Grammar Index

Personal pronouns Nominal measure words

(men) plurals Verbal measure words

Questions Complements

Adjectives /

and

Adverbs

Preposition (location)

Negation

Conjunctions Time/Duration

Aspect Location/Direction

Attitude Passive

Modals construction

...... construction

Basic Chinese Grammar - IndexBasic Chinese Grammar - Index

w I t he

n you (informal) t she

nn you (formal) [1][4] t it[2]

The most common personal pronouns in Chinese are:

wmen we tmen they

znmen we[3] tmen they

nmen you tmen they

Notes:

nn r wi the two of you ? nn j wi how many are you?

Chinese Grammar - Personal pronouns

[1] is used to show respect explicitly (to superiors, customers, older people). Where there is no need to emphasise respect is used instead.

[2] and are used much less then it or they in English. Where the reference is obvious / is usually omitted.

[3] is used by the speaker to explicitly include the listener as a member ofwe. It can always be replaced with the more neutral .

[4] There is no plural form for Instead a measure word and numeral is used:

1 of 2

Examples:

w sh xusheng I am a student.

? n y sh xusheng ma Are you also a student?

t sh losh He is a teacher.

t sh jioshu She is a professor.

wmen sh zhnggurn We are Chinese. (including or excluding the listener)

! znmen zu ba! Lets go! (including the listener)

? nmen sh ynggurn Are you English?

tmen sh migurn They are Americans.

tmen sh gshu They (group of women) are singers.

zh sh t de hudu. tmen hn pioliang

These are her flowers. They are beautiful. ( would usually be omitted.)

2 of 2 Chinese Grammar - Personal pronouns

Chinese Grammar - (men) plurals1 of 1

-> wmen we

-> loshmen teachers

, nshmen, xinshngmen Ladies and gentlemen

* w de bn yu rshw g xushengmen.

My class has twenty-five pupils.

w de bn yu rshw g xusheng.

My class has twenty-five pupils.

is a plural suffix. It is only used with nouns or pronouns that refer to people. It cannot be used in noun phrases that contain a numeral or a quantifier.

You cannot say:

Instead say:

Chinese Grammar - Questions1 of 3

who? shi

when? shnme shhu

what? shnme

why? wishnme

where? , nl, nr

how? znmeyng

how many? , j [for up to ten], dusho [ten and more]

how long? , dusho shjin, duji

Use the following interrogative pronouns ask questions:

? shi zh zi bijng Who lives in Beijing?

? t shnme shhu li bijng When will he come to Beijing?

? t gn shnme What does he do?

? t wishnme zu fij Why is he taking the plane?

? t zh zi nli Where does he live?

? t xu zhngwn xu de znmeyng How does he learn Chinese?

? t yu j g xingd How many brothers does he have?

? t yu dusho qin How much money does he have?

? t zh zi bijng dusho shjin le How long did he live in Beijing?

Chinese Grammar - Questions2 of 3

Note that the interrogative pronoun appears in place of that part of the sentence, that the pronoun asks about. Examples:

> ? t sh losh. -> t sh losh ma? He is a teacher. Is he a teacher?

-> ? t sh losh. -> t sh b sh losh ma? He is a teacher. Is he a teacher?

, ? w sh xusheng, n ne? I am a student, and you?

Chinese Grammar - Questions

To ask if something is the case add (ma) to a statement:

or use an affirmitive / negative structure:

You can also form a follow-up question with (ne):

3 of 3

d large xio small ho good lo old kui fast

gnjng clean cngmng clever htu confuse

y zu d fngzi y g xio hizi ho zhy lo rn y ling kui ch

a large house a small child good idea old people a fast car

y g cngmng de gniang y pin htu de wnzhng y jin gnjng de chfng

a clever girl a confused essay a clean kitchen

Chinese Grammar - Adjectives, and 1 of 2

Common single syllable adjectives in Chinese are:



Multiple syllable adjectives are linked to the noun with :

2 of 2

hizi xio the child is small sh d the book is large

fngzi hn kunchng

The house is spacious.

losh hn cngmng

The teacher is clever.

If the adjective is used predicatively there is no need to use (sh)For this reason some grammars use the term stative verb instead of adjective. With single syllable adjectives:

with multiple syllable adjectives hn, very is used:

NB: in this context loses its meaning very unless it is especially emphasised.

Chinese Grammar - Adjectives, and

Chinese Grammar - and 1 of 1

t sh wde losh He is my teacher.

t yu y g ddi She has a younger brother.

[1] zhl mi yu chosh There is no supermarket here.

yuysi interesting

yuqin rich

t hn cngming She is very clever. Not:

to be is used to link a subject and object.

[1] is always negated with (mi) - (miyu) to not have

to have is used to express ownership or existence.

and there are some fixed expression with :

Note: In Chinese, adjectives (sometimes called stative verbs) do not need the word.

Chinese Grammar - Adverbs1 of 1

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs. They appear in front of the word they modify.

Common adverbs are:

Adverbs of time Adverbs of quantity

ci only now du all chng often zh only gng just now zng altogether yjng already qun total mshng immediately y also ji immediately, only, exactly Adverbs of frequency

Adverbs of degree yu again (relates to past events)

hn very zi again gng more Adverbs of negation

zu most b not ti too, very mi not (have) fichng extraordinary bi (must) not

Chinese Grammar - Prepositions(locations)1 of 2

zi in, at zcng since cng from

do to xing towards yn along

cho towards wng towards l distant from


Examples:

Prepositions (Time, Location and Direction)

t zi zhnggu xux He is studying in China.

t cng ynggu hu q le He returned home from England.

t cng xinggng do bijng q lxng leHe travelled from Hong Kong to Beijing.

zcng by t ji zi migu gngzuSince he graduated he has been working in the States.

tmen cho nn zu They are heading south..../cont

20 zhl l jchng yu r sh gngl The airport is 20 kilometres from here.

t xing t zhun q He turned to her.

t yn witn snb He is taking a walk along the Bund.

. xusheng du wng jiosh zu leThe students all headed for the classroom.

t zi bijng xu zhxu She is studying philosophy in Beijing.

xio hizi zi huyun l The child is in the garden.

Examples: continued

Chinese Grammar - Prepositions(locations)2 of 2

... zi ... l inside ... zi ... zhng in, amongst ... zi ... shng on top of

NB: can function as a preposition or as a verb meaning to be in place. often forms fixed expression with location words:

Examples: zi as a preposition and a verb:

Chinese Grammar - Negation1 of 2

w mi yu xingdjimi I don't have brothers or sisters.

t mi q tshgun She has not gone to the library.

? N sh xusheng ma? Are you a student?

sh Yes.

, du, sh xusheng Correct, (I) am a student.

b sh No.

w b sh losh I am not a teacher.

The most common way of saying that something is not the case is using (b).

With the verb (yu) to have and for events that are completed use (mi) instead of

Note: the positive form of the sentence would be (t q le tshgun) She has gone to the library. Since already implies a completed state, the aspect marker (le) is not needed.

Chinese has no simple yes or no. Instead, the main verb is normally repeated, with either (du) to confirm or (b) to deny added in front.



w tngy I agree w b tngy I disagree

W b xingji (I am not homesick) W b sh losh (I am not a teacher)

To say that you agree or disagree you can say:

(However is normally always written as b even when it is pronounced in the second tone).

Note on the pronunciation of :The tone of various according to context. On its own or if is followed by a syllable in the first, second or third tone, the pronunciation is b. If precedes a fourth tone is pronounced in the second tone b.

Chinese Grammar - Common conjunctions1 of 3

t xhuan ch h kfi She likes tea and coffee.

(h): and - can only link words and phrases, not sentences.

Example:

(hu) : or - can only link words and phrases, not sentences (huzh) : or - can be used with words, phrases and sentences (hish) : or - used in questions

w xing mi y png chngzh hu y png pngguzh.

I would like to buy a bottle of orange juice or apple juice.

. w xing chq tiow huzh zi ji kn dinsh.I would like to go dancing or to stay at home and watch TV.

? n h ch hish kfi? Do you drink tea or coffee

Examples:

rgu w yuqin, w ji mi y ling xn chIf I had money, I would buy a new car.

w xu zhngwn, ynwi w yo q zhnggu lxng. I am studying Chinese because I want to go and travel in China.

, t ti mng le, suy b chq tiow.She is very busy, therefore she cant go out dancing

(rgu): if

(ynwi): because

(suy): therefore

(ksh): but


w xhun tng lixng ynyu, ksh w pngyou xhun tng gdin ynyu.I like listening to pop music, but my friend likes listening to classical music.

, surn t hn mng, t hish yoqng wmen q t ji.Although he is very busy, he has invited us to his home.

chle bijng ywi, w mi q gu qt dfang.Apart from Beijing I have not been to any other places.

rgu n xing kn dinshi, wmen ji di zi ji l.If you want to watch TV, we can stay at home.

(surn): although

... (chle ... ywi): except

(ji): is often used to create a link between the idea in the preceding clause and the current clause.


Chinese Grammar - Aspect1 of 1

Chinese uses three particles to express the temporal aspect of a statement.

(zhe) indicates the action is ongoing. (le) indicates the action is completed but is affecting the current state. (gu) indicates that something was experienced in the past

Note: marks an event as complete, but it can refer to an event in the past, the present or the future. can also be used as a sentence level particle indicating a change of state.

, losh hi bngzhe, wmen b shng k. The teacher is still ill, we don't go to class.

. t hu ji le, wmen ji ch wnfn.After he came home, we had supper.After he comes home, we will have supper.

, w rnshi yhyun, w q gu bijng.I know the Summer Palace, I have been to Beijing.

Chinese Grammar - Attitude1 of 1 is used to soften the tone of an utterance or to establish an emotional link with the listener.

is used to express an expectation or to ask for additional information.

is asking for agreement or approval of an utterance or to form a polite request.

! kui li a Come quickly.

! zh g wnt hn knnan a This problem is really difficult!

? w sh xusheng, n ne I am a student, and you?

? zutin hn r, jntin ne It was very hot yesterday, what about today?

tmen yjng li le ba They must have arrived already, mustn't they.

? nmen k le ba? You must be thirsty?

, ! b zo le, wmen zu ba It is late, let's go!

Chinese Grammar - Modals1 of 2Chinese uses three particles to express the temporal aspect of a statement.

(hu) ability, future possibility:

(nng) possibility, permission:

(ky) permission:

(xing) wish:

(yo) to want, to have to, to become:

w hu shu zhngwn I speak Chinese.

? n nng b nng li? Can you come?

? w ky zi zhl chuyn ma Can I smoke here?

w xing ch gngbojdng I would like spicy diced chicken with peanuts.

w yo q zhnggu I want to go to China.

n yo gng rnzhn di gngzu You must work more conscientiously.

Chinese Grammar - Modals2 of 2Chinese uses three particles to express the temporal aspect of a statement.

(yuny) willingness:

(di) must:

(ynggi) ought to:

(bx) must:

! n yuny ji li ba If you want you can come!

w di zu gngk I must do my homework.

Note: Here is pronounced di.

n ynggi znjng n de fm You ought to respect your parents.

n bx nl gngzu You must work hard!

Chinese Grammar - 1 of 1

, W b qudng, rng w xing yxi. I'm not sure - let me think.

?

Nn xyo shnme?W b zhdo. W kn yxi.

What are you looking for?I dont know - I am only having aquick look around.

W zuy zu wn le.N kn yxi ba.

I have finished my homework.Can you have a look, please.

The use of

is used to indicate that some action is only lasting a short while. It is often used to indicate that somebody is doing something briefly or when making a request for some help or support.

Chinese Grammar - Nominal measure words1 of 3

Chinese nouns, preceded either by a number, a demonstrative pronoun, or an interrogative pronoun, require a measure word before the noun. Some measure words have an English equivalent, e.g.

Most Chinese measure words have, however, no English equivalent, e.g. (sn g rn) three peopleThe most common and generic measure word is (g). It is used with most abstract terms.Some measure words indicate a quantity and have an English equivalent:

y sh hu a bunch of flowers

y qn yng a flock of sheep

ling png pji two bottles of beer

y f shuto a pair of gloves

y kui dngo a slice of cake

y zhng zh a piece of paper


Most Chinese measure words have, however, no English equivalent, e.g. (sn g rn) three peopleThe most common and generic measure word is (g). It is used with most abstract terms.Some measure words indicate a quantity and have an English equivalent:

(flat things): y zhng zhuzi a table

(books): y bn cdin a dictionary

(winding things): , y tio kzi, y tio h a pair of trousers, a river

(paper work, documents): y pin wnzhng an essay

(something with a handle): , y b yzi, y b ysn a chair, an umbrella

sn g losh three teachers li p m six horses

lzh g losh this teacher zh bn sh this book

n g losh what teacher? n b yzi which chair?

Some measure words are very specific to a particular noun (y p m) a horse

Examples:


g general bi cups, glasses

jin clothes ji airplanes, machines

pin documents kui cakes

png liquid zh animals

b things with handles

bn books, maps

fng letters jin rooms

k plants ling cars

wi person (more formal than )

zu buildings, mountains

Common measure words:

Chinese Grammar - Verbal measure words1 of 1

: w do bijng li gu sn c I have been to Beijing three times.

: t fi le y tng lndn She has flown to London once.

: t zh bn xioshu kn le sh bin He has read this novel (completely) ten times.

Verbal measure words indicate how often an action is carried out.

(c) is used to say how many times something happened.

(bin) is used to emphasise that an activity was carried out for a number of times completely.

(tng) is used only with verbs of movement like (q, to go), (zu, to walk), (li, to come), (fi, to fly), (po, to run) etc.

Chinese Grammar - Complements1 of 2

Complements are a very common structure in Chinese. They clarify the predicate of a sentence and follow it.Complements can express result, conclusion, potential or extent.

The verb is repeated after the object , then plus complement are added.If there is no object you can simply add and the complement.

is used to add the complement, in negative sentences is replaced by

? n tng de qngch ma? Can you hear clearly?

? mgo x b gnjng ma? Can't you wash the mushrooms cleanly?

! t zu b lio She can't go!

n shu hny shu de hn ho You speak Chinese very well.

n shu hny shu de hn ho You speak Chinese very well.

Extent

Complement of potential

Either an adjective or noun that follows the main verb to indicate the result of the action.Typical complements of result are: , , ,

Indicate the direction (metaphorical as well as real) of the action of the main verb.

Indicate the manner in which something is done. The verb is repeated after the object , then plus complement are added. If there is no object you can simply add and the complement.

t tng cu le He misheard.

hizi zu ho t de zuy The child completed his homework.

w knjin le wde pngyou I saw my friend.

zh hn zhngyo. w di jzh This is important. I must remember (it).

t chfn ch de hn mn He eats slowly.

t shu de hn kui He speaks very fast.

Complement of result

Complement of direction

Complement of direction

Chinese Grammar - Complements2of 2

t po chq le He ran out. t xi lu q He went downstairs.

Chinese Grammar - 1 of 1 is used to link adjective and nouns.

The noun can be dropped if it is clear from the context:

With possesive adjective the can be dropped if a close relationship exists between the two. or

Single syllable adjective can be used as an attribute without

losh de sh the teacher's book

w de zxngch my bicycle

zh sh w de this is mine

losh de zi nr the teacher's is over there.

xio hizi b shng xu Small children don't go to school.

but

n bin de hizi zi zu shnme What are the children over there doing

Chinese Grammar - (de)1 of 1

is used to combine verbs and adverbs.

Single syllable adverbs can be used without .

t goxng de chng zhe She is singing happily.

nn mn zu (You) Please walk slowly.


, wde hny b ho, w di nl xux My Chinese is not very good, I must study conscientiously.

t xinzi jnzhng de hn She is very tense at the moment.

chsh yhu t ddo le hn du bngzh He received a lot of help after his accident.

has a number of different uses.

(di) is a modal verb, meaning to have to do something.

(de) is used to link a complement and the verb.

(ddo) means to receive.

See Complements for more details.

Chinese Grammar - (li)1 of 1

(ddo) means to receive.

* is used to indicate movement away from the speaker: (t jn q le) He went in.

to come: t shng xngx li bijing He came to Beijing last week.

complement indicating movement towards the speaker:

* t jn li le He came in.

indicating intention to do something: w li chng g Let me sing.

ask somebody to bring something: li y png pji

Bring me a bottle of beer.


qng n gi w d y g dinhu Please give me a call. (lit. Please for me make a phone call.)

t gi le w y g lw He gave me a present

(gi) can function as a preposition or a verb. It is also used in a number of very common expressions.

(gi) as a preposition:

(gi) as a verb:

When somebody hands something (e.g. money) to another person the expression or often accompanies the action.

Chinese Grammar - Time/Duration1 of 1

mngtin w q bijng I will go to Beijing tomorrow.

jntin w hn li I am very tired today.

t zi bijng zh le y nin bn He lived in Beijing for a year and a half.

tmen tiow tio le y y They danced all night.

? t zi bijng zh le dusho shjin How long did he live in Beijing for?

? tmen tiow tio le duji How long did they dance for?

Time is usually expressed through nominal constructions. If there are several expressions of time, the larger unit precedes the smaller. The time expresion appears before the predicate.

To ask for the time use in the same place as the time expression:? (n shnme shhu q bijng). When are you going to Beijing?

Duration is expressed as an attribute or complement of the predicate

(NB: The main verb of the predicate is repeated before the expression of duration.)

To ask for the duration use (dusho shjin) or (duji) in the place of the expression of duration:

Chinese Grammar - Location1 of 2

attributes in front of a noun

bi dlu the large building in the North

after a directional preposition

t gui xing bi He turned North

following a noun

mn wi outside the door

d shng on the floor

Location words can be used as:

The location words can be combined with (or ,).e.g. (shngbian, above), (hubian, behind), (wibian, outside)

also

shng xi qin hu zu yu l wi zhng dng nn x bi

above below in front behind left right inside outside middle east south west north

Location is usually expressed through nominal constructions. Common location words are:

Chinese Grammar - Location2 of 2

the subject

dngbian sh y g fndin On the left there is a hotel.

the object

zxngch zi hubian The bicycle is at the back.

or an attribute

qinbian de yuj hn d The post office in the front is very big.

The location words can function as:

Chinese Grammar - Passive1 of 1

wde b bi t n zu le My pen was taken away by her.

wde sh rng w pngyou ji le My book was borrowed by my friend.

tde zxngch bi tu le His bicycle was stolen.

The passive is usually implied by context. Under the influence of Western languages overt passive constructions have become more common recently. The logical subject of the passive construction is marked by (bi). In spoken Chinese (rng), ( jio) or (gi) are used as well.

If the logical subject is obvious from the context it can be dropped.

Chinese Grammar - - construction1 of 1

xusheng b zuy zu wn le The student finished the homework.

The construction is specific to Chinese. is inserted before the object and the construction precedes the verb. The normal sentence order SVO then becomes SOV.

The construction can only be used with:

transitive verbs the objective must be definite (not some abstract concept) the verb must modify the object in some way the verb must be followed by some other element (e.g. a complement, )

Chinese Grammar - ...... construction1 of 1

T sh q nin by de He graduated LAST YEAR.

tmen sh zu fij q shnghi de They flew to Shanghai BY PLANE.

w xude sh zhngwn I am studying CHINESE.

The ...... construction is used to emphasise a particular part of the sentence. precedes the emphasised phrase, at the end of the sentence.

If the object of the sentence is to be emphasised, follows the verb.

End of Basic Chinese Grammar - Index

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