Chinese Grammar Points
HSK 6
Advanced
67 grammar points covering everything from basic word order to complex sentence patterns. Each point includes clear explanations, real-world examples, and exercises to reinforce your learning.
classical Chinese
The roots of modern Chinese — understanding this unlocks centuries of literature.
Band 6 Requirements
Official HSK 3.0 quantitative criteria — what you need to know and how you'll be tested.
Exam Structure
| Section | Questions | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 50 | ~35 min |
| Reading | 50 | 50 min |
| Writing | 1 | 45 min |
Proficiency Standards
Understand complex and abstract discussions across professional, academic, and cultural domains.
Engage in professional discussions, negotiations, and academic discourse with precision and fluency.
Read advanced academic papers, classical references, and complex professional documents with full comprehension.
Write professional-quality essays, perform average-level translation, and compose formal academic texts.
Source: 新版HSK考试大纲 (HSK 3.0 official syllabus, 国家汉办 / Chinese Testing International). Score validity: 2 years from exam date.
What's Inside Every Grammar Point
Each of our grammar points is a complete mini-lesson. We don't just tell you the rule — we show you how it works with real sentences, warn you about the traps other learners fall into, and give you exercises to make it stick. Whether you're studying for the HSK exam or building conversational fluency, every point is designed to take you from "I've seen this before" to "I can use this confidently." Clear, structured, and built for lasting progress — not just memorization.
Sentence Patterns
Every grammar point starts with a clear, visual pattern template showing exactly where each word goes. No guesswork — just fill in the slots and build correct sentences from day one.
In-Depth Explanations
Each point comes with a thorough breakdown of how the grammar works, why it exists, and how native speakers actually think about it. Cultural notes add the context textbooks leave out.
Real-World Examples
Every rule is backed by graded example sentences — from simple beginner phrases to natural conversational Chinese. Each example includes pinyin, English translation, and usage notes so nothing is left unclear.
Common Mistakes
Learn what not to say. Each grammar point highlights the mistakes Chinese learners actually make, with side-by-side wrong vs. correct comparisons and clear explanations of why the error happens.
Interactive Exercises
Put your understanding to the test with multiple-choice questions, fill-in-the-blank drills, and translation challenges. Instant feedback and explanations help you learn from every attempt.
Tips & Study Strategies
Practical memory tricks, mnemonics, and study advice written by experienced Chinese teachers. Each grammar point ends with homework prompts to keep your practice focused and consistent.
Audio Pronunciations
Hear every example sentence and key vocabulary spoken by native Mandarin speakers. Train your ear alongside your grammar — because understanding spoken Chinese is just as important as reading it.
Progress Tracking
Earn XP and unlock checkpoints as you work through each grammar point. Track your mastery across sections, monitor your study streaks, and watch your understanding grow from beginner to confident speaker.
Quasi-Prefixes: 超～, 多～, 反～, 无～, 亚～, 准～
类前缀：超～、多～、反～、无～、亚～、准～
Expand vocabulary by mastering six productive quasi-prefixes that attach to nouns and adjectives to create new compound words
Quasi-Suffixes: ～化, ～式, ～型, ～性
类后缀：～化、～式、～型、～性
Use four productive quasi-suffixes to form abstract nouns, describe styles, classify types, and express characteristics
Demonstrative Pronouns: 本 & 此
指示代词：本、此
Use the formal demonstrative pronouns 本 (this/our) and 此 (this — literary) correctly in written and formal contexts
Measure Words: 餐, 串, 滴, 副, 股, 集, 枝
名量词：餐、串、滴、副、股、集、枝
Master seven advanced measure words for meals, strings, drops, pairs, streams, episodes, and branches
Verbal Measure Words: 番, 声, 趟
动量词：番、声、趟
Quantify actions using 番 (a round/session), 声 (a sound/utterance), and 趟 (a trip/journey)
Degree Adverbs: 特 & 异常
程度副词：特、异常
Express extreme degree using the colloquial 特 (especially) and the formal 异常 (extremely/abnormally)
Scope & Coordination Adverbs: 尽, 净, 一齐, 一同
范围、协同副词：尽、净、一齐、一同
Express totality with 尽/净 (all/nothing but) and togetherness with 一齐/一同 (together)
Time Adverbs: 时时, 一时, 早晚
时间副词：时时、一时、早晚
Express temporal concepts: 时时 (at all times), 一时 (momentarily/for a while), 早晚 (sooner or later)
Correlative Adverb: 便
关联副词：便
Use 便 as a formal/literary equivalent of 就 to express immediate sequence or natural consequence
Manner Adverbs: 不禁, 赶忙, 亲眼, 特地, 特意
方式副词：不禁、赶忙、亲眼、特地、特意
Describe how actions are performed using five manner adverbs: involuntarily, hurriedly, with one's own eyes, specially, and deliberately
Modal Adverb: 仿佛
情态副词：仿佛
Use 仿佛 to describe how something appears or feels, creating vivid comparisons and literary imagery
Mood Adverbs: 才, 刚好, 偏, 恰好
语气副词：才³、刚好、偏、恰好
Express emphasis, coincidence, and contrariness using the mood adverbs 才, 刚好, 偏, and 恰好
Preposition: 于 (Formal Time & Place)
介词引出时间处所：于
Use the formal preposition 于 to indicate time, place, and context in written and formal Chinese
Preposition: 沿(着) (Along)
引出方向路径：沿（着）
Use 沿(着) to describe movement along a path, route, river, or boundary
Prepositions: 同 & 与 (With — Formal)
引出对象：同¹、与¹
Use the formal prepositions 同 and 与 to indicate "with" or "and" in written and formal contexts
Preposition: 至于 (As For)
至于
Use 至于 to shift topics smoothly, introducing a new but related aspect of a discussion
Preposition: 因 (Because Of — Formal)
引出目的原因：因
Use the formal preposition 因 to concisely express reasons and causes in written Chinese
Preposition: 除 (Except/Besides — Formal)
表示排除：除
Use the formal preposition 除 (without 了) to express exclusion or inclusion in written Chinese
Preposition: 据 (According To)
引出凭借依据：据
Use the preposition 据 to cite sources, data, and authorities in formal Chinese
Conjunctions: 而, 同, 与 (Linking Words)
连接词或词组：而²、同²、与²
Use 而, 同, and 与 as conjunctions to connect words, phrases, and clauses in formal Chinese
Clause Connectors: 不料, 可, 若
连接分句或句子：不料、可、若
Use 不料, 可, and 若 to connect clauses expressing unexpected outcomes, contrast, and formal conditions
Structural Particle: 所
结构助词：所
Understand and use the formal structural particle 所 to nominalize verbs and create "that which..." constructions
Modal Particles: 罢了, 嘛
语气助词：罢了、嘛
Use 罢了 to downplay something as trivial and 嘛 to indicate that something should be obvious or to urge someone
Phrase Structure: Number + Adjective + Measure Word
数词+形容词+量词
Use the Number + Adjective + Measure Word pattern to add descriptive detail within noun phrases
Four-Character Pattern: 或A或B
或A或B
Use the formal pattern 或A或B to express "either A or B" or "whether A or B" in written and formal Chinese
Four-Character Pattern: 无A无B
无A无B
Use the formal pattern 无A无B to express the complete absence of both A and B
Four-Character Pattern: A这A那
A这A那
Use the A这A那 pattern to describe someone doing A about this and that — often implying complaint, impatience, or vividness
Four-Character Pattern: 左A右B
左A右B
Use the 左A右B pattern to vividly describe actions done in all directions or from multiple angles
Fixed Phrase: 不怎么
不怎么
Use 不怎么 to express "not very / not particularly" as a polite, understated way of expressing a negative opinion
Fixed Phrase: 不怎么样
不怎么样
Use 不怎么样 as a standalone evaluation meaning "not so great / mediocre / nothing special"
Fixed Phrase: 好(不)容易
好（不）容易
Use 好容易 and 好不容易 to emphasize that something was achieved with great difficulty or after a long effort
Fixed Phrase: 那倒(也)是
那倒（也）是
Use 那倒是 and 那倒也是 to concede a point or acknowledge someone's reasoning in conversation
Fixed Phrase: 就是说/这就是说
就是说/这就是说
Use 就是说 and 这就是说 to rephrase, clarify, or draw a conclusion from something previously stated
Fixed Phrase: 算了
算了
Use 算了 to express giving up, letting go, or telling someone to drop a matter
Fixed Pattern: A一MW，B一MW
A一+量词，B一+量词
Use the "A一MW，B一MW" pattern to describe alternating, piecemeal, or back-and-forth actions involving two parties or qualities
Fixed Pattern: 东一A，西一A
东一A，西一A
Use 东一A，西一A to describe scattered, disorganized, or aimless actions and distributions
Fixed Pattern: 为了……而……
为了……而……
Use 为了...而... to express performing an action for a specific purpose, with emphasis on the purposeful connection
Object Semantic Types 2: Locative & Resultative Objects
宾语的语义类型2：处所宾语与结果宾语
Understand and use sentences where the object indicates a location (locative object) or a result produced by the action (resultative object)
Directional Complement 5: Figurative Extended Uses
趋向补语5：引申用法
Master the figurative (non-physical) uses of directional complements 下来, 下去, 起来, and 过来
把-Sentence 4: Causative Use
"把"字句4：表致使
Use 把-sentences to express causative meaning — where the subject (or an inanimate force) causes something to happen to the object
Passive Sentence 4: 被/叫/让 + Object + 给 + Verb
被动句4：主语+被/叫/让+宾语+给+动词+其他成分
Use the colloquial passive pattern with 给 inserted before the verb for emphasis and naturalness
Parallel Compound: 时而……时而……
时而……，时而……
Describe alternating states or actions using the literary parallel pattern 时而……时而……
Parallel Compound: 一时……一时……
一时……，一时……
Express rapid or unpredictable alternation between two states using 一时……一时……
Sequential Compound: ……便……
……便……
Use 便 as a formal equivalent of 就 to express immediate sequence or natural consequence
Progressive Compound: 不但不/没有……反而……
不但不/不但没有……，反而……
Express that something not only did not happen as expected, but the opposite occurred, using 不但不/没有……反而……
Compound: 不是……还/还是……
不是……，还/还是……
Express that something is not sufficient on its own and additional action or consideration is needed
Progressive Compound: 连……也/都……更/要……
连……也/都……，……更/要……
Build a logical progression from an extreme example to an even stronger conclusion using 连……也/都……更/要……
Selective Compound: 要么……要么……
要么……，要么……
Present two alternatives or choices using the selective compound 要么……要么……
Concessive Compound: 虽……但/可/却/也……
虽……，但/可/却/也……
Master the concessive pattern 虽 with its four possible second-clause connectors: 但, 可, 却, and 也
Hypothetical Compound: ……要不然……
……，要不然……
Use 要不然 and its shortened forms 不然 to express "otherwise" in warnings, suggestions, and hypothetical consequences
Conditional Compound: 凡是……都……
凡是……，都……
Use 凡是...都... to express that something applies universally to every member of a category, without exception
Concessive Compound: 就算/就是……也……
就算/就是……，也……
Use 就算/就是...也... to express concession — "even if X happens, Y still holds true"
Tight Compound: 不……不……
不……不……
Use the 不...不... tight compound pattern to express "not until" or "only after X does Y happen"
Multi-Layered Compound Sentence 2: Compound + Compound
二重复句2：复句+复句
Construct complex multi-layered sentences where two compound sentences combine to form a higher-level argument
Emphasis with 非……不可
用"非……不可"表示强调
Use 非...不可 to express strong necessity — "absolutely must" or "have to no matter what"
Colloquial: X到Y头上来了
X到Y头上来了
Use X到Y头上来了 to express that something has come to affect or involve a specific person — often with surprise or indignation
Colloquial: X来X吧
X来X吧
Use X来X吧 to express reluctant acceptance — "whatever, might as well just X"
Colloquial: X是X (Conceding a Point)
X是X
Use X是X to concede a point while introducing a contrast — "X is indeed X, but..."
Colloquial: 不X不X，一X……
不X不X……，一X……
Use 不X不X，一X... to express that not doing something left you unaware, but once you did it, you were shocked by the result
Colloquial: 好你个X
好你个X
Use 好你个X to exclaim surprise, anger, or playful accusation directed at someone — "You X, you!"
Whatever You Say Goes: V+什么(就)是什么
动词+什么(就)是什么
Express unconditional acceptance or challenge the idea that someone can have whatever they want
Bad Timing: 早(也)不X，晚(也)不X
早（也）不X，晚（也）不X
Express frustration about something happening at the worst possible moment
Look How X You Are: 看/瞧把+Object+X得
看/瞧把+宾语(施事)+X得
Comment on the extreme state someone has reached, often with teasing or mild reproach
Wasting a Good Thing: 放着X不Y
放着X不Y
Express frustration that someone ignores an available good option in favor of something worse
Back and Forth to No Avail: X来X去，都/就是...
X来X去，都/就是……
Describe repetitive or futile back-and-forth action that leads to the same unsatisfying result
What's Done Is Done: X了就X了
X了就X了，（没）有……
Express acceptance of an outcome, dismissing its importance or emotional weight
Won't Do This, Won't Do That: 这也不X，那也不Y
这/那也不X，那/这也不Y
Describe someone who is being excessively picky, difficult, or uncooperative by rejecting everything
Recommended books
Books chosen for HSK 6 — grammar references and course books that cover the patterns on this page. Full list on the HSK 6 books page.
HSK Standard Course 6A
Chinese: A Comprehensive Grammar
