HSK 6 grammar · new HSK syllabus
干脆, 总算, 明明, 倒是: attitude adverbs
干脆 = simply, just; 总算 = finally (relief); 明明 = obviously; 倒是 = actually, on the other hand.
Structure
- 干脆 + decision
- 总算 + verb + 了
- 明明 + fact，(却)…
- Subject + 倒是 + unexpected point
How it works
干脆 introduces a direct, decisive solution: 太远了，我们干脆打车吧.
总算 shows relief that something finally happened: 等了一个小时，车总算来了.
明明 stresses an obvious fact that contradicts what follows: 他明明知道，却说不知道.
倒是 adds a contrasting or unexpected point: 这家店不大，东西倒是挺全的.
Examples
-
这么晚了，我们干脆别回去了。
It’s so late, let’s just not go back.
-
等了半天，公交车总算来了。
After a long wait, the bus finally came.
-
你明明看见了，为什么说没看见？
You obviously saw it, so why say you didn’t?
-
房间不大，倒是很干净。
The room isn’t big, but it is clean.
-
他学了三年，总算能听懂新闻了。
After three years of study, he can finally understand the news.
Words in these examples (31)
| 这么 | zhème | so; this (much) | HSK 2 |
| 晚 | wǎn | late; evening | HSK 1 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 我们 | wǒmen | we; us | HSK 1 |
| 干脆 | gāncuì | candid; direct and to the point; simply | HSK 6 |
| 别 | bié | don't | HSK 2 |
| 回去 | huíqù | to go back | HSK 2 |
| 等 | děng | to wait | HSK 2 |
| 半天 | bàntiān | half a day; a long time | HSK 3 |
| 公交车 | gōngjiāochē | bus | HSK 2 |
| 总算 | zǒngsuàn | at long last; finally; on the whole | HSK 6 |
| 来 | lái | to come | HSK 1 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 明明 | míngmíng | obviously; plainly; undoubtedly | HSK 6 |
| 看见 | kànjiàn | to see; to catch sight of | HSK 1 |
| 为什么 | wèishénme | why | HSK 2 |
| 说 | shuō | to say; to speak | HSK 1 |
| 房间 | fángjiān | room | HSK 1 |
| 不 | bù | not; no | HSK 1 |
| 大 | dà | big; large; old (age) | HSK 1 |
| 倒是 | dàoshì | contrary to what one might expect; actually; contrariwise | HSK 6 |
| 很 | hěn | very | HSK 1 |
| 干净 | gānjìng | clean | HSK 3 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 学 | xué | to learn; to study | HSK 1 |
| 三 | sān | three | HSK 1 |
| 年 | nián | year | HSK 1 |
| 能 | néng | can; to be able to | HSK 1 |
| 听 | tīng | to listen; to hear | HSK 1 |
| 懂 | dǒng | to understand | HSK 2 |
| 新闻 | xīnwén | news | HSK 3 |
Common mistakes
-
✗总算他来了。
✓他总算来了。
总算 goes after the subject.
-
✗他明明知道，所以说不知道。
✓他明明知道，却说不知道。
明明 sets up a contradiction; use 却.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 修了三次还坏， 买个新的吧。
2. 找了一下午，钥匙 找到了。
3. 他 答应了，现在却不来了。