Updated on September 27, 2020
Welcome to Lesson 2 (Level 3) of Ming Mandarin’s free online Mandarin Chinese course. In this lesson, let’s learn very BASIC and common Mandarin Chinese conjugations with examples.
Common Mandarin Chinese Conjugations (1-10)
| 虽然…但是… | Although...but... | suīrán…dànshì... |
| 他虽然在中国住了三年，但是没学过中文 | Although he has lived in China for 3years, but he never learned Mandarin | tā suīrán zài zhōnɡɡuó zhùle sānnián，dànshì méi xuéɡuò zhōnɡwén |
| 如果...就... | If...then... | rúɡuǒ...jiù… |
| 如果你需要帮忙，就告诉我 | If you need help, just let me know | rúɡuǒ nǐ xūyàn bānɡmánɡ，jiù ɡàosù wǒ |
| 因为...所以... | Because...therefore… | yīnwèi...suǒyǐ... |
| 因为外面有病毒，所以我们不能出门 | Because there is virus outside, so we can't go out | yīnwèi wàimiàn yǒu bìnɡdú，suǒyǐ wǒmen bùnénɡ chūmén |
| 先...然后... | First...then... | xiān...ránhòu... |
| 我们先讨论一下，然后再决定 | We first talk about it, then make decision | wǒmen xiān tǎolùn yíxià，ránhòu zài juédìnɡ |
| 连...都... | Even... | lián...dōu... |
| 我饿得连牛都吃得下 | I am so hungry that I can even eat a cow | wǒ è de lián niú dōu chī de xià |
| 不是...而是... | It's not..., it's just... | búshì...érshì... |
| 不是我不想买，而是太贵了 | It's not that I don't want to buy it, it's just too expensive | búshì wǒ bù xiǎnɡ mǎi，érshì tài ɡuì le |
| 不是...就是... | If it's not..., then it's... | búshì...jiùshì... |
| 反正不是你就是他弄错了 | Anyway either you or he made a mistake | fànzhènɡ búshì nǐ jiùshì tā nònɡcuò le |
| 不但...而且... | Not only...but also... | búdàn...érqiě… |
| 这家饭店的菜不但好吃而且便宜 | The food in this restaurant is not only delicious but also cheap | zhèjiā fàndiàn de cài búdàn hǎochī érqiě piányi |
| 一边...一边... | (Do)...while (do)... | yìbiān...yìbiān... |
| 不要一边吃饭一边玩手机 | Don't play your phone while eating | búyào yìbiān chīfàn yìbiān wán shǒujī |
| 一方面...一方面... | On one hand...on the other hand... | yì fānɡmian...yì fānɡmian... |
| 骑自行车上班一方面可以运动，一方面可以环保 | On one hand riding bicycle to work (you) can exercise, on the other hand (it) can protect environment | qí zìxínɡchē shànɡbān yì fānɡmian kěyǐ yùndònɡ，yì fānɡmian kěyǐ huánbǎo |
- Lesson 2 (Level 1): 5 Most Common Chinese Measure Words
- Lesson 1 (Level 2): How To Say “To Think” With 以为 In Chinese?
- Lesson 1 (Level 3): Learn Must Know Famous Chinese Idioms
- Lesson 1 (Level 4): 2 Must Know Famous Ancient Chinese Poems
- Lesson 1 (Level 5): Chinese Reading Practice with Pinyin & English
Common Mandarin Chinese Conjugations (11-20)
| 除了...以外，都... | Apart from, except | chúle...dōu… |
| 除了我以外，其他人都没来过中国 | Others have never been to China except for me | chúle wǒ yǐwài，qítā rén dōu méi láiɡuò zhōnɡɡuó |
| 除了...以外，还... | Apart from, besides | chúle...hái... |
| 除了上课以外，我还得多和中国人聊天 | Besides attending class, I also need to chat more with Chinese | chúle shànɡkè yǐwài，wǒ hái děi duō hé zhōnɡɡuórén liáotiān |
| 要不然 | Otherwise | yào bu rán |
| 快点儿！要不然我们就迟到了 | Hurry up! Otherwise we'll be late | kuài diǎn-er！yàoburán wǒmen jiù chídào le |
| 只有...才... | Only if...then... | zhǐyǒu...cái... |
| 你只有通过面试才能得到这份工作 | You can get this job only if you pass the interview | nǐ zhǐyǒu tōnɡɡuò miànshì cái nénɡ dédào zhèfèn ɡōnɡzuò |
| 只要...就... | As long as...then... | zhǐyào...jiù... |
| 只要我学习好，父母就很高兴 | As long as I study well, my parents are happy | zhǐyào wǒ xuéxí hǎo，fùmǔ jiù hěn ɡāoxìnɡ |
| 即使...也... | Even if... | jíshǐ...yě... |
| 即使我有那么多钱，也不会这么做 | Even if I had so much money, I wouldn't do like this | jíshǐ wǒ yǒu nàme duō qián，yě búhuì zhème zuò |
| 既然...就... | Since...now that... | jìrán...jiù... |
| 既然我们已经决定了，那就去做吧 | Now that we have made decision, then let's do it | jìrán wǒmen yǐjīnɡ juédìnɡ le，nà jiù qù zuò ba |
| 既...也... | Both...and... | jì...yě... |
| 关于这个，我既不了解也不关心 | About this, I don't know well and I don't care | ɡuānyú zhèɡè，wǒ jì bù liǎojiě yě bù ɡuānxīn |
| 要么...要么... | Either...or... | yàome...yàome... |
| 他要么疯了，要么喝醉了 | He is either crazy or drunk | tā yàome fēnɡ le，yàome hēzuì le |
| 无论...都... | No matter... | wúlùn...dōu... |
| 无论他说什么，我都不会相信 | No matter what he says, I won't believe | wúlùn tā shuō shénme，wǒ dōu búhuì xiānɡxìn |
Common Mandarin Chinese Conjugations (21-30)
| 趁… | Take the opportunity, when... | chèn... |
| 趁老板不在，我们休息一下吧 | When the boss is not here, let's take a break | chèn lǎobǎn búzài，wǒmen xiūxi yíxià ba |
| 再也不...了 | No longer... | zài yě bù....le |
| 我以后再也不喝这么多了 | I'll no longer drink that much | wǒ yǐhòu zài yě bù hē zhème duō le |
| 一旦...就... | Once...then... | yídàn...jiù... |
| 一旦你有了孩子，生活就不一样了 | Once you have children, life is different | yídàn nī yǒu le háizi，shēnɡhuó jiù bù yíyànɡ le |
| 更不用说... | Not to mention | ɡènɡ bú yònɡ shuō... |
| 连你都不懂，更不用说我了 | Even you don't understand it, don’t mention me | lián nǐ dōu bù dǒnɡ，ɡènɡ búyònɡ shuō wǒ le |
| 免得... | In order to avoid... | miǎn de... |
| 我得和她谈一谈，免得误会 | I need to talk to her to avoid misunderstanding | wǒ děi hé tā tán yi tán，miǎnde wùhuì |
| 等...再... | Wait until...then... | děnɡ...zài... |
| 等雨停了，我们再去吧 | Wait until the rain stops then let's go there | děnɡ yǔ tínɡ le，wǒmen zài qù ba |
| 除非... | Unless... | chú fēi |
| 没人想去，除非你请客 | No one want to go unless you pay for it | méirén xiǎnɡ qù，chúfēi nǐ qǐnɡkè |
| 首先...其次... | Firstly...secondly... | shǒuxiān...qícì... |
| 首先你工作很努力，其次跟同事的关系也很好 | Firstly you work hard, secondly you have good relationship with colleagues | shǒuxiān nǐ ɡōnɡzuò hěn nǔlì，qícì ɡēn tónɡshì de ɡuānxi yě hěnhǎo |
| 宁愿...也不... | Would rather...than... | nínɡyuàn...yěbù... |
| 我宁愿死也不道歉 | I would rather die than apologize | wǒ nínɡyuàn sǐ yě bú dàoqiàn |
| 与其...不如... | Rather than...it's better... | yǔqí...bùrú... |
| 与其按月付房租，不如买个自己的房子 | Rather than pay rent monthly, it's better to buy one's own house | yǔqí ànyuàn fù fánɡzū，bùrú mǎi ɡè zìjǐ de fánɡzi |
How do you find these Chinese conjugations and example sentences? Let me know your suggestions and feedback in the comments. 🙂