A1 Sentence Structure 1 min read

Topic-Comment Structure: What Chinese Sentences Are Really About

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Chinese sentences often start with a topic.
  • Topic sets the scene, comment says something about it.
  • The topic does not have to be the grammatical subject.

Overview

Chinese is a topic-prominent language. Many sentences start with a topic (what we are talking about), followed by a comment (what we say about it). The topic does not have to be the grammatical subject. Pattern: Topic + Comment. This is fundamental to natural-sounding Chinese.

exemples 3

#1

这本书,我看过了。

This book, I have read (it).

#2

中国菜,我最喜欢四川菜。

As for Chinese food, I like Sichuan food the most.

#3

那个人,我不认识。

That person, I do not know (them).

🎯

Topic Sets the Scene

The topic sets the scene; the comment says something about it. Many Chinese sentences that seem weird in English make perfect sense as topic-comment.
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