HSK 4 Grammar Points 2026: 95 Patterns
HSK 4 grammar is where Chinese becomes structurally demanding. New modal adverbs (难道, 竟然, 究竟), double negation, pivot sentences (兼语句), and a full set of complex compound sentences — including concessive (即使…也), adversative (尽管…但是), and purpose clauses — are all introduced here.
339
Total (cumulative)
15+
Compound sentence types
12
New fixed expressions
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95
Grammar Points
15+
Compound Patterns
2 new
Complement Types
12 new
Fixed Expressions
1. New Word Classes & Function Words
Modal Verbs
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 敢 | 我不敢一个人去。 | Dare to; expresses courage or willingness in the face of fear |
Pronouns
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 各、各位、各种 | 各位同学，上课了。 | Various; each; all — used before nouns or as polite address |
| 任何 | 任何人都可以参加。 | Any; any kind of — used before nouns, usually with 都 |
| 此 | 此地禁止停车。 | This (formal/written); literary equivalent of 这 |
Measure Words (New)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 打 (dozen) | 一打鸡蛋 | A dozen (12); borrowed from English 'dozen' |
| 台 | 一台电脑 | For machines, equipment, performances |
| 幅 | 一幅画 | For paintings, photos, maps |
| 场 | 一场比赛 | For events, games, performances, rain |
| 顿 | 一顿饭 | For meals; also used for scoldings |
| 趟 | 去了一趟北京 | For trips/journeys (there and back) |
| 脸/手/盒/桌子 | 一脸汗 | Borrowed measure words: a face-full of sweat; a hand of cards |
Degree Adverbs (New)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 十分 | 他十分努力。 | Very; extremely (more formal than 很) |
| 更加 | 现在更加方便了。 | Even more; increasingly |
| 稍/稍微 | 稍微等一下。 | Slightly; a little bit |
| 尤其 | 他尤其喜欢历史。 | Especially; particularly |
| 多么 | 多么美的风景啊！ | How (in exclamations); how very |
Scope & Time Adverbs (New)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 共、全 | 共有三十道题。 | Altogether; in total / all, entire |
| 光、仅、仅仅 | 光说不做没有用。 | Only; merely (光 slightly colloquial) |
| 至少 | 至少需要两个小时。 | At least |
| 从来 | 我从来没去过。 | Never (with negative); always (with positive, rare) |
| 赶紧、赶快 | 赶紧去医院！ | Hurry up; quickly (赶快slightly more urgency) |
| 将/将要 | 比赛将在明天举行。 | Will; about to (formal/written) |
| 本来 | 我本来想去的。 | Originally; as a matter of fact |
| 忽然 | 天忽然下起了雨。 | Suddenly (unexpected change, shorter duration than 突然) |
Frequency & Manner Adverbs (New)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 重新 | 请重新做一遍。 | Again; anew; start over |
| 往往 | 他往往很晚回家。 | Often; frequently (implies a pattern) |
| 偶尔 | 我偶尔会去跑步。 | Occasionally; once in a while |
| 再次 | 再次感谢您的帮助。 | Once again; for the second time |
| 故意 | 他故意说错了。 | On purpose; deliberately |
| 互相、相互 | 我们互相帮助。 | Each other; mutually |
Mood & Stance Adverbs (New)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 却 | 他说想去，却没去。 | Yet; but; however (unexpected contrast in same subject) |
| 也许、恐怕 | 也许他不知道。/ 恐怕来不及了。 | Maybe; perhaps / I am afraid (that)... |
| 才4 | 你才聪明呢！ | Expressing rebuttal or emphasis: 'you are the one who is smart!' |
| 就5 | 就你一个人来了？ | Only; just (surprised or disappointed tone) |
| 竟然 | 他竟然不知道。 | Surprisingly; to one's surprise |
| 究竟 | 你究竟想要什么？ | On earth; exactly; after all (in questions) |
| 难道 | 难道你不知道吗？ | Could it be that...? Rhetorical question marker |
| 千万 | 千万别忘了！ | Must; be sure to (strong warning/advice) |
| 只好 | 没有车，只好走路。 | Have no choice but to; can only |
| 差（一）点儿 | 差点儿迟到了。 | Almost; nearly (undesirable thing almost happened) |
Prepositions (New)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 自 | 自2000年起。 | Since; from (formal/written, equivalent of 从) |
| 当 | 当他到达时，我已经离开了。 | When; at the time of (used in complex sentences) |
| 随着 | 随着时代的变化… | Along with; as (something changes) |
| 将 (prep) | 将文件发给我。 | A formal variant of 把 in written language |
| 由1 | 由我来决定。 | By; from (indicating doer or starting point) |
| 由于1 | 由于下雨，比赛取消了。 | Due to; because of (formal causal preposition) |
| 对于 | 对于这个问题，我有不同看法。 | As for; regarding; with respect to |
| 作为 | 作为学生，应该努力学习。 | As (a role or capacity); in the capacity of |
| 按/按照 | 按照计划进行。 | According to; in accordance with |
2. New Conjunctions & Particles
Coordinating Conjunctions
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 并2 | 并且 | And; moreover (written connector between clauses) |
| 而1 | 他学习好，而且工作也很努力。 | And; furthermore (linking parallel or progressive clauses) |
| 与2 | 父母与子女之间的关系 | And; together with (formal/written) |
Subordinating Conjunctions
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 既然 | 既然你来了，就多住几天吧。 | Since; now that (acknowledging a premise) |
| 甚至 | 他甚至连名字都忘了。 | Even; to the extent that |
| 不过 | 他很努力，不过结果不太好。 | However; but (milder than 但是) |
| 此外 | 此外，还要注意安全。 | Besides; in addition; moreover (formal) |
| 另外 | 另外，还有一件事。 | In addition; besides; also |
| 要是 | 要是下雨，就别去了。 | If; suppose (colloquial variant of 如果) |
| 因此 | 他努力学习，因此成绩很好。 | Therefore; as a result; consequently |
| 不光 | 不光学生，老师也很紧张。 | Not only (colloquial variant of 不仅) |
| 加上 | 加上天气不好，我们没去成。 | Plus; additionally; coupled with |
Particles (New)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 等2 | 苹果、香蕉等水果 | Etc.; and so on (follows a list) |
| 者 | 工作者; 研究者 | Person/agent suffix (formal; equivalent of 的人) |
| 之 | 之前; 两者之间 | Of; between (formal written particle) |
| 就是 | 就是你说的那本书 | Exactly; the very one; that is to say |
3. New Complement Patterns
Degree Complements (New)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 形容词/心理动词+死了/厉害 | 热死了！/ 高兴得厉害 | Expresses an extreme degree: 'to death'; intensely |
Potential Complements (New)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 动词+得/不+了 | 我吃不了那么多。/ 明天去得了吗？ | Can/cannot complete or achieve the action (possibility based on capacity) |
Try these patterns in your own sentences
Reading a pattern is not the same as producing it. In the Pass HSK app, HSK 4 grammar comes with example sentences, audio and practice questions.
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4. Special Sentence Patterns
把 Sentence Patterns (New Forms)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 把+宾语+V+了 | 他把作业做完了。 | 把 pattern 4: verb + 了 indicating completed disposal |
| 把+宾语+V+动量/时量补语 | 我把那本书看了两遍。 | 把 pattern 5: with verbal or time-measure complement |
| 把+宾语+状语+V | 他把手机放在桌子上了。 | 把 pattern 6: with a locative or manner adverbial before the verb |
被动句 (New Forms)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 主语+叫/让+宾语+V+其他 | 自行车叫人骑走了。 | Passive with 叫/让 instead of 被 (colloquial; often indicates an undesirable outcome) |
兼语句 Pivot Sentences (New)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 表爱憎义：表扬/批评+宾语1+V+宾语2 | 老师表扬他学习努力。 | Type 1: praise/criticize pivot — the object of V1 becomes the subject of V2 |
| 表称谓/认定：收/选+宾语1+做/当+宾语2 | 大家选他当班长。 | Type 2: designation pivot — elected/chosen as a role |
| 表致使：使/让+人称代词+V短语 | 这件事让我很感动。 | Type 3: causative pivot — something causes someone to do or feel something |
比较句 (New Forms)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A不如B（+形容词） | 今年的成绩不如去年好。 | A is not as good as B; inferiority comparison |
| 跟……相比 | 跟北京相比，这里更安静。 | Compared to...; in comparison with... |
双重否定句 Double Negation
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 用双重否定表强调 | 这件事不是不能做。/ 没有人不知道。 | Double negative for emphasis: not [verb] not = definitely must [verb] |
反问句 Rhetorical Questions (New)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 难道……吗？ | 难道你不喜欢吗？ | Could it be that...? Strong rhetorical assertion |
| 由疑问代词构成的反问句 | 谁说我不会？ 哪里有那么简单？ | Rhetorical questions using 谁/哪里/怎么 etc. — not actually asking for information |
5. Complex Sentence Patterns (New & Expanded)
Parallel & Progressive
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 不是……，而是…… | 他不是不想去，而是没有时间。 | Not A, but rather B — correction/contrast |
| 既……，又/也…… | 既便宜又好吃。 | Both A and B (equally true) |
| 一方面……，另一方面…… | 一方面要学习，另一方面要注意身体。 | On one hand... on the other hand... |
| 不仅/不光……，还/而且…… | 不仅会说中文，还会写汉字。 | Not only... but also... (progressive additive) |
| 连……也/都…… | 连他都不知道。 | Even... (emphasizes the extremity of the included case) |
Sequential
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 首先……，其次/然后…… | 首先介绍一下背景，其次说明原因。 | First... secondly/then... (formal sequencing) |
| ……，于是…… | 天气变好了，于是我们出发了。 | And so; as a result (immediate consequence) |
Alternative
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 不是……，就是…… | 周末不是看电影，就是打球。 | Either... or... (one of two alternatives) |
Concessive & Adversative
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 尽管……，但是/可是…… | 尽管很累，但是他坚持下来了。 | Although/even though... (stronger than 虽然) |
| ……，然而…… | 他很努力，然而没有成功。 | However; yet (formal, literary tone) |
| X是X，就是/不过…… | 好是好，就是太贵了。 | It is [adj], but... (concessive topic comment) |
Conditional & Hypothetical
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 不管……，都/也…… | 不管多难，我都要坚持。 | No matter what/how...; regardless of... |
| 无论……，都/也…… | 无论如何，要先冷静。 | No matter what (more formal than 不管) |
| 即使……，也…… | 即使下雨，我也要去。 | Even if...; even though (hypothetical concession) |
| 就是……，也…… | 就是不想去，也要去。 | Even if..., still must (stronger insistence) |
| 要是……，就…… / 否则…… | 要是来不及，就先走，否则就等一下。 | If... then...; otherwise... |
Causal
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 既然……，就…… | 既然决定了，就认真做吧。 | Since/now that (premise already established), then... |
| （由于）……，因此…… | 由于路上堵车，因此迟到了。 | Due to..., therefore... (formal cause-and-result) |
Purpose
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ……，好…… | 我先确认一下，好早点出发。 | ...so that...; in order to (resultant purpose) |
| 为了……而…… | 为了梦想而努力。 | For the sake of... (emphatic purpose; 而 adds formality) |
6. Fixed Expressions & Special Patterns
Quantitative & Proportional
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 一+量词+比+一+量词 | 一天比一天冷。 | Getting more [adj] day by day; progressive intensification |
| 数词+来+量词 | 三十来岁 | Approximate number: about 30-something; approximately |
| 大约、左右、前后 | 大约三点左右到。 | About; approximately; around (various forms) |
| 小数、分数、百分数、倍数 | 1.5倍、三分之一、百分之八十 | Decimals (1.5), fractions (1/3), percentages (80%), multiples (1.5x) |
Four-character Patterns
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 一A一B | 一天一天地进步 | One A, one B — gradual progression or paired elements |
| 无A无B | 无忧无虑 | Neither A nor B — completely without both |
| 有A有B | 有说有笑 | Having both A and B; doing both |
Common Fixed Phrases
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 来得及/来不及 | 还来得及吗？ | There is still time / there is no time left |
| 有的是 | 钱有的是，时间没有。 | Plenty of; there is no shortage of |
| 说不定 | 说不定他忘了。 | Maybe; it is hard to say; perhaps |
| 不怎么 | 这道菜不怎么好吃。 | Not very; not particularly |
| 就是说/这就是说 | 也就是说，我们要重新开始。 | That is to say; in other words |
| 在……方面 | 在语法方面，他需要加强。 | In terms of...; in the area of... |
| 够……的 | 够麻烦的！ | Quite...; pretty... (colloquial degree expression) |
| 拿……来说 | 拿中国来说，人口非常多。 | Taking... as an example; to cite... as a case |
| 再也不/没…… | 我再也不吃辣了。 | Never again; not any more |
| 怎么都/也+不/没…… | 怎么都说不清楚。 | No matter how, still cannot... (negative emphasis) |
| X就是了 | 直接说就是了。 | Just do X; simply X (dismissive simplification) |
| 还X呢 | 还朋友呢，不帮我！ | And you call yourself a friend! (sarcastic) |
7. Common Grammar Traps at HSK 4
Trap 1: 尽管 vs 虽然
Avoid: 尽管很累，所以他坚持下来了。
Example: 尽管很累，但是他坚持下来了。
Both mean 'although', but 尽管 is stronger and always pairs with 但是/可是/还是 — never with 所以.
Trap 2: 不管 vs 即使
Context: 不管下不下雨，你应该带伞。
Example: 即使不下雨，你也应该带伞。/ 不管下不下雨，你都应该带伞。
不管 requires an open question form (下不下/什么/多少). 即使 takes a single hypothetical statement.
Trap 3: 竟然 vs 居然
Context: 他竟然学了三年中文。
Example: 他居然/竟然连名字都说错了。
Both express surprise, but they should be used with truly unexpected outcomes — not neutral facts.
Trap 4: 差点儿 with positive vs negative outcomes
Context: 我差点儿赢了。— I almost won (but did not).
Example: 我差点儿赢了。(acceptable if you did NOT win) / 差点儿就赢了 (emphasizes near-miss)
The original sentence is acceptable. Read 差点儿 with the surrounding context; adding 没 can change the interpretation.
Trap 5: 被 passive vs 叫/让 passive
Avoid: 我叫他了。(meaning 'I was done something by him')
Example: 钱叫他拿走了。(money was taken away by him)
叫/让 passives require both the agent AND the verb to be explicit. The agent cannot be omitted unlike 被.
Now build the sentences yourself
Reading a pattern is not the same as producing it. In the Pass HSK app, HSK 4 grammar comes with example sentences, audio and practice questions.
Find your level and start freeFree to start · No account or credit card needed · Web, iOS & Android