HSK 5 Grammar

We compiled all the essential grammar points required for mastering HSK level 5 below.

5.1 – The Two Usages of the Word 所 (suǒ)

所 1

auxiliary

Structure：

所 + verb + 的

e.g.

别动，你所站的位置很危险！

这些信息是我以前所不知道的。

所 2

Measure word

Structure:

____+ 所 + noun

e.g.

这所大学已经有一百多年历史了。

这附近有几所邮局？

5.2 – The Summary of Pivotal Sentence: 令 (lìng)

Unlock video lessons & exercises
Pivotal sentence
make ：   “令”

Structure:

A 令 B + verb/verbal phrase/adjective/adjective phrase

Notes:

A: verb-object phrase

B: subject-predicate phrase

Dynamic auxiliary words “着, 了, 过” cannot exist in this sentence.

e.g.

他的行为令我感到很失望。

(Tā de xíngwéi lìng wǒ gǎn dào hěn shīwàng. )

这次经历令我难以忘记。

(Zhè cì jīnglì lìng wǒ nán yǐ wàngjì. )

5.3 – The Summary of Pivotal Sentence: 派 (pài)

Pivotal sentence
ask/arrange/dispatch ：   “派”

Structure:

A 派 B + verb/verbal phrase

Notes:

A: verb-object phrase

B: subject-predicate phrase

Generally speaking the status of A is higher than B

Dynamic auxiliary words “着, 了, 过” cannot exist in this sentence.

e.g.

经理派我去机场接客户。

(Jīnglǐ pài wǒ qù jīchǎng jiē kèhù. )

下飞机后，酒店会派车来接您。

(Xià fēijī hòu, jiǔdiàn huì pài chē lái jiē nín. )

5.4 – The Summary of Comparison Sentence: A 不如/没有 B（这么/ 那么）+ Adj.

Structure:

A + 不如/没有 + B（这么/ 那么）+ Adj.

Meaning:

A is not as …… as B

e.g.

这个学校不如/没有那个学校那么安静。

深圳的历史不如/没有西安那么长。

5.5 – The Five Usages of the Word 于 (yú)

于

(prep.)

• It draws forth time

于 + time

e.g.

中华人民共和国成立于1949年。

(Zhōnghuá rénmín gòng hé guó chénglì yú yī jiǔ sì jiǔ nián. )

• It draws forth location. The meaning is the same as “在”.

于 + location

e.g.

他于北京工作了两年，后来出国了。

(Tā yú Běijīng gōngzuò le liǎng nián, hòulái chū guó le. )

• It draws forth the object.

于 + object

e.g.

十年来，他一直致力于科学研究。

(Shí nián lái, tā yìzhí zhìlì yú kēxué yánjiū. )

• It draws forth the starting point or reason. The meaning is the same as “从” or “自”.

于 + starting point/reason

e.g.

能否成功，取决于你平时的努力。

(Néngfǒu chénggōng ,qǔjué yú nǐ píngshí de nǔlì. )

• It is used to compare things.

Adjective + 于

e.g.

这个房间远大于我的房间。

(Zhè ge fángjiān yuǎn dà yú wǒ de fángjiān. )

5.6 – The Two Usages of the Word 朝 (cháo)

朝

Meaning & usage 1

(prep.)

It draws forth the direction of an action

Structure:

朝 + direction + verb

e.g.

你朝前走，10分钟后就到那家书店了。

(Nǐ cháo qián zǒu, shí fēnzhōng hòu jiù dào nà jiā shūdiàn le. )

Meaning & usage 2

(prep.)

It draws forth the object of an action

Structure:

朝 + object + verb

e.g.

不要总是朝孩子发火，要给他讲道理。

(Bú yào zǒngshì cháo háizi fāhuǒ, yào gěi tā jiǎng dàolǐ. )

5.7 – The Comparison between 朝 (cháo) vs 向 (xiàng) vs 往 (wǎng)

朝 (cháo) vs 向 (xiàng)  vs 往 (wǎng)

(prep.)

Meaning:

to;  towards;  in the direction of

• The direction of movements.

___ + direction + verb

• The direction of facing to.

___ + direction

• ___ + 着 + direction ( + verb)

• When the verb represents a specific movement:

___ + someone + verb

• When put after verbs as complements:

Verb + ___ + …… 

5.8 – The Comparison Between突然 (tūrán) and 忽然 (hūrán)

突然

• 突然+（的）+名词

e.g.

这是一起突然的事故。

• 很/太/非常/十分 + 突然

e.g.

事情发生得很/太/非常/十分突然。

• 突然 + 极了/得很

e.g.

事情发生突然极了/得很。

• Verb + 得 +（……）突然

e.g.

事故发生得那么突然。

• Others

e.g.

你认为发生这样的事情突然吗？

忽然

(Adverbial modifier)

e.g.

我忽然明白了。

5.9 – The Comparison Between以及 (yǐ jí) and 和 (hé)

以及 vs 和

(conjunction)

Meaning:

“and”, connecting the words or phrases in parallel relationship

以及：

• Used in written Chinese

e.g.

他在艺术领域以及科技领域都有很大的成就。

• Sometimes, the word or phrase before “以及” is more important or earlier than the one after.

e.g.

这篇论文介绍了人工智能的背景、意义、现状以及影响。

• ……，以及……

(the pause before 以及 is allowed)

e.g.

请介绍一下这部电影的大意，以及你的观后感。

和：

• Used in oral Chinese

e.g.

他和我都生于1980年。

• “和” connects the words or phrases in equal relationship.

e.g.

小红和小明取得了这次考试的并列第一名。

• ……和……

(the pause before 和 is not allowed)

e.g.

他常常回大学的城市看望老师和同学们。

5.10 – The Comparison Between便 (biàn) and 就 (jiù)   便 vs 就

Meaning:

• Which indicate that the 2nd thing happens immediately after the 1st one
• Which emphasize what is followed after it
• 如果/只要/因为/既然……，便/就……

便：

Only in written Chinese

就：

• Both in written Chinese and oral Chinese
• Which indicate the scope or emphasize numbers.

5.11 – The Comparison Between一直 (yìzhí) and 始终 (shǐzhōng)

一直 vs 始终

(adv.)

From the beginning to the end

Structure:

始终/一直 + verb

e.g.

我们始终/一直坚持正确的做法。

一直

1） 一直 + words of time

e.g.

我们一直画到凌晨3点。

2） Refer to the Future:

only use 一直

e.g.

他不出来见我，我就一直在这里等。

5.12 – The Comparison Between多亏 (duō kuī) and 幸亏 (xìng kuī)

多亏 vs 幸亏

Meaning:

as a result of someone`s help or some favourable conditions, something bad is avoided or something good is achieved.

Difference

多亏 + noun/pronoun √

幸亏 + noun/pronoun ×

多亏 + 了 √

幸亏 + 了 ×

多亏

Grateful mood

Due to someone’s help, something good is achieved.

幸亏

Lucky mood

Thanks to an objective reason, something bad is avoided

5.13 – The Comparison Between连忙 (liánmáng) & 急忙 (jí máng) & 匆忙 (cōngmáng)

连忙 vs 急忙

(adv.)

Cannot be followed by “地”.

连忙：indicate reacting quickly to something

急忙：indicate something is urgent or someone is worried about something.

e.g.

见到客人进来，他们连忙说“欢迎光临”。

还有五分钟就要开会了，她急忙把资料收拾好。

匆忙

(adj.)

In a hurry

Structure:

Degree adverb + 匆忙

E.g

昨天走得太匆忙，没来得及和你说一声。

5.14 – The Usage Summary of the Sentence Structure 不但不/不但没有…，反而… (búdàn bù / búdàn méi yǒu…fǎn’ér…)

Structure:

Subject + 不但不/没有……，反而 ……

Meaning:

To indicate a progressive relationship, the result after 反而 is unexpected to the speaker.

Sub. + 不但不/没有 + [Wanted Outcome]，反而 + [Unexpected Outcome]

e.g.

吃了这药，感冒不但没好，反而更严重了。

5.15 – The Usage Summary of the Sentence Structure 宁可…，也不/也要… (nìngkě…, yě bù / yě yào…)

Structure： 宁可…，也不…

The speaker is choosing between two options, the preferable option first while both are unfavorable.

e.g.

我宁可离婚，也不愿意将就过日子。

Structure：宁可…，也要…

宁可 + unfavorable option, 也要 + things (that the speaker desire or intend to do)

e.g.

小孩子宁可不吃饭，也要继续玩。

5.16 – The Usage Summary of the Sentence Structure 与其…，不如… (yǔ qí…, bù rú…)

与其……，不如……

(prefer… rather than…)

To speaker，B is much better than A

Meaning：

To connect two options, to speaker，part after 不如 is much better than that after 与其

e.g.

与其坐火车，不如坐飞机更快。

5.17 – The Usage Summary of the Sentence Structure 万一……，（就）…… (wànyī…, jiù…)

万一……，（就）……

Meaning:

to be used for an estimation which the speaker considers things that rarely happen.

Notes:

(often refer to something bad or accidents)

e.g.

他万一不行，你就代替他上场。

你把钥匙拿着，万一他不在家，你就自己开门。

5.18 – The Usage Summary of the Sentence Structure 幸亏……，不然…… (xìngkuī…, bùrán…)

幸亏……，不然……

Meaning：

To indicate that thanks to some favorable conditions or reasons, something negative or bad things didn’t happen.

e.g.

幸亏车来了，不然我们都得迟到。

5.19 – The Usage Summary of the Sentence Structure 除非……，不然…… (chúfēi…, bùrán…)

除非……，不然……

Meaning:

The condition after 除非 is unique, and 不然 introduces the result that will be without the condition.

e.g.

除非是他邀请我，不然我是不会去的。

5.20 – The Usage Summary of the Sentence Structure 哪怕……，也/还…… (nǎpà…, yě/hái…)

哪怕……，也/还……

Meaning:

哪怕 introduces a hypothesis, the part after 也/还 is used to say in spite of it, the previous conditions or decisions will never change.

e.g.

哪怕只有一个观众，她也要演下去。

5.21 – The Usage Summary of the Sentence Structure 为……所…… (wéi … suǒ…)

为……所……

Structure:

为 + noun/noun phrases + 所 + verb

e.g.

法官为这个孩子的诚实所感动。