HSK 4 grammar points with CEFR

"HSK 4" is the fourth level of the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK). This pages shows the exact CEFR Level equivalent of each HSK 4 grammar point (instead of "Examples") for easy comparison between the two systems.

There are 115 total HSK 4 grammar points in the list below. You may also want to refer to our HSK 4 Standard Course textbook index page.

Parts of Speech

These following grammar points fit pretty neatly into one part of speech category.

Adjectives

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Indicating the whole with "quan" 全 + Noun B1
Negative adjectives with "-si le" Adj. + 死了 A2

Adverbs

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Approximations with "chabuduo" Subj. + 差不多 A2
Assessing situations with "kanlai" 看来 + Judgment to the Situation;在 + Person + 看来 B2
Coincidence with "zhenghao" Subj. + 正好 + Verb Phrase B1
Declaring the only option with "zhihao" 只好 + Verb Phrase B2
Emphasizing negation with "you" 又 + 不 / 没 + Verb B1
Emphatic adverb "ke" 可 + Adj. (+ 了) B2
Expressing "all along" with "yuanlai" Subj. + 原来 + Predicate B1
Expressing "almost" using "chadian" Subj. + 差点 + Predicate B1
Expressing "always" with "conglai" 从来 + 都 (是) + Predicate B1
Expressing "as a result" with "jieguo" Reason / Condition ,结果 + Result B1
Expressing concern with "kongpa" 恐怕 + Subj. ⋯⋯ B2
Expressing "enough" with "gou" Subj. + 够 + Predicate (+ 了) B1
Expressing "even" with "shenzhi" 甚至 B2
Expressing "had better" with "haishi" 还是 + Verb B1
Expressing "had better" with "zuihao" Subj. + 最好 + Predicate B1
Expressing "have to" with "budebu" Subj. + 不得不 + Verb B2
Expressing "in the end" with "daodi" 到底 B2
Expressing "in the end" with "jiujing" 究竟 B2
Expressing "just" with "gang" Subj. + 刚 + Verb A2
Expressing "one by one" with "yi" 一 + Measure Word + 一 + Measure Word B1
Expressing "originally" with "benlai" 本来⋯⋯ B2
Expressing "small quantity" with "jiu" 就 + Subject + Predicate B1
Expressing the unexpected with "jingran" Subj. + 竟然 ⋯⋯ C1
Expressing "to make certain" with "qianwan" 千万 + Verb/Verb Phrase B2
Rhetorical questions with "nandao" 难道⋯⋯? B2
Sequencing with "xian" and "zai" 先⋯⋯ ,再⋯⋯ B1
Using "ye" and "dou" together 也都 + Verb / Adj. B1

Adverbs with Adjectives

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Expressing "quite" with "ting" 挺 + Adj. + 的 B1

Auxiliary Words

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Ending a non-exhaustive list with "shenme de" Noun 1, Noun 2 + 什么的 B1
Non-exhaustive lists with "dengdeng" ⋯⋯ 等 / 等等 B1

Conjunctions

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
A softer "but" with "buguo" ⋯⋯ ,不过 ⋯⋯ B1
Expressing "and then" with "yushi" ⋯⋯ ,于是 ⋯⋯ B2
Expressing "in addition" with "haiyou" ⋯⋯ ,还有 ,⋯⋯ B1
Expressing "in addition" with "lingwai" ⋯⋯ ,另外 ,⋯⋯ B1
Expressing "in addition" with "zaishuo" ⋯⋯ ,再说 ,⋯⋯ B1
Two words for "but" ……,可是 / 但是…… A2
Using "er" to explain contrasting ideas Sentence 1, + 而 + Sentence 2 B2
Using "lai" to connect two verb phrases 通过 / 用 + Method + 来 + Verb Phrase B1

Nouns

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Expressing "within (it/them)" with "qizhong" 其中 B2

Numbers

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Expressing fractions with "fenzhi" Denominator + 分之 + Numerator B1

Particles

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Advanced yes-no questions with "ma" Confirmation + Question + 吗 ? B1
Reviewing options with "ba" Option 1吧 ,⋯⋯ ;Option 2 吧 ,⋯⋯ B1
Using "de" (modal particle) ⋯⋯的 B1

Prepositions

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Expressing "along with…" with "suizhe" 随着 A + 的 + Verb, Subj. + Predicate B2
Idiomatic phrases with "zai" 在 + Topic + 上 ,Subj. ⋯⋯ B1

Sentence patterns

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Using "yi... wei..." 以 + A + 为 + B C1

Sentence Patterns

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Emphasizing a negation with "bing" Subj. + 并 + 不 + Verb / Adj. B2

Verbs

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Causative verbs Subj. + 让 / 叫 / 请 / 使 + Person + Predicate B1
Expressing "it depends" with "kan" 这 / 那 + 要看 / 得看 + Unclear Situation B1
Expressing "it seems" with "haoxiang" 好像⋯⋯ B1
Expressing "lies in" with "zaiyu" ⋯⋯ 在于 ⋯⋯ C1
Expressing "mistakenly think that" with "yiwei" Subj. + 以为⋯⋯ B1
Expressing "through" with "tongguo" 通过 + Agent / Method ,⋯⋯ B1
Expressing "to come from" with "laizi" Subj. + 来自 + Place B1
Using "lai" as a dummy verb (让 +) Subj. + 来 B1

Auxiliary verbs

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Expressing "don't need to" with "buyong" Subj. + 不用 + Verb Phrase B1
Expressing "must" with "dei" 得 + Verb B1

Verb phrases

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Combining verbs with "bing" Verb Phrase 1 + 并 / 并且 + Verb Phrase 2 B2
Doing something less with "shao" 少 + Verb B1
Doing something more with "duo" 多 + Verb B1
Emphasizing the doer of an action with "you" 由 + Person + Verb B2
Expressing "moreover" with "bingqie" Verb Phrase 1 + 并 / 并且 + Verb Phrase 2 B2
Expressing "never" with "conglai" 从来 + 不 / 没(有) + Verb A2
Expressing "to be worth" doing with "zhide" 值得 + Verb B2
Expressing "until" with "dao" Verb + 到 + Time / Event B1
Indicating negative impact with "haide" 害得 + Verb Phrase B2
Separable verb Verb-Obj. B1
Using "zhe" when "verbing away" Verb + 着 + Verb + 着 + 就 + Comment + 了 B2

Grammatical Structures

These are grammatical structures that do not correspond to one particular part of speech.

"But" Statements

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Expressing "although" with "jinguan" 尽管⋯⋯,但是⋯⋯ B2
Expressing contrariness with "dao" 倒⋯⋯ B2
The "however" adverb "que" ⋯⋯,却⋯⋯ B2

Cause/Effect Statements

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Expressing "due to…" with "youyu" 由于⋯⋯,⋯⋯ B2
Expressing "since" with "jiran" 既然⋯⋯,就⋯⋯ B2
Expressing "therefore" with "yinci" ⋯⋯,因此⋯⋯ B2

Complements

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Advanced uses of direction complement "-qilai" Verb + 起来 B2
Direction complement Verb (+ Direction) + 来 / 去 B1
Direction complement "-qilai" Verb / Adj.+ 起来 B1
Potential complement Verb + 得 / 不 + Complement B1

Conditional Statements

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Expressing "as long as" with "zhiyao" 只要⋯⋯,就⋯⋯ B2
Expressing "unless" with "chufei" 除非⋯⋯ ,才⋯⋯ B2

"Even If" Statements

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Expressing "even if…" with "jishi" 即使⋯⋯,也⋯⋯ B2

"If" Statements

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Expressing "if… then…" with "yaoshi" 要是⋯⋯,就⋯⋯ B2

"No Matter" Statements

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Expressing "no matter" with "buguan" 不管⋯⋯,都 / 也⋯⋯ B2
Expressing "no matter" with "wulun" 无论 / 不论⋯⋯,都 / 也⋯⋯ B2

Noun Phrases

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Expressing "all" with "suoyou" 所有 (+ 的) + Noun B1
Expressing "one of" with "zhiyi" ⋯⋯之一 B1
Expressing "the other" with "lingwai" 另外 + Number + Measure Word + Noun B1

Sentence Patterns

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Advanced uses of "lian" 连 + Verb + 都 + 不 / 没 + Verb (,就 ⋯⋯) B2
Explaining purpose with "wei... er..." 为⋯⋯ ,而⋯⋯ C1
Expressing "any" with "renhe" 任何 + Noun + 都 / 也 …… B2
Expressing "both… and…" with "ji...you" 既⋯⋯也 / 又⋯⋯ B2
Expressing location with "zai... shang / xia / li" 在 + Place + 上 / 下 / 里 / 旁边 A2

Basic/Simple Sentence Patterns

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Expressing "even" with "lian" and "dou" 连 + Subj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb B1
Expressing "every" with question words Question Word + 都 + Predicate B1
Expressing "multiples" with "bei" Noun 1 + 是 + Noun 2 + 的 + Number + 倍 B1
Expressing "not at all" with "yidianr ye bu" Subj. + 一点 + 也 / 都 + 不 + Adj. B1
Expressing not knowing how to do something using "hao" Subj. + 不知道 + Verb Phrase + 好 B1
Phrases using "laishuo" 对 + Person + 来说 / 一般 来说 B1

Complex Sentence Patterns

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Conceding a point with "shi" Adj. + 是 + Adj., 但是⋯⋯ B1
Events in quick succession with "yi... jiu..." Subj. + 一 + Event 1,就 + Event 2 B1
Expressing various aspects with "yi fangmian" 一方面⋯⋯,一方面⋯⋯ B1

Not only… but also…

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Many types of "not only... but also..." 不但 / 不只 / 不仅⋯⋯,而且 / 还 / 也 ⋯⋯ B2

Comparisons of Similar Grammar Points

What's the difference between this grammar point and that grammar point? Check here.

Adverbs

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Comparing "benlai" and "yuanlai" 本来 vs 原来 B2
Comparing "changchang" and "wangwang" 常常 vs. 往往 B2
Comparing "gang" and "gangcai" 刚 vs. 刚才 B1

Prepositions

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Comparing "guanyu" and "duiyu" 关于 vs 对于 B2
Comparing "li" and "cong" 离 vs. 从 B1

Separate Functions

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Comparing "fan'er" and “xiangfan" 反而 vs 相反 C1
Comparing "kending" "queding" and “yiding" 肯定 vs 确定 vs 一定
Comparing "shihe" and "heshi" 适合 vs 合适 B2

Time Words

Grammar Point (English) Pattern CEFR Level
Comparing "yihou" and "de shihou" 以后 vs 的时候 B1