Suddenly, finally, actually, on purpose, while you are at it, and other words that shade a verb.
A Chinese adverb stands after the subject and before the verb — not at the start or end of the sentence, where English often puts “suddenly” or “finally”: 他终于来了. A few may also open the sentence, among them 其实, 突然 and 当然, but the safe place is just before the verb. Several have no single English equivalent: 只好 is “had no choice but to”, 顺便 is “while you are at it”.
The words
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Adverb (40)
突然suddenly; suddenAdverb3
我们正在吃饭，灯突然灭了。We were in the middle of eating when the lights suddenly went out.
Also an adjective: 太突然了, “that is so sudden”.
终于finally; at lastAdverb3
等了一个小时，车终于来了。We waited an hour, and the bus finally came.
Something long awaited; “lastly” in a list is 最后.
其实actually; in factAdverb3
大家都以为他是老师，其实他是学生。Everyone thought he was a teacher; actually he is a student.
当然of course; naturallyAdverb2
“能帮我一下吗？”“当然可以。”“Could you give me a hand?” “Of course.”
尤其especially; particularlyAdverb3
我喜欢吃水果，尤其是西瓜。I like fruit, especially watermelon.
只好to have no choice but toAdverb3
最后一班车已经走了，我只好打车回家。The last bus had gone, so I had no choice but to take a taxi home.
几乎almost; nearlyAdverb3
你不说我几乎忘了这件事。If you had not mentioned it, I would almost have forgotten about it.
一直all along; continuously; straightAdverb3
雨从早上一直下到晚上。It rained without stopping from morning till night.
Also “straight on”: 一直往前走.
互相each other; mutuallyAdverb3
同学们应该互相帮助。Classmates should help each other.
Stands before the verb; English “each other” comes after it.
尽量as far as possible; to do one’s best toAdverb3
我会尽量早点儿回来。I will try to be back as early as I can.
尽 is read jǐn here.
按时on time; at the set timeAdverb3
这种药一定要按时吃。You must take this medicine at the right times.
恐怕I am afraid that; probablyAdverb3
这么晚了，商店恐怕已经关门了。It is so late; I am afraid the shops will already be closed.
A guess about something unwelcome, not fear itself.
越来越more and moreAdverb3
天气越来越冷了。The weather is getting colder and colder.
十分very; extremelyAdverb3
听到这个消息，大家都十分高兴。Everyone was extremely pleased to hear the news.
A little more formal than 非常.
完全completely; entirelyAdverb3
我完全忘了今天是她的生日。I completely forgot that today is her birthday.
到处everywhereAdverb3
春天到了，公园里到处都是花。Spring has come, and there are flowers everywhere in the park.
赶快quickly; at onceAdverb3
要下雨了，我们赶快回家吧。It is about to rain; let’s hurry home.
赶紧hurry up and; without delayAdverb3
电影快开始了，赶紧进去吧！The film is about to start — get inside, quick!
Spoken; very close to 赶快.
重新again; anew; from scratchAdverb3
这篇作文写得不好，我想重新写。This essay is not good; I want to write it again from scratch.
Starting over; a simple repeat is 再.
故意on purpose; deliberatelyAdverb3
对不起，我不是故意的。Sorry, I did not do it on purpose.
顺便while you are at it; on the wayAdverb3
你去超市的话，顺便帮我买点儿牛奶。If you are going to the supermarket, could you get me some milk while you are there?
专门specially; for the sole purpose ofAdverb3
他专门从上海来看我。He came all the way from Shanghai just to see me.
确实really; indeedAdverb3
你说得对，这件事确实是我错了。You are right; I really was wrong about this.
亲自in person; personallyAdverb3
这件事很重要，我得亲自去一趟。This matters a lot; I need to go in person.
却but; yetAdverb3
他说要来，却一直没来。He said he would come, yet he never did.
Stands after the subject, never before it as English “but” does.
偷偷secretly; on the slyAdverb3
他上课的时候偷偷看手机。He secretly looks at his phone during lessons.
不停nonstop; without stoppingAdverb3
她一晚上都在不停地咳嗽。She was coughing nonstop all night.
根本(not) at all; simplyAdverb3
我根本不认识他。I do not know him at all.
Mostly with a negative.
实在really; trulyAdverb3
今天实在太累了，我不想出去。I really am too tired today; I do not want to go out.
绝对absolutely; definitelyAdverb3
这件事你绝对不能告诉别人。You absolutely must not tell anyone about this.
总算at long last; finallyAdverb3
下了一个星期的雨，今天总算晴了。After a week of rain, it has finally cleared up today.
Close to 终于, with a sense of relief.
正just (at that moment); exactlyAdverb3
我正要给你打电话，你就来了。I was just about to ring you when you turned up.
一块儿togetherAdverb3
下班以后我们一块儿去吃饭吧。Let’s go and eat together after work.
Spoken, mainly in the north; the same as 一起.
好好properly; thoroughly; wellAdverb3
考试前一天晚上要好好休息。The night before an exam you should rest properly.
慢慢slowly; graduallyAdverb3
别着急，慢慢说。Don’t rush — tell me slowly.
急忙hurriedly; in a rushAdverb3
听说孩子病了，她急忙跑回家。Hearing that her child was ill, she hurried home.
Tells what someone did; in a request use 赶快.
特意specially; on purposeAdverb3
这是我特意给你做的蛋糕。This is a cake I made specially for you.
全all; entirely; wholeAdverb3
我把作业全做完了。I have done all my homework.
往往often; tend toAdverb3
周末的时候，这条路往往很堵。At weekends this road tends to be jammed.
What tends to happen as a rule; for a plan or a wish use 常常.
尽快as soon as possibleAdverb3
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This list belongs to The scaffolding — 21 lists and 842 words that can also be practised as a whole.
Practise this list
Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.