Traditional Chinese Word Order and Sentence Patterns is built for learners who want useful Traditional Chinese vocabulary in a clean reference format instead of a long, fluffy article.
Ready to make your sentences behave? Scroll to the bottom for the free printable traditional chinese vocabulary list list PDF and the free downloadable printable traditional chinese list flashcards—your handy study sidekicks for practicing Traditional Chinese word order and sentence patterns.
Use this list as a starting point, then keep going in the Yak Yacker Traditional Chinese section for more words, phrases, and study-friendly reference pages.
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| Word | Meaning | Example Pinyin | Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| A 比 B + Adjective | Comparative: A is more [adj] than B. | Tā bǐ wǒ gāo. | A + 比 + B + Adj. |
| Descriptive complement with 得 | Describing the degree or manner of an action | Tā xiězì xiě de hěn piàoliang. | S + V + 得 + Adv + Adj |
| Double object construction | Giving, teaching, or telling someone something | Lǎoshī jiāo wǒmen Zhōngwén. | S + V + IO + DO |
| Existence with 有 | Indicating the existence of something in a location | Zhuō shàng yǒu běn shū. | Place + 有 + Object |
| Object (often) | shòucí | 中文 Zhōngwén (Chinese) | 受詞 |
| Oops | Better | Why It Sounds Off | |
| Place | dìdiǎn (chángyòng “zài”) | 在家 zài jiā (at home) | 地點（常用「在」） |
| Potential complement | Expressing ability or inability to achieve a result | Wǒ kàn de dǒng Zhōngwén. | S + V + 得/不 + Complement |
| Simultaneous actions with 著 | Doing V2 while V1 is ongoing | Māma xiàozhe shuō zàijiàn. | S + V1 + 著 + V2 |
| Subject | zhǔyǔ | 我 Wǒ (I) | 主語 |
| Time | shíjiān | 今天 jīntiān (today) | 時間 |
| Time + 就 + Verb + 了 | action occurs earlier than expected; as early as | Tā qī diǎn jiù dào le. | Time + 就 + Verb + 了 |
| Time + 才 + Verb | action occurs later than expected; only then | Tā shí diǎn cái dào. | Time + 才 + Verb Phrase |
| Verb | dòngcí | 學習 xuéxí (study) | 動詞 |
| Verb + 起來 + Comment | Used to express how something seems or feels when doing the action. | Kàn qǐlái hěn hǎo. | V + 起來 + Adj/Statement |
| 一...就... Pattern (As soon as) | As soon as V1 happens, V2 occurs. | Tā yī dào jiā jiù shuìjiào. | 一 + V1 + 就 + V2 |
| 一邊…一邊… | Doing two actions simultaneously. | Wǒ yībiān chī, yībiān kàn diànshì. | 一邊 + V1 + 一邊 + V2 |
| 不但…，而且… | Not only..., but also... | Tā bùdàn cōngmíng, érqiě qínfèn. | 不但 + clause1, 而且 + clause2 |
| 先...然後... | first... then...; sequencing actions | Wǒ xiān chī fàn, ránhòu kàn diànshì. | 先 + Action1 + 然後 + Action2 |
| 即使...也... | Even if... still... | Jíshǐ xià yǔ, wǒ yě yào qù. | 即使 + Condition, 也 + Result |
| 只有...才... | Only if... then... | Zhǐyǒu nǔlì, cái néng chénggōng. | 只有 + Condition, 才 + Result |
| 只要...就... | as long as... then...; if condition met, result follows | Zhǐyào nǐ nǔlì, nǐ jiù huì chénggōng. | 只要 + Condition + 就 + Result |
| 因為…，所以… | Because..., so... | Yīnwèi xià yǔ, suǒyǐ wǒ bù chūqù. | 因為 + reason, 所以 + result |
| 她 + 下午 + 在圖書館 + 看 + 書 | 她下午在圖書館看書。 | She reads at the library in the afternoon. | She + afternoon + at library + read + books |
| 如果…，就… | If..., then... | Rúguǒ nǐ yǒu kòng, wǒmen jiù qù. | 如果 + condition, 就 + result |
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