10 Must-Know Chinese Sentence Patterns for Beginners

In this article, we will explore 10 essential Chinese sentence patterns that will help you build a strong foundation for your language learning journey.

English Grammar Noun Table

英文文法名詞	中文（拼音）	台灣中文繁體	解釋與例句
subject	主語 (zhǔyǔ)	主語	句子中動作的發出者或承受者。例如：我喜歡吃蘋果。（Wǒ xǐhuān chī píngguǒ.）中的「我」是主語。
verb	謂語 (wèiyǔ)	謂語	表示動作、狀態或特徵的詞。例如：他學習中文。（Tā xuéxí Zhōngwén.）中的「學習」是謂語。
object	賓語 (bīnyǔ)	賓語	動詞所作用的對象。例如：我喜歡吃蘋果。（Wǒ xǐhuān chī píngguǒ.）中的「蘋果」是賓語。
predicate	述語 (shùyǔ)	述語	通常指謂語，用來描述主語的動作、狀態或特徵。
adverb	副詞 (fùyú)	副詞	修飾動詞、形容詞或其他副詞，表示時間、地點、程度等。例如：他很快就學會了。（Tā hěn kuài jiù xuéhuì le.）中的「很快」是副詞。
Directional Complement	方向補語 (fāngxiàng bǔyǔ)	方向補語	表示動作的方向或目的地的補語。例如：我去北京。（Wǒ qù Běijīng.）中的「去」是方向補語。
complement	補語 (bǔyǔ)	補語	補充說明主語或賓語的成分。除了方向補語外，還有結果補語、程度補語等。

10 Chinese Sentence Patterns

1. Subject + Verb + Object (主謂賓)

• 中文示例： 我喜歡吃蘋果。 (Wǒ xǐhuān chī píngguǒ.)
• 英文解釋： This is the most basic sentence structure in Chinese. It follows the subject-verb-object order.
• Example: I like to eat apples.

• More Example:
  • 他每天早上喝牛奶。 (Tā měitiān zǎoshang hē niúnǎi.)
    He drinks milk every morning.
  • 我喜歡看電影。 (Wǒ xǐhuān kàn diànyǐng.)
    I like watching movies.

2. Subject + 是 + Predicate (主系表)

• 中文示例： 他是學生。 (Tā shì xuésheng.)
• 英文解釋： This pattern is used to describe or identify something.
• Example: He is a student.

• More Example:
  • 她是醫生。 (Tā shì yīshēng.)
    She is a doctor.
  • 這本書很有趣。 (Zhè běn shū hěn yòuqù.)
    This book is very interesting.

3. Adverb + Verb + Object (狀動賓)

• 中文示例： 我很快樂地吃飯。 (Wǒ hěn kuàilè de chī fàn.)
• 英文解釋: This pattern is used to describe how an action is performed.
• Example: I eat happily.

• More Example:
  • 他認真地學習中文。 (Tā rènzhēn de xuéxí Zhōngwén.)
    He studies Chinese seriously.
  • 我高興地跳起來。 (Wǒ gāoxìng de tiào qǐlái.)
    I jumped for joy.

4. Subject + Verb + Directional Complement (主謂補)

• 中文示例： 我去北京。 (Wǒ qù Běijīng.)
• 英文解釋: This pattern indicates the direction or destination of an action.
• Example: I am going to Beijing.

• More Example:
  • 我回家了。 (Wǒ huí jiā le.)
    I went home.
  • 他去超市買東西。 (Tā qù chāoshì mǎi dōngxi.)
    He went to the supermarket to buy things.

5. There is/are (有)

• 中文示例： 桌子上有一個蘋果。 (Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yīgè píngguǒ.)
• 英文解釋: This pattern is used to express existence.
• Example: There is an apple on the table.

• More Example:
  • 冰箱裡有牛奶。 (Bīngxiāng lǐ yǒu niúnǎi.)
    There is milk in the refrigerator.
  • 桌子上有一些書。 (Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yīxiē shū.)
    There are some books on the table

6. Questions with 吗 (ma)

• 中文示例： 你喜歡吃中國菜嗎？ (Nǐ xǐhuān chī Zhōngguó cài ma?)
• 英文解釋: This particle is added to the end of a sentence to form a yes-no question.
• Example: Do you like Chinese food?

• More Example:
  • 你喜歡吃辣嗎？ (Nǐ xǐhuān chī là ma?)
    Do you like spicy food?
  • 你會說英語嗎？ (Nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma?)
    Can you speak English?

7. Questions with 什麼 (shénme)

• 中文示例： 你叫什麼名字？ (Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?)
• 英文解釋: This word is used to ask “what”.
• Example: What is your name?

• More Example:
  • 你想吃什麼？ (Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme?)
    What do you want to eat?
  • 你在看什麼書？ (Nǐ zài kàn shénme shū?)
    What book are you reading?

8. Questions with 哪裡 (nǎlǐ)

• 中文示例： 你家在哪裡？ (Nǐ jiā zài nǎlǐ?)
• 英文解釋: This word is used to ask “where”.
• Example: Where is your home?

• More Example:
  • 你來自哪裡？ (Nǐ láizì nǎlǐ?)
    Where are you from?
  • 你要去哪裡？ (Nǐ yào qù nǎlǐ?)
    Where are you going?

9. Questions with 誰 (shuí)

• 中文示例： 這是誰的書？ (Zhè shì shuí de shū?)
• 英文解釋: This word is used to ask “who”.
• Example: Whose book is this?

• More Example:
  • 這是誰的筆？ (Zhè shì shuí de bǐ?)
    Whose pen is this?
  • 你和誰一起來的？ (Nǐ hé shuí yīqǐ lái de?)
    Who did you come with?

10. Questions with 多 (duō)

• 中文示例： 你多大了？ (Nǐ duō dà le?)
• 英文解釋: This word is used to ask “how old” or “how much”.
• Example: How old are you?

• More Example:
  • 你家有幾個人？ (Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ gè rén?)
    How many people are there in your family?
  • 這本書多少錢？ (Zhè běn shū duōshǎo qián?)
    How much is this book?

How to practice by yourself

To improve your Chinese, it’s essential to practice speaking as much as possible. While studying example sentences is helpful, actively using the language is key to internalizing these sentence patterns. Additionally, listening to Chinese songs and watching Chinese media can help you acquire the language more naturally. Finally, finding a language partner can provide valuable feedback and accelerate your learning.

1. Start with the Basics

• Grasp fundamental sentence patterns: Begin by learning the basic sentence structures like subject-verb-object, subject-copula-complement, and question patterns.
• Understand parts of speech: Familiarize yourself with Chinese parts of speech such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
• Learn essential particles: Particles like “de”, “le”, and “ma” play a crucial role in Chinese grammar and sentence structure.

2. Practice Regularly

• Daily practice: Even a short practice session each day can make a significant difference.
• Create a routine: Set aside a specific time for language practice to make it a habit.
• Use flashcards: Create flashcards with Chinese sentences and their English translations to review regularly.

3. Immerse Yourself in the Language

• Watch Chinese movies and TV shows: Pay attention to how native speakers construct sentences.
• Listen to Chinese music and podcasts: Listening to authentic Chinese can improve your listening comprehension and help you learn new vocabulary and sentence patterns.
• Read Chinese books and articles: Start with simple materials and gradually increase the difficulty level.

4. Write in Chinese

• Keep a journal: Write about your daily life in Chinese.
• Write short stories or essays: Challenge yourself to use the grammar structures you’ve learned.
• Practice writing different types of sentences: Experiment with various sentence patterns and structures.

5. Find a Language Partner

• Practice speaking with a native speaker: This will help you improve your pronunciation and fluency.
• Join a language exchange program: Connect with native Chinese speakers to practice speaking and listening.
• Use language learning apps: Many apps offer language exchange features.

6. Use Language Learning Resources

• Textbooks and workbooks: Use textbooks to learn grammar rules and practice exercises.
• Online courses: Many online platforms offer comprehensive Chinese language courses.
• Language learning apps: Apps like Duolingo, Memrise, and HelloChinese can provide interactive lessons.

7. Focus on Accuracy and Fluency

• Pay attention to grammar: Ensure that you are using the correct grammar rules.
• Practice speaking fluently: Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. The more you practice, the better you’ll become.