Conjunctions and Useful Words

Question 1

Somewhere
Someone 
Something
Sometime
Somehow

Answer 1

哪儿
谁
什么
什么时候
怎么

Question 2

Everyone
Everything/Anything
Any way/Any means
Everywhere/Anywhere

Answer 2

谁 + 都
什么 + 都
怎么 + 都
哪儿 + 都

Question 3

Certainly

Answer 3

一定

Question 4

那

Answer 4

Used as a conjunction 那 indicates the result or judgement of something said previously. Often translatable as “then/in that case”.

A: 我不想去看电影
B: 那我也不去了

Question 5

Not necessarily, need not

Answer 5

不必（bu2 bi4)

Question 6

Regardless of, no matter (often adding “what”)

Answer 6

不管 （bu4 guan3)

Question 7

since/as/this being the case

Answer 7

既然 (ji4 ran2)

Question 8

In future

Answer 8

将来

Question 9

Afterwards

2 versions

Answer 9

1. 以后. Can be used to refer to past or future actions. It means afterwards but with an implication of “ever since then”. It can come at the beginning of a sentence or after a clause to express the meaning of after (whatever has come before).
   这件事等以后再谈吧 (We will discuss this matter later)
   以后怎么样我就不知道 (As for what happened afterwards, I don’t know)
   2.后来 Can be used to refer to past actions only. It has an implication of “then/subsequently”. Can only be used at the beginning of a clause.
   后来怎么样我就不知道了 (As for what happened afterwards, I don’t know)

Question 10

Somewhat/to some extent

Answer 10

有所

Question 11

Two different ways of saying always (and other use)

Answer 11

总是 Straightforwardly means always. Comes across a bit more gently.
从来 Means “all along”. More frequently used in the negative to me “never”. Two versions of never:
1) 从来不 - Never and won’t
2) 从来没 - Never but that might change (haven’t yet)

我总是看他喝咖啡，从来没看过他喝茶。
我从来都是喜欢喝咖啡的。

Question 12

Suitable / appropriate (2 ways)

Answer 12

合适 （adjective）
适合 （verb)
这份工作非常适合你，你应该申请shen qing:apply。
这样做是不太合适的。

Question 13

One more year

Answer 13

多一年

Question 14

More than a year

Answer 14

一年多

Question 15

In reality/In practice

also: real, reality

Answer 15

实际上

(real = 实际的
reality = 实际）

Question 16

In theory

Answer 16

理论上

Question 17

Basically

Answer 17

基本上

Question 18

In (my) opinion

Answer 18

在（我）看来

Question 19

It depends on

Answer 19

得看 / 要看 / 要靠

得看 tends to be used with a question. So you put the question, then 得看 and whatever the answer is dependent on. 我明天能不能去得看天气怎么样 (whether or not I can go tomorrow depends on the weather)

Question 20

It’s possible that… / Perhaps…

Answer 20

说不定 (adverb)
This expresses possibility or predicts that something might happen. There is not positive (shuo de ding) form.

我想将来说不定会有 ‘加州烤鸭’ (I think that perhaps in future there will be ‘London Roast Duck’)
他说不定已经回家了 (It’s possible he has already returned home)

Question 21

talk as if….

Answer 21

说得好像是。。。
（e.g. talk as if Chinese was easy to learn)
中文老师把中文说得好像是一件很容易的事。

Question 22

result / as a result

Answer 22

结果

Used as both a noun and a conjunction. E.g.
他每天吃一大块牛肉，结果得了心脏病。

Question 23

According to/it is said

Answer 23

据说

If you are specifying who/what it is according to, that person/thing goes in the middle of the phrase (without this element the direct translation is “it is said that….”):
据认识她的人说，她是个骗子 （according to those who know her, she is a liar)

Question 24

Furthermore （3 options）

Answer 24

而且
并且
再说

Question 25

But (5 ways, and differences) And 2 ways of saying 'on the contrary'

Answer 25

但是 可是 却 (least strong, and can be used in conjuncton with the other two - it is an adverb only and generally only used in later clause of a sentence to negate/contradict the early part - i.e. translate as 'however') You can also use 不过 to mean but, in the sense of nevertheless - it comes before a verb. 然而 also means but (more formal?) On the contrary - 到 or 反而

Question 26

How do you say repeat (i.e. the 're' in re-write, redo, etc)

Answer 26

Repeat = 重复 (chongfu) You can use 重 and 复 separately as prefixes to mean ' re' with slightly different meanings: 重: To do something again, without necessarily intending to have done it again, e.g. this is wrong, rewrite it. 重做、重写 复: To do something again because that is the plan, e.g. do the next exam in the sequence (use chong in this case and you mean that you failed and need to repeat it). 复试、复查

Question 27

Never and Have never

Answer 27

从来不 + V 【我中午从来不睡觉 - - I never sleep at noon】 从来没 + V/A + 过 【他爸爸妈妈从来没这么高兴过 - - has mother and father have never been so happy】

Question 28

Time phrase - he's only been here for a month

Answer 28

他刚来一个月 (literally - he just came a month ago)

Question 29

With regards to.../In terms of... (e.g. with regards to hobbies, I'm more like my mother)

Answer 29

在。。。上 | 在爱好上，我更像我妈妈。

Question 30

What word means to believe something (but wrongly)

Answer 30

以为

Question 31

certain/certainly/affirmative

Answer 31

肯定: certain, certainly (before verb/adjective), with 的affirmative certain：我能肯定，他一定会来 certainly： 运动对身体健康肯定有好处 affirmative：他的回答是肯定的

Question 32

Unexpectedly

Answer 32

竟然 (adverb)

Question 33

How do you use 'worth' in a sentence: - It's not worth it - it's worth $X - It's worth considering

Answer 33

Use 值【得】： - It's not worth it： 不值【得】 - it's worth $X：值 x 快 - It's worth considering：是值得考虑的

Question 34

How do you say 'among them'/'of'(and 'in the middle of)' (two ways)

Answer 34

1) 其中： 我们不仅要回读书，还要会选择其中的好书来读 (Not only do we have to read books, but we also need to know how to choose the good ones among them to read) 2) 当中： Group / Process + 当中 你 是 我 所有 朋友 当中 最 聪明 的 一 个。Of all of my friends, you are the smartest one. 这 个 工程 还在 计划 当中。This engineering project is still in the planning stage.

Question 35

Often

Answer 35

往往 (with more a meaning of 'usually',) 经常 常

Question 36

Uses of 通过 and 经过 (3 each)

Answer 36

通过： 1) Pass through: 这条街只能步行通过。 2) To pass (e.g. exam): 我通过那家公司的面试了。 3) Through: 任何成功都要通过努力才能得到。 经过： 1) Pass by: 我正好经过这儿，顺便过来看看你。 2) The whole story: 小王把事情的经过告诉我了。 3) After having gone through: 经过一次次失败之后，他终于成功了。

Question 37

How do you say 'only' if modifying a verb (we only talked about....)

Answer 37

不过 我们不过谈了点儿工作方面的问题，别的都没谈。

Question 38

And (5 ways and differences)

Answer 38

和 - linking two clauses 给 - where we would use and to mean for e.g. talking together on the phone 与 而 并 / 并且 - to link two clauses meaning 'furthermore'/'moreover' - has to introduce (although not necessarily directly proceed, another verb)

Question 39

Unusual

Answer 39

不平常

Question 40

（doesn't) mean(s)/represent

Answer 40

【不】代表

Question 41

Three different ways of saying etc

Answer 41

等 / 等等 (literally to say etc, use one if in the middle of a sentence, both at the end) 什么的 (also quite literal at the end of a non exhaustive list (of nouns)) 之类的 + category (means, and things like that - so you normally specify what the that is: 你 喜欢《星球大战》之类的 电影 吗 ？)

Question 42

Really want (to describe a strong wish that is unlikely to become reality)

Answer 42

恨不得 (adverb, which comes before the verb, and should be followed by a positive rather than negative verb construction) 我太忙了，我恨不得一天有四十八个小时

Question 43

To a certain/great extent

Answer 43

某种程度 很大程度 在某种程度上，英国与美国有一些不一样的看法。 在某种程度上，自新冠病毒以来，武汉变得越来越重要了。

Question 44

Not to mention

Answer 44

别说

Question 45

Honestly

Answer 45

老师说

Question 46

No wonder

Answer 46

难怪 Used as 'no wonder' it translates fairly directly. You can also use the sentence pattern: 原来。。。难怪。。。 to mean because/so...no wonder... 原来你是中国人，难怪你中文说得那么好 (You are Chinese, no wonder you speak Chinese so well)

Question 47

So far/until now/to this day

Answer 47

至今

Question 48

While (as in, taking the opportunity to do something)

Answer 48

趁着 (chen zhe) 我趁着到中国学中文的机会买了很多中国东西 （While studying Chinese in China I used the opportunity to buy lots of Chinese things)

Question 49

Everywhere

Answer 49

到处都。。。 到处都是人山人海 （There are people everywhere)

Question 50

Didn't expect

Answer 50

没想到。。。【竟然。。。】 我没想到他竟然会骗我 （I didn't expect that he would cheat me) N.B. The jingran is used for emphasis in the subordinate clause.

Question 51

To follow (in a was that shows a new situation is evolving as an existing one evolves)

Answer 51

随着 随着年龄的增长，我渐渐认识到家庭的重要 (As I frow older I gradually realise the importance of family)

Question 52

During

Answer 52

在。。。时

Question 53

Once (as in, was once, did once, using an adverb)

Answer 53

曾经 杭州曾经是南宋的都成 (Hangzhou was once the capital of Nan Song) 我曾经去过香港，可是我姐姐没去过 (I have been to Hong Kong, but my sister has not)

Question 54

After (as in, after a few months...)

Answer 54

。。。下来 几个月下来，就是一个新样子。

Question 55

Since (with 之后）

Answer 55

【从】。。。之后 我从看了那本书之后，改变了对中国的看法

Question 56

Not until

Answer 56

到。。。才 + verb 我到昨天才知道他原来是日本人

Question 57

Between two parties（formal）

Answer 57

A 与 B 之间

Question 58

Up until

Answer 58

一直到。。。才 那本书我一直到今年下完。

Question 59

From amongst

Answer 59

从。。。中 每年我都从薪水中拿出一部分的钱帮助穷人。

Question 60

Anyway, anyhow, in any case

Answer 60

反正 不管你怎么说她好，反正我不喜欢她。

Question 61

The moment (as in, the moment something happened)

Answer 61

在。。。的一刹那 (yi cha na) 李红在知道自己怀孕的一刹那。。。 (in the moment she found out she was pregnant...)

Question 62

To do something first and put other things off until later

Answer 62

先。。。再说 你别急着出去玩，先把功课做完了再说。

Question 63

To apply to / be suitable for...

Answer 63

适用于。。。 请问，外交豁免权适用于什么情况？（excuse me, who does diplomatic immunity apply to?) 民主是否适用于所有的国家呢？

Question 64

Since a long time ago

Answer 64

长期以来...

Question 65

As far as X is concerned / with regard to / in terms of

Answer 65

就。。。而言 就中国现阶段的社会而言，达到共同富裕是非常不容易的事。英国达到了吗？

Question 66

Broadly speaking....

Answer 66

概括而言。。。

Question 67

A lot/plenty

Answer 67

有的是 Either： S + 有的是 + N Or： N + S + 有的是 他 爸 是 大 老板 ，有的是 钱 。（His dad is a big boss. He's got plenty of money.） 上海 这么 大 的 城市 ，工作 机会 有的是 。（Shanghai is such a big city. It's got plenty of job opportunities.）

Question 68

It seems

Answer 68

看来 + perspective 看来 你 玩 得 不 高兴，怎么 这么 早 就 回来 了？(It seems you didn't have a good time. Why did you come back so early?) (N.B. Do not confuse with 看起来 which means 'it looks like' or 在我看来 which means 'from my perspective')

Question 69

Almost (did something/didn't so something) - negative meaning

Answer 69

差点 Subj. + 差点 (+ 没) + Verb Phrase The 没 can be dropped if the thing that didn't happen is an undesired result. 他 差点 没 通过 考试。(He did pass it, but almost didn't.) 这个 地方 太 大 了，我 走 了 很 久，差点儿 没 累 死。

Question 70

Anyway

Answer 70

反正 不管 你 信 不 信 ，反正 我 信 。（No matter whether you believe this or not, I believe it anyway.） 反正 我 家 够 大，你们 今晚 都 住 这儿 吧。（My house is big enough, you can all stay here tonight.）

Question 71

As much as possible / to the greatest extent possible / as far as possible

Answer 71

尽量 (adverb) 我 会 尽量 想 办法 帮 你 的。（I will try my best to figure out something to help you.） 我们 要 尽量 满足 客户 的 需求 。（We have to try our best to meet the client's needs.）

Question 72

Feel free

Answer 72

尽管 有 什么 问题 尽管 问 。Feel free to ask if you have any questions.

Question 73

Just (with the connotation 'might as well' or 'simply’ - just buy a new one!)

Answer 73

干脆 既然 学 不好 ，干脆 别 学 了 。（Since you can't learn it, just stop studying.） 现在 每天 都 要 戴 口罩 ，干脆 不 要 出门 了。（Now that we have to wear a mask every day, I simply don't want to go out.）

Question 74

Since then

Answer 74

从 那 以后

Question 75

Once (as in, once did something, once upon a time or, sometimes translated as 'ever' - have you ever)

Answer 75

曾经 This is normally used in sentences with 过 or 了, but if used to talk about past possession or existence (I once had, he was once my boss, there was once a school here) these are not needed. 他 说 他 曾经 做 过 很多 傻事 。 为了 找 亲生 父母 ，她 曾经 花 了 很 多 钱 。 这里 曾经 是 一个 学校 。

Question 76

In vain / to no effect

Answer 76

白【白】 + verb + 了 明天 不 考 中文， 小王 白白 准备 了 一 天。（There's no Chinese test tomorrow. Little Wang spent the whole day studying in vain.） 他 不 回来 吃饭 了？！我 这些 菜 白 做了。（He's not coming back to eat?! I made all this food for nothing.） N.B. You can also use without the 了 in order to modify a verb - but you need to add 地 between the 白 and verb.

Question 77

While you're at it | And by the way

Answer 77

顺便 Subj. + Verb Phrase 1, 顺便 + Verb Phrase 2 老板 去 见 客户，顺便 吃 了 午饭。The boss went to see the client and also ate lunch while he was at it. Colloquially you can also do: 顺便说一下, by the way.... (statement) 顺便问一下, by the way.... (question)

Question 78

Why should / there is no need (i.e. why would you do that to her = there is no need to do that to her)

Answer 78

何必

Question 79

It is self evident / goes without saying

Answer 79

不言而喻

Question 80

Since (a previous event)

Answer 80

以来

Question 81

‘and then’

Answer 81

于是 于是 is a conjunction that comes between two clauses often used in storytelling because one clause leads to another. Its closest English equivalent would be "and then." (Although it often seems to resemble 'so' or 'so then') Since 于是 can only be used to talk about the past, 了 is often used in the same sentence. 昨天 突然 下雨 了 ，于是 我们 取消 了 野餐 的 计划 。

Question 82

Each other

Answer 82

彼此 我们 只 见 过 一 次 ，彼此 不 是 很 了解 。We've only met once. We don't know each other well. 我们 是 一个 团队 ，彼此 应该 多 沟通 。We're a team. We should communicate more.

Question 83

On the basis of / by virtue of / on the grounds of

Answer 83

凭 （ping) 凭 护照， 外国 人 可以 买 火车 票。Using a passport, foreigners can buy train tickets. 他 只 凭 歌声 就 能 听出 是 谁 唱 的。He could tell who was singing just by the sound of the song. 你 凭什么 怪 我！On what grounds are you blaming me?

Question 84

Take advantage of / while

Answer 84

趁 趁 + situation/opportunity 趁 打折 ，我 买 了 新 手机。 妹妹 经常 趁 我 不 在家 的时候 ，玩 我 的 电脑。

Question 85

If it were not for

Answer 85

要不是。。。【的话】。。。 要不是 你，我 会 迷路。If it weren't for you, I would get lost. 要不是 你 这么 忙，我们 早就 见面 了。If you hadn't been so busy, we'd have met long ago.

Question 86

Thanks to (simple pattern, then with a good outcome, then avoiding a bad outcome)

Answer 86

多亏 1） [Good Outcome] ，多亏 (了) + [Lucky Incident] 我 能 这么 快 做完 ，多亏 了 你 帮 我 。I was able to finish so quickly thanks to your help. 2） 多亏 (了) + [Lucky Incident] ，Subj. 才 + [Good Outcome] 多亏 了 你 开车 送 我 ，我 才 没 迟到 。Thanks to your ride, I'm not late to get here. 3） 多亏 (了) + [Lucky Incident] ，不然 + [Bad Outcome] 多亏 了 你 的 建议 ，不然 我 真 不 知道 怎么 办 。 It was a good thing you gave me that suggestion, otherwise I really wouldn't have known what to do.

Question 87

That's all

Answer 87

而已 Put this after a noun or phrase to expressing 'that's it' or 'that's all' - that something is what it is. 只 是 电视剧 而已，现实 中 可 没有 这样 的 事儿。It's just a TV series. There is no such thing in reality. 他 只 是 开 个 玩笑 而已，不 要 当 真。He's only joking; don't take it seriously.

Question 88

Hard to blame

Answer 88

难怪 (used as a verb rather than meaning ' no wonder'). You add the specific person or people who are not to blame directly after 难怪 他，他 还 是 个 孩子 呢，什么 都 不 懂。Don't blame him, he's just a child. He doesn't know any better. 这 也 难怪，他 刚 来 嘛 ， 算了 算了 。Don't blame him. He just got here, let's just forget about it.

Question 89

Only if

Answer 89

除非

Question 90

所在

Answer 90

Place or location - comes after a noun

Question 91

In the end

Answer 91

说到底

Question 92

What if...

Answer 92

万一。。。