HSK 4 grammar

By Carson 木林森 · Updated October 2026

HSK 4 grammar is the fixed frames — 虽然…但是, 只要…才, 越来越, 连…都 — and separable verbs — 55 points in all, listed here in the order GraphChinese teaches them. Each one carries the pattern, worked examples with pinyin, and the topics it depends on.

Other levels: HSK 1 · HSK 2 · HSK 3 · HSK 4 · HSK 5 · HSK 6 · All 195

HSK 4 · 55 points

• 按照/根据: according to 按照/根据 按照 (ànzhào) and 根据 (gēnjù) both mean according to. 按照 introduces a rule, plan or instruction that the action follows, while 根据 introduces the evidence or basis for a statement, a guess or a decision.
• 对于/关于/针对: regarding/about 对于/关于 对于, 关于 and 针对 are prepositions that all translate roughly as about or regarding. 关于 names the topic, 对于 marks the issue an attitude or opinion is about, and 针对 says a measure is aimed at one specific problem.
• 难道…吗: rhetorical question 难道…吗 难道…吗 (nándào…ma) turns a question into a rhetorical one that shows surprise or disbelief, with 难道 placed before the clause. The speaker does not want an answer, since the implied answer is the opposite of the question's surface meaning.
• 人家: third-person/distancing pronoun 人家 人家 (rénjia) is a casual pronoun that can mean other people, a specific person already known (he or she), or, coyly, the speaker herself or himself. Which one is meant depends on context, and it is used in speech.
• 又…又…: both X and Y 又…又… The 又…又… pattern joins two qualities or two actions that are true at the same time, meaning both X and Y. It can link two adjectives, as in 又好吃又便宜, or two verb phrases, as in 又唱歌又跳舞.
• Approximation: 左右/大约/差不多/将近 约数表达 Approximation words give a rough number. At HSK 4 the four main ones are 左右 (after the number), 大约 (before the number), 差不多 (either side, in speech) and 将近 (almost, just under the number).
• Attitude adverbs: 偏偏/偶尔/竟然/随便 语气副词 Attitude adverbs go before a verb to show how the speaker feels about the action. At HSK 4 they are 偏偏 (against what was wanted), 偶尔 (once in a while), 竟然 (surprisingly) and 随便 (casually, as one likes).
• 把-construction (disposal) 把字句 At HSK 4 the 把 construction is used with more kinds of complement, but the core stays the same: it moves the object in front of the verb and says what happens to it. The object must be definite and the verb needs a result, direction or duration.
• 比 extended: degree & verb phrases 比字句进阶 The extended 比 comparison adds the size of the difference and a wider range of forms to the basic A比B+adjective. HSK 4 covers amounts like 多了 and 得多, comparing how people do actions, and the negative 没有.
• Borrowed measure words: 碗/脸/手/桌子 借用量词 Borrowed measure words are ordinary nouns used as measure words to show how much of something there is. At HSK 4 the examples are 碗 (a bowl of), 脸 (a face full of), 手 (a hand for, skill) and 桌子 (a table full of).
• 不但…而且…: not only…but also 不但…而且… 不但…而且 (bùdàn…érqiě) means not only but also, adding a second point that goes further than the first. In speech 还 can replace 而且, and 不但 sits after the subject when both clauses share one.
• Container measures: 瓶/盒/袋/杯 容量量词 Container measure words use a container as the unit for counting liquids and food, as in 一瓶水 where 个 would be wrong. At HSK 4 the four are 瓶 (bottle), 盒 (box), 袋 (bag) and 杯 (cup or glass).
• Degree adverbs: 十分/极其/稍微/格外 程度副词 Degree adverbs go before an adjective or feeling verb to say how strong the quality is. At HSK 4 the new ones are 十分 (very), 极其 (extremely, written), 稍微 (slightly) and 格外 (especially).
• Degree complement: V得+predicate 程度补语 A degree complement follows 得 after a verb and says how well or to what degree the action is done, as in 她说得很流利. When the verb has an object, the verb is repeated before 得: 她说中文说得很流利.
• Formal vs. informal register differences 正式与口语差异 Written Chinese has formal words that match everyday spoken ones. At HSK 4 the common pairs include 由于 and 因为 (because), 然而 and 但是 (however), and 进行 (to carry out), which is formal and takes a formal action word.
• Frequency complement: V+次/遍/趟 动量补语 A frequency complement goes after a verb to say how many times the action happened. At HSK 4 the measure words are 次 (occasions), 遍 (one full run through) and 趟 (a trip or round trip).
• 跟/和…一样/不一样: same as/different from 跟…一样/不一样 The pattern A跟B一样 compares two things and says they are the same, and 跟 can be replaced by 和. Adding an adjective gives equal degree (一样好听), and 不一样 says the two are different.
• 过: experiential aspect 过 The particle 过 (guo) goes after a verb to say the subject has done it at least once in the past, without saying when. Its negative is 没…过, meaning have never done it, and it differs from 了 because it records experience.
• 既然…就…: since/given that 既然…就… 既然…就… (jìrán…jiù) means since or given that. 既然 states a fact both speakers already accept, and 就 introduces the conclusion drawn from it, such as a suggestion or decision.
• 尽管…还是/仍然…: despite that 尽管…还是/仍然… 尽管 (jǐnguǎn) means despite or even though, conceding a difficulty or fact, and the second clause says the result stays the same. That clause usually carries 还是 or 仍然, both meaning still.
• 就是…也…: even if…still 就是…也… 就是…也… (jiùshì…yě) means even if, setting an extreme case in the first clause and saying the result still holds in the second. Adding 再 as in 就是再…也 pushes the condition further.
• 了: completion & state change 了 The particle 了 has two jobs. Right after a verb it marks the action as completed, and at the end of a sentence it signals that a situation has changed or is new, as in 天气冷了.
• 连…都/也…: even X does Y 连…都/也… The 连…都/也… pattern picks out an extreme case to show that the statement applies to everything else too, meaning even. The item goes after 连, then 都 or 也 (slightly softer) comes before the verb.
• 得 (děi): obligation must 得（děi）表义务 得 (děi) is a spoken modal verb meaning have to, where the need comes from the situation rather than from a rule. Its usual negative is 不用 (no need to), as in 我得走了 versus 你不用走。
• 敢: dare to 敢 敢 (gǎn) is a modal verb meaning to dare, used before a verb phrase when the action needs courage or carries a risk. Its negative 不敢 means does not dare, or is too scared or shy to.
• 却/倒: unexpected contrast 却/倒 却 (què) and 倒 (dào) are adverbs that mark an unexpected contrast, placed right after the subject of the second clause. 却 marks a contrast the listener would not expect, while 倒 is a more colloquial, milder twist.
• Resultative complements: 好/完/到/懂/坏 基础结果补语 A result complement follows a verb and says what the action led to. At HSK 4 the pattern covers 好 (done properly), 完 (finished), 到 (reached its aim), 懂 (understood) and 坏 (damaged), extending the HSK 3 set.
• Scope adverbs: 共/全/光/仅/至少 范围副词 Scope adverbs limit the range of an action or a quantity. At HSK 4 they are 共 (altogether), 全 (all), 光 (only, with criticism), 仅 (merely, written) and 至少 (at least), placed before the verb or the number.
• Separable verbs 离合词: 见面/洗澡/毕业 离合词 Separable verbs (离合词) are verb-object compounds such as 见面 (meet), 洗澡 (bathe) and 毕业 (graduate) whose two parts can be split apart. Because the object is already built in, they cannot take another object, so you say 见了一次面 rather than 见面他.
• Simple directional complements: 进来/出去 简单趋向补语 A simple directional complement is 来 or 去 (or a verb like 进, 出, 上, 下, 回, 过 joined to them) placed after a verb to show movement toward or away from the speaker. 进来 means come in and 出去 means go out.
• 虽然…但是…: although…but 虽然…但是… 虽然…但是… (although…but) joins two clauses where the first concedes a fact and the second states the main point that goes against it. 虽然 opens the concession, and 但是, 可是 or 却 opens the point that wins.
• 随着: along with / as…progresses 随着 随着 (suí zhe) is a preposition meaning as or along with, naming a change that happens together with another change. It opens a sentence as 随着 + noun phrase, as in 随着经济的发展, and the result clause follows after a comma.
• Time adverbs: 渐渐/逐渐/及时/立刻 时间副词细分 渐渐 (gradually), 逐渐 (step by step), 及时 (in time) and 立刻 (immediately) are four time adverbs that sit before the verb and describe how or when something happens. The first two are about slow change, the last two about timing.
• Topic-comment sentence structure 话题句 A topic-comment sentence names what you are talking about first, then says something about it, and the topic need not be the grammatical subject. In 那家餐厅，我去过三次了, 那家餐厅 is the topic and the rest is the comment.
• 无论/不管…都…: regardless of 无论/不管…都… 无论 and 不管 (no matter) with 都 form a pattern saying a result holds across every possible answer to a question word or choice. In 无论天气怎么样，他都会跑步, the weather can be anything and the result stays the same.
• 也许/恐怕/大概: hedging expressions 也许/恐怕 也许 (perhaps), 恐怕 (I am afraid that) and 大概 (probably) are adverbs that hedge a statement by showing the speaker is not certain. They go before the verb or at the start of the clause, and each carries a slightly different feeling.
• 一…就…: as soon as / no sooner than 一…就… 一…就… (as soon as) links two actions so the second follows the first immediately. The pattern is subject + 一 + verb 1 + 就 + verb 2, as in 她一看到弟弟，就笑了, meaning she laughed the moment she saw her brother.
• 由于/因为 (formal): due to 由于 由于 (yóu yú) is a formal word for because or due to, used mostly in writing and at the start of a sentence. 因为 (yīn wèi) gives the same reason in everyday speech, and it is also the one you can use in the middle of a sentence.
• 越…越…: the more…the more 越…越… 越…越… (the more…the more) links two things that increase together, so a change in the first brings a matching change in the second. 越跑越快 means the more you run, the faster you get, and each 越 goes before a verb or adjective.
• 只要/只有…才…: only if/unless 只要/只有…才… 只要…就… and 只有…才… are two conditional patterns of different strength. 只要 (as long as) gives a sufficient condition with 就, while 只有 (only if) gives the one required condition with 才.
• Action measure words: 次/遍/趟/顿/场 动量词 Action measure words (动量词) count how many times an action happens and go after the verb, as in 去一次. At this level they are 次 (times in general), 遍 (a whole run through), 趟 (a trip), 顿 (a meal or scolding) and 场 (an event).
• Advanced resultatives: 住/成/开/清楚 进阶结果补语 A result complement is a word placed right after a verb to say what the action achieved, and at HSK 4 the main new ones are 住 (held fast), 成 (turned into), 开 (opened apart) and 清楚 (clearly). 记住 means remember and 看清楚 means see clearly.
• 被-construction (passive) 被字句 The 被 construction is the passive: the subject receives the action instead of doing it. The pattern is subject + 被 + (agent) + verb + result, as in 杯子被他打破了, and the verb needs a result, complement or 了 after it.
• Complex directionals: V+起来/下去/出来 复杂趋向补语 Complex directional complements combine two directional words after a verb, such as 起来, 下去, 出来, 进去 and 回来, to show direction. They often take extended meanings too, so 说下去 means keep talking and 想起来 means recall.
• Duration complement: V+了+time 时量补语 A duration complement says how long an action lasted and goes after the verb with 了. With no object you say 等了两个小时, and with an object you repeat the verb, as in 学汉语学了五年, or put the time before the object.
• 非…不可: absolutely must 非…不可 非…不可 (must, will not do otherwise) wraps a verb phrase to say something has to happen or is bound to happen. 他非去不可 means he has to go, and it is stronger than 必须 or 应该.
• 没有/不如: negative comparisons 没有/不如比较 没有 and 不如 are two ways to say A is less than B. A + 没有 + B + adjective means A is not as adjective as B, while A + 不如 + B means A is not as good as B and can end without an adjective.
• Potential complements: V得/不C 可能补语 A potential complement puts 得 or 不 between a verb and its result or direction word to say whether you can or cannot achieve it. 看得懂 means able to understand by reading, and 看不懂 means unable to.
• 是…的: emphasize past circumstances 是…的强调句 The 是…的 construction highlights when, where, how or by whom an action already happened. 我是坐地铁来的 puts the stress on the way I came, taking for granted that I did come, and 是 comes before the highlighted part.
• 使/让/叫 pivot-causative sentences 兼语句 A pivot causative sentence uses 使, 让 or 叫 to make someone do something or feel something, and the noun after the verb is both its object and the subject of the next verb. In 妈妈叫他去买水果, 他 is that pivot.
• 越来越…: more and more 越来越… 越来越 (more and more) goes before an adjective or verb to say that something is changing steadily in one direction over time. 天气越来越热了 means the weather is getting hotter and hotter, and it usually takes 了 at the end.
• 着: continuous/accompanying state 着 着 (zhe) is a particle placed after a verb to show a continuing state or an action that goes along with another. 门开着 means the door is open, and 她笑着说 means she said it smiling.
• Complement types: integrated review 补语综合复习 Chinese complements are words after a verb that say more about it, and HSK 4 uses six kinds: result, potential, degree, directional, duration and frequency. Each one answers a different question about the verb, such as what came of it or how long it lasted.
• Existential sentences: 有/是/着 + location 存在句 An existential sentence says what exists, is or lies at a place, with the pattern location + verb + thing. It uses 有 (there is), 是 (it is) or a verb + 着 (is lying, hanging, standing), as in 床上躺着一只小猫.
• Key HSK-4 patterns: integrated review HSK4核心句型综合 HSK 4 has six sentence patterns that learners often mix up: 把, 被, 是…的, 连…都, 无论…都 and 越来越. This review compares them side by side by what each one does, so that you can choose the right one for a given sentence.

Get these patterns into your own sentences. GraphChinese drills every HSK 4 grammar point and schedules the review that keeps it.

Frequently asked questions

How many grammar points are there in HSK 4?

GraphChinese teaches 55. The HSK publishes a vocabulary list rather than a grammar list, so any count depends on how finely you cut the patterns; these are the 55 taught as separate topics with their own prerequisites, and every one of them is on this page.

What grammar do you learn at HSK 4?

HSK 4 is the fixed frames — 虽然…但是, 只要…才, 越来越, 连…都 — and separable verbs. It opens with 按照/根据: according to, 对于/关于/针对: regarding/about, 难道…吗: rhetorical question, 人家: third-person/distancing pronoun.

What do you need to know before HSK 4 grammar?

The patterns HSK 4 points name most often as prerequisites are Modal Stance Adverbs: 大概, 恐怕, 当然, 其实 (HSK 3), Complex Sentences: 不仅…还…, 只有…才…, 虽然…但是… (HSK 3), Modal Verbs: 敢 (dare) & 需要 (need) (HSK 3). Each point below lists its own, so you can walk back from whichever one stops making sense.

Which HSK 4 grammar point is worth learning first?

By dependency, 把-construction (disposal): 5 later points name it among their own prerequisites, more than any other point at this level. 把 moves the object before the verb to emphasize what happens to it.

Related guides: The HSK levels, explained · HSK vocabulary lists · The dictionary · The full curriculum · How to study Chinese