The small words that say too, also, still, again, because, but and if.
The small words that hold sentences together. An adverb in Chinese stands before the verb and never at the end, which is the first habit to break: “he speaks Chinese too” is 他也会说汉语. Connecting words often come in pairs where English uses one — 因为 … 所以, 如果 … 就 — and 就 and 才 say whether something happened sooner or later than expected.
The words
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Adverb (25)
常常oftenAdverb2
我常常在这家店买面包。I often buy bread at this shop.
The negative is 不常, not 不常常.
正好just right; just in time; as it happensAdverb2
你来得正好，我们刚要吃饭。You’ve come at just the right time — we’re about to eat.
多么how (in exclamations)Adverb2
今天的月亮多么圆啊！How round the moon is tonight!
A little literary; in speech often just 多.
也also, tooAdverb1
我也是老师。I’m a teacher too.
Always before the verb, never at the end of the sentence.
都all, bothAdverb1
我们都喜欢吃饺子。We all like dumplings.
Refers back to the people or things before it.
太too; so, extremelyAdverb1
这杯咖啡太甜了。This coffee is too sweet.
Usually with 了: 太好了, great!
真really, trulyAdverb2
今天的天气真好！The weather is really lovely today!
非常extremely, veryAdverb2
他非常喜欢踢足球。He loves playing football.
更even moreAdverb2
坐地铁比坐出租车更快。The underground is even quicker than a taxi.
比较rather, fairly; to compareAdverb2
今天比较忙，明天再说吧。Today’s rather busy — let’s talk about it tomorrow.
有点儿a bit, somewhatAdverb2
我有点儿累。I’m a bit tired.
Usually for something unwelcome: a bit too much of it.
挺quite, prettyAdverb2
这家饭馆挺好的。This restaurant is pretty good.
Spoken; often with 的 at the end.
只onlyAdverb2
我只会说一点儿汉语。I can only speak a little Chinese.
zhǐ “only”; as a measure word for animals it is zhī.
还still; also; even moreAdverb2
他还在睡觉。He’s still asleep.
hái here; huán is the verb “to give back”.
再again (still to come); thenAdverb2
请再说一遍。Please say it again.
A repeat still to come; 又 is one that has already happened.
又again (already happened)Adverb2
他今天又迟到了。He was late again today.
就right away; as early as; just, exactlyAdverb2
我五点就起床了。I was up as early as five.
Sooner or easier than expected.
才only then, not untilAdverb2
他十点才来。He didn’t come until ten.
The opposite feeling to 就: later or harder than expected, and no 了 at the end.
一起togetherAdverb2
我们一起去吃饭吧。Let’s go and eat together.
一定certainly, definitely; mustAdverb2
明天你一定要来！You really must come tomorrow!
别don’tAdverb2
别走，再坐一会儿吧。Don’t go — stay a little longer.
In requests and warnings; the same as 不要.
不用there’s no need toAdverb2
不用谢，这是我应该做的。No need to thank me — it was the least I could do.
也许perhaps, maybeAdverb2
也许他忘了。Maybe he forgot.
大概probably; about, roughlyAdverb2
从这儿到机场大概要一个小时。It takes about an hour from here to the airport.
好像to seem, look as ifAdverb2
外面好像下雨了。It seems to be raining outside.
Preposition (6)
向towards; toPreposition2
一直向前走就到了。Go straight ahead and you’re there.
Close to 往; also towards people: 向他学习, to learn from him.
为了in order to; for the sake ofPreposition2
为了身体健康，他每天跑步。He runs every day to stay healthy.
为 is wèi here.
除了except; besidesPreposition2
除了小王，大家都来了。Everyone came except Xiao Wang.
跟with; andPreposition2
我想跟你说一件事。There’s something I want to tell you.
从fromPreposition2
我从上海来。I come from Shanghai.
With 到: 从 … 到 …, from … to ….
比than (in comparisons)Preposition2
哥哥比我大三岁。My brother is three years older than me.
The difference comes after the adjective.
Conjunction (9)
还有and also; there is alsoConjunction2
我要一碗面，还有一杯茶。I’d like a bowl of noodles, and a cup of tea as well.
一边…一边while …, at the same time as …Conjunction2
他一边吃饭一边看电视。He watches TV while he eats.
和and; withConjunction1
我和我妹妹都是学生。My sister and I are both students.
Joins nouns, not whole sentences.
因为becauseConjunction2
因为下雨，比赛取消了。The match was cancelled because of the rain.
Often paired with 所以.
所以so, thereforeConjunction2
我感冒了，所以没去上课。I had a cold, so I didn’t go to class.
但是butConjunction2
这件衣服很好看，但是太贵了。This top is very nice, but it’s too expensive.
可是butConjunction2
我很想去，可是没有时间。I’d love to go, but I don’t have time.
A little more spoken than 但是.
如果ifConjunction2
如果明天下雨，我们就不去了。If it rains tomorrow, we won’t go.
Often with 就 in the second half.
要是ifConjunction2
要是你累了，就早点儿睡。If you’re tired, go to bed early.
More spoken than 如果.
Phrase (1)
极了extremely (after an adjective)Phrase2
这里的风景美极了！The scenery here is absolutely beautiful!
