Fixed Patterns: 越来越, 又…又, 该…了, 还是…吧
Fixed patterns are set frames that carry a meaning of their own. HSK 2 covers 越来越 (more and more), 又…又… (both…and…), 该…了 (it is time to) and 还是…吧 (had better).
2. 又…又… — both…and… (simultaneous qualities/actions)
- 她又聪明又漂亮。(She is both smart and pretty.)
- Use same subject for both VPs.
3. 该…了 — it's time to… / should now…
- 该睡觉了。(It's time to sleep.)
- 该 = should (due to time/circumstance)
4. 还是…吧 — you'd better… / it's best to…
- 还是坐公共汽车吧。(You'd better take the bus.)
- Softer than 应该, implies advice/mild pressure.
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 他的中文越来越好了。 | Tā de zhōng wén yuè lái yuè hǎo le. | His Chinese is getting better and better. | 越来越 + Adj shows progressive change; 了 at end signals new situation |
| 这个苹果又大又甜。 | Zhè ge píng guǒ yòu dà yòu tián. | This apple is both big and sweet. | 又…又… links two simultaneous adjectives about the same subject |
| 已经九点了，该去学校了。 | Yǐ jīng jiǔ diǎn le, gāi qù xué xiào le. | It's already 9 o'clock; it's time to go to school. | 该…了 signals that the time for an action has arrived |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
越来越 (yuè lái yuè)
Shows something keeps increasing over time.
Structure: 越来越 + adj / verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 天气越来越热了。 | Tiān qì yuè lái yuè rè le. | The weather is getting hotter and hotter. |
| 我越来越喜欢这座城市。 | Wǒ yuè lái yuè xǐ huan zhè zuò chéng shì. | I like this city more and more. |
| 他的孩子越来越高了。 | Tā de hái zi yuè lái yuè gāo le. | His child is getting taller and taller. |
Not: 天气越来越很热。 越来越 already gives the degree, so 很 is not added.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 3, set phrases (其 他).
越来越 is also explained in: 越来越…: more and more (HSK 4).
又…又 (yòu…yòu)
Joins two qualities that are both true.
Structure: 又 + adj 1 + 又 + adj 2
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这个房间又大又亮。 | Zhè gè fáng jiān yòu dà yòu liàng. | This room is big and bright. |
| 她又会唱歌又会跳舞。 | Tā yòu huì chàng gē yòu huì tiào wǔ. | She can both sing and dance. |
| 他又累又饿。 | Tā yòu lèi yòu è. | He is both tired and hungry. |
Not: 这个苹果又大甜。 Each quality needs its own 又: 又大又甜.
该…了 (gāi…le)
Says it is now time to do something.
Structure: Subject + 该 + verb + 了
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 太晚了，你该睡觉了。 | Tài wǎn le, nǐ gāi shuì jiào le. | It is late, you should go to bed now. |
| 孩子该吃药了。 | Hái zi gāi chī yào le. | The child should take the medicine now. |
| 我们该走了，再见。 | Wǒ men gāi zǒu le, zài jiàn. | We should go now, goodbye. |
Not: 该回家了他。 The subject comes before 该: 他该回家了.
还是…吧 (hái shì…ba)
Offers a suggestion after weighing the options.
Structure: 还是 + suggestion + 吧
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 天气不好，我们还是在家看电视吧。 | Tiān qì bù hǎo, wǒ men hái shì zài jiā kàn diàn shì ba. | The weather is bad, so let us stay home and watch television. |
| 你还是早点儿休息吧。 | Nǐ hái shì zǎo diǎn xiū xi ba. | You had better rest earlier. |
| 太贵了，还是别买了吧。 | Tài guì le, hái shì bié mǎi le ba. | It is too expensive, so better not buy it. |
Not: 我们还是去公园了吧。 A suggestion about what to do next has no 了.
What this opens up
These patterns list Fixed Patterns among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
Questions about Fixed Patterns
What does 固定格式 (Fixed Patterns) mean in Chinese?
Fixed patterns are set frames that carry a meaning of their own. HSK 2 covers 越来越 (more and more), 又…又… (both…and…), 该…了 (it is time to) and 还是…吧 (had better). It is an HSK 2 grammar point.
How do you use 固定格式 (Fixed Patterns) in a sentence?
他的中文越来越好了。 — Tā de zhōng wén yuè lái yuè hǎo le. — His Chinese is getting better and better. 越来越 + Adj shows progressive change; 了 at end signals new situation.
Where does 固定格式 (Fixed Patterns) come in the HSK sequence?
HSK 2, and none of its prerequisites are grammar points — nothing else on this reference has to come first, so you can start here.
What does 固定格式 (Fixed Patterns) lead to?
越来越… (HSK 4). Each of them names 固定格式 (Fixed Patterns) among its own prerequisites.
What does 还是…吧 mean?
It gives a mild suggestion after thinking over the options, like 'we had better'. For example 太晚了，我们还是明天再去吧。
Is 又…又 the same as 不但…而且?
No. 又…又 joins two ordinary qualities, as in 又便宜又好吃. 不但…而且 adds a surprising extra and is a little more formal.
Fixed Patterns is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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