Chinese grammar is quite simple, so most of it can be learned through context. If you already have a basic understanding of Chinese grammar, then I recommend learning new grammar patterns through input. You can gather input through any Chinese language resource, such as books or TV shows. While the grammar of most words can be learned through context, if you come across a new word and don’t understand how it’s used, copy and paste it into Google and write “grammar” after it. For example, let’s look up “根据 grammar,” like in the image below. You will see several websites with grammar explanations pop up. I’m going to use the top one for the Chinese Grammar Wiki.
When I open the website, I will see a quick explanation of the grammar point, including meaning, how to use it, and example sentences. This is pretty standard across most grammar websites.
If you are still struggling with the grammar of a sentence, you can ask ChatGPT to explain it to you. You may have to ask a few times in different ways to get the answer you want, but you can get a grammar explanation in English or Chinese.
If you would like to review this grammar point again later, you can copy a few of the example sentences into your Anki deck for Chinese sentences. If you don’t have the Chinese sentences decks downloaded or don’t know how to use Anki, you can find out more through the links below.
Remember, you should only make about 5 new cards a day, as making too many cards will burn you out. Focus on quality over quantity. You’re not missing anything by making fewer cards. If those grammar patterns are important, you’ll see them again!
For practicing grammar and sentence order, I like to use cloze cards. These are cards where a specific word or phrase is removed from a sentence, and you need to fill it back in. To create a cloze card, change your note type at the top of the card creation screen to “Cloze Chinese Sentences.” In order to have this note type, you will need to have downloaded and opened the Chinese sentences template deck.
Before clozing any sentences, it’s important to add audio first, since cloze deletions remove words, which will affect audio generation. To add audio to your card, start by copying the Chinese sentence. Then, click into the audio field where you’d like the file to go. With your cursor in the audio field, click the speaker icon in the top toolbar. If you don’t see this icon, it likely means AwesomeTTS isn’t installed. You can learn how to install it by following the article linked below.
If you copied your Chinese sentence and have it on your clipboard, it will automatically appear in the text box on the right side, otherwise, you can type out the sentence manually. To add the audio to your card, click “record.”
Now we can cloze our sentence. Start by selecting the word or phrase you want to hide, then click on the “Cloze deletion” button on the toolbar.
You can cloze as many words or phrases as you’d like in a sentence, and each cloze will generate a separate card. Some people prefer to cloze every word to practice sentence structure one piece at a time. Personally, I only cloze key words or phrases that I think are the most important to remember. Once you’ve finished adding your clozes, click “Add” at the bottom of the screen to create the new cards.
When you study these cloze cards, you will be presented with the sentence with one of the words missing. Your goal is to recall the missing word. If you need a hint, you can click on English for the English translation of the sentence.
On the back of the card, you’ll be able to grade yourself on how well you remembered the word. You’ll also see the pinyin, the English translation, and hear the audio.
Practicing Grammar
Because Chinese grammar is quite straightforward, there aren’t many resources for practicing grammar. Learning through input and practicing through writing are the best ways for you to improve your Chinese grammar. After reading or watching a grammar explanation, try writing a few sentences of your own to make sure you got the grammar pattern down. Personally, I need to use a grammar pattern a few times before I can fully comprehend it. To check that your usage is correct, use ChatGPT or HiNative to receive feedback.
Grammar Websites
Hanbok Study – Freemium
Hanbok is an amazing website that lets you break down and analyze Chinese sentences piece by piece. Start by selecting Chinese as your target language, then type or paste the sentence you want to analyze into the search field. After you analyze a sentence, you will be able to go over each word one at a time and see what role it plays in the sentence, as well as its grammar usage.
If you scroll down a bit, you’ll see all the words in the sentence listed in their dictionary forms, along with the grammar points used, each with a level rating and example sentences.
Chinese Grammar Wiki
The Chinese Grammar Wiki is exactly what it sounds like. It is a website of the common grammar points used in the Chinese language, and each grammar point includes an explanation and example sentences.
Dig Mandarin
Dig Mandarin has a bunch of free HSK tests that you can use to review grammar. Each practice test comes with answers, but unfortunately do not contain any explanations. Luckily, you can just copy any problem you have questions about into ChatGPT, and it will explain why the answer is what it is.
Mandarin Mania
Mandarin Mania also has a lot of practice exams you can use to review grammar or test your Chinese in general.
Grammar YouTube Channels
Chinese Zero to Hero
Free To Learn Chinese
For more advanced learners, Free to Learn Chinese is a great YouTube Channel with lots of grammar explanations and Chinese lessons.
