chinese grammar structures

verb + 起来

used to discuss or comment on something from the point of view of the verb

adj/verb + 着 + verb

the first verb indicates how the second verb (main verb) is happening

以

preposition that can be translated as "to use or "with"

又 + adj + 又 + adj

used to give multiple comments on one thing

verb, 又 + verb

used to connect 2 reasons

嘛

particle used in casual conversation to suggest thatthe reasoning behind a statement is obvious an requires no further explanation

先 x 再 y

first x and then y

忙着+verb

to be busy doing verb

千万

please, please, absolutely must

来不及

time is tight, i do not have time to do some verb

来得及

time is tight, but i still have time to do some verb

原来

adj: former/original

没想到 + statement

unexpected or surprised

time duration + 就/才 + verb

describing some verb as late or early

就 is early, 才 is late

verb + 起 + obj + 来

to start to do some verb

到处都是 + noun

some noun is everywhere

要不是。。。， statement

if it were not for ____, some statement

不管 + question form + 都/也

regardless of ____, some statement

从来不

i never do something habitually

从来没。。。过

i have never experienced something

从来都

i always do something habitually

尽可能

as much as possible

以 x 为 y

to regard x as y

民以食为天

"most people regard food as heaven"

不但。。。而且

not only... but also

thing/person 给 person 留下 adj 的印象

to give someone an impression

a 跟 b 一样 adj

a and b are the same or equal in terms of some adjective

a比b adj + （一点儿/得多，多了）

a>b in some adj case

a 没有/不如 b 那么 adj

a

只好。。。

i have no choice but... ； indicated reluctance or being forced by circumstances

不过

however/but

与

formal conjuction or preposition

means "and"； same as 和

有的。。。有的。。。

refers to a large group of people in an area saying "some are _____, some are_______,"

只要。。。就

as long as ______, some result

即使。。。也

presents some extreme scenario but that a result will be achieved even in that extreme scenario

本来

originally planned

随便

careless/whatever/what you want

是。。。的

persuasive

verb + 过来

to return to a former state

逐渐

gradually

以来

since

拿。。。来说吧

to take _____ for example

只有。。。才。。。

only if _______ 才 some result

由

indicated that some action was done "by" someone, modifies verbs

verb 1 的 verb 1, verb 2 的 verb 2

used to suggest that people are busy doing verb 1 and verb 2

a 有益于 b

a is good for b, beneficial, etc.

a adj 于 b

same as comparison structure, a>b in some respect (adj)

xxyy

adjective repetition for bisyllabic adjectives, means an emphetic use of the adjective and turns it into an adverb

xyxy

adjective repetition for bisyllabic adjectives, used to say that something is done to achieve the adjective as a result

反对

to disagree

不反对/同意/赞成

to support

option a 吧 。。。， option b 吧 。。。

lists disadvantages of various options using 吧

造成

to give rise to, only refers to negative things

可不是吗？

isn't that so? how true?

从。。。做起

to start with doing _________

想起来

to recall or to remember

想出来

to figure something out by thinking

越a越b

the more a, the more b

既然 +known fact (那么）。。。 为什么。。。？

since (some known fact) then why ....?

善于

to be good at

对。。。很/不 满意

to be successful/not successful at something

sub + 把 + obj + verb

someone does something to an object, emphasizes results

引起

to lead to, give rise to (abstract ideas such as 兴趣，重视，思考，注意，反对）

后来

means "later/after" can only be used in reference to past events

event/time + 以后 or just 以后

means "later/after/in the future" and can be used for things that will happen or already did

突然

used as an adj or an adv, means "suddenly"

。。。算是。。。

to consider something as something else

年年有余=年年有鱼

during spring festival 年夜饭, you must have fish, but not eat it all, because fish sounds like surplus

省吃俭用

to be thrifty with what you eat, buy, and how you live

男女平等

"gender equality" means to offer equal opportunity in work, finding work, education, society position, etc.

福倒了=福到了

"fortune has arrived" a play on words

since to arrive sounds the same as upside down

重男轻女

"the idea that men are superior to women"

同工同酬

"equal pay for equal work" stresses gender and pay equality in the work environment

难怪。。。

it is not wonder that 。。。

合

with used similiarly to 跟, but saying something is done using multiple people