Adverbs that colour a sentence: stubbornness and resignation, exaggeration, haste, secrecy and repetition.
A good deal of what English says with tone of voice, Chinese says with an adverb placed after the subject and before the verb. 偏偏 complains that things went against you, 反正 shrugs that it makes no difference, 简直 exaggerates, and 何必 asks why anyone would bother. Several come in a spoken and a written form that mean the same, such as 仍然 and 依然, or 不禁 and 忍不住; recognising both is part of reading.
The words
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Adverb (40)
简直simply; practically (exaggerating)Adverb5
这道题简直太难了，全班只有一个人做对了。This question was simply too hard: only one person in the whole class got it right.
Exaggerates; often with 太…了 or 像.
偏偏as luck would have it; (stubbornly) just, contrary to what is expectedAdverb5
我今天没带伞，偏偏下起雨来了。I didn't bring an umbrella today, and of course it started to rain.
Also of a person doing exactly what they were told not to: 他偏偏不听.
反正anyway; in any caseAdverb4
你别着急，反正还有时间。Don't worry, there's still time anyway.
何必why bother; there is no needAdverb5
一点儿小事，何必生这么大的气呢？It's such a small thing; why get so angry about it?
A rhetorical question; usually ends in 呢.
未必not necessarilyAdverb5
贵的东西未必就好，便宜的也未必差。Expensive things aren't necessarily good, and cheap ones aren't necessarily bad.
不免inevitably; can hardly avoidAdverb5
第一次上台演讲，她不免有些紧张。Speaking on stage for the first time, she was bound to be a little nervous.
依然still; as beforeAdverb4
十年没见，她依然那么年轻。We hadn't met for ten years, and she was as young as ever.
More literary than 仍然 and 还.
仍然still; yetAdverb4
吃了两天药，他仍然在发烧。He has been taking medicine for two days and still has a temperature.
陆续one after another; in successionAdverb5
八点以后，客人陆续到了。After eight o'clock the guests arrived one after another.
一再again and again; repeatedlyAdverb5
他一再道歉，我也就不生气了。He apologised again and again, so I stopped being angry.
一概without exception; totallyAdverb5
对他的私事，我一概不问。I never ask anything at all about his private affairs.
Mostly before a negative; 一律 is for a rule that applies to everyone.
不禁can't help (doing); involuntarilyAdverb5
看到这张老照片，我不禁想起了小时候。Seeing this old photo, I couldn't help thinking of my childhood.
Written; in speech 忍不住.
索性might as well; simply (decide to)Adverb5
雨越下越大，我们索性不走了。The rain grew heavier and heavier, so we simply decided to stay.
干脆simply; just (go ahead and); straightforwardAdverb4
打车太贵，我们干脆走路回家吧。Taxis are too expensive; let's just walk home.
Also an adjective: 他说话很干脆, he speaks plainly.
好歹at least; anyway; in any caseAdverb5
你好歹吃一点再走。At least eat a little before you go.
Also a noun: 不知好歹, not to know what is good for you.
未免rather (too); a bit (too)Adverb5
为这点小事吵架，未免太不值得了。Quarrelling over such a small thing is rather pointless.
Softens a criticism: 'it is a bit too much'.
不妨might as well; there is no harm inAdverb5
如果你有时间，不妨去那家书店看看。If you have time, you might as well take a look at that bookshop.
万万absolutely (not); on no accountAdverb5
这种药万万不能和酒一起吃。On no account must this medicine be taken with alcohol.
Only before a negative; 万万没想到, never in a million years did I expect.
日益increasingly; day by dayAdverb5
城市的交通问题日益严重。The city's traffic problems are growing more serious by the day.
Written; in speech 越来越.
逐步step by step; graduallyAdverb5
公司打算逐步减少纸质文件。The company plans to cut down on paper documents step by step.
A planned process; 逐渐 is change that just happens.
纷纷one after another (of many people)Adverb5
演出结束后，观众纷纷为演员鼓掌。When the show ended, people all over the audience began applauding the performers.
一律all, without exception (by rule)Adverb5
馆内一律不准拍照。Photography is not permitted anywhere in the building.
统统all; entirelyAdverb5
这些旧衣服我统统不要了。I don't want any of these old clothes any more.
历来always; all along (historically)Adverb5
这所学校历来重视体育。This school has always attached great importance to sport.
随即immediately afterwardsAdverb5
他接了个电话，随即离开了会场。He took a phone call and left the meeting straight afterwards.
顿时at once; suddenlyAdverb5
校长一进门，教室里顿时安静了。The moment the head teacher came in, the classroom fell silent.
Only of the past, for a sudden change; 立刻 also works for commands.
尽情to one's heart's contentAdverb5
考完试了，大家可以尽情地玩。The exams are over and everyone can enjoy themselves to the full.
过于too; excessivelyAdverb5
你对自己要求过于严格了。You are too strict with yourself.
Written; in speech 太.
极其extremelyAdverb4
这次任务极其重要，不能出一点错。This task is extremely important; not the slightest mistake is allowed.
大致roughly; more or lessAdverb5
我大致看了一下，没发现什么问题。I had a rough look through and didn't find any problems.
不由得can't help (doing)Adverb5
听他讲完自己的经历，大家不由得佩服他。After hearing his story, nobody could help admiring him.
明明obviously; clearly (yet …)Adverb4
你明明知道，为什么不告诉我？You knew perfectly well, so why didn't you tell me?
Followed by a reproach or a contrast: 'it was obvious, and yet …'.
不时from time to time; every so oftenAdverb5
开会的时候，他不时看一眼手表。During the meeting he kept glancing at his watch.
暗暗secretly; inwardlyAdverb5
她暗暗下了决心，明年一定要考上。She quietly made up her mind that next year she would pass without fail.
默默silently; quietlyAdverb4
他每天默默地打扫楼道，从来没跟别人说过。He quietly sweeps the stairwell every day and has never mentioned it to anyone.
擅自without permission; on one's own authorityAdverb5
没有经过同意，不能擅自使用别人的照片。You may not use other people's photos without their permission.
照常as usualAdverb5
春节期间超市照常营业。The supermarket is open as usual over the Spring Festival.
当场on the spot; there and thenAdverb5
他当场就答应了我们的要求。He agreed to our request there and then.
未曾never (before)Adverb5
我未曾见过这么美的风景。I have never seen such beautiful scenery.
Written; in speech 从来没…过.
屡次repeatedly; time and againAdverb5
他屡次违反交通规则，驾照被吊销了。He broke the traffic rules time and again and had his licence taken away.
This list belongs to Thinking and arguing — eight lists and 320 words that can also be practised as a whole.
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Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.