HSK 6 grammar

By Carson 木林森 · Updated October 2026

HSK 6 grammar is formal and literary patterns, four-character formats, multi-layer compounds — 22 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 6 · 22 points

• Advanced Conjunctions: 而, 同, 与, 不料, 可, 若 高级连词 而, 同, 与, 不料, 可 and 若 are six conjunctions that are common in written Chinese. 而 links two predicates about one subject, 同 and 与 mean and, 不料 means unexpectedly, 可 means but, and 若 means if.
• Advanced Measure Words: Nominal and Verbal 高级量词 Advanced measure words split into noun measures and verb measures. Noun measures sit between a number and a noun, such as 缕 in 一缕阳光 and 栋 in 一栋楼, while verb measures such as 阵, 顿 and 番 count how often or how long an action goes, as in 下了一阵雨.
• Advanced Particles: Structural 所 and Modal 罢了/啦/嘛 高级助词 所 is a structural particle that turns a verb into a modifier, as in 我所说的话, and 罢了, 啦 and 嘛 are sentence-final particles. 罢了 plays something down, 啦 adds an exclamatory tone, and 嘛 says something is obvious.
• Common Fixed Expressions: 不怎么, 好不容易, 那倒是, 算了 常用固定短语 不怎么, 好不容易, 那倒是 and 算了 are four set expressions of everyday speech. 不怎么 means not particularly, 好不容易 means with great difficulty and is not a negative, 那倒是 grants a point, and 算了 means forget it.
• Degree, Scope and Time Adverbs 程度、范围与时间副词 格外 and 极其 (especially, extremely) raise degree, 一律 (without exception) and 纷纷 (one after another) set scope, and 随即 (right after) and 事先 (beforehand) fix timing. They are adverbs that go before the verb or adjective in written Chinese.
• Directional Complements: Extended Stative Meanings 趋向补语的引申用法 Directional complements 下来, 下去, 起来 and 过来 take extended, figurative meanings in HSK 6 texts. 安静下来 means calm down, 坚持下去 means keep going, and 看起来 says how something looks.
• Emphatic Constructions: 非…不可 强调句型 非…不可 (absolutely must) is an emphatic pattern: 非 + verb phrase + 不可. It literally says that if not this, it will not do. 他非去不可 means he has to go, and it can also say that an outcome is bound to happen.
• Formal Demonstrative Pronouns: 本 and 此 书面指示代词 本 (this, our) and 此 (this) are formal written demonstratives that replace spoken 这. 本 goes before words for the speaker's own side, as in 本校 and 本次, and 此 appears in fixed phrases such as 因此 and 此外.
• Four-Character Fixed Patterns: 或A或B, 无A无B, A这A那, 左A右B 四字格固定短语 Four-character fixed patterns repeat or pair words into a set frame of four characters. They include 或A或B (either A or B), 无A无B (neither A nor B), A这A那 (this and that) and 左A右B (one thing after another).
• Object Semantic Types: Locative and Result Objects 宾语的语义类型 Verbs can take objects of different meaning. A locative object is a place that follows a verb of arrival or motion directly, as in 到达机场. A result object is something the verb makes, as in 写了一篇文章.
• Prepositions of Time, Place, Direction and Object 引出时间、处所、方向、对象的介词 于, 自, 至 and 朝着 are written prepositions that replace the spoken 在, 从, 到 and 向. 于 marks time or place, 自 marks a starting point, 至 marks an end point, and 朝着 marks direction.
• Productive Prefixes and Suffixes 类前缀与类后缀 Productive affixes are word parts that build many new words. The prefixes are 非- (not), 反- (anti) and 无- (without), and the suffixes are -性 (quality), -化 (-ize), -者 (person) and -率 (rate).
• Advanced 把 and Passive Constructions 高级把字句与被动句 At HSK 6, the 把 sentence takes endings such as 成, 为, 作, 给 and 得 plus a complement, as in 把A看成B and 把书还给他. The 被 sentence also takes 为 and 得, as in 被称为 and 被传得沸沸扬扬.
• Colloquial Spoken Patterns 口语格式 Colloquial spoken patterns are four informal frames. V到人头上 puts blame on someone, X就X吧 accepts something reluctantly, X是X，可是 grants a point before a contrast, and 好你个X is a mock scolding.
• Connective, Manner and Modal Adverbs 关联、方式与情态语气副词 从而 and 进而 (thereby, and then) link a result or the next step, 特意 (on purpose) gives manner, and 索性, 反而 and 未免 show the speaker's attitude. These are written-style adverbs that go before the verb.
• Coordinate and Sequential Compound Sentences 并列复句与承接复句 时而…时而… (now…now) and 一时…一时… describe a state that alternates between two conditions, while 便 is a written form of 就 that links an event to the one that follows. Together they join coordinate and sequential clauses.
• Fixed Formats: A一量词B一量词, 东一A西一A, 为了…而… 固定格式 Fixed formats are set frames where parts repeat. A一量词B一量词 pairs two contrasts, as in 一个高一个矮, 东一A西一A means scattered here and there, and 为了…而… (in order to) is a formal purpose frame.
• Numeral + Adjective + Classifier Phrases 数词+形容词+量词短语 A numeral + adjective + classifier phrase puts a single-syllable adjective such as 大, 小, 整 or 满 between the number and the classifier. The adjective stresses size or completeness, as in 一大碗饭 and 一整天.
• Prepositions of Purpose, Exclusion and Basis 引出目的、原因、排除与凭借的介词 以 (with, by), 鉴于 (in view of), 出于 (out of) and 唯独 (only, with one exception) are formal words that introduce purpose, basis, motive and exclusion. 鉴于 names an outside fact, while 出于 names the doer's own motive.
• Progressive and Additive Compound Sentences 递进复句 Progressive compound sentences move a step further. 不但不…反而… (not only not, but on the contrary) reverses the expected result, 不是…还是… is a rhetorical question, and 连…也/都…更… escalates from an extreme example.
• Alternative, Conditional and Concessive Compound Sentences 选择、假设、条件与让步复句 These compound sentences give a choice, a condition or a concession. 要么…要么… (either…or) offers two exclusive options, 一旦…就… (once) and 除非…才… (only if) set conditions, and 即使…也… (even if) concedes a point.
• Multi-Layer Compound Sentences 多重复句 A multi-layer compound sentence (多重复句) stacks two or more logical relations in one sentence, with a compound clause nested inside half of another. 虽然他很忙，但是只要有时间，他就会来 has an outer concession and an inner condition.

Get these patterns into your own sentences. GraphChinese drills every HSK 6 grammar point and schedules the review that keeps it.

Frequently asked questions

How many grammar points are there in HSK 6?

GraphChinese teaches 22. 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 22 taught as separate topics with their own prerequisites, and every one of them is on this page.

What grammar do you learn at HSK 6?

HSK 6 is formal and literary patterns, four-character formats, multi-layer compounds. It opens with Advanced Conjunctions: 而, 同, 与, 不料, 可, 若, Advanced Measure Words: Nominal and Verbal, Advanced Particles: Structural 所 and Modal 罢了/啦/嘛, Common Fixed Expressions: 不怎么, 好不容易, 那倒是, 算了.

What do you need to know before HSK 6 grammar?

The patterns HSK 6 points name most often as prerequisites are Complex Sentences: Concession & Condition (HSK 5), Clause Conjunctions: 从而、加上、完了、一旦 (HSK 5), Borrowed measure words: 碗/脸/手/桌子 (HSK 4). Each point below lists its own, so you can walk back from whichever one stops making sense.

Which HSK 6 grammar point is worth learning first?

By dependency, Advanced Conjunctions: 而, 同, 与, 不料, 可, 若: 2 later points name it among their own prerequisites, more than any other point at this level. 而 (ér) links two predicates (usually adjectives or verb phrases) about the same subject. It can show simple addition (both positive/negative) or contrast (positive→negative). 表面上…而实际上… is a classic contrast frame.

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