HSK 1 Grammar
53 points, in the reference book’s original order.
Your HSK 1 learning path
53 points
- 1
Expressing Actions in Progress with “zài”
在
在 (zài) is used before a verb to show that an action is happening right now. It is similar to “be doing” in English.
- 2
Negation of “yǒu” with “méi”
没 / 没有
When you want to say “do not have” or “there is not,” Chinese uses 没 / 没有, not 不有.
- 3
Standard Negation with “bù”
不
不 (bù) is the basic negative word in Chinese. It is used to say “not” for habits, facts, or future actions.
- 4
The “all” Adverb “dōu”
都
都 (dōu) means “all” or “both.” It usually comes before the verb.
- 5
The “also” Adverb “yě”
也
也 (yě) means “also” or “too.” It is used when something is the same as what was said before.
- 6
Asking about Degree with “duō”
多
多 (duō) can be used in questions to ask about degree, such as age, height, distance, or price.
- 7
Expressing “not very” with “bú tài”
不太
不太 (bú tài) means “not very” or “not quite.” It sounds softer than a direct negative.
- 8
Expressing “and” with “hé”
和
和 (hé) means “and” and is used to connect nouns or pronouns.
- 9
After a Specific Time with “yǐhòu”
以后
以后 (yǐhòu) means “after” or “later.” It is used after a time expression or an action.
- 10
Before a Specific Time with “yǐqián”
以前
以前 (yǐqián) means “before.” It is the opposite of 以后.
- 11
Time Words and Word Order
时间词语序
In Chinese, time words usually come before the verb. They often appear after the subject.
- 12
Age with “suì”
岁
岁 (suì) is used to talk about age.
- 13
Measure Word “gè”
个
个 (gè) is the most common measure word in Chinese. It is used with many nouns, especially at the beginner level.
- 14
Structure of Dates
日期表达
Chinese dates usually go from big to small: year, month, day.
- 15
Structure of Days of the Week
星期表达
Chinese weekdays are formed with 星期 + number.
- 16
Structure of Numbers
数字表达
HSK1 learners need to know basic Chinese numbers clearly.
- 17
Structure of Time (Advanced)
时间表达（进阶）
This refers to slightly more detailed ways to tell time, such as half past, a quarter past, or a quarter to.
- 18
Structure of Time (Basic)
时间表达（基础）
Chinese clock time is usually expressed with hour + minute.
- 19
Expressing Close Possession without “de”
不用“的”表示亲属关系
With close personal relationships, especially family relationships, Chinese often omits 的 after the possessor. This often makes the expression sound more natural and intimate.
- 20
Expressing Completion with “le”
了
Verb-suffix 了 presents an action as completed. It marks perfective aspect, not past tense by itself; time words and context locate the event in time.
- 21
Sentence-Final “le” for a New Situation
了（表示新情况或变化）
了 at the end of a sentence can show a new situation or change of state. It often means “now…,” “already…,” or “not anymore.”
- 22
Expressing Experience with “guò”
过
过 after a verb shows that someone has had the experience of doing something before.
- 23
Using “huì” for Future Actions
会
会 can be used to talk about what someone will do in the future. It often shows possibility or expectation.
- 24
Connecting Two Verbs with “qù” or “lái”
去 / 来
In Chinese, 去 and 来 can connect two verbs to show movement for another action, like “go do something” or “come do something.”
- 25
Double Objects with Certain Verbs
双宾语句
Some verbs can take two objects. Usually, the first object is a person, and the second object is a thing.
- 26
Expressing Ability with “huì”
会（表示能力）
会 can also mean “can” or “know how to,” showing a learned ability.
- 27
Expressing Desire with “xiǎng”
想
想 means “want to” or “would like to.”
- 28
Expressing Existence with “zài”
在（表示存在 / 位置）
在 can show where someone or something is located.
- 29
Expressing Possession with “yǒu”
有
有 means “to have.”
- 30
Existential Sentences with “yǒu”
“有”字存在句
有 can also mean “there is / there are,” showing existence in a place.
- 31
Pivot Sentences with “qǐng”
兼语句（请）
With 请, one person asks another person to do something. The middle noun acts like the object of the first verb and the subject of the second verb.
- 32
The Verb “zhù” (to live)
住
住 means “to live” or “to stay.”
- 33
The Verb “xìng” (to be surnamed)
姓
姓 is used to talk about someone’s family name.
- 34
Expressing “this” and “that”
这 / 那
这 means “this,” and 那 means “that.”
- 35
Expressing “who” with “shéi”
谁
谁 means “who.”
- 36
Asking About Quantity with “jǐ”
几
几 is used to ask about a small number, usually expected to be under ten.
- 37
Asking About What with “shénme”
什么
什么 means “what.”
- 38
Asking and Talking About Place
哪儿 / 哪里 / 那儿
哪儿 / 哪里 means “where.” 那儿 means “there.”
- 39
Asking About Which One with “nǎ”
哪
哪 means “which.” It is used before a measure word or noun.
- 40
Asking About How Many with “duōshao”
多少
多少 means “how many / how much.” It can be used for both small and large numbers.
- 41
Connecting Nouns with “shì”
是字句
是 connects nouns or noun phrases. It is like “to be” in English when saying A is B.
- 42
Expressing “too / excessively” with “tài”
太
太 means “too” or “very” depending on the context.
- 43
Adjectives as Predicates
形容词谓语句
Many Chinese adjectives can serve directly as the predicate. In a neutral positive statement, a degree adverb such as 很 often appears before the adjective; without one, a bare adjective can sound contrastive or context-dependent.
- 44
Expressing “some” with “yìxiē”
一些
一些 means “some.”
- 45
Counting Money
钱数表达
Chinese money is often counted with 块 / 元, 毛, and 分.
- 46
Measure Words in Quantity Questions
量词问句
When asking about quantity, Chinese usually uses a measure word.
- 47
Asking How Something Is with “zěnmeyàng”
怎么样
怎么样 means “how about,” “how is,” or “what is it like.”
- 48
Placement of Question Words
疑问词位置
In Chinese, question words usually stay in the same position as the answer would appear in a statement.
- 49
Asking Whether Something Has Happened with “le ma”
了吗
A sentence with 了 can be turned into a yes-no question by adding 吗 at the end.
- 50
Yes-No Questions with “ma”
吗问句
Add 吗 to the end of a statement to make it a yes-no question.
- 51
The “shì...de” Construction for Emphasizing Details
是……的
是……的 highlights a known or assumed event by focusing on a detail such as time, place, manner, or the person involved. It is common with past events, but its main function is focus rather than completion.
- 52
Comparing “bù” and “méi”
不和没
Both 不 and 没 mean “not,” but they are used differently.
- 53
Common HSK1 Basic Sentence Patterns Summary
HSK1 基础句式总结
This section summarizes the most common sentence patterns in HSK1. It is useful for quick review.
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