Topic-comment sentences

In a topic-comment sentence, the usual word order is rearranged a bit, in order to emphasize a certain part of a sentence. The part that is to be emphasized becomes the topic, and moves to the beginning of the sentence, with the comment on the topic coming after the topic has been stated.

Structure

Topic ，Comment

Examples

Just make sure to put a comma after the topic if you are writing the sentence down!

• 水果 ，我 最爱 吃 草莓 。Shuǐguǒ, wǒ zuì ài chī cǎoméi.Fruit, I like strawberries best.
• 不 好意思 ，咖啡 ，我 都 喝完 了 。Bù hǎoyìsi, kāfēi, wǒ dōu hē wán le.I'm sorry. I finished all the coffee.
• 你好 ，票 ，还有 吗 ？Nǐhǎo, piào, háiyǒu ma?Hello. Are there any tickets left?
• 这个 问题 ，你 一个人 没办法 解决 。Zhège wèntí, nǐ yīgèrén méi bànfǎ jiějué.There is no way that you can solve this problem all by yourself.
• 那 部 电影 ，看 过 的 人 都 喜欢 。Nà bù diànyǐng, kàn guo de rén dōu xǐhuan.People that have watched the movie like it.
• 这个 新 项目 ，公司 打算 让 我 来 负责 。Zhège xīn xiàngmù, gōngsī dǎsuàn ràng wǒ lái fùzé.The company plans to let me take charge of this new project.
• 你 借 我 的 钱 ，还没 还 吧 ？Nǐ jiè wǒ de qián, hái méi hái ba?You haven't returned the money you borrowed from me, right?
• 他 的 事 ，我 不 想 管 那么 多 。Tā de shì, wǒ bù xiǎng guǎn nàme duō.I don't want to be so involved in his business.
• 明天 下午 要 开会 ，你 记得 吧 ？Míngtiān xiàwǔ yào kāi huì, nǐ jìde ba?You have a meeting tomorrow afternoon. You remember, don't you?
• 我 的 笔 ，弟弟 弄坏 了 。Wǒ de bǐ, dìdi nòng huài le.My younger brother broke my pen.

See also

• Marking a topic with "de hua"
• Marking a topic with "ma"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 149-50) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 260) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 83-4) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 353-4) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy