CCB Grammar Flashcards
随着 X (的发展，变化，改变，进步。。。)
in conjunction with X (some kind of change)
- corresponds to English phrases such as: “along with”, “in conjunction with”, “in the wake of” and “keeping pace with”, bit is always in reference to some change or transition.
之
a classical chinese word that is still used in certain constructions and turns of phrases:
1. certain phrases where 之 replaces 的 and therefore makes it more concise and sound better:
无价之宝 = a priceless object
2. serves as a pronominal object similar to ‘it’:
用之不竭 = use it not exhaust = inexhaustible
因此
for this reason
- a literary substitute for 所以 and appears like it in the reason clause, either before or after the subject.
Verb + 起来
can be used in various ways: 1. 'up (together)': 全国人民联合起来 = people of all nations unite! 2. 'start to, suddenly become' 流行起来 = get popular; suddenly become popular 3. 'when it comes to' 说起来容易 = it is easy to talk about it
或 X 或 Y
either X or Y
- a reduce form of 或者 and is built around pairs of stative verbs that are opposites:
或真或假 = either true or false
或大或小 = either big or small
持（保守，严肃，欢迎的态度）
hold/have (a certain kind of view, etc.)
- formal way of saying ‘have’ or ‘hold’, common in journalistic styles:
他们持保守看法 = they hold a conservative viewpoint
当 X 时
when X
- the literary alternative to 在 X 的时候, meaning ‘when something is taking place’
因为。。。而。。。
because …
- the 而 serves to resume the clause after the mention of a reason or cause. The subject of the clause NEEDS to be same as the of the 因为 clause, so 而 here is NOT a replacement of 所以:
学生因为社交活动太多而没有时间睡觉 = because they have so many social activities, students don’t have any time to sleep.
反正
anyway, in any case or regardless
- can only appear at the head of a sentence or a clause.
尽管 X 然而 Y
although X, Y
- the literary equivalent of 虽然 X 可是/但是 Y, either of them can be omitted.
凡是 X 都 Y
every X, is Y
- 凡是 by itself means ‘whatever is’ or ‘anyone is’, but with 都 in the sentence you get this construction:
凡是合理的，都是存在的 = everything rational, is real
不外乎 X
be nothing but X, be just for X
所 X
that which is X
- 所有的 = that which exists = all
can be used with anything that comes after it, and not just in preset compounds like the one above.
至于 X
as for X
- used to introduce a new topic, often contrastive.
以至于 X
to such an extent as to X
- a more formal version of 结果, and is likewise used to to indicate that what follows is a consequence of what preceded.
对 X 说来
speaking of X; for X; to X
- X is usually a person in this construction
X 便 Y
X and then Y
- a written variant of the colloquial 就
X 把 Y 视为 Z
for X to view/regard Y as Z
- 视为 is a more literary version of 看成
- Z NEEDS to be a noun or a noun phrase
具(有) X
to possess X, to have X
- using 具, with or without 有, is a way denote a more formal way of denoting possession. 有 can be used for more concrete nouns and 具 can be more abstract:
有自行车= to have a bicycle
具潜力= to have/possess potential
X 之所以 Y
the reason that X Y
- 我之所以今天没去上课。。。 = the reason that I did not go to school today …
- it heavily relies on classical chinese; 所以 = reason and 之 = 的：
我之所以 = my reason
X 者
a person who X; X-er; X-ist
- 消费者 = to consumer -er = consumer
- 无政府主义者= with government -ist = anarchist
- X 与 Y 成正比
2. X 与 Y 成反比
- X and Y are directly proportional
2. X and Y are inversely proportional
一旦
once; if one day; now that
- often used in conditional sentences in the sense of: ‘[if] one day, where it come to pass’
及
and
- literary version of 和 or 跟 and is often used before the last member of a list: X, Y 及 Z
