Chinese Grammar Hub

Understand Chinese Grammar Faster

Browse the grammar system by level and category, then open clear explanations with practical examples.

399 Total Rules
73 Chapters
6 CEFR level
Understand Chinese Grammar Faster

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Active filters: CEFR level: B2
B2 Particles Verified

The Three 'De' Particles: 的, 地, 得 Explained

Distinguish the three 'de' particles by checking if they modify a noun, a verb, or express a result.

  • Use `的` before nouns to describe things or show p...
  • Use `地` before verbs to describe how an action is...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Particles Verified

The 'Obviousness' Particle 嘛 (ma)

Use 嘛 at the end of a sentence to signal that your statement is obvious, expected, or common sense.

  • Indicates obviousness or "duh" logic
  • Softens advice or suggestions
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Complement System Verified

Result Complement 到 (dào): Success and Arrival

Use Verb + 到 to show an action successfully hit its target or reached a specific point.

  • Used after verbs to indicate success, achievement,...
  • Commonly used with senses: seeing (看到), hearing...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Complement System Verified

Result Complement 好 (hǎo): Finished & Ready

Use {好|hǎo} after a verb to show you didn't just finish a task, but you nailed it or are ready for what's next.

  • Verb + {好|hǎo} = Finished + Ready/Good
  • Implies satisfaction or readiness for next step
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Complement System Verified

Result Complement: Fixing & Stopping (住)

Use `住` (zhù) to show that an action has successfully fixed, stopped, or stabilized something in place.

  • Used after verbs to indicate fixation, stability,...
  • Commonly used for physical grabbing, mental rememb...
12 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Complement System Verified

Result Complement 光 (guāng): All Gone!

Use {光|guāng} after a verb when the result is that absolutely nothing remains of the object.

  • Indicates total depletion or emptiness
  • Stronger than just 'finishing' (完)
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Advanced Patterns Verified

The 'Put' Pattern: Moving Objects in Chinese (把)

Use `把` to describe how a specific object was handled, moved, or changed by an action.

  • Moves the object before the verb to show what happ...
  • Requires a specific object that is already known t...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Advanced Patterns Verified

The 把 (Bǎ) Construction: Taking Charge of Objects

Think of `把` as a handle that moves the object before the verb to focus on the result of an action.

  • Use `把` to highlight what happens to an object.
  • Structure: Subject + `把` + Object + Verb + Result...
11 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Advanced Patterns Verified

The 把 (Ba) Construction: Taking & Moving Things

Use the 把 construction to highlight how you move, handle, or dispose of a specific object.

  • Structure: Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + Directio...
  • Object must be specific (the book, not a book).
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Advanced Patterns Verified

The 'Ba' Structure: Taking Charge of Objects

Use {把|bǎ} when you want to highlight how you handled, moved, or changed a specific object.

  • Structure: Subject + {把|bǎ} + Object + Verb + Res...
  • Used for moving, changing, or finishing specific o...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Advanced Patterns Verified

Moving Objects: Using 把 with 在, 到, and 给

Use `把` with `在`, `到`, or `给` to describe moving a specific object to a final destination.

  • Uses `把` to move objects to locations or people.
  • Follows the pattern: Subject + 把 + Object + Verb...
12 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Advanced Patterns Verified

Where to put "Not" in Bǎ Sentences (Before, never after!)

Always place `méiyǒu` {没有|méiyǒu}, `bù` {不|bù}, or `bié` {别|bié} **before** the `bǎ` {把|bǎ}, never after it.

  • Negation words always go BEFORE `bǎ`
  • Use `méiyǒu` {没有|méiyǒu} for past actions
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Advanced Patterns Verified

Chinese Passive Voice: Something was done (被)

Use `被` (bèi) to show what happened to someone, especially in negative or accidental situations.

  • Used for passive voice when someone/something is a...
  • Usually implies a negative or unexpected outcome f...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Advanced Patterns Verified

Passive Voice with 被 (Bèi): The 'Victim' Sentence

Use `{被|bèi}` to focus on what happened to the object, especially for unfortunate events or when the doer is unknown.

  • Used for passive voice sentences.
  • Structure: Receiver + 被 + Doer + Verb + Result.
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Advanced Patterns Verified

The Passive 'bèi' (被): How Things Happen to You

The 被 (bèi) construction expresses the passive voice, usually highlighting unfortunate events or changes in an object's state.

  • Used to show something happened to the subject, of...
  • Structure: Receiver + 被 + (Agent) + Verb + Result...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Advanced Patterns Verified

The Colloquial Passive (给)

Use 给 before a verb in passive sentences to sound more natural and colloquial when something happens.

  • Adds colloquial 'flavor' to passive sentences usin...
  • Place 给 immediately before the main verb to empha...
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Advanced Patterns Verified

Chinese Passive Vibe: How to use '受到' (shòudào)

Use `受到` to describe receiving abstract things like attention, praise, or influence in a natural, passive way.

  • Used with abstract nouns for passive-like meanings...
  • Commonly used for reactions, praise, or influence.
10 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Advanced Patterns Verified

Casual Passive with {让/叫|ràng/jiào}

Use {让|ràng} or {叫|jiào} plus a doer to form casual passive sentences like "My cake got eaten by him."

  • Informal alternative to {被|bèi}
  • Means "by" in passive sentences
11 examples 8 exercises 8 FAQ
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B2 Time Expressions Verified

Approximate Numbers: Using {左右|zuǒyòu} (Around/Ish)

Place {左右|zuǒyòu} after a quantity to express an approximate 'around-ish' value for time, age, or measurements.

  • Used after numbers to mean 'around' or 'approximat...
  • Works with time, age, money, and measurements.
11 examples 1 exercises 1 FAQ
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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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