HSK 6 grammar · new HSK syllabus
所: formal “that which” and 为…所…
我所知道的 = what I know (formal); 为人所知 = known by people.
Structure
- Subject + 所 + verb + 的 + noun
- A + 为 + B + 所 + verb
How it works
所 before a verb, followed by 的, turns the verb into “what / that which”: 我所了解的情况 = the situation as I understand it. It sounds formal and is common in writing.
为…所… is a formal passive: 这本书为广大读者所喜爱 = this book is loved by many readers.
Examples
-
这就是我所知道的全部情况。
That is everything I know.
-
他所说的话，大家都相信。
Everyone believes what he says.
-
我们所做的一切，都是为了孩子。
Everything we do is for the children.
-
这位作家的作品为广大读者所喜爱。
This writer’s work is loved by a wide readership.
-
这个道理早已为人们所接受。
This principle has long been accepted.
Words in these examples (33)
| 这 | zhè | this | HSK 1 |
| 就是 | jiùshì | exactly; just; that is | HSK 4 |
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 所 | suǒ | classifier for houses, small buildings, institutions etc; actually; place | HSK 5 |
| 知道 | zhīdào | to know (a fact) | HSK 1 |
| 的 | de | (particle linking a describer to a noun, like "'s") | HSK 1 |
| 全部 | quánbù | all; whole | HSK 4 |
| 情况 | qíngkuàng | situation | HSK 4 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 说 | shuō | to say; to speak | HSK 1 |
| 的话 | dehuà | (after a clause) if… | HSK 3 |
| 大家 | dàjiā | everyone | HSK 1 |
| 都 | dōu | all; both | HSK 1 |
| 相信 | xiāngxìn | to believe | HSK 3 |
| 我们 | wǒmen | we; us | HSK 1 |
| 做 | zuò | to do; to make | HSK 1 |
| 一切 | yíqiè | everything | HSK 4 |
| 是 | shì | to be (am, is, are); yes | HSK 1 |
| 为了 | wèile | in order to; for | HSK 3 |
| 孩子 | háizi | child | HSK 1 |
| 位 | wèi | (polite measure word for people) | HSK 2 |
| 作家 | zuòjiā | writer | HSK 4 |
| 作品 | zuòpǐn | work (of art, writing) | HSK 4 |
| 为 | wèi | for | HSK 3 |
| 广大 | guǎngdà | (of an area) vast or extensive; large-scale; widespread | HSK 5 |
| 读者 | dúzhě | reader | HSK 4 |
| 喜爱 | xǐ’ài | to like; to love | HSK 3 |
| 这个 | zhège | this one | HSK 1 |
| 道理 | dàolǐ | reason; argument; sense | HSK 5 |
| 早已 | zǎoyǐ | for a long time; long since | HSK 5 |
| 人 | rén | person; people | HSK 1 |
| 们 | men | (plural ending for people, as in 我们) | HSK 1 |
| 接受 | jiēshòu | to accept | HSK 4 |
Common mistakes
-
✗我所知道。
✓我所知道的情况…
所 + verb usually needs 的 + noun, or 的 alone.
-
✗为读者喜爱所。
✓为读者所喜爱。
Order: 为 + doer + 所 + verb.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 这是我 听到的消息。
2. 他的故事为大家 熟悉。
3. 我们所 的不只是钱。