Topic-Comment Structure: What Chinese Sentences Are Really About
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Chinese sentences start with the 'Topic' (what we are talking about) followed by the 'Comment' (what we say about it).
- The Topic always comes first: {我|wǒ} (I) {喜欢|xǐhuān} (like) {猫|māo} (cats).
- The Comment describes the Topic: {这|zhè} (this) {菜|cài} (dish) {很|hěn} (very) {辣|là} (spicy).
- No 'to be' verb needed between Topic and Comment: {他|tā} (he) {很|hěn} (very) {高|gāo} (tall).
Overview
Topic-Comment Basic Structure
| Topic | Comment (Adjective/Verb) | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
|
我
|
很累
|
我 很 累
|
I am tired
|
|
他
|
很高
|
他 很 高
|
He is tall
|
|
这
|
很好
|
这 很 好
|
This is good
|
|
天气
|
很冷
|
天气 很 冷
|
The weather is cold
|
|
猫
|
很可爱
|
猫 很 可爱
|
Cats are cute
|
|
工作
|
很忙
|
工作 很 忙
|
Work is busy
|
Meanings
Chinese is a topic-prominent language. The sentence structure focuses on establishing the subject or theme first, followed by the information provided about that theme.
Descriptive
Describing a state or quality of the topic.
“{这|zhè} {书|shū} {很|hěn} {好|hǎo}.”
“{他|tā} {很|hěn} {聪明|cōngmíng}.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Topic + Comment
|
{我|wǒ} {很|hěn} {饿|è}
|
|
Negative
|
Topic + 不 + Comment
|
{我|wǒ} {不|bù} {饿|è}
|
|
Question
|
Topic + Comment + 吗
|
{你|nǐ} {饿|è} {吗|ma}?
|
|
Adjective
|
Topic + 很 + Adj
|
{他|tā} {很|hěn} {高|gāo}
|
|
Verb
|
Topic + Verb
|
{我|wǒ} {去|qù} {学校|xuéxiào}
|
|
Time/Place
|
Time/Place + Topic + Comment
|
{今天|jīntiān} {我|wǒ} {很|hěn} {忙|máng}
|
Spectre de formalité
{今日|jīnrì} {天气|tiānqì} {甚|shèn} {佳|jiā}. (Talking about weather)
{今天|jīntiān} {天气|tiānqì} {很|hěn} {好|hǎo}. (Talking about weather)
{今天|jīntiān} {天气|tiānqì} {真|zhēn} {好|hǎo}! (Talking about weather)
{今天|jīntiān} {天气|tiānqì} {超|chāo} {赞|zàn}! (Talking about weather)
Topic-Comment Anatomy
Topic
- 我 I
- 天气 Weather
Comment
- 很累 very tired
- 很冷 very cold
Exemples par niveau
{我|wǒ} {很|hěn} {累|lèi}.
I am tired.
{这|zhè} {个|gè} {很|hěn} {好|hǎo}.
This is good.
{他|tā} {是|shì} {老师|lǎoshī}.
He is a teacher.
{猫|māo} {很|hěn} {可爱|kě'ài}.
Cats are cute.
{今天|jīntiān} {天气|tiānqì} {很|hěn} {好|hǎo}.
The weather is good today.
{这|zhè} {家|jiā} {饭店|fàndiàn} {菜|cài} {很|hěn} {辣|là}.
The food at this restaurant is spicy.
{我|wǒ} {不|bù} {想|xiǎng} {去|qù}.
I don't want to go.
{你|nǐ} {去|qù} {哪儿|nǎ'er}?
Where are you going?
{这|zhè} {件|jiàn} {衣服|yīfú} {颜色|yánsè} {很|hěn} {漂亮|piàoliang}.
The color of this shirt is beautiful.
{他|tā} {工作|gōngzuò} {很|hěn} {忙|máng}.
His work is very busy.
{这|zhè} {种|zhǒng} {水果|shuǐguǒ} {很|hěn} {甜|tián}.
This kind of fruit is sweet.
{我们|wǒmen} {明天|míngtiān} {去|qù} {看|kàn} {电影|diànyǐng}.
We are going to watch a movie tomorrow.
{这|zhè} {个|gè} {问题|wèntí} {我们|wǒmen} {需要|xūyào} {讨论|tǎolùn}.
This issue, we need to discuss.
{那|nà} {部|bù} {电影|diànyǐng} {我|wǒ} {看|kàn} {过|guò}.
That movie, I have seen it.
{他|tā} {身体|shēntǐ} {不|bù} {太|tài} {舒服|shūfú}.
He is not feeling very well.
{这|zhè} {里|lǐ} {的|de} {人|rén} {很|hěn} {热情|rèqíng}.
The people here are very warm.
{这|zhè} {项|xiàng} {技术|jìshù} {应用|yìngyòng} {前景|qiánjǐng} {很|hěn} {广阔|guǎngkuò}.
The application prospects of this technology are broad.
{关于|guānyú} {这|zhè} {个|gè} {项目|xiàngmù} {我们|wǒmen} {有|yǒu} {新|xīn} {的|de} {想法|xiǎngfǎ}.
Regarding this project, we have new ideas.
{他|tā} {对|duì} {这|zhè} {个|gè} {领域|lǐngyù} {很|hěn} {了解|liǎojiě}.
He is very knowledgeable about this field.
{这|zhè} {种|zhǒng} {现象|xiànxiàng} {在|zài} {社会|shèhuì} {中|zhōng} {很|hěn} {常见|chángjiàn}.
This phenomenon is common in society.
{这|zhè} {种|zhǒng} {观点|guāndiǎn} {在|zài} {学术界|xuéshùjiè} {引起|yǐnqǐ} {了|le} {很大|hěndà} {的|de} {争议|zhēngyì}.
This viewpoint has caused great controversy in academia.
{对于|duìyú} {未来|wèilái} {的|de} {发展|fāzhǎn} {我们|wǒmen} {保持|bǎochí} {乐观|lèguān} {态度|tàidù}.
Regarding future development, we maintain an optimistic attitude.
{这|zhè} {项|xiàng} {政策|zhèngcè} {对|duì} {经济|jīngjì} {有|yǒu} {深远|shēnyuǎn} {影响|yǐngxiǎng}.
This policy has a profound impact on the economy.
{这|zhè} {里|lǐ} {的|de} {文化|wénhuà} {底蕴|dǐyùn} {非常|fēicháng} {深厚|shēnhòu}.
The cultural heritage here is extremely profound.
Facile à confondre
Learners often try to force SVO (Subject-Verb-Object) into Chinese.
Learners forget 'hěn' before adjectives.
Learners use 'shì' for everything.
Erreurs courantes
{我|wǒ} {是|shì} {很|hěn} {累|lèi}
{我|wǒ} {很|hěn} {累|lèi}
{很|hěn} {我|wǒ} {累|lèi}
{我|wǒ} {很|hěn} {累|lèi}
{我|wǒ} {累|lèi} {吗|ma}
{你|nǐ} {累|lèi} {吗|ma}
{我|wǒ} {不|bù} {是|shì} {累|lèi}
{我|wǒ} {不|bù} {累|lèi}
{今天|jīntiān} {是|shì} {很|hěn} {热|rè}
{今天|jīntiān} {很|hěn} {热|rè}
{这|zhè} {书|shū} {是|shì} {好|hǎo}
{这|zhè} {书|shū} {很|hěn} {好|hǎo}
{他|tā} {很|hěn} {高|gāo} {吗|ma} {不|bù}
{他|tā} {高|gāo} {吗|ma}
{关于|guānyú} {他|tā} {是|shì} {很|hěn} {聪明|cōngmíng}
{关于|guānyú} {他|tā}, {他|tā} {很|hěn} {聪明|cōngmíng}
{这|zhè} {个|gè} {项目|xiàngmù} {是|shì} {重要|zhòngyào}
{这|zhè} {个|gè} {项目|xiàngmù} {很|hěn} {重要|zhòngyào}
{我|wǒ} {不|bù} {是|shì} {想|xiǎng} {去|qù}
{我|wǒ} {不|bù} {想|xiǎng} {去|qù}
{这|zhè} {种|zhǒng} {情况|qíngkuàng} {是|shì} {常见|chángjiàn}
{这|zhè} {种|zhǒng} {情况|qíngkuàng} {很|hěn} {常见|chángjiàn}
{他|tā} {对|duì} {这|zhè} {是|shì} {了解|liǎojiě}
{他|tā} {对|duì} {这|zhè} {很|hěn} {了解|liǎojiě}
{我们|wǒmen} {是|shì} {保持|bǎochí} {乐观|lèguān}
{我们|wǒmen} {保持|bǎochí} {乐观|lèguān}
Structures de phrases
___ 很 ___
___ 不 ___
___ 吗?
___, ___ 很 ___
Real World Usage
{我|wǒ} {到|dào} {了|le}.
{这|zhè} {个|gè} {不|bù} {辣|là}.
{今天|jīntiān} {很|hěn} {开心|kāixīn}!
{我|wǒ} {有|yǒu} {经验|jīngyàn}.
{这|zhè} {里|lǐ} {很|hěn} {美|měi}.
{这|zhè} {个|gè} {很|hěn} {好|hǎo} {吃|chī}.
Drop the 'is'
Don't over-use 'shì'
Topic-fronting
Be direct
Smart Tips
Always add 'hěn' to sound natural.
Use 'ma' at the end for yes/no.
Put 'bù' before the verb or adjective.
Put time first.
Prononciation
Tone Sandhi
When two third tones meet, the first becomes a second tone.
Question intonation
Sentence + ma? (rising)
Indicates a yes/no question.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of a news broadcast: The anchor says the Topic (Headline) first, then gives the Comment (Details).
Association visuelle
Imagine a label maker. You stick a label on an object (Topic), then write a description on the label (Comment).
Rhyme
Topic first, comment next, that's how you write Chinese text.
Story
I walk into a room. I point to the cat (Topic). I say 'cute' (Comment). My friend points to the coffee (Topic). He says 'hot' (Comment). We are speaking Chinese!
Word Web
Défi
Describe 5 things in your room using the [Topic] + [Comment] structure in 5 minutes.
Notes culturelles
Topic-comment is used in all formal and informal settings.
Often uses more particles like 'a' at the end of topics.
Influenced by Cantonese, sometimes drops 'hěn' in casual speech.
Topic-comment structure is an ancient feature of Sinitic languages, reflecting a focus on context over rigid subject-predicate agreement.
Amorces de conversation
{你|nǐ} {饿|è} {吗|ma}?
{今天|jīntiān} {天气|tiānqì} {怎么样|zěnmeyàng}?
{你|nǐ} {工作|gōngzuò} {忙|máng} {吗|ma}?
{这|zhè} {部|bù} {电影|diànyǐng} {你|nǐ} {看|kàn} {过|guò} {吗|ma}?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
{我|wǒ} ___ {累|lèi}.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
{他|tā} {是|shì} {高|gāo}.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
He is not tall.
Answer starts with: 他 不...
A: {你|nǐ} {饿|è} {吗|ma}? B: ___.
{天气|tiānqì} + {冷|lěng}
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Exercices pratiques
8 exercises{我|wǒ} ___ {累|lèi}.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
{他|tā} {是|shì} {高|gāo}.
{很|hěn} / {我|wǒ} / {累|lèi}
He is not tall.
A: {你|nǐ} {饿|è} {吗|ma}? B: ___.
{天气|tiānqì} + {冷|lěng}
{我|wǒ} - {很|hěn} {忙|máng}
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
Chinese uses position and adjectives directly. 'Is' is only for equating nouns.
It's a modifier for adjectives. It doesn't always mean 'very' in this context.
Only if it's clear from context. Otherwise, keep it.
Just add 'bù' before the comment.
Yes, it's the standard structure for all levels.
You can have a main topic and a sub-topic.
Only in specific emphatic structures.
Describe everything you see in your room.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Wa-particle
Japanese marks the topic with a particle, Chinese marks it with position.
Subject-Verb-Object
English uses 'to be', Chinese uses position.
Ser/Estar
Spanish verb conjugation vs. Chinese lack thereof.
SVO/V2
German syntax is rigid, Chinese is topic-based.
Nominal Sentence
Arabic has gender/number agreement, Chinese does not.
SVO
French requires 'être', Chinese uses position.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
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