HSK 4 grammar
The 55 grammar points on the HSK 4 syllabus, in the order GraphChinese teaches them. Each one carries the pattern, worked examples with pinyin, and the topics it depends on.
HSK 4 · 55 points
- 按照/根据: according to 按照/根据 按照 (ànzhào) = following / in accordance with (a procedure, rule, standard, or instruction)
- 对于/关于/针对: regarding/about 对于/关于 关于 (guānyú) = about / concerning (frames the TOPIC of a discussion, article, or title)
- 难道…吗: rhetorical question 难道…吗 Structure: 难道 + (Subject) + Verb Phrase + 吗？
- 人家: third-person/distancing pronoun 人家 Use 1 — Other people (contrast with speaker) Points out that others did (or did not do) something, often with accusation or complaint.
- 又…又…: both X and Y 又…又… Structure: 又 + Adj/VP₁ + 又 + Adj/VP₂
- Approximation: 左右/大约/差不多/将近 约数表达 四种表示大概数量的方式，位置和语气各不相同。
- Attitude adverbs: 偏偏/偶尔/竟然/随便 语气副词 | 副词 | 读音 | 意思 | 语气 | |------|------|------|------| | 偏偏 | piān piān | contrary to expectation / stubbornly | 不满/强调反差 | | 偶尔 | ǒu ěr | occasionally | 中性/说明频率低 | | 竟然 | jìng rán | unexpectedly / to one's surprise | 惊讶/…
- 把-construction (disposal) 把字句 把 moves the object before the verb to emphasize what happens to it. Structure:
- 比 extended: degree & verb phrases 比字句进阶 Beyond basic 比 A B adj, HSK-4 extends the pattern in three directions:
- Borrowed measure words: 碗/脸/手/桌子 借用量词 在汉语里，某些普通名词可以借用为量词，用来生动地表达数量或状态。
- 不但…而且…: not only…but also 不但…而且… Meaning: not only … but also. Adds a second, stronger point to the first.
- Container measures: 瓶/盒/袋/杯 容量量词 容量量词用容器名词来计量液体、固体食品等。
- Degree adverbs: 十分/极其/稍微/格外 程度副词 这四个副词都表示程度，但强度和使用场合不同。
- Degree complement: V得+predicate 程度补语 The degree complement describes how well / to what degree an action is performed.
- Formal vs. informal register differences 正式与口语差异 HSK-4阅读中经常出现正式书面语。识别以下对比是核心技能：
- Frequency complement: V+次/遍/趟 动量补语 Frequency complements answer how many times an action occurred.
- 跟/和…一样/不一样: same as/different from 跟…一样/不一样 Meaning: same as / different from
- 过: experiential aspect 过 过 placed directly after the verb records that something was experienced at some past point — the exact time doesn't matter.
- 既然…就…: since/given that 既然…就… Meaning: since / given that … then … The speaker accepts a fact that is already known or acknowledged, then draws a logical conclusion from it.
- 尽管…还是/仍然…: despite that 尽管…还是/仍然… Meaning: despite the fact that … (still) … Concedes a difficulty or obstacle, then asserts a persistent result.
- 就是…也…: even if…still 就是…也… Meaning: even if … still … Presents an extreme or unlikely scenario and asserts that the result holds regardless.
- 了: completion & state change 了 Function 1 — verb 了 (completion): placed directly after the verb to mark the action as completed. > 我吃了饭。 (I ate.)
- 连…都/也…: even X does Y 连…都/也… 连…都/也 intensifies by highlighting an extreme case: if even this item satisfies the condition, the point is strongly made.
- 得 (děi): obligation must 得（děi）表义务 得 (děi) is a modal meaning must / have to — obligation from external circumstances, not just desire.
- 敢: dare to 敢 敢 is a modal meaning dare (to do) — used when an action requires courage or risk.
- 却/倒: unexpected contrast 却/倒 Both mark a surprising reversal — the second clause goes against what the context or logic would predict.
- Resultative complements: 好/完/到/懂/坏 基础结果补语 A resultative complement follows the verb to describe what happened as a result.
- Scope adverbs: 共/全/光/仅/至少 范围副词 | 副词 | 意思 | 用法要点 | |------|------|----------| | 共 gòng | altogether | 共 + 数量: 共有30人 | | 全 quán | all, entirely | 全 + V/Adj: 全家人都来了 | | 光 guāng | only/nothing but | 含批评含义: 光说不做 | | 仅 jǐn | merely, only | 书面语: 仅有三个人 | |…
- Separable verbs 离合词: 见面/洗澡/毕业 离合词 离合词 are verb-object compounds that can be split. The object is built in, so you cannot add another object after the whole compound.
- Simple directional complements: 进来/出去 简单趋向补语 A directional complement attaches to a verb to show movement toward/away from a reference point.
- 虽然…但是…: although…but 虽然…但是… Meaning: although … but. Concedes a fact in clause A, then asserts the main point in clause B.
- 随着: along with / as…progresses 随着 随着 (suí zhe) 表示两件事同步变化：一件事进展时，另一件事也随之改变。
- Time adverbs: 渐渐/逐渐/及时/立刻 时间副词细分 | 副词 | 读音 | 意思 | 语体 | 要点 | |------|------|------|------|------| | 渐渐 | jiàn jiàn | gradually | 口/书 | 自然变化，偏口语 | | 逐渐 | zhú jiàn | gradually | 书面 | 系统进展，偏书面 | | 及时 | jí shí | in time / timely | 两者 | 在问题变大前完成 | | 立刻 | l…
- Topic-comment sentence structure 话题句 Chinese often puts the topic (what you're talking about) first, then makes a comment on it — even if the topic isn't the grammatical subject.
- 无论/不管…都…: regardless of 无论/不管…都… Meaning: regardless of / no matter … always … Asserts that a result holds across ALL possible values of a variable.
- 也许/恐怕/大概: hedging expressions 也许/恐怕 These three adverbs all express uncertainty but with different flavours:
- 一…就…: as soon as / no sooner than 一…就… Meaning: as soon as / the moment … then … Expresses that one event happens immediately after another, with no gap.
- 由于/因为 (formal): due to 由于 由于 (yóu yú) 是书面正式用语；因为 (yīn wèi) 是日常口语。
- 越…越…: the more…the more 越…越… Structure: 越 + Condition/VP + 越 + Result/VP
- 只要/只有…才…: only if/unless 只要/只有…才… Two different conditional patterns — choose carefully:
- Action measure words: 次/遍/趟/顿/场 动量词 Five key action measure words:
- Advanced resultatives: 住/成/开/清楚 进阶结果补语 These four complements attach to verbs to specify the result:
- 被-construction (passive) 被字句 被 marks the passive voice: the subject receives the action rather than performing it.
- Complex directionals: V+起来/下去/出来 复杂趋向补语 These compound directionals attach to a verb to show direction AND carry extended meanings:
- Duration complement: V+了+time 时量补语 Shows how long an action lasted. Structure depends on whether there is an object:
- 非…不可: absolutely must 非…不可 Structure: Subject + 非 + VP + 不可
- 没有/不如: negative comparisons 没有/不如比较 Two structures to say X is less than Y:
- Potential complements: V得/不C 可能补语 Insert 得 or 不 between a verb and its result/directional complement to express can or cannot achieve that result.
- 是…的: emphasize past circumstances 是…的强调句 是…的 emphasizes where, when, how, or by whom a completed past action occurred.
- 使/让/叫 pivot-causative sentences 兼语句 A pivot sentence has a noun that is simultaneously the object of the first verb and the subject of the second:
- 越来越…: more and more 越来越… Structure: Subject + 越来越 + Adj/V
- 着: continuous/accompanying state 着 Use 1 — Continuous state: V+着 shows a state that persists after an action. - 灯开着。(The light is on.) - 他戴着眼镜。(He has his glasses on.)
- Complement types: integrated review 补语综合复习 HSK-4 uses six complement types. Each answers a different question about the verb:
- Existential sentences: 有/是/着 + location 存在句 Three types, all with structure Location + Verb + Thing:
- Key HSK-4 patterns: integrated review HSK4核心句型综合 Six patterns you must discriminate at exam level:
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