HSK grammar

133 grammar points from the 2025 HSK syllabus, organised by level. Each one is explained in plain English, with examples you can listen to, the mistakes learners most often make, and a short quiz.

• HSK 1 grammar · 29 points

  HSK 1 grammar is the foundation: basic sentence order, 是 and 有, negation with 不 and 没, questions with 吗 and question words, measure words, and the first uses of 了. Almost every sentence on the HSK 1 test uses several of these points.

  是　有 / 没有　不　没（有）　吗　呢　什么 / 谁 / 哪儿 / 几 / 多少 / 怎么　怎么样　V不V　的…

• HSK 2 grammar · 25 points

  HSK 2 adds the structures that let you say how and when things happen: comparisons with 比, the particles 得, 着 and 过, direction verbs such as 回来 and 出去, and linking words like 因为…所以… and 虽然…但是….

  比　没有　得　的 / 得 / 地　过　着　来 / 去　出来 / 进去 / 回来…　完 / 懂 / 错 / 好 / 会　还是…

• HSK 3 grammar · 26 points

  HSK 3 is where Chinese sentences get longer. The big new structures are 把 and 被 sentences, result and potential complements (听懂, 看不见), 越来越, and a set of conditional patterns: 只要…就…, 只有…才…, 如果…就….

  把　被　越来越 / 越…越…　只要…就…　只有…才…　如果…就… / …的话　不但…而且…　除了…以外　一边…一边…　又…又……

• HSK 4 grammar · 21 points

  HSK 4 grammar is about connecting ideas: 不仅…而且…, 即使…也…, 无论…都…, 既然…就…, and more uses of 把 and 被. Reading questions often test whether you can follow these links across a passage.

  不管 / 无论…都…　即使…也…　既然…就…　不仅…而且… / 不光…还…　甚至　尽管…但是…　却　竟然 / 到底 / 难道　把　让 / 叫…

• HSK 5 grammar · 17 points

  HSK 5 grammar is mostly about written and formal Chinese: connectors such as 从而, 可见 and 一旦, adverbs like 毕竟 and 居然, and patterns such as 不但不…反而…. Recognising them speeds up reading a lot.

  一旦…就…　万一 / 假如　哪怕…也…　不但不…反而…　从而 / 可见 / 总之　毕竟 / 反正 / 简直 / 居然　似乎 / 仿佛 / 似的　曾经 / 始终 / 早已 / 即将　自从…以来　由…

• HSK 6 grammar · 15 points

  HSK 6 grammar covers formal and literary patterns used in essays, news and reports, including 之所以…是因为…, 与其…不如…, and set phrases with 以 and 为.

  要么…要么…　凡是…都…　除非…才… / 除非…否则…　就算…也…　不料 / 至于　所 / 为…所…　于　干脆 / 总算 / 明明 / 倒是　未必　一向 / 依旧 / 一时 / 一再…