Conjunctions - reading

Question 1

又 X 又 Y
- 那个又高又帅的人是谁？
- 这个西瓜又大又甜。

Answer 1

Both X and Y (spoken Chinese)
- Who is that tall and handsome man?
- This watermelon is big and sweet.

Question 2

既 X 又 Y
- 这个工作既能赚钱，又能学到东西。
- 这个方法既简单，又有用。

Answer 2

Both X and Y (written Chinese)
- This job can make money, and you can learn something from it also.
- This method is simple and useful.

Question 3

既不 X 也不 Y
- 我既不喜欢吃香蕉，也不喜欢吃苹果。
- 爸爸既不会说英语，也不会说法语。

Answer 3

Neither X nor Y
- I don’t like to eat bananas nor apples.
- My father can speak neither English or French

Question 4

一边 X 一边 Y
- 我喜欢一边洗澡，一边唱歌。
- 我弟弟经常一边看电视一边吃零食。

Answer 4

Indicating two actions taking place at the same time
- I like singing while taking a bath.
- My brother often eats snacks while watching TV.

Question 5

有的 X 有的 Y
- 下课了，同学们有的在聊天，有的在写作业。
- 我的学生有的来自欧洲，有的来则非洲。

Answer 5

Some X some Y
- Class is over, some students are chatting, and some are doing homework.
- Some of my students are from Europe and some are from Africa.

Question 6

一会儿 X 一会儿 Y
- 孩子总是一会儿哭，一会儿笑。
- 今天天气真奇怪，一会儿冷，一会儿热。

Answer 6

X for a while, Y for a while
- Children always cry for a while, and laugh for a while.
- The weather is really strange today, cold for a while, hot for a while.

Question 7

一方面 X，一方面 Y
- 妈妈一方面要工作，一方面照顾我和爸爸。
- 他一方面想学好英语，一方面又不想背单词。

Answer 7

On the one hand X, one the other hand Y
- My mother has to work on the one hand and take care of me and my father on the other hand.
- One the one hand he wants to learn English well, on the other hand he does not want to memorize words.

Question 8

一 X 就 Y
- 我一回到家就给你打电话。
- 我一下班儿就回家。

Answer 8

Do Y as soon as X
- I will call you as soon as I get home.
- I will go home as soon as I get off work.

Question 9

先 X 然后 Y
- 我们先吃饭，然后去看电影。
- 下班后，我先去超市买菜，然后回家做饭。

Answer 9

First X, then Y
- We will eat first and then go to the movies.
- After work, I go to the supermarket to buy food first and then go home to cook.

Question 10

不但 X，而且 Y
- 她不但长得漂亮，而且和聪明。
- 这道菜不但好吃，而且还很有营养。

Answer 10

Not only X, but also Y
- She is not only beautiful, but also smart.
- This dish is not only delicious, but also nutritious.

Question 11

不但 X 还 Y
- 我不仅喜欢唱歌，还喜欢跳舞。
- 要学好汉语，不仅多读，号要多说。

Answer 11

Not only X, but also Y
- I not only like singing, but also dancing.
- To learn Chinese well, we should not only read more, but also speak more.

Question 12

除了 X，还 Y
- 我除了喜欢看电影，还喜欢看书和旅游。
- 教室里除了老师，还有学生。

Answer 12

Besides X, also Y
- Besides watching movies, I also like reading books and traveling.
- Besides the teacher, there are also students in the classroom.

Question 13

虽然 X 但是 Y
- 虽然今天天气很不好。但是他还是来了。
- 虽然王老师不舒服。但是他一直坚持给我们上课。
坚持, Jiānchí = persist in/insist on

Answer 13

Although X, but Y (in Chinese although and but can appear in the same sentence, but this has to be translated creatively.
- Although the weather is not good today, he still comes.
- Although teacher Wang was not feeling very well, he insisted on teaching us.

Question 14

尽管 X，可是 Y
- 尽管他才十岁，可是她已经会说四种语言了。
- 尽管汉语很难，可是他一直没有放弃。

Answer 14

Although X, but Y
- Although he is only ten years old, he can speak four languages.
- Although Chinese is difficult, he never gives up.

Question 15

不是 X 而是 Y
- 不是我不帮你，而是我也没有办法。
- 我不是不想去旅游，而是没有时间去旅游。

Answer 15

It’s not X, but Y
- It’s not that I don’t want to help you, but that I have no idea either.
- It’s not that I don’t want to travel, but that I don’t have time to travel.

Question 16

不但不 X，反而 Y
- 设不但不感谢农夫救了他，反而咬死了农夫。
咬死, Yǎo sǐ = to bite to death
- 哥哥不但不帮我，反而和别的人一起嘲笑我。
嘲笑, Cháoxiào = to laugh at

Answer 16

Instead of Y, X (something opposite)
- Instead of thanking the farmer for saving him, the snake killed him.
- Instead of helping me, my brother laughed at me with others.

Question 17

如果 X，就 Y
- 如果明天不下雨，我们就去爬山。
- 如果你没有写完作业，就不能看电视。

Answer 17

If X, then Y
- If it does not rain tomorrow, then we will go hiking.
- If you have not finished your homework, then you can’t watch TV

Question 18

即使 X，也 Y
- 即使你向我道歉，我也不会原谅你。
- 即使今天不睡觉，我也要把这本书看完。

Answer 18

Even if X, still Y
- Even if you apologize to me, I won’t forgive you.
- Even if I don’t sleep today, I’ll still finish this book.

Question 19

不是 X，就是 Y
- 妈妈上班不是开车去就是坐地铁去。
- 这次考试的第一名不是他就是我。

Answer 19

Either X or Y (usually used to indicate someone’s subjective guess based on objective facts)
- Mother goes to work either by car or by subway.
- The first place in this exam is either him or me.

Question 20

要么 X 要么 Y
- 你要么写作业，要么看书，别打扰我。
打扰, Dǎrǎo = to bother
- 今天晚上要么吃饺子，要么吃面条。

Answer 20

Either X, or Y (used to indicate someone’s subjective guess. Can also be used to give options, and ask for advice from others)
- You can either do your homework or read a book, but don’t bother me.
- Either have dumplings or noodles tonight.

Question 21

与其 X 不如 Y
- 与其让我猜，不如你自己告诉我。
猜, Cāi = to guess
- 今天天气这么好，与其在家睡觉，不如出去玩。

Answer 21

Rather than X, it’s better Y
- Rather than letting me guess, it’s better you tell me.
- The weather is so nice today, rather than sleep at home, it’s better to hang out.

Question 22

宁可 X, 也不 Y
- 他宁可被误会，也不愿意说出真相。
真相, Zhēnxiàng = the truth
- 你宁可相信别人，也不相信我吗？

Answer 22

Would rather X than Y
- He would rather be misunderstood than tell the truth.
- Would you rather trust others than me?

Question 23

因为 X，所以 Y
- 因为明天会下雨，所以明天的活动取消了。
取消, Qǔxiāo = to cancel
- 因为我们是朋友，所以我一定会帮你。

Answer 23

Because X, therefore Y (both written and spoken Chinese)
- Because it will rain tomorrow, the activity is canceled.
- Because we are friends, I will definitely help you.

Question 24

由于 X 因此 Y
- 由于我没看过这个电影，因此我不发表评论。
- 由于我的护照丢了，因此我暂时不能出国。
暂时, Zhànshí = temporary; for the moment

Answer 24

Because X, therefore Y
- I haven’t seen the film, so I can’t comment on it.
- Because I lost my passport, I can’t go abroad for the moment.

Question 25

X 之所以 Y，是因为 Z
- 他之所以能成功，是因为他一直很努力。
- 我之所以认识他，是因为我们以前是邻居。

Answer 25

The reason why X Y, is because Z
- The reason why he succeeded is that he worked hard all the time.
- The reason why I know him is that we used to be neighbors.

Question 26

既然 X 那么 Y
- 既然你已经明白了，那么我就不解释了。
- 既然你来了学校，那么就应该认真学习。

Answer 26

Since X, then Y
- Since you already understand, I will not explain it.
- Since you’re in school, you should study hard.

Question 27

只要 X，就 Y
- 只要有时间，我们就去旅游。
- 只要你坚持下去，就会有希望。

Answer 27

As long as X, then Y
- As long as we have time, we will go travel.
- As long as you keep at it, there will be hope.

Question 28

只有 X，才 Y
- 法律规定，只有十八岁以上的人才可以开车。
- 只有最优秀的演员才能拿到这个奖。
优秀, Yōuxiù = excellent

Answer 28

Only if X, then Y
- The law stipulates that only people over eighteen can drive.
- Only the most excellent actor can get this price.

Question 29

凡是 X 都 Y
- 凡是帮助过我的人，我都会记住他。
- 凡是你送给我的礼物，我都特别喜欢。

Answer 29

Indicates anything within the range of X has the common feature Y
- Anyone who has helped me, I will remember them.
- Whatever you give me, I like it very much.

Question 30

无论 X，都 Y
- 无论别人受什么，我都会坚持我的梦想。
- 无论贫穷还是富有，我们都不会离开对方。

Answer 30

No matter X, (result) Y
- No matter what others say, I will persist in my dream.
- Whether poor or rich, we will never leave each other.

Question 31

除非 X 否则 Y
- 除非你和我一起去，否则我不去。
- 除非你真的不在乎自己的健康，否则不要这样做。

Answer 31

Unless X, otherwise Y
- Unless you go with me, otherwise I won’t go.
- Unless you really don’t care about your health, otherwise don’t do this.

Question 32

一旦 X 就 Y
- 环境一旦被破坏，就很难恢复了。
恢复, Huīfù = to recover
- 一旦确定了目标， 就不要轻易放弃。

Answer 32

Once X, then Y
- Once the environment is destroyed, it is difficult to recover.
- Once you’ve set your goals, don’t give up so easily.

Question 33

除了 X (一外)，都 Y
- 除了小明一外，所有人都来了。
- 除了石头一外，这座山上什么都没有。

Answer 33

Except X, other all Y
- Except for Xiaoming, everyone had come.
- Except for stones, there is nothing on this mountain.