Chinese Adverbs

Grammar > Chinese Adverbs 汉语副词

Grammatical Functions of Chinese Adverbs

Chinese adverbs(副词 Fùcí) are often used to modify verbs(verb phrases), adjectives(形容词 Xíngróngcí), nouns(名词 Míngcí) or the whole sentences to indicate time, frequency, scope, tone or degree.

In Chinese, adverbs(副词 Fùcí) can be used as an adverbial(状语) or a complement(补语) in the sentence.

As an adverbial (状语 Zhuàngyǔ)

_{Adverbial is the part of a sentence that we use to give more information about predicate.}

The basic grammatical function of adverb is to act as an adverbial.

As an adverbial, adverb can be placed in the following 2 positions of sentences:

A. Before the Subject:

Some adverbs can act as adverbials before the subject to modify the whole sentence.
  [Adverb + Subject...]

1. Nándào nǐ bù dānxīn tā huì gēn biérén jiǎng ma?
   难道你不担心她会跟别人讲吗？
   Aren't you concerned that she might tell someone? 11381
2. Shǒuxiān, wǒ xiǎng wèn nǐ jǐ gè wèntí.
   首先，我想问你几个问题。
   First of all, I'd like to ask you a few questions. 10706
3. Lìrú, zàoyīn yěshì yī zhǒng wūrǎn.
   例如，噪音也是一种污染。
   Noise, for example, is a kind of pollution． 12869
4. Shíjìshang, tā zhǐshì zài bāngdàománg.
   实际上，他只是在帮倒忙。
   In fact, he just gets in the way. 12342

B. Between the Subject and Predicate:

  [Subject + Adv. + Verb/Adj.]

1. Miǎnfèi de dōngxī wǎngwǎng shì zuì guì de.
   免费的东西往往是最贵的。
   Free stuff is often the most expensive. 12835
2. Wǒmen jíshí wánchéngle rènwù.
   我们及时完成了任务。
   We completed the task in time. 12833
3. Wǒ zhànshí xūyào nǐ.
   我暂时需要你。
   I need you temporarily. 12909
4. Wǒ gùyì rēng diàole tā.
   我故意扔掉了它。
   I deliberately threw it away. 10869

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As a complement (补语 Bǔyǔ)

_{A complement is a sentence part used after a verb or an adjective that supplements the result, degree, tendency, likelihood, state, or quantity of the predicate.}

Some adverbs, such as 极, 很, 坏, 死, or 透, can be placed after adjectives or psychological verbs as complements.
  [Verb/Adj. + Adv.]

1. Wǒ zhǔnbèi tuìxiūle. Wǒ gǎnjué lèi dé hěn.
   我准备退休了。我感觉累得很。
   I'm going to retire. I feel very tired. 11882
2. Wǒ xiànzài shēngqì dé hěn.
   我现在生气得很。
   I am very angry now. 12253
3. Tā de xīn yīfú piàoliang jíle.
   她的新衣服漂亮极了。
   Her new dress is absolutely beautiful. 4905
4. Jīntiān lěng jíle.
   今天冷极了。
   It's extremely cold today. 10533
5. Wǒ shízài shì lèi huàile.
   我实在是累 坏了。
   I am really tired. 11847
6. Nǐ kàn qǐlái dòng huàile.
   你看起来冻坏了。
   You look freezing. 11846
7. Wǒ duì gōngzuò fán sǐle!
   我对工作烦死了!
   I'm fed up with my work! 7522
8. Yī zhěng tiān zǒu lái zǒu qù de, wǒ yào lèi sǐle.
   一整天走来走去的，我要累死了。
   I'm exhausted after a whole day's walking around. 11866
9. Nǐ lǎo ràng wǒ děng nǐ, zhēnshi fán tòule.
   你老让我等你，真是烦透了。
   I am sick of always waiting for you! 7867
10. Rènhé qítā de rén dōu rènwéi nà shǎ tòule.
    任何其他的人都认为那傻透了。
    Any other person thinks that is stupid. 11884

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To modify Adj.： Adverb + Adjective

Adverbs can be used to modify Adjectives.

  [Adv. + Adj.]

1. Zhè shì yīgè jíqí kùnnán de wèntí.
   这是一个极其困难的问题。
   This is an extremely difficult problem. 12861
2. Zhèxiē guīdìng tīng qǐlái tǐng fùzá de.
   这些规定听起来挺复杂的。
   The rules sound rather complicated. 10714
3. Tāng bù gòu xián, zuìhǎo jiā xiē yán.
   汤不够咸，最好加些盐。
   The soup is not salty enough, better to add some salt. 10546
4. Yào zuò dào zhè yīdiǎn bìngbù róngyì.
   要做到这一点并不容易。
   It is not easy to do this. 12851

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To modify noun (noun phrases)

A. To modify noun or pronoun:

A small number of adverbs can be used to modify noun/pronoun, such as: "就、仅、仅仅、只、光、单、大概、也许、才".
  Adv. + [Noun / Pronoun]

1. Wǒ dàgài zhōumò dàojiā.
   我大概周末到家。
   I'll probably be home by the weekend. 10733
2. Wǒ yěxǔ bànyè dàojiā.
   我也许半夜到家。
   I'll probably be home by midnight. 12843
3. Jīntiān cái xīngqí'èr.
   今天才星期二。
   Today is only Tuesday. 12907
4. Jǐn tā yīgè rén zài fángjiān lǐ.
   仅他一个人在房间里。
   Only he was alone in the room. 12904
5. Méiyǒu jǐ gè rén huì tóngyì nǐ de yìjiàn.
   没有几个人会同意你的意见。
   Few people would agree with you . 12906

B. To modify numeral-measure word phrases:

A few adverbs such as "光、才、就、好、仅、大约、大概、已经、不过、将近、恰好" can modify numeral-measure word phrases, and these structures are used in different parts of sentences.
  Adverb + [Numeral + Measure word + Noun]

1. Tā yòngle dàyuē 2 fēnzhōng jiù jiěkāile zhè dào tí.
   他用了大约2分钟就解开了这道题。
   It took him about 2 minutes to solve the question. 11406
2. Wǒ dìdì yǐjīng liǎng suìle.
   我弟弟已经两岁了。
   My brother is already two years old. 12908
3. Jiù sān gè rén zhīdào zhè jiàn shì.
   就三个人知道这件事。
   Only three people know about this. 12882
4. Guāng zhè sān jiàn shì jiù kěyǐ jiéshěng 200 měiyuán.
   光这三件事就可以节省200美元。
   These three things alone can save 200 dollars. 12905

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