Time / Event + 时 ，……

exam考试kǎo shìduring时shídon't不要bú yàotalk说话shuō huà。

Don't talk during the exam.

I我wǒinterviews面试miàn shìduring时shíoften经常jīng chángask问wènthis这个zhè gequestion问题wèn tí。

I often ask this question during interviews.

Remember: 时 is 的时候 in its Sunday best — same meaning, formal register, and no 的: 考试时 ✓, never 考试的时. In speech you'd just say 考试的时候.

Watch out

• Reserve it for writing or set phrases; everyday speech uses 的时候.

At the start of a sentence, 以后 means "in the future, from now on, later." It mirrors 以前 exactly: it can sit at the front ("from now on"), after the subject, or after an event ("after …").

Structure: 以后 + Subject + Verb · Event + 以后 ，……

I我wǒfrom now on以后yǐ hòuwon't不bùdrink喝酒hē jiǔ了le。

I won't drink from now on.

class ends下课xià kèafter以后yǐ hòuwe，我们wǒ mengo去qùeat吃饭chī fàn。

After class, let's go eat.

Remember: 以后 is the perfect mirror of 以前 — after an event = "after X" (下课以后 / 下课以前); at the front = "from now on" / "in the past." But it points to an indefinite future, not "in a moment" (that's 一会儿).

Watch out

• Don't let "later" mislead you into using it for "shortly" — 以后 is the open-ended future.

后来 (hòulái) sequences past events — "afterwards, later on." The hard limit: both events must have already happened. 后(after) + 来(came) — it has, by definition, already come.

Structure: [Past Event 1] ，后来 [Past Event 2]

at first开始kāi shǐmy我wǒparents父母fù mǔdidn't不bùagree同意tóng yìlater，后来hòu láiagreed同意tóng yì了le。

At first my parents disapproved; later they came round.

he他tāused to以前yǐ qiánbe是shìa chef厨师chú shīlater，后来hòu láibecame当dāng了lethe boss老板lǎo bǎn。

He used to be a chef; later he became the boss.

Remember: 后来 = a PAST "and then" (both events done and dusted). For a future "and then," switch to 然后. The 来 ("came") tells you it has already arrived.

Watch out

• Never use 后来 for a plan or future sequence — that's 然后.

Say two consecutive numbers back to back and you get "about, a few" — exactly like English "three or four" or "a day or two." It's the quickest way to be vague about a quantity.

Structure: Number + (next Number) + Measure Word + Noun

I我wǒwaited等děng了lefor you你nǐthree or four三四个sān sì gehours小时xiǎo shí。

I waited three or four hours for you.

this这个zhè geword词cíwe我们wǒ menhave studied学过xué guotwo or three times两三次liǎng sān cì了le。

We've studied this word two or three times now.

Remember: for the productive "N or N+1" approximation the two numbers are next-door neighbours — 三四, 七八, 两三. (A few skip-pairs survive only as fixed idioms — e.g. 三五 in 三五成群 / 三五天 "a few" — so learn those as set phrases, not as a pattern to build.) For "ten-odd / a dozen-ish," use 十几.

Watch out

• 一两 ("one or two") is the common small one: 一两天 ("a day or two").

Here's where Chinese numbers feel alien: the language counts big in 万 (ten thousand) and 亿 (hundred million), not in thousands and millions. So you have to group digits in fours, not threes — and that mental regrouping is the whole skill.

Structure: Number + 万 · Number + 亿

one million一百万yì bǎi wàn

1,000,000 — literally "a hundred 万 (ten-thousands)."

1.4 billion十四亿shí sì yì

1.4 billion — roughly China's population.

Remember: mentally shift the comma one digit left: 12,000 → "1|2000" → 一万两千. Lock in 万 = 10⁴ and 亿 = 10⁸, then regroup in fours: 52,152 = 五万两千一百五十二.

Watch out

• English "million" = 一百万 (a hundred 万); English "billion" = 十亿 (ten 亿). The mismatch is what trips people up.

Once you can say whole hours, add the detail: 分 for minutes, 刻 for quarter-hours, and 差 for the minutes short of the hour. One quirk: a single-digit minute needs a 零 ("oh") to fill the gap.

Structure: x 点 (零) y 分 · x 点 y 刻 · 差 y 分 x 点

two o'clock两点liǎng diǎnoh零língnine minutes九分jiǔ fēn

2:09 (零 fills the single-digit minute).

to差chàfive minutes五分wǔ fēnthree o'clock三点sān diǎn

Five to three.

Remember: 刻 = a quarter (一刻 = :15, 三刻 = :45); 差 = "short of," so 差五分三点 is "five to three"; and any minute under 10 takes a 零 (两点零九分).

Watch out

• 差 comes first, before the minutes and hour: 差五分八点 = "7:55."

The whole hour is a number + 点 ("o'clock"), with 半 for half past. A full time-stamp is built big-to-small: day → part of day → clock time — the opposite of casual English.

Structure: (上午 / 下午 +) Number + 点 (+ 半)

now现在xiàn zàiafternoon下午xià wǔhalf past two两点半liǎng diǎn bàn。

It's 2:30 pm now.

Sunday星期天xīng qī tiānmorning上午shàng wǔhalf past ten十点半shí diǎn bàn

Sunday at 10:30 am.

Remember: there's no "am/pm" word — put 上午 (morning) or 下午 (afternoon) before the time, and build everything big-to-small (date → part of day → 点). The 钟 in 点钟 is optional and usually dropped.

Watch out

• "2 o'clock" is 两点, not 二点 — use 两 for the hour count.

着 (zhe) after a verb freezes the action into a lingering state — the door is (standing) open, you are holding it. Think of 着 as a clip that keeps the verb "switched on." A second, very common use is Verb 1 + 着 + Verb 2: V1着 sets the posture or manner, and V2 is the real action done in that state.

Structure: Verb + 着 · Verb 1 + 着 + Verb 2

you all你们nǐ mensit坐zuò着zheI，我wǒright away马上mǎ shàngcome back回来huí lái。

Stay seated — I'll be right back.

she她tālikes to喜欢xǐ huanstand站zhàn着zheeat吃饭chī fàn。

She likes to eat standing up.

he他tāsmiling笑xiào着zhesaid说shuōsorry对不起duì bu qǐ。

Smiling, he said sorry.

Remember: 着 = the verb held on, lingering (门开着 = "the door stays open"); for an action actively in progress, use 在 (他在吃饭). In V1着V2, V1 is the backdrop, V2 the real action — 站着吃 = "eat while standing."

Watch out

• 着 is a state, not a play-by-play — pair it with 在/正在 only when you really mean "is currently …".

Sentence-final 了 can announce a new situation — something has become the case that wasn't before. This "change" 了 (often called 了₂) is a different beast from the 了 that marks a completed action; here it means "now."

Structure: Subject + Adjective + 了 · Subject + Verb + 了

I我wǒhungry饿è了le。

I'm hungry (now).

raining下雨xià yǔ了le。

It's raining (it wasn't before).

the baby宝宝bǎo baocan会huìtalk说话shuō huà了le。

The baby can talk now.

Remember: this 了 = "now, a new state" (饿了 = "hungry now"), not "did and finished." Whenever you'd add "now" in English, this is the 了 you want: 他当经理了 ("he's a manager now").

Watch out

• Same character, two jobs: change-of-state 了 (新情况) vs completed-action 了 (做完了). Context and position tell them apart.

呢 at the end lobs a question back without you having to repeat it — "and …? what about …?" A neat extra: a bare noun + 呢 (with no prior question) asks "where is …?"

Structure: Topic + 呢？

I我wǒvery很hěnwell好hǎoyou，你nǐ呢ne？

I'm well — and you?

my我wǒ的dephone手机shǒu jī呢ne？

Where's my phone?

Remember: 呢 = "…and X?" — it bounces the last question back (你呢？ "and you?"). With nothing asked before, noun + 呢 means "where is X?" (钱呢？ "where's the money?").

Watch out

• It rides on context — without a prior question or a "where is" sense, a bare 呢 has nothing to bounce off.

Three different characters, all pronounced de, each with exactly one job. Keeping them straight is the single most common slip in written Chinese — so sort them by what comes next.