L Chinese Grammar Intermediate

Pinyin L

1. Verb + 来/去 (direction complement) lái / qù Adding 来 (toward the speaker) or 去 (away from the speaker) after a verb indicates the direction of the action. 来 signals movement toward ...
2. 离合词 (separable verbs) lí hé cí Separable verbs (离合词) are verb-object compounds that function as a single word but can be split apart when grammatical elements like aspe...
3. Verb + 了 + Duration + Obj. (duration) le This pattern uses 了 after the verb, followed by a duration phrase and an object, to express how long an action lasted. It indicates a com...
4. Verb + 了 + Duration + 了 (ongoing duration) le The double 了 pattern places one 了 after the verb and another at the end of the sentence. This expresses that an action has been going on ...
5. 老(是) (always, complaining) lǎo(shì) 老(是) is used to express 'always' with a tone of complaint, annoyance, or exasperation. It implies that something happens repeatedly and t...
6. 连⋯⋯都不/没⋯⋯ (not even do) lián This pattern uses 连 with a repeated verb and 都 plus negation (不 or 没) to express 'not even doing something.' It emphasizes that the subje...
7. 连⋯⋯都⋯⋯ (even) lián...dōu The pattern 连...都... is used to express 'even' in Chinese, emphasizing that something unexpected or extreme applies. It highlights a surp...
8. 另外 (in addition) lìngwài The word 另外 means 'in addition,' 'besides,' or 'another.' It introduces supplementary information or an additional point, functioning as ...
9. 另外 (the other / in addition) lìngwài 另外 can function as a determiner meaning 'the other' or 'another' when followed by a number and measure word, or as a conjunction meaning ...
10. 两三 (number approximation) liǎng sān In Chinese, placing two consecutive numbers together expresses an approximate quantity, similar to 'two or three' or 'about four or five'...
11. 了 (change of state) le The sentence-final 了 indicates a change of state — something has become different from before. It signals that a new situation has emerge...
12. 来 (connecting verb phrases) lái The word 来 (lái) can connect two verb phrases, where the first phrase describes a method or means, and 来 introduces the action or goal ac...
13. 来自 (come from) láizì 来自 (láizì) means 'to come from' or 'to originate from' and is used to indicate the source, origin, or provenance of a person, thing, or i...
14. 来 (dummy verb) lái 来 (lái) can function as a 'dummy verb' meaning 'to do it' or 'let me handle it,' standing in for a specific action that is understood fro...
15. 离 vs 从 (distance vs starting point) lí / cóng Both 离 (lí) and 从 (cóng) relate to spatial and temporal references, but they serve different functions. 离 indicates distance or separatio...
16. 来说 (speaking of / for) lái shuō The phrase 来说 is used with 对...来说 to mean 'for someone' or 'as far as someone is concerned,' and with a topic word + 来说 to mean 'speaking...