L'ordre des mots en chinois : La règle d'or (STPVO)
Sujet, Temps, Lieu, Verbe et Objet.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
In Chinese, the verb is the anchor; time and place always come before the action, never after.
- Time expressions go at the start or immediately after the subject: {今天|jīntiān} {我|wǒ} {吃饭|chīfàn}.
- Place expressions go before the verb: {我|wǒ} {在|zài} {学校|xuéxiǎo} {学习|xuéxí}.
- The object always follows the verb: {我|wǒ} {喝|hē} {茶|chá}.
Overview
Word Order Rules
- Français : Je t'aime.
- Chinese: 我 爱 你. (Je aime toi).
How This Grammar Works
Formation Pattern
Pattern Variations
- 明天 我 去 上海. (Demain je vais à Shanghai.)
Real Conversations
Speaker A: 你 周末 做 什么?
(Toi week-end fais quoi ?)
Speaker B: 我 星期六 在 家 玩 游戏.
(Moi samedi à la maison joue jeux.)
Common Mistakes
- ✗ 我 去 超市 现在.
- ✓ 我 现在 去 超市.
Quick FAQ
Habituellement, non. Le rythme standard est Temps d'abord, puis Lieu.
L'ordre des mots chinois ne change pas pour les questions ! Vous remplacez simplement la réponse par un mot interrogatif.
STPVO Sentence Construction
| Subject | Time | Place | Verb | Object |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
我
|
今天
|
在学校
|
学习
|
中文
|
|
他
|
明天
|
在图书馆
|
看
|
书
|
|
我们
|
晚上
|
在餐厅
|
吃
|
饭
|
|
她
|
下午
|
在公园
|
跑步
|
-
|
|
老师
|
现在
|
在教室
|
教
|
课
|
|
你
|
周末
|
在家
|
休息
|
-
|
Common Omissions
| Full Sentence | Casual Shortened Form |
|---|---|
|
我今天在学校学习
|
今天在学校学习
|
|
你在哪儿吃饭？
|
在哪儿吃饭？
|
Meanings
This rule dictates the mandatory sequence of sentence components in Mandarin Chinese, prioritizing context (time/place) before the action.
Standard Declarative
The baseline structure for stating facts or actions.
“{他|tā} {今天|jīntiān} {去|qù} {北京|běijīng}.”
“{我们|wǒmen} {晚上|wǎnshang} {在|zài} {餐厅|cāntīng} {吃饭|chīfàn}.”
Reference Table
| Ordre | Composant | Chinois | Traduction littérale |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Sujet
|
{我|Wǒ}
|
Je
|
|
2
|
Temps
|
{今天|jīntiān}
|
aujourd'hui
|
|
3
|
Lieu
|
{在|zài} {公司|gōngsī}
|
à l'entreprise
|
|
4
|
Verbe
|
{开|kāi}
|
tenir (faire)
|
|
5
|
Objet
|
{会|huì}
|
une réunion
|
Spectre de formalité
本人在家中用餐。 (Daily life)
我在家吃饭。 (Daily life)
我在家吃呢。 (Daily life)
在家造饭呢。 (Daily life)
L'épine dorsale de la phrase
Zone Avant-Verbe
- Temps Quand ?
- Lieu Où ?
- Manière Comment ?
Zone Après-Verbe
- Objet Quoi ?
- Durée Combien de temps ?
Flux Français vs Chinois
Où placer le mot ?
Est-ce un Temps ou un Lieu ?
Est-ce l'Objet (reçoit l'action) ?
Modificateurs Pré-Verbe
Mots de Temps
- • {今天|jīntiān} (Aujourd'hui)
- • {明天|míngtiān} (Demain)
- • {现在|xiànzài} (Maintenant)
Mots de Lieu
- • {加|zài} {家|jiā} (À la maison)
- • {在|zài} {学校|xuéxiào} (À l'école)
- • {在|zài} {这里|zhèlǐ} (Ici)
Exemples par niveau
{我|wǒ} {今天|jīntiān} {在|zài} {家|jiā} {看|kàn} {书|shū}.
I read books at home today.
{他|tā} {明天|míngtiān} {去|qù} {学校|xuéxiǎo}.
He goes to school tomorrow.
{我们|wǒmen} {晚上|wǎnshang} {吃饭|chīfàn}.
We eat dinner in the evening.
{她|tā} {在|zài} {北京|běijīng} {工作|gōngzuò}.
She works in Beijing.
{昨天|zuótiān} {我|wǒ} {在|zài} {商店|shāngdiàn} {买|mǎi} {了|le} {衣服|yīfu}.
Yesterday I bought clothes at the store.
{你|nǐ} {现在|xiànzài} {在|zài} {哪儿|nǎr} {喝|hē} {咖啡|kāfēi}?
Where are you drinking coffee now?
{他们|tāmen} {下午|xiàwǔ} {在|zài} {公园|gōngyuán} {踢|tī} {足球|zúqiú}.
They play soccer in the park in the afternoon.
{我|wǒ} {不|bù} {在|zài} {办公室|bàngōngshì} {休息|xiūxi}.
I don't rest in the office.
{为了|wèile} {考试|kǎoshì}, {我|wǒ} {每天|měitiān} {在|zài} {图书馆|túshūguǎn} {学习|xuéxí} {三|sān} {个|gè} {小时|xiǎoshí}.
For the exam, I study for three hours in the library every day.
{虽然|suīrán} {很|hěn} {累|lèi}, {但|dàn} {我|wǒ} {还是|háishì} {在|zài} {健身房|jiànshēnfáng} {锻炼|duànliàn}.
Although I'm tired, I still exercise at the gym.
{你|nǐ} {应该|yīnggāi} {在|zài} {会议室|huìyìshì} {讨论|tǎolùn} {这个|zhège} {问题|wèntí}.
You should discuss this problem in the meeting room.
{他|tā} {通常|tōngcháng} {在|zài} {周末|zhōumò} {去|qù} {超市|chāoshì} {买|mǎi} {菜|cài}.
He usually goes to the supermarket to buy groceries on weekends.
{经过|jīngguò} {深思熟虑|shēnsīshúlǜ}, {我|wǒ} {决定|juédìng} {在|zài} {上海|shànghǎi} {发展|fāzhǎn} {事业|shìyè}.
After careful consideration, I decided to develop my career in Shanghai.
{无论|wúlùn} {在|zài} {哪里|nǎlǐ}, {他|tā} {都|dōu} {坚持|jiānchí} {阅读|yuèdú}.
No matter where he is, he insists on reading.
{在|zài} {全球化|quánqiúhuà} {的|de} {背景|bèijǐng} {下|xià}, {企业|qǐyè} {必须|bìxū} {在|zài} {本地|běndì} {市场|shìchǎng} {创新|chuàngxīn}.
In the context of globalization, companies must innovate in the local market.
{他|tā} {不仅|bùjǐn} {在|zài} {学校|xuéxiǎo} {表现|biǎoxiàn} {优异|yōuyì}, {而且|érqiě} {在|zài} {社会|shèhuì} {实践|shíjiàn} {中|zhōng} {也|yě} {很|hěn} {活跃|huóyuè}.
He not only performs well at school but is also active in social practice.
{在|zài} {历史|lìshǐ} {的|de} {长河|chánghé} {中|zhōng}, {许多|xǔduō} {文明|wénmíng} {在|zài} {这片|zhèpiàn} {土地|tǔdì} {上|shàng} {繁荣|fánróng} {过|guò}.
In the long river of history, many civilizations have flourished on this land.
{为了|wèile} {实现|shíxiànxiàn} {目标|mùbiāo}, {我们|wǒmen} {必须|bìxū} {在|zài} {规定|guīdìng} {的|de} {时间|shíjiān} {内|nèi} {完成|wánchéng} {任务|rènwù}.
To achieve the goal, we must complete the task within the stipulated time.
{无论|wúlùn} {在|zài} {何种|hézhǒng} {情况|qíngkuàng} {下|xià}, {我们|wǒmen} {都|dōu} {应|yīng} {在|zài} {法律|fǎlǜ} {框架|kuàngjià} {内|nèi} {行事|xíngshì}.
No matter the situation, we should act within the legal framework.
{在|zài} {当今|dāngjīn} {社会|shèhuì}, {人们|rénmen} {在|zài} {追求|zhuīqiú} {物质|wùzhì} {财富|cáifù} {的|de} {同时|tóngshí}, {也|yě} {在|zài} {反思|fǎnsī} {精神|jīngshén} {价值|jiàzhí}.
In today's society, while people pursue material wealth, they are also reflecting on spiritual values.
{在|zài} {这|zhè} {错综复杂|cuòzōngfùzá} {的|de} {国际|guójì} {局势|júshì} {下|xià}, {各国|gèguó} {均|jūn} {在|zài} {寻求|xúnqiú} {新|xīn} {的|de} {平衡点|pínghéngdiǎn}.
Under this complex international situation, all countries are seeking a new balance point.
{在|zài} {文学|wénxué} {创作|chuàngzuò} {中|zhōng}, {作者|zuòzhě} {往往|wǎngwǎng} {在|zài} {虚构|xūgòu} {的|de} {世界|shìjiè} {里|lǐ} {映射|yìngshè} {现实|xiànshí}.
In literary creation, authors often project reality into a fictional world.
{在|zài} {科学|kēxué} {研究|yánjiū} {的|de} {道路|dàolù} {上|shàng}, {学者|xuézhě} {们|men} {在|zài} {实验室|shíyànshì} {里|lǐ} {日以继夜|rìyǐjìyè} {地|de} {探索|tànsuǒ} {真理|zhēnlǐ}.
On the path of scientific research, scholars explore truth day and night in the laboratory.
{在|zài} {传统|chuántǒng} {文化|wénhuà} {的|de} {熏陶|xūntáo} {下|xià}, {他|tā} {在|zài} {艺术|yìshù} {领域|lǐngyù} {展现|zhǎnxiàn} {出|chū} {独特|dútè} {的|de} {才华|cáihuá}.
Under the influence of traditional culture, he shows unique talent in the field of art.
Facile à confondre
Learners often swap time and place.
Learners put the object before the verb.
Forgetting 'zai' before a place.
Erreurs courantes
我吃饭在学校
我在学校吃饭
我明天去
我明天去
在学校我学习
我在学校学习
我学习在学校
我在学校学习
我吃在餐厅饭
我在餐厅吃饭
明天在学校我学习
我明天在学校学习
我学习中文在学校
我在学校学习中文
我打算在学校学习中文明天
我明天打算在学校学习中文
他想去北京明天
他明天想去北京
我们讨论在会议室
我们在会议室讨论
在历史上许多文明繁荣过在这片土地上
在历史上许多文明在这片土地上繁荣过
他完成任务在规定时间内
他在规定时间内完成任务
人们追求物质财富在当今社会
人们在当今社会追求物质财富
Structures de phrases
我 ___ 在 ___ 学习。
___ 在 ___ 吃饭。
我 ___ 在 ___ 看书。
___ 明天在 ___ 工作。
Real World Usage
我明天在学校见。
我在家点外卖。
我去年在公司工作。
我明天去机场。
今天在公园跑步。
我在教室学习。
La Règle d'Or
Ne traduis pas le 'pour'
L'importance du sujet
Smart Tips
Always put 'zai' + place before the verb.
Put time before the verb.
Keep the STPVO order and add 'ma'.
Put 'bu' before the verb.
Prononciation
Tone Sandhi
When {在|zài} is followed by a place, ensure the tone is clear.
Statement
Subject-Time-Place-Verb-Object ↓
Falling intonation for facts.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of a train: The Subject is the engine, Time and Place are the passengers who board before the train (Verb) leaves, and the Object is the luggage in the back.
Association visuelle
Imagine a person (Subject) checking their watch (Time) while standing at a bus stop (Place), then boarding the bus (Verb) with their suitcase (Object).
Rhyme
Time and Place must come before, the verb is the golden door.
Story
Xiao Ming is very organized. Every day, he checks his watch (Time) at his desk (Place) before he starts his work (Verb). He never puts his work before his desk, or he gets confused!
Word Web
Défi
Write 5 sentences about your day using the STPVO formula in 5 minutes.
Notes culturelles
The STPVO structure is taught in all schools as the standard.
Similar structure, but often uses more particles.
Influenced by Cantonese, but standard Mandarin follows STPVO.
Chinese word order evolved from early SVO structures in Old Chinese.
Amorces de conversation
你今天在哪儿吃饭？
你明天去哪儿？
你通常在周末做什么？
你为什么在图书馆学习？
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
Score: /3
Exercices pratiques
8 exercises在/我/学校/学习
我明天 ___ 学校学习。
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
他去北京明天。
我/晚上/餐厅/吃饭
我/明天/在/家/学习
Which is correct?
我们 ___ 晚上吃饭。
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercises{他|Tā} / {图书馆|túshūguǎn} / {在|zài} / {看|kàn} / {书|shū}
Lequel signifie 'Je travaille ici' ?
J'étudie le chinois demain.
{弟弟|Dìdi} ___ {去|qù} {学校|xuéxiào}. (Matin)
Associe la logique
{我|Wǒ} {喝|hē} {茶|chá} {每天|měitiān}.
{我|Wǒ} / {跟|gēn} {朋友|péngyou} / {在|zài} {家|jiā} / {吃|chī}
Dans '{我|Wǒ} {在|zài} {美国|Měiguó} {住|zhù}', quelle partie est le Lieu ?
{我|Wǒ} ___ {下午|xiàwǔ} {看|kàn} {书|shū}.
{我|Wǒ} / {不想|bù xiǎng} / {明天|míngtiān} / {去|qù}
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
No, that is grammatically incorrect in standard Chinese.
The STPVO rule applies to the main verb.
Yes, standard Mandarin follows this.
It marks the location.
Yes, in casual speech.
Yes, just add 'ma'.
They have a different structure.
Write daily sentences.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
SVO + Time/Place
Chinese forbids time/place at the end.
SVO + Time/Place
Chinese is rigid.
SVO + Time/Place
Chinese is SVO.
SOV
Chinese is SVO.
VSO
Chinese is SVO.
STPVO
None.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Vidéos associées
Related Grammar Rules
Possession et existence : 'Avoir' et 'Il y a' ({有|yǒu})
Overview Vous avez déjà fait défiler votre flux Instagram en pensant : « Je veux ce qu'ils ont » ? Ou peut-être êtes-vo...
Souligner des détails avec 是...的 (shì...de)
Ton ami vient de poster une superbe photo de Tokyo sur Instagram. Tu sais déjà qu'il est allé au Japon. C'est un fait ét...
Expliquer le « Pourquoi » (之所以...是因为...)
### Overview Salut à toi ! En tant que francophone apprenant le chinois, tu connais déjà sûrement la structure classiqu...
Expliquer le 'Pourquoi' : Mettre l'accent sur les raisons (之所以...是因为...)
### Overview Salut à toi, futur expert du chinois ! On s'attaque aujourd'hui à une structure qui va faire passer ton ch...
Structures formelles Thème-Commentaire : Guanyu, Zhiyu et Lun (关于、至于、论)
### Overview En tant que francophones, nous avons l'habitude de structurer nos phrases autour d'un sujet grammatical ri...
