Learning Chinese already seems like a daunting task what with 5 (sort of) spoken tones and Chinese characters, and although the word \u2018grammar\u2019 might make you want to head for the hills, once you learn some basic sentence patterns, you\u2019ll be well on your way to making sentences in Chinese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Obviously, there are other sentence patterns to learn, but let\u2019s not get ahead of ourselves here. Master these 10 sentence patterns for beginners of Chinese first before moving on to the bigger fish (and they\u2019re not really that big).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019ve got to grips with these patterns, check out some of the more advanced articles listed throughout and at the end of this article!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
N + \u662f (sh\u00ec) + N<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u4ed6\u662f\u5b66\u751f<\/a>\u3002(t\u0101 sh\u00ec xu\u00e9 sheng) He is a student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u662f\u8001\u5e08<\/a>\u3002 (w\u01d2 sh\u00ec l\u01ceo sh\u012b) I am a teacher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Negate \u662f (sh\u00ec) with \u4e0d<\/a> (b\u00f9):<\/p>\n\n\n\n N + \u4e0d\u662f<\/a> (b\u00fa sh\u00ec) + N<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5979\u4e0d\u662f\u7f8e\u56fd\u4eba<\/a>\u3002(t\u0101 b\u00fa sh\u00ec m\u011bi gu\u00f3 r\u00e9n) She is not American.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u8fd9\u672c\u4e66\u4e0d\u662f\u6211\u7684<\/a>\u3002(zh\u00e8 b\u011bn sh\u016b b\u00fa sh\u00ec w\u01d2 de) This book is not mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note: You may notice that by itself, \u4e0d has the 4th downward tone (b\u00f9), but when together with \u662f has a second tone (b\u00fa). Once you\u2019ve mastered these 10 basics, you might want to take a look at how some tones change<\/a> depending on the arrangement of characters. Don\u2019t stress out about this though, it\u2019ll come naturally over time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u662f (sh\u00ec) cannot be used to connect an adjective with a noun. For this we replace \u662f (sh\u00ec) with \u5f88<\/a> (h\u011bn) or other adverb such as \u771f<\/a> (zh\u0113n) or \u597d<\/a> (h\u01ceo)) , which means \u2018very\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n N + \u5f88 (h\u011bn) + Adj<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4ed6\u5f88\u806a\u660e<\/a>\u3002(t\u0101 h\u011bn c\u014dng ming) He is smart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5728 (z\u00e0i) has many usages, but is most commonly used as a verb meaning \u2018at\u2019. Use it in between a \u2018something\u2019 and a place to show where something is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Subject + \u5728 (z\u00e0i) + Place<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4ed6\u5728\u5bb6<\/a>\u3002(t\u0101 z\u00e0i ji\u0101) He is at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u7684\u88d9\u5b50\u5728\u8863\u67dc\u91cc\u9762<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 de q\u00fan zi z\u00e0i y\u012b gu\u00ec l\u01d0 mi\u00e0n) My dress is inside the wardrobe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Negate \u5728 (z\u00e0i) with \u4e0d (b\u00f9) :<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u4e0d\u5728\u5496\u5561\u5e97<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 b\u00fa z\u00e0i k\u0101 f\u0113i di\u00e0n) I\u2019m not at the coffee shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6709 (y\u01d2u) means \u2018to have\u2019 and can be used when the subject possesses something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since there is no conjugation of verbs in Chinese, \u6709 (y\u01d2u) is used for both \u2018have\u2019 and \u2018has\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Subject + \u6709 (y\u01d2u) + object<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u6709\u4e00\u4e2a\u59b9\u59b9<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 y\u01d2u y\u012b g\u00e8 m\u00e8i mei.) I have a younger sister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4ed6\u6709\u767d\u5934\u53d1\u4e86<\/a>\u3002(t\u0101 y\u01d2u b\u00e1i t\u00f3u fa le) He has had white hair already.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Negate \u6709 (y\u01d2u) with \u6ca1\u6709<\/a> (m\u00e9i y\u01d2u) .<\/p>\n\n\n\n Subject + \u6ca1\u6709 (m\u00e9i y\u01d2u) + object<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u6ca1\u6709\u54e5\u54e5<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 m\u00e9i y\u01d2u g\u0113 ge) I don\u2019t have an older brother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u8981 (y\u00e0o), in my opinion, maybe the most important verb in Chinese, since it can be used in many ways, and is also pretty essential to day-to-day conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Subject + \u8981 (y\u00e0o) + Object<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u8981\u4e00\u4e2a\u82f9\u679c<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 y\u00e0o y\u012b g\u00e8 p\u00edng gu\u01d2) I want an apple<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u8981 (y\u00e0o) can also be used to describe something that will happen in the future:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u8981\u5403\u86cb\u7cd5<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 y\u00e0o ch\u012b d\u00e0n g\u0101o.) I want to eat cake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Negate \u8981 (y\u00e0o) with \u4e0d (b\u00f9):<\/p>\n\n\n\n Subject + \u4e0d\u8981<\/a> (b\u00f9 y\u00e0o) + Object<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4ed6\u4e0d\u8981\u5403\u86cb\u7cd5<\/a>\u3002(t\u0101 (b\u00f9 y\u00e0o ch\u012b d\u00e0n g\u0101o) He doesn\u2019t want to eat cake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e0d (b\u00f9) \/ \u6ca1 (m\u00e9i) + verb<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e0d (b\u00f9) is used to negate adjectival, stative and modal verbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4ed6\u4e0d\u559d\u8336<\/a>\u3002(t\u0101 b\u00f9 h\u0113 ch\u00e1) He doesn\u2019t drink tea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u4e0d\u559c\u6b22\u5403\u8089<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 b\u00f9 x\u01d0 huan ch\u012b r\u00f2u.) I don\u2019t like to eat meat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6ca1 (m\u00e9i) is used to negate the verb \u6709 (y\u01d2u):<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5979\u6ca1\u6709\u65f6\u95f4<\/a>\u3002(t\u0101 m\u00e9i y\u01d2u sh\u00ed ji\u0101n) She doesn\u2019t have time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u8fd8\u6ca1\u6709\u5403\u996d<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 h\u00e1i m\u00e9i y\u01d2u ch\u012b f\u00e0n.) I still haven\u2019t eaten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To say that someone has something use the particle \u7684 (de). \u7684 (de) does have other uses, but for now, let\u2019s just stick with possession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re curious about how else \u7684 (de) is used, you can take a look at our article about \u7684 (de) and his 2 brothers (they\u2019re real characters) \u5f97 and \u5730<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n possessor + \u7684 (de) + possessed noun<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4ed6\u7684\u624b\u673a<\/a>\u3002(t\u0101 de sh\u01d2u j\u012b) His mobile phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Possessed noun + possessor + \u7684 (de)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u8fd9\u672c\u4e66\u662f\u4f60\u7684<\/a>\u3002(zh\u00e8 b\u011bn sh\u016b sh\u00ec n\u01d0 de) This is your book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Quite often, you can associate \u7684 (de) with an apostrophe in English, indicating possession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5c0f\u732b\u7684\u773c\u775b<\/a>\u3002 (xi\u01ceo m\u0101o de y\u01cen jing) The cat\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When \u5417 (ma) is added to the end of a question, a statement becomes a yes-no question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5979\u662f\u6cd5\u56fd\u4eba\u5417<\/a>\uff1f (t\u0101 sh\u00ec f\u01ce gu\u00f3 r\u00e9n ma?) Is she French?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4f60\u4f1a\u8bf4\u4e2d\u6587\u5417<\/a>\uff1f (n\u01d0 hu\u00ec shu\u014d zh\u014dng w\u00e9n ma?) Can you speak Chinese?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4f60\u4eec\u6709\u8349\u8393\u5417<\/a>\uff1f (n\u01d0 men y\u01d2u c\u01ceo m\u00e9i ma?) Do you have strawberries?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The response to these questions can often just be the statement minus the \u5417 (ma) and with the addition of the negation (\u4e0d or \u6ca1) depending on the situation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5979\u4e0d\u662f (\u6cd5\u56fd\u4eba)<\/a>\u3002(t\u0101 b\u00fa sh\u00ec ( f\u01ce gu\u00f3 r\u00e9n)) She isn\u2019t (French).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u4f1a\u8bf4\u4e2d\u6587<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 hu\u00ec shu\u014d zh\u014dng w\u00e9n) I can speak Chinese. (You can also say \u4f1a\u4e00\u70b9<\/a> (hu\u00ec y\u012b di\u01cen), meaning \u2018yes, I can a little\u2019.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n (\u6211\u4eec) \u6ca1\u6709 (\u8349\u8393)<\/a>\u3002((w\u01d2 men) m\u00e9i y\u01d2u (c\u01ceo m\u00e9i)) (We) don\u2019t have (strawberries).<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might want to recap #5 to learn how to negate verbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A time phrase, such as \u4e0a\u5348<\/a> (sh\u00e0ng w\u01d4) or \u4eca\u5929<\/a> (j\u012bn ti\u0101n), comes after the subject but before the sentence predicate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Subject + time phrase + predicate<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u6bcf\u5929\u90fd\u8981\u5de5\u4f5c<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 m\u011bi ti\u0101n d\u014du y\u00e0o g\u014dng zu\u00f2) I work every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If time is emphasized, it can come before the subject:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Time phrase + subject + predicate<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6628\u5929\u4ed6\u4e0d\u592a\u8212\u670d<\/a>\u3002(zu\u00f3 ti\u0101n t\u0101 b\u00f9 t\u00e0i sh\u016b fu) Yesterday he wasn\u2019t well. (a bit uncomfortable)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since verbs don\u2019t change in Chinese, the \u4e86 (le) particle can be used to indicate that something has been done or completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Verb + \u4e86 (le)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4f60\u7626\u4e86<\/a>\u3002(n\u01d0 sh\u00f2u le) You\u2019ve lost weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u61c2\u4e86<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 d\u01d2ng le) I understand! (now)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4ed6\u53bb\u4e0a\u8bfe\u4e86<\/a>\u3002(t\u0101 q\u00f9 sh\u00e0ng k\u00e8 le) He had class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most of the time, the subject goes at the beginning of a sentence. The subject is the person or thing that is doing something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4f60\u53bb\u54ea\u513f<\/a>\uff1f (n\u01d0 q\u00f9 n\u01cer?) Where are you going\uff1f<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u8fd9\u662f\u4ec0\u4e48<\/a>? (zh\u00e8 sh\u00ec sh\u00e9n me) What is this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5979\u662f\u8c01<\/a>\uff1f(t\u0101 sh\u00ec sh\u00e9i?) Who is her?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4f60\u73b0\u5728\u6709\u7a7a\u5417<\/a>\uff1f(n\u01d0 xi\u00e0n z\u00e0i y\u01d2u k\u00f2ng ma?) Are you available now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re comfortable with these 10 rules, you might want to look at the following posts on more specific Chinese sentence patterns:<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Use \u5728<\/a> (z\u00e0i) to indicate location<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
3. Use \u6709<\/a> (y\u01d2u) to say \u2018to have\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
4. Use \u8981<\/a> (y\u00e0o) to say \u2018want\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5. Use \u4e0d (b\u00f9) and \u6ca1\u6709 (m\u00e9i y\u01d2u) to negate verbs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
6. Use \u7684 (de) to indicate possession<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
7. \u5417 to ask yes-no questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
8. Time Phrase position<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
9. Verb + \u4e86<\/a> (le) to indicate a change of state.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
10. Begin with the Subject<\/h2>\n\n\n\n