Learning Chinese: Conjunctions
Explore conjunctions as a crucial part of language structure, allowing us to connect ideas in Chinese sentences.
一次 (yī cì)
once
The Chinese word '一次' is an adverb mostly used to mean 'once' or 'one time.' It can be used to refer to an occurrence that happened one time in the past, is happening now, or will happen in the future. It is often used in conversations or sentences to denote the frequency of an event.
为 (wèi)
for
In Chinese, '为' (wèi) is the direct translation of 'for'. It is a flexible word often used to imply a purpose or reason for doing something, similar to how 'for' is used in English. It's worth noting that its usage can vary based on context, particularly in more complex sentences or expressions.
Example sentences with 为 →为什么 (wèi shén me)
why
The Chinese word '为什么' is a question word used to ask for the reason or purpose of something. It is commonly used in queries similar to how 'why' is used in English.
之前 (zhī qián)
before
The Chinese word '之前' is frequently used in both oral and written language. It is applied to denote something that happened or existed before a particular point in time. It's often placed after the noun or time word it modifies, and can be used both in negative and positive sentences.
也不 (yě bù)
neither
In Chinese, '也不' is used similar to the word 'neither' in English as to say neither one thing nor the other. It often appears in the context of a sentence with the verb or predicate occurring after '也不'. So, the structure of usage is usually subject + '也不' + verb/predicate.
但是 (dàn shì)
but
The Chinese word '但是' is similar to the English word 'but'. It is used as a conjunction to introduce something contrary to what was previously stated or to introduce a point of view that contrasts with one just expressed.
只 (zhǐ)
only
The Chinese word '只' is used to represent the meaning of the English word 'only'. It is often used to indicate exclusivity or limitation in quantity or scope. However, the usage may vary depending on the context.
喜欢 (xǐ huān)
like
The Chinese word for 'like' is '喜欢' and is used similarly to the English term. For instance, 'I like you' can be translated as '我喜欢你'. It's typically used to express fondness or enjoyment for something or someone.
如 (rú)
as
In Chinese, 'as' is translated to '如' (rú). It is used in similar ways to English, often appearing in comparisons or hypotheticals. It can also mean 'like' or 'similar to' in various contexts.
如果 (rúguǒ)
if
The Chinese word '如果' corresponds to English word 'if'. It is often used in conditions, suppositions or uncertainties. For instance, in a sentence '如果我有时间，我会帮你的' which means 'If I have time, I will help you'.
如此 (rú cǐ)
so
In Chinese, '如此' is used similarly to the word 'so' in English. It can be used for emphasis, connection or to indicate the degree or extent of something. The term '如此' is commonly used in formal and written Chinese.
Example sentences with 如此 →当 (dāng)
when
The word '当' in Chinese is used in a similar context as 'when' in English. However, it is more often used when linking two related actions or events, such as indicating the cause and effect, condition and result, or time and event.
当...的时候 (dang...de shi hou)
while
The Chinese phrase '当...的时候' is an equivalent to the English word 'while'. It is most commonly used to indicate during the time that or at the same time as something else is happening.
怎么 (zěn me)
how
In Chinese, '怎么' is commonly used to ask about the method or way something is done. It can also be used to express surprise or confusion about something, much like the English 'how'.
无论何时 (wú lùn hé shí)
whenever
'无论何时' is a time phrase in Chinese that directly translates to 'whenever' in English. It is often used at the beginning of a clause to suggest a certain action or event can happen at any time, similar to how 'whenever' is used in English. It can also be used mid-sentence to convey the same meaning. It is frequently used in informal contexts.
没有 (méi yǒu)
without
The Chinese word '没有' is used to express a lack of something, or the absence of something or someone. It is analogous to the English word 'without'. '没有' can also be used to deny the existence of something or to give a negative response.
而 (ér)
whereas
The Chinese word '而' is often used to express contrast or making a comparison. It is the equivalent of the English word 'whereas'. In a sentence, it can be used to link two opposing facts or ideas. It is commonly seen in written language notably in formal articles, news reporting, and academic writings, but less frequently in conversational speech.
自从 (zì cóng)
since
In Chinese, '自从' is a compound conjunction used to indicate the starting point of a time period. It corresponds to 'since' in English. It is often used in sentences to precede the clause that contains the time point when an action started or a situation began. Also, it is always used with '以后' which marks the period after the time point.
虽然 (suī rán)
though
The Chinese word '虽然' is used similarly to 'though' in English. It is often used to convey the meaning of 'although' or 'despite'. It is typically used at the beginning of a sentence or clause to contrast two statements or show cause and effect.
要么 (yào me)
either
The Chinese word '要么' is used in the same context as 'either' in English. It is often used to indicate one out of two or more choices or options. Primarily, '要么' is used in two situations in Mandarin Chinese. It can be used to specify two alternatives or suggest two or more choices to solve a problem. It is necessary to keep in mind context and sentence structure to use the word effectively.
还 (hái)
yet
The Chinese word '还' is used similarly to the English word 'yet' when referring to something that is not completed or has not happened. However, the context can vary, and sometimes it can also mean 'to return' or 'also', depending on the situations.
Example sentences with 还 →除了 (chú le)
except
In Chinese, '除了' is equivalent to the English word 'except'. It is used when you want to exclude something specific from a general statement. This word is often used in sentences to highlight an exception or something that doesn’t follow the same pattern.
Example sentences with 除了 →