Every grammar point in our free HSK 1 course, explained in plain English and shown
in real sentences with pinyin.
In short
Our HSK 1 course teaches 39 grammar points across 15 lessons, and all
39 are explained in full on this page with 73 example sentences between them. Each
point gives you the pattern, what it means, and sentences using it with pinyin and an English translation.
Nothing here is a summary or a list of names — these are the same explanations a learner sees inside the
course, free to read without an account.
39Grammar points
73Example sentences
15Lessons
Lesson 1 · Hello
The Greeting 你好
你好 / 您好 (formal)
你好 (nǐ hǎo) is the most common greeting in Chinese, literally meaning 'you good.' It can be used at any time of day.
你好！
Nǐ hǎo!
Hello!
您好！
Nín hǎo!
Hello (polite)!
你们好！
Nǐmen hǎo!
Hello (plural)!
对不起！
Duìbuqǐ!
Sorry!
没关系！
Méi guānxi!
It's okay!
Plural Suffix 们
Pronoun/Noun + 们
们 (men) is added after pronouns and nouns referring to people to make them plural.
我们
wǒmen
we, us
你们
nǐmen
you (plural)
Lesson 2 · Thank You
Tone sandhi of '不'
不 (4th) -> 不 (2nd) before 4th tone
'不' is usually falling tone (4th), but becomes rising (2nd) before another falling tone.
不客气
bú kèqi
You're welcome
不是
bú shì
Is not
Lesson 3 · What's your name
The Verb 是 (shì)
Subject + 是 + Noun/Noun Phrase
是 (shì) is the verb 'to be', used to link two nouns (A is B).
我是老师。
Wǒ shì lǎoshī.
I am a teacher.
李月是学生。
Lǐ Yuè shì xuésheng.
Li Yue is a student.
Questions with 吗 (ma)
Statement + 吗？
吗 (ma) is a particle added to the end of a declarative sentence to turn it into a yes/no question.
你是中国人吗？
Nǐ shì Zhōngguó rén ma?
Are you Chinese?
你是老师吗？
Nǐ shì lǎoshī ma?
Are you a teacher?
Lesson 4 · She is my Chinese teacher
Interrogative Pronoun 谁 (who)
Subject + 是 + 谁？
谁 (shéi) is used to ask 'who'.
他是谁？
Tā shì shéi?
Who is he?
Particle 呢
Noun/Pronoun + 呢？
呢 (ne) is used to ask back a question contextually, like 'How about...?'
我叫李月，你呢？
Wǒ jiào Lǐ Yuè, nǐ ne?
I am Li Yue, and you?
Possessive Particle 的 (de)
Possessor + 的 + Possessed Noun
的 (de) is used to indicate possession or modification. It connects a possessor/modifier to the noun it modifies.
我的老师
wǒ de lǎoshī
my teacher
她的朋友
tā de péngyou
her friend
Lesson 5 · Her daughter is 20 years old this year
The Verb 有 (yǒu)
Subject + 有/没有 + Object
有 (yǒu) denotes possession or existence. The negative form is 没有 (méiyǒu).
我有汉语书。
Wǒ yǒu Hànyǔ shū.
I have a Chinese book.
我没有电脑。
Wǒ méiyǒu diànnǎo.
I don't have a computer.
Interrogative Pronoun 几 (jǐ)
Subject + Verb + 几 + Measure Word + Noun?
几 (jǐ) is used to ask about numbers, usually less than 10. For numbers > 10, use 多少 (duōshao).
你有几本书？
Nǐ yǒu jǐ běn shū?
How many books do you have?
你家有几口人？
Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén?
How many people in your family?
Asking Age with 多大 (duōdà)
Subject + 多大(了)?
多大 (duōdà) is used to ask about age for adults or general size. 几岁 (jǐ suì) is for children < 10.
你多大了？
Nǐ duōdà le?
How old are you?
李老师多大了？
Lǐ lǎoshī duōdà le?
How old is Teacher Li?
Lesson 6 · I can speak Chinese
The Modal Verb 会 (huì)
Subject + 会 + Verb (+ Object)
会 (huì) indicates an ability that is learned or acquired.
我会写汉字。
Wǒ huì xiě Hànzì.
I can write Chinese characters.
我不会做中国菜。
Wǒ bú huì zuò Zhōngguó cài.
I can't cook Chinese food.
Interrogative Pronoun 怎么 (zěnme)
Subject + 怎么 + Verb + (Object)?
怎么 (zěnme) asks about manner or method of an action.
这个汉字怎么读？
Zhège Hànzì zěnme dú?
How do you read this character?
你的汉语名字怎么写？
Nǐ de Hànyǔ míngzi zěnme xiě?
How do you write your Chinese name?
Lesson 7 · What's the date today?
Date Format
X月 X号 星期X
Order: Year + Month (月) + Date (号/日) + Weekday (星期). Spoken usually uses 号.