In Chinese, repeating a verb softens the action, making it sound casual or tentative. Single-syllable verbs: AA pattern like 看看 (take a look) or A一A pattern like 走一走 (take a walk). Two-syllable...

• Repeat a verb to soften the action.
• One-syllable: AA or A一A.

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A1 Comparisons Verified

Expressing Equality: 'As... as' (A 跟 B 一样)

Connect two things with '跟' and end with '一样' to express equality or 'as... as' comparisons.

• Use 'A 跟 B 一样' to say two things are the same.
• Add an adjective at the end for specific qualities...

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A1 Conjunctions & Connectors Verified

Using `除了...以外` (chúle...yǐwài) for 'Besides' and 'Except For'

This pattern says 'except for' (with 都 dōu) or 'besides' (with 还 hái / 也 yě).

• Use with `都` (dōu) to mean 'except for'.
• Use with `还` (hái) or `也` (yě) to mean 'in addit...

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A1 Complement System Verified

Chinese Resultative Complement: Capturing & Preserving with 'xiàlái' (下来)

Use `下来` to describe 'saving' information, capturing photos, or stopping an action into a stable state.

• Used after verbs to show completion and retention...
• Commonly used for writing down, recording, or phot...

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A1 Complement System Verified

Keep Going: The Magic of {下去|xiàqù}

Add {下去|xiàqù} after a verb to indicate that an action should continue from now into the future.

• Adds "keep doing" meaning to verbs
• Structure: Verb + {下去|xiàqù}

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A1 Measure Words Verified

Not Even One: Emphatic Negation (连...都不)

Emphasize zero quantity by placing 'one + measure word' or 'a little bit' before the negative verb.

• Expresses 'not even one' or 'not at all'.
• Moves the object before the verb.

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A1 Sentence Structure Verified

Neither... Nor... ({不...不...|bù...bù...})

Use {不...不...|bù...bù...} with opposite adjectives to describe something that is moderate, average, or perfectly in between.

• Structure: {不|bù} + Adj + {不|bù} + Adj
• Means 'neither X nor Y'

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A1 Conjunctions & Connectors Verified

Using `别说...就连...` (biéshuō...jiùlián...) to say 'let alone'

This pattern emphasizes an extreme situation by showing that even a much simpler version isn't possible.

• Use `别说 A, 就连 B 都...` to say 'let alone A, ev...
• A is the extreme thing; B is the simpler thing.

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A1 Questions Verified

Chinese 'Why Bother': 何必 (hébì)

Use {何必|hébì} to rhetorically ask 'why bother?' and gently tell someone their action is unnecessary.

• Translates to 'why bother' or 'no need'.
• Always used as a rhetorical question.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Chinese Grammar

SubLearn covers 399 Chinese grammar rules organized across 6 CEFR proficiency levels (from A1 to C2), spanning 73 structured chapters. Each rule includes clear explanations, real-world examples, and interactive practice exercises.

Our Chinese grammar curriculum covers CEFR levels from A1 to C2. Each level is designed to match your current proficiency — beginners start with basic sentence patterns at A1, while advanced learners tackle nuanced structures at C1-C2.

Yes! All Chinese grammar rules, explanations, and examples are completely free to access. You can browse the full curriculum, read detailed explanations, and practice with exercises at no cost.

Grammar is organized into 73 thematic chapters following the CEFR framework. Each chapter groups related rules together — for example, verb tenses, sentence structure, or particles — so you can learn related concepts in a logical sequence.

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