HSK 3 Grammar
86 points, in the reference book’s original order.
Your HSK 3 learning path
86 points
- 1
Adjectives with “jí le”
极了
极了 is used after an adjective to mean “extremely” or “very.” It gives strong emphasis.
- 2
Reduplication of Adjectives
形容词重叠
Adjective reduplication often makes the tone softer, livelier, or more descriptive.
- 3
Turning Adjectives into Adverbs
形容词 + 地
An adjective can be followed by 地 to describe how an action is done.
- 4
Expressing “Again” in the Past with “yòu”
又……了
又……了 is used for something that happened again, usually in the past or in a repeated situation the speaker can already see.
- 5
Expressing “All Along” with “yìzhí”
一直
一直 means “all along,” “continuously,” or “the whole time.”
- 6
Expressing “Always” with “zǒngshì”
总是
总是 means “always.” It often describes a repeated habit or a repeated situation.
- 7
Expressing Duration of Inaction
没……了
This pattern is used to show that someone has not done something for a period of time.
- 8
Expressing “Finally” with “zhōngyú”
终于……了
终于……了 means “finally.” It shows that something happened after waiting, effort, or a long process.
- 9
Expressing “Lateness” with “cái”
才
才 can show that something happened later than expected.
- 10
Expressing “Nearly” with “jīhū”
几乎
几乎 means “almost” or “nearly.”
- 11
Expressing “Only” with “zhǐ”
只
只 means “only.”
- 12
Sequencing with “xiān... zài...”
先……再……
先……再…… means “first... then...”
- 13
Simultaneous Tasks with “yìbiān... yìbiān...”
一边……一边……
一边……一边…… means “while... at the same time...” or “do A and B at the same time.”
- 14
Using “Always” as a Complaint with “lǎo(shì)”
老（是）
老 or 老是 can mean “always,” often with a complaining tone.
- 15
Using “cái” for Small Numbers
才
才 can also emphasize that a number is small or less than expected.
- 16
Emphasizing Adjectives with “nàme” and “zhème”
那么 / 这么
那么 and 这么 are used before adjectives to mean “so” or “such.”
- 17
Basic Comparisons with “yíyàng”
一样
一样 means “the same” or “alike.”
- 18
Expressing “Both A and B” with “yòu...yòu...”
又……又……
又……又…… means “both... and...” It is often used with adjectives.
- 19
Expressing “Rather” with “bǐjiào”
比较
比较 can mean “rather,” “quite,” or “relatively.”
- 20
Intensifying with “duō”
多……啊
多……啊 is used in exclamations to strengthen an adjective, similar to “How...!” in English.
- 21
Modifying Nouns with Adjectives + “de”
形容词 + 的
An adjective plus 的 can modify a noun.
- 22
Expressing “Or” in Statements with “huòzhě”
或者
或者 means “or” in statements.
- 23
Expressing “Then” with “nàme”
那么
那么 can mean “then” in logic or conversation, especially after a condition or previous statement.
- 24
Expressing “With” with “gēn”
跟
跟 can mean “with,” usually referring to doing something together with someone.
- 25
Offering Choices with “háishì” in Questions
还是
还是 is used in questions that offer choices.
- 26
Before a Specific Time with “yǐqián”
以前
以前 after a specific time means “before that time.”
- 27
Expressing “Before” in General with “yǐqián”
以前
以前 can also mean “before” in a more general sense, referring to the past.
- 28
Expressing “Just Now” with “gāngcái”
刚才
刚才 means “just now.”
- 29
Expressing “When” with “shí”
时
时 is a more formal or written form of “when,” often seen in set expressions or written Chinese.
- 30
In the Future in General with “yǐhòu”
以后
以后 can mean “later,” “afterwards,” or “in the future” in a general sense.
- 31
Sequencing Past Events with “hòulái”
后来
后来 means “later” or “after that” when talking about past events.
- 32
Approximating with Sequential Numbers
三四 / 七八 / 一两
Two close numbers together can express an approximate small range.
- 33
Big Numbers in Chinese
万 / 亿
Chinese large numbers are grouped differently from English. 万 = ten thousand 亿 = one hundred million
- 34
Structure of Times (Advanced)
点 / 分
Advanced time expressions include minutes, half past, quarter past, and quarter to.
- 35
Structure of Times (Basic)
点（钟）
Basic time expressions use 点（钟） for hours.
- 36
Aspect Particle “zhe”
着
着 can describe a continuing state or a background action.
- 37
Change of State with “le”
了
Sentence-final 了 often shows a new situation or a change of state.
- 38
Questions with “ne”
呢
呢 can be used to ask “what about...?” or to keep a question open.
- 39
Structural Particles “de / de / de”
的 / 得 / 地
Chinese has three common de particles with different functions.
- 40
Expressing “About” with “guānyú”
关于
关于 means “about” or “regarding.”
- 41
Expressing “All the Way Until” with “zhídào”
直到
直到 means “until” and emphasizes that something continues up to a point.
- 42
Expressing “Towards” with “xiàng”
向
向 means “toward” or “to,” often before a person or direction.
- 43
Appearance with “kàn qǐlái”
看起来
看起来 means “to look” or “to seem.”
- 44
Basic Comparisons with “méi(yǒu)”
没（有）
没有 in comparisons means “not as... as...”
- 45
Causative Verbs
让 / 叫 / 请 / 使
These verbs can mean “make,” “ask,” or “cause” someone to do something.
- 46
Expressing “Through” with “jīngguò”
经过
经过 can mean “pass by” or “through.” It can also mean “after undergoing.”
- 47
Expressing “Should” with “yīnggāi / gāi”
应该 / 该
应该 and 该 mean “should” or “ought to.”
- 48
Expressing “Difficult to...” with “nán”
难 + 动词
难 + verb means “difficult to do.”
- 49
Expressing Duration with “le”
动词 + 了 + 时长
This pattern shows that an action lasted for a period of time and is usually completed or viewed as a whole.
- 50
Expressing Ongoing Duration with Double “le”
动词 + 了 + 时长 + 了
This pattern shows that an action started in the past and is still continuing now.
- 51
Inability with “méi bànfǎ”
没办法
没办法 means “there is no way,” “cannot do anything about it,” or “have no choice.”
- 52
Reduplication of Verbs
动词重叠
Verb reduplication makes the tone lighter, softer, or shorter in duration.
- 53
Special Verbs with “hěn”
很 + 动词
Some psychological or relational verbs can be used with 很, such as 很喜欢, 很想, 很怕.
- 54
Directional Complements
趋向补语
Directional complements follow a verb and indicate the direction or path of movement. 来 points toward the speaker or reference point; 去 points away from it.
- 55
Potential Complements
可能补语
Potential complements show whether an action can or cannot reach a result.
- 56
Result Complements
结果补语
Result complements show the result of an action.
- 57
Continuing an Action or State with “xiàqù”
下去
After a verb, 下去 can indicate movement downward or away, or the continuation of an action or state.
- 58
Expressing “As Long As” with “zhǐyào”
只要……就……
只要……就…… means “as long as... then...”
- 59
Expressing “Only After” with “cái”
……才…… -...cái...
This pattern means “only after...” or “not until... then...”
- 60
Expressing “Only If” with “zhǐyǒu”
只有……才……
只有……才…… means “only if...” or “only when...”
- 61
Using “yǒu de” to Mean “Some”
有的
有的 means “some” when referring to part of a group.
- 62
Expressing “Half” with “bàn”
半
半 means “half.”
- 63
Expressing “Not Even One”
一……都 / 也不……
This pattern emphasizes that not even one item fits the statement.
- 64
Expressing “The More... The More...” with “yuè...yuè...”
越……越……
越……越…… means “the more... the more...” or “more and more...”
- 65
Using “bǎ” Sentences
把字句
A 把 sentence brings the object before the verb and emphasizes how the object is handled or changed.
- 66
Using “bèi” Sentences
被字句
A 被 sentence is used to express the passive voice.
- 67
Alternative Existential Sentences
地点 + 动词 + 着 + 名词
This pattern describes something existing in a place through a visible state.
- 68
Expressing “As One Likes” with “jiù”
想……就……
想……就…… means “do whatever one wants” or “as one likes.”
- 69
Expressing “Every” with Question Words
疑问词 + 都
Question words plus 都 can express “every,” “everyone,” “everywhere,” and so on.
- 70
Expressing “More and More” with “yuèláiyuè”
越来越……了
越来越……了 means “more and more...” or “becoming increasingly...”
- 71
Expressing Purpose with “wèile”
为了
为了 means “for,” “for the sake of,” or “in order to.”
- 72
Expressing “Some” with Question Words
疑问词表泛指
Question words can sometimes mean an indefinite “some,” “someone,” “somewhere,” and so on.
- 73
Expressing Comparable Degree with “yǒu”
有……吗
This pattern asks whether one thing reaches the same degree as another.
- 74
Expressing “Compared With” Using “gēn”
跟……比（起来）
跟……比（起来） means “compared with...”
- 75
Expressing “Even More” with “gèng / hái”
更 / 还
Both 更 and 还 can mean “even more,” but 更 is usually more neutral and formal, while 还 is common in spoken comparison.
- 76
Expressing “Much More” in Comparisons
比……多了
This pattern emphasizes that the difference is large.
- 77
Expressing “Except” and “In Addition” with “chúle... yǐwài”
除了……以外……
This pattern can mean “except for...” or “besides...”
- 78
Expressing “If... Then...” with “rúguǒ... jiù...”
如果……就……
如果……就…… means “if... then...”
- 79
Expressing “If” with “rúguǒ... dehuà”
如果……的话……
如果……的话…… also means “if...,” often sounding a little softer or more conversational.
- 80
Expressing “Not Only... But Also” with “bùdàn... érqiě...”
不但……而且……
不但……而且…… means “not only... but also...”
- 81
Comparing “cái” and “jiù”
才 vs 就
Both can relate to time or amount, but the feeling is different.
- 82
Comparing “gāng” and “gāngcái”
刚 vs 刚才
Both relate to the recent past, but they are not the same.
- 83
Comparing “yǒudiǎn” and “yìdiǎn”
有点 vs 一点
Both involve “a little,” but they are used differently.
- 84
Comparing “zài” and “yòu”
再 vs 又
Both can mean “again,” but they are used in different situations.
- 85
Comparing “háishì” and “huòzhě”
还是 vs 或者
Both mean “or,” but they are used differently.
- 86
Comparing “yǐhòu”, “ránhòu”, and “hòulái”
以后 vs 然后 vs 后来
All three can involve sequence or “later,” but they refer to different kinds of time.
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