HSK 3 Grammar — 48 Topics & Common Mistakes

Examples

• 我吃了三个苹果。(Wǒ chī le sān ge píngguǒ.) — I ate three apples. (了₁ completion with quantified object)
  我吃了苹果 (bare object — feels incomplete without 了₂)

  了₁ + quantified object = clean completion statement.

• 我饿了。(Wǒ è le.) — I'm hungry now. (了₂ change of state)
  我了饿 / 我饿

  了₂ at sentence-end. Bare 我饿 is contrastive; with 了₂ it's the change ('became hungry').

• 我吃了饭了。(Wǒ chī le fàn le.) — I've eaten now. (了₁ + 了₂)
  我吃饭了 alone (just 了₂ — 'I'm eating now')

  Both 了s emphasize completion + new state. Common in conversation for reporting recent actions.

Examples

• 我去过日本。(Wǒ qù guo Rìběn.) — I've been to Japan (at some point).
  我去了日本 (specific trip — different focus)

  过 = generic life experience. 了 would imply a specific past trip with implied time.

• 我昨天去了日本。(Wǒ zuótiān qù le Rìběn.) — I went to Japan yesterday.
  我昨天去过日本 (mixes specific time with experiential — odd)

  Specific time 昨天 pairs with 了, not 过.

• 我吃过寿司。(Wǒ chī guo shòusī.) — I've eaten sushi before.
  我吃了寿司 (specific instance — different)

  Experience: 过. Specific past meal: 了.

Examples

• 他笑着说: '谢谢!'(Tā xiào zhe shuō: 'xièxie!') — He said with a smile: 'Thanks!'
  他笑了说 (would be 'he laughed, then said' — sequential)

  V₁着 + V₂: smiling is the accompanying manner of saying.

• 我们走着去吧。(Wǒmen zǒu zhe qù ba.) — Let's walk there.
  我们走去 (without 着 — 'go walking' but less idiomatic)

  走着去 = go on foot. The 着 marks the manner of motion.

• 她看着我说话。(Tā kàn zhe wǒ shuōhuà.) — She talked looking at me.
  她看说话

  V₁着 + V₂ — looking accompanies the speaking.

Examples

• 我吃了三个苹果。(Wǒ chī le sān ge píngguǒ.) — I ate three apples.
  我吃了苹果 (bare object — feels incomplete)

  Quantified object 三个苹果 makes the sentence complete.

• 他买了一辆车。(Tā mǎi le yí liàng chē.) — He bought a car.
  他买了车 (bare — feels truncated)

  Quantified 一辆车 (a car) makes the action bounded.

• 我学了三年中文。(Wǒ xué le sān nián Zhōngwén.) — I studied Chinese for 3 years.
  我学了中文 (without duration — feels incomplete)

  Duration (三年) acts as quantification.

Examples

• 我没吃。(Wǒ méi chī.) — I didn't eat. (negate 了₁)
  我没吃了。

  了₁ drops in 没 negation.

• 我没去过日本。(Wǒ méi qù guo Rìběn.) — I've never been to Japan. (negate experience)
  我没去日本 (would mean 'didn't go [specific past]')

  过 stays — 'never had the experience'.

• 我不吃肉。(Wǒ bù chī ròu.) — I don't eat meat. (habitual)
  我没吃肉 (specific past — 'didn't eat meat')

  Habitual negation = 不.

Examples

• 我说错了。(Wǒ shuō cuò le.) — I said it wrong.
  我错说了 (wrong order)

  V + 错: 错 follows the verb.

• 我打错电话了。(Wǒ dǎ cuò diànhuà le.) — I dialed the wrong number.
  我打电话错了

  V + 错 + Object — 错 is between V and Object.

• 我没听清楚。(Wǒ méi tīng qīngchu.) — I didn't hear clearly.
  我不听清楚 (different — wouldn't listen clearly?)

  Negation: 没 + V + Result. 不 here would have a different meaning.

Examples

• 他走进来。(Tā zǒu jìn lái.) — He walked in (toward me).
  他走进 (without D2)

  Compound directional needs both D1 (进) and D2 (来).

• 我跑出去。(Wǒ pǎo chū qù.) — I ran out (away from here).
  我跑出 (incomplete)

  出去 = motion out + away. Without 去, just 'out' incomplete.

• 请拿出来。(Qǐng ná chū lái.) — Please take it out (toward me).
  请拿出 (incomplete)

  拿出来 = take out toward speaker.

Examples

• 我看得懂这本书。(Wǒ kàn de dǒng zhè běn shū.) — I can understand this book (by reading).
  我能看懂 (acceptable but less idiomatic for specific potential)

  V + 得 + Result + Object. The 得 + 懂 expresses achievable comprehension.

• 我看不懂这本书。(Wǒ kàn bù dǒng zhè běn shū.) — I can't understand this book.
  我不能看懂 (acceptable but V不V is more common)

  V + 不 + Result + Object. Negative potential — natural in everyday Mandarin.

• 我听得见。(Wǒ tīng de jiàn.) — I can hear.
  我能听见 (also OK)

  V + 得 + Result. 听得见 = can hear (the action 听 achieves the result 见).

Examples

• 今天冷得不得了。(Jīntiān lěng de bùdéliǎo.) — Today is extremely cold.
  今天很冷不得了 (mixed)

  Adj + 得 + 不得了 — fixed structure for extreme degree.

• 我累得要命。(Wǒ lèi de yàomìng.) — I'm dead tired.
  我很累要命

  得要命 = colloquial 'to death'.

• 这本书好得很。(Zhè běn shū hǎo de hěn.) — This book is very good.
  这本书很好得很

  得很 — slightly literary / older. Both this and 很好 work.

Examples

• 我看了三遍这本书。(Wǒ kàn le sān biàn zhè běn shū.) — I read this book through three times.
  我看了这本书三次 (alternative — emphasizes object first)

  Pattern (a): V + 了 + Number + AQ + Object. 遍 implies full pass.

• 我去过北京两次。(Wǒ qù guo Běijīng liǎng cì.) — I've been to Beijing twice.
  我去过两次北京 (also OK)

  With place-as-object, both orders work. 过 + AQ for cumulative experience.

• 我学了三年中文。(Wǒ xué le sān nián Zhōngwén.) — I studied Chinese for 3 years.
  我学中文了三年

  V + 了 + Duration + Object.

Examples

• 我会说中文。(Wǒ huì shuō Zhōngwén.) — I can speak Chinese. (learned skill)
  我能说中文 (would emphasize circumstantial — fine but slightly different)

  Skill = 会. 能说 emphasizes 'I'm able right now', e.g., not too tired.

• 明天会下雨。(Míngtiān huì xià yǔ.) — It will rain tomorrow. (prediction)
  明天能下雨 (sounds like 'rain is allowed tomorrow')

  Future prediction = 会. 能 here doesn't fit the meaning.

• 我今天能去。(Wǒ jīntiān néng qù.) — I can go today. (circumstantial)
  我今天会去 ('I'll go today' — future intention, slightly different)

  Circumstantial possibility = 能.

Examples

• 我应该走了。(Wǒ yīnggāi zǒu le.) — I should go now.
  我必须走了 (would mean 'I must go' — stronger)

  应该 = moral / logical 'should'. 必须 = strong necessity.

• 你应该好好学习。(Nǐ yīnggāi hǎohao xuéxí.) — You should study hard.
  你必须好好学习 (stronger 'must')

  Moral obligation = 应该.

• 学生应当尊敬老师。(Xuéshēng yīngdāng zūnjìng lǎoshī.) — Students ought to respect teachers. (formal)
  学生应该尊敬老师 (also OK, slightly less formal)

  应当 in formal / institutional contexts.

Examples

• 我得走了。(Wǒ děi zǒu le.) — I have to go.
  我得不走了 (no direct negation of 得 in 'must' sense)

  得 affirmative only. Negation: 我不用走了 / 我不必走了 (don't have to).

• 我必须完成作业。(Wǒ bìxū wánchéng zuòyè.) — I must finish my homework.
  我必须不完成 (intending negative)

  Negate by switching to 不必 / 不用: 我不必完成 (don't have to finish).

• 我需要休息。(Wǒ xūyào xiūxi.) — I need to rest.
  我需要不休息 (intending 'need not')

  需要 negates directly: 我不需要休息 (don't need to rest).

Examples

• 他可能来。(Tā kěnéng lái.) — He might come.
  他来可能 (English-style at end)

  可能 before V: tentative future.

• 也许下雨。(Yěxǔ xià yǔ.) — Maybe it'll rain.
  下雨也许 (less natural)

  也许 typically clause-initial or preverbal.

• 或许你说得对。(Huòxǔ nǐ shuō de duì.) — Perhaps you're right.
  你说得对或许

  或许 — formal / literary 'perhaps'. Sentence-initial common.

Examples

• 我跑了一个小时步。(Wǒ pǎo le yí ge xiǎoshí bù.) — I ran for an hour.
  我跑步了一个小时

  Duration splits: 跑 + 了 + 一个小时 + 步.

• 我见过他三次面。(Wǒ jiàn guo tā sān cì miàn.) — I've met him three times.
  我见面过他三次

  过 + Object + Frequency + Cognate Object.

• 我帮了你三次忙。(Wǒ bāng le nǐ sān cì máng.) — I helped you three times.
  我帮忙了你三次

  了 + Object (你) + Frequency + Cognate Object (忙).

Examples

• 我想起来了。(Wǒ xiǎng qǐ lái le.) — I've remembered / recalled it.
  我想了起来 (less common; 了 typically after the whole compound)

  想起来 = recall. The compound directional acts as a fixed unit.

• 看起来不错。(Kàn qǐ lái bú cuò.) — Looks good.
  Treating 看起来 as 'looks rising'

  Figurative 看起来 = 'seems / looks like' — evaluative.

• 他笑起来了。(Tā xiào qǐ lái le.) — He started laughing.
  他笑了起来 (also OK; both work)

  起来 inception — 'started V-ing'.

Examples

• 我来吃饭。(Wǒ lái chī fàn.) — I came to eat.
  我吃饭来 (different — 'I came eating' as directional complement, less natural)

  来 + V = purpose. The V is what I came to do.

• 我去买东西。(Wǒ qù mǎi dōngxi.) — I'm going to shop.
  我买东西去 (acceptable but rare; the standard order is 去 + V)

  去 + V purpose construction.

• 他来看你。(Tā lái kàn nǐ.) — He's coming to see you.
  他看你来

  来 + V (purpose) standard order.

Examples

• 我一边吃饭, 一边看电视。(Wǒ yìbiān chī fàn, yìbiān kàn diànshì.) — I eat while watching TV.
  我吃饭一边, 看电视一边

  Standard order: 一边 + V₁, 一边 + V₂.

• 她一边走路, 一边听音乐。(Tā yìbiān zǒulù, yìbiān tīng yīnyuè.) — She walks while listening to music.
  她一边走路, 她一边听音乐 (don't repeat subject)

  Subject mentioned only once at the start.

• 我们一边喝咖啡, 一边聊天。(Wǒmen yìbiān hē kāfēi, yìbiān liáotiān.) — We chat over coffee.
  我们喝咖啡, 我们聊天

  一边…一边 emphasizes the parallel nature.

Examples

• 我刚才看见他了。(Wǒ gāngcái kànjiàn tā le.) — I saw him just now.
  我看见他刚才

  刚才 typically before V (or clause-initial). Functions as a time noun.

• 我刚到。(Wǒ gāng dào.) — I just arrived.
  我到刚 (wrong order)

  刚 always immediately before V.

• 刚才我说了什么? (Gāngcái wǒ shuō le shénme?) — What did I say just now?
  我说什么刚才

  刚才 clause-initial. Like a time noun.

Examples

• 我把书放在桌子上。(Wǒ bǎ shū fàng zài zhuōzi shàng.) — I put the book on the table.
  我书放在桌子上 (without 把 — works as topic-comment but loses 'disposal' emphasis)

  把 + Object (定 'the book') + V (放) + Complement (在桌子上).

• 我把作业做完了。(Wǒ bǎ zuòyè zuò wán le.) — I finished my homework.
  我把作业做 (incomplete — needs result + 了)

  Verb 做 + 完 (result) + 了 — fully completed structure.

• 请把门关上。(Qǐng bǎ mén guān shàng.) — Please close the door.
  请关门 (also OK — direct imperative without 把 — different structure)

  把 + 门 + V (关) + Direction (上). Imperative with 请.

Examples

• 我被他打了。(Wǒ bèi tā dǎ le.) — I was hit by him.
  我被他打 (without 了 — incomplete)

  被 + Agent + V + 了. Standard passive with explicit agent.

• 钱被偷了。(Qián bèi tōu le.) — The money was stolen.
  钱被人偷了 (with 人 as generic agent — also acceptable)

  Agent omitted — unknown / unimportant. Common pattern.

• 窗户被风吹开了。(Chuānghu bèi fēng chuī kāi le.) — The window was blown open by the wind.
  窗户被风吹 (without complement)

  Verb needs complement: 吹 + 开 + 了.

Examples

• 我是昨天来的。(Wǒ shì zuótiān lái de.) — It was yesterday that I came.
  我昨天来 (without 是…的 — neutral past, no focus)

  是…的 cleft focuses on the time. The action 'came' is presupposed; the time is the new info.

• 我是从北京来的。(Wǒ shì cóng Běijīng lái de.) — It's from Beijing that I came.
  我从北京来 (acceptable but no focus)

  Focus on the source / origin.

• 我是坐飞机来的。(Wǒ shì zuò fēijī lái de.) — I came by plane.
  我坐飞机来 (acceptable but no manner-emphasis)

  Focus on the manner / method.

Examples

• 这本书我看完了。(Zhè běn shū wǒ kàn wán le.) — This book — I've finished it.
  我看完了这本书 (also OK, but with different focus — neutral S+V+O)

  Topic = 这本书 (definite, fronted); Comment = 我看完了 (S+V+complement).

• 中国菜我很喜欢。(Zhōngguó cài wǒ hěn xǐhuān.) — Chinese food — I really like it.
  我很喜欢中国菜 (also OK; more neutral)

  Topicalizing the food highlights it as the focus / discourse-given.

• 我头疼。(Wǒ tóu téng.) — I have a headache. (literally: 'I — head hurts')
  我的头疼 (also OK with 的 — 'my head hurts')

  Whole-part topic: 我 (whole) + 头疼 (part-comment). Common Mandarin pattern.

Examples

• 我买的书 (wǒ mǎi de shū) — the book I bought
  书我买的 / 书的我买

  Standard: clause + 的 + Noun. The clause '我买' precedes the noun '书'.

• 昨天来的人 (zuótiān lái de rén) — the person who came yesterday
  人昨天来的

  Time + V + 的 + N.

• 会说中文的老师 (huì shuō Zhōngwén de lǎoshī) — the teacher who speaks Chinese
  老师会说中文的

  Modifier clause precedes head 老师.

Examples

• 我比他高一点儿。(Wǒ bǐ tā gāo yìdiǎnr.) — I'm a little taller than him.
  我比他一点儿高 (wrong order)

  Degree 一点儿 follows Adj.

• 我比他高多了。(Wǒ bǐ tā gāo duō le.) — I'm much taller than him.
  我比他多了高

  多了 = informal 'much more'. Position after Adj.

• 我比他大三岁。(Wǒ bǐ tā dà sān suì.) — I'm 3 years older than him.
  我比他三岁大

  Quantity follows Adj.

Examples

• 天气越来越冷。(Tiānqì yuè lái yuè lěng.) — The weather is getting colder.
  天气越来越很冷

  NO 很. 越来越 already intensifies.

• 他越来越聪明。(Tā yuè lái yuè cōngmíng.) — He's getting smarter.
  他越聪明 (incomplete)

  Need full 越来越 (not just 越).

• 我越来越喜欢中国。(Wǒ yuè lái yuè xǐhuān Zhōngguó.) — I like China more and more.
  我喜欢越来越中国

  Position: 越来越 BEFORE the verb / adjective.

Examples

• 请坐。(Qǐng zuò.) — Please sit.
  你坐 (more direct, less polite)

  请 = polite imperative.

• 别走! (Bié zǒu!) — Don't go!
  不走 (different — 'won't go' as statement)

  别 = colloquial negative imperative.

• 不要这样。(Bú yào zhèyàng.) — Don't [do] this.
  Treating as identical to 别这样

  不要 slightly more formal / emphatic; 别这样 colloquial.

Examples

• 我自己做饭。(Wǒ zìjǐ zuòfàn.) — I cook for myself / I cook by myself.
  我做自己饭

  Subject + 自己 + V. The 自己 sits after 我.

• 他自己来。(Tā zìjǐ lái.) — He came by himself.
  他来自己

  After subject pronoun.

• 我自己去。(Wǒ zìjǐ qù.) — I'll go myself (emphatic).
  我自我去 (using wrong reflexive form)

  自己 (not 自我 — different word, more philosophical / 'self' as concept).

Examples

• 我家离学校很近。(Wǒ jiā lí xuéxiào hěn jìn.) — My home is close to school.
  我家从学校很近 (从 is for motion-source — wrong here)

  Static distance = 离, not 从.

• 北京离上海很远。(Běijīng lí Shànghǎi hěn yuǎn.) — Beijing is far from Shanghai.
  北京离上海远 (acceptable but with default 很 makes it neutral)

  Standard 离 + Place + Adj.

• 车站离这儿三公里。(Chēzhàn lí zhèr sān gōnglǐ.) — The station is 3 km from here.
  车站从这儿三公里

  Quantitative distance with Number + Unit.

Examples

• 房子朝南。(Fángzi cháo nán.) — The house faces south.
  房子向南 (acceptable but 朝 is more conventional for static facing)

  朝 emphasizes static facing / orientation.

• 我向他学习。(Wǒ xiàng tā xuéxí.) — I learn from him.
  我从他学习 (different — 'learn from his location')

  Abstract / metaphorical 'learn from' uses 向. 从 wouldn't fit.

• 你往哪儿走? (Nǐ wǎng nǎr zǒu?) — Where are you going / Which direction?
  你向哪儿走 (also acceptable)

  Direction question with 往. Both 往 and 向 work for direction queries.

Examples

• 如果你来, 我就请你吃饭。(Rúguǒ nǐ lái, wǒ jiù qǐng nǐ chī fàn.) — If you come, I'll treat you to a meal.
  如果你来, 我请你吃饭就 (wrong 就 position)

  就 BEFORE the result verb.

• 要是下雨, 我们就不去。(Yàoshi xià yǔ, wǒmen jiù bú qù.) — If it rains, we won't go.
  下雨要是, 不去就

  Standard order: Conditional + 就 + Result.

• 如果天气好, 我们去公园。(Rúguǒ tiānqì hǎo, wǒmen qù gōngyuán.) — If the weather's good, we go to the park. (drop 就)
  Treating 就 as obligatory

  就 can be dropped; the conditional structure is still clear.

Examples

• 只要你来, 我就高兴。(Zhǐyào nǐ lái, wǒ jiù gāoxìng.) — As long as you come, I'm happy.
  只要你来, 我才高兴 (different — necessary condition)

  只要...就 = sufficient. 只有...才 = necessary.

• 只要努力, 就能成功。(Zhǐyào nǔlì, jiù néng chénggōng.) — As long as you work hard, you can succeed.
  只要努力, 才能成功 (=only by hard work — different; HSK 3 prefers contrast)

  Encouraging / sufficient: 就; restrictive / necessary: 才.

• 只要有钱, 就能买。(Zhǐyào yǒu qián, jiù néng mǎi.) — As long as you have money, you can buy [it].
  只要有钱, 能买 (drop 就 — sounds incomplete here)

  就 mandatory in this paired structure.

Examples

• 只有努力, 才能成功。(Zhǐyǒu nǔlì, cái néng chénggōng.) — Only by working hard can you succeed.
  只有努力, 就能成功 (mixing 只有 with 就 — wrong)

  只有 pairs with 才, not 就. 只要 pairs with 就.

• 只有他来, 我们才走。(Zhǐyǒu tā lái, wǒmen cái zǒu.) — Only when he comes do we leave.
  只有他来, 我们就走 (intending necessary)

  只有...才 = necessary. The 才 is essential.

• 只有这样, 才行。(Zhǐyǒu zhèyàng, cái xíng.) — Only this way works.
  只有这样, 就行 (would shift to sufficient — wrong)

  只有 + 这样 + 才 — fixed restrictive structure.

Examples

• 她不但漂亮, 而且聪明。(Tā búdàn piàoliang, érqiě cōngmíng.) — She's not only pretty, but also smart.
  她不但漂亮, 但是聪明 (mixing with 但是)

  Don't mix 不但 with 但是 (concession). 不但...而且 is progressive, not contrastive.

• 他不仅会说英语, 而且会说中文。(Tā bùjǐn huì shuō Yīngyǔ, érqiě huì shuō Zhōngwén.) — He not only speaks English, but also Chinese.
  Treating 不仅 as different meaning

  不仅 = 不但 (formal variant).

• 她不但漂亮, 而且也聪明。(Tā búdàn piàoliang, érqiě yě cōngmíng.) — She's not only pretty, but also smart (emphasized).
  Without 也

  也 / 还 in second clause adds emphasis. Common addition.

Examples

• 既然你来了, 就坐下吧。(Jìrán nǐ lái le, jiù zuò xià ba.) — Since you've come, sit down.
  如果你来了, 就坐下吧 (different meaning — hypothetical 'if')

  既然 = 'since [established]'; 如果 = 'if [hypothetical]'.

• 既然你不喜欢, 就别吃了。(Jìrán nǐ bù xǐhuān, jiù bié chī le.) — Since you don't like it, don't eat it.
  因为你不喜欢, 别吃了 (acceptable but different focus)

  既然 = accepting the fact and moving forward. 因为 = explaining cause.

• 既然下雨了, 我们就改天去吧。(Jìrán xià yǔ le, wǒmen jiù gǎitiān qù ba.) — Since it's raining, let's go another day.
  Treating as hypothetical

  Established fact + 就 + adjusted plan.

Examples

• 你喝茶还是咖啡? (Nǐ hē chá háishi kāfēi?) — Do you want tea or coffee?
  你喝茶或者咖啡? (sounds like a list, not a question)

  Question → 还是. 或者 doesn't fit alternative questions.

• 你可以喝茶或者咖啡。(Nǐ kěyǐ hē chá huòzhě kāfēi.) — You can have tea or coffee.
  你可以喝茶还是咖啡 (turns it into a question)

  Statement → 或者. 还是 would create question reading.

• 你去还是不去? (Nǐ qù háishi bú qù?) — Are you going or not?
  你去或者不去?

  Alternative question with V vs 不V — 还是.

Examples

• 他八点就来了。(Tā bā diǎn jiù lái le.) — He came [as early as] 8 o'clock.
  Treating 就 as 'just'

  就 marks earlier-than-expected timing.

• 他八点才来。(Tā bā diǎn cái lái.) — He came [only] at 8 o'clock (late / finally).
  Confusing with 就 reading

  才 marks later-than-expected timing.

• 我十分钟就到了。(Wǒ shí fēnzhōng jiù dào le.) — I arrived in [just] 10 minutes (fast).
  Same as 才

  就 = smooth / fast. 才 would be 'took 10 min' (slow).

Examples

• 我先吃饭, 再做作业, 然后看电视, 最后睡觉。(Wǒ xiān chī fàn, zài zuò zuòyè, ránhòu kàn diànshì, zuìhòu shuìjiào.) — First eat, then homework, watch TV, finally sleep.
  Mixing markers

  Full 4-step sequence.

• 我先吃饭, 再做作业。(Wǒ xiān chī fàn, zài zuò zuòyè.) — First eat, then homework.
  Without 先

  Minimal pair 先...再....

• 我先吃饭, 然后做作业。(Wǒ xiān chī fàn, ránhòu zuò zuòyè.) — First eat, then do homework.
  Treating 再 / 然后 as different

  再 / 然后 ≈ in this slot.

Examples

• 请问您贵姓?
  您好,你叫什么名字?

  Pinyin: Qǐngwèn nín guìxìng? English: May I ask your surname? (formal first meeting)

• 老师,您先请。
  Saying 您 to a close friend or roommate.

  Pinyin: Lǎoshī, nín xiān qǐng. English: Teacher, after you.

• 您几位?
  您们都是我的朋友。

  Pinyin: Nín jǐ wèi? English: How many in your party? (restaurant host to customer)

Examples

• 请坐,请喝茶。
  对不起,请问洗手间在哪儿?

  Pinyin: Qǐng zuò, qǐng hē chá. English: Please sit, please have tea.

• 麻烦您让一下。
  麻烦坐。

  Pinyin: Máfan nín ràng yīxià. English: Excuse me, could you let me through? (lit. trouble you to step aside)

• 不好意思,请问洗手间在哪儿?
  请你不要做这个。(meaning a real apology)

  Pinyin: Bùhǎoyìsi, qǐngwèn xǐshǒujiān zài nǎr? English: Excuse me, where is the restroom?

Examples

• 您好,初次见面,请多关照。
  你好吗? (as everyday opener with friends)

  Pinyin: Nín hǎo, chūcì jiànmiàn, qǐng duō guānzhào. English: Hello, nice to meet you for the first time, please take care of me. (formal first meeting)

• ——吃了吗?——吃了,你呢?
  Answering 吃了吗 with a full menu.

  Pinyin: —Chī le ma? —Chī le, nǐ ne? English: —Have you eaten? —Yes, you? (phatic greeting)

• 上哪儿去?
  晚安 used as 'goodbye in the evening'.

  Pinyin: Shàng nǎr qù? English: Where are you off to? (phatic — answer briefly)

Examples

• 氵: 河, 海, 湖, 江, 流
  Treating radicals as exact meaning equations (e.g., 始 must mean 'woman').

  Pinyin: shuǐ → hé, hǎi, hú, jiāng, liú English: water → river, sea, lake, large river, flow

• 心/忄: 想, 念, 忙, 怕, 快
  Confusing 月 (moon) with 月 (flesh/body, from 肉).

  Pinyin: xīn → xiǎng, niàn, máng, pà, kuài English: heart → think, miss, busy, fear, fast (mind-related)

• 扌: 打, 找, 拿, 推, 拉
  Looking up 们 under 门 (gate).

  Pinyin: shǒu → dǎ, zhǎo, ná, tuī, lā English: hand → hit, look-for, take, push, pull

Examples

• 妈 mā = 女 + 马 (mǎ)
  Trusting tone from the phonetic component.

  Pinyin: mā ← 马 mǎ English: mother — sound from 马

• 清 qīng / 请 qǐng / 情 qíng / 晴 qíng / 精 jīng
  Reading 清 as 'jīng' because it 'looks like' 精.

  Pinyin: all from 青 qīng English: clear / please / feeling / sunny / refined — all signal 青-sound

• 包 bāo → 抱 bào, 跑 pǎo, 泡 pào, 饱 bǎo, 炮 pào
  Ignoring the phonetic for unfamiliar characters and guessing at random.

  Pinyin: bāo family English: wrap → hug, run, bubble, full, cannon (b/p variation, similar rhyme)

Examples

• 今天考试我考得马马虎虎。
  马马不虎虎 / 一不模一样 (negation inside)

  Pinyin: Jīntiān kǎoshì wǒ kǎo de mǎmahūhū. English: I did so-so on today's test.

• 他的房间乱七八糟。
  Translating literally: '马马虎虎' = 'horse horse tiger tiger'.

  Pinyin: Tā de fángjiān luànqībāzāo. English: His room is a total mess.

• 这两个孩子长得一模一样。
  Stuffing a sentence with five chengyu.

  Pinyin: Zhè liǎng gè háizi zhǎng de yīmúyīyàng. English: These two kids look identical.

Examples

• 我没工夫陪你逛街。/ 他练了二十年功夫。
  我没有功夫帮你。(meaning: no time)

  Pinyin: Wǒ méi gōngfu péi nǐ guàngjiē. / Tā liàn le èrshí nián gōngfu. English: I have no time to go shopping. / He's trained 20 years of kung fu.

• 我老师姓王。/ 我妈妈是中学教师。
  我妈妈是老师。(on a job-application form)

  Pinyin: Wǒ lǎoshī xìng Wáng. / Wǒ māma shì zhōngxué jiàoshī. English: My teacher's surname is Wang. / My mother is a middle-school teacher.

• 我以为今天放假。(其实没有)
  我认为他今天会来,可是他没来。

  Pinyin: Wǒ yǐwéi jīntiān fàngjià. (Qíshí méiyǒu.) English: I (mistakenly) thought today was a holiday. (It wasn't.)

Examples

• 我给你打个电话。
  打足球

  Pinyin: Wǒ gěi nǐ dǎ gè diànhuà. English: I'll give you a call.

• 下雨了,我们打车回去吧。
  做决定 (in formal/written context)

  Pinyin: Xià yǔ le, wǒmen dǎ chē huíqù ba. English: It's raining; let's grab a taxi back.

• 他周末打工赚学费。
  开手机 (turn on phone)

  Pinyin: Tā zhōumò dǎgōng zhuàn xuéfèi. English: He works part-time on weekends to earn tuition.

Examples

• 这个多少钱?——三十五块。
  这个三十五元零五角。(in speech)

  Pinyin: Zhège duōshǎo qián? —Sānshíwǔ kuài. English: How much? —35 yuan.

• 一斤苹果八块五。
  打两折 (= 20% off, intended)

  Pinyin: Yī jīn píngguǒ bā kuài wǔ. English: One jin (500g) of apples is 8.5 yuan.

• 请问,这件衬衫怎么卖?
  我借他一千块。(ambiguous)

  Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, zhè jiàn chènshān zěnme mài? English: Excuse me, how much for this shirt?

Examples

• 平时我六点起床,周末十点。
  后来我会去北京。(intended: in the future)

  Pinyin: Píngshí wǒ liù diǎn qǐchuáng, zhōumò shí diǎn. English: I usually get up at 6, weekends at 10.

• 最近你忙吗?
  在平时,我七点起床。

  Pinyin: Zuìjìn nǐ máng ma? English: Have you been busy lately?

• 我以前不爱吃辣,现在很喜欢。
  最近一年,我学了很多。(meaning: over the last year)

  Pinyin: Wǒ yǐqián bù ài chī là, xiànzài hěn xǐhuān. English: I used to dislike spicy food; now I love it.