# HSK 4 Modal Adverbs (语气副词): Uses and Examples | HSKReady Canonical: https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-4-adverbs-b221897c92 Language: en Content ID: web-grammar-hsk-4-adverbs-b221897c92 HSK levels: 4 Updated: 2026-10-23T04:56:22.922Z Scope: published website educational content; full vocabulary, question bank and mock exams remain in the app. Learn how to use HSK 4 modal adverbs like 才, 就, 并, 竟然, 究竟, 到底, 难道, 千万, 确实, 只好, and 差一点儿 with clear structures and examples. Grammar [HSK 4 · Word classes › Adverbs › Attitudinal adverbs](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-4#hsk-4-g013) # HSK 4 Modal Adverbs: Expressing Tone, Attitude, and Emphasis In the HSK 4 grammar outline, modal adverbs (语气副词) allow speakers to express surprise, certainty, reluctance, urgency, or rhetorical questioning right before the predicate. Subject Modal Adverb Verb or Adjective Phrase Example sentence 这件事才没那么简单呢，我就是不想麻烦你。 Zhè jiàn shì cái méi nàme jiǎndān ne , wǒ jiù shì bù xiǎng máfan nǐ . This matter is not that simple at all; I just don't want to trouble you. Here 才 refutes an assumption that the matter is simple, while 就 insists on the speaker's personal intention. A common mistake × 他并喜欢喝咖啡。 Tā bìng xǐhuan hē kāfēi . Intended: He actually likes drinking coffee. (Incorrect) Incorrect for the intended meaning “He actually likes coffee”: bare modal 并 does not supply that affirmative emphasis. Use 确实 as in the linked correction. Conjunction 并 can connect affirmative actions, as in 他喜欢喝茶，并喜欢喝咖啡; that is a different use. Corrected example: 他确实喜欢喝咖啡。 **Read the full explanation and examples** ## What Modal Adverbs Do at Level 4 Unlike adverbs of time or degree that measure when or how much an action happens, modal adverbs (语气副词) show the speaker's attitude toward a statement. In the supplied Level 4 grammar outline, this group includes thirteen items: 才4, 就5, 并1, 还4, 竟然, 究竟, 正好, 到底, 难道, 千万, 确实, 只好, and 差（一）点儿. Subject Modal Adverb Verb or Adjective Phrase The numbers attached to 才4, 就5, 并1, and 还4 in the syllabus indicate specific sense entries rather than tone marks. At earlier stages, learners meet 才 and 就 for time, and 还 for continuation. Here, they function purely to add emotional or conversational force, typically standing after the subject and before the verb, adjective, or negative word. A few items such as 难道, 究竟, 到底, and 正好 can also appear before the subject when framing an entire clause. ## Stance, Rebuttal, and Confirmation: 才, 就, 并, 还, 确实 This subgroup expresses how strongly a speaker agrees, disagrees, or evaluates a situation. Rather than describing when something happens, modal 才 and 就 push back against someone else's assumption or assert firm resolve. - 才 (sense 4) expresses an emphatic rebuttal or dismissal, often paired with 呢 at the end of a negative or comparative clause. - 就 (sense 5) conveys stubborn determination or absolute certainty (often in 就是), insisting on a point without compromise. - 还 (sense 4) softens an evaluation to show that something is passable, acceptable, or fairly good within modest expectations. - 确实 presents the speaker as confirming a fact or assessment. It adds emphasis but does not, by itself, supply independent proof that the assessment is objectively correct. - 并 (sense 1) reinforces a negative statement to correct a misconception, showing that the reality is not what someone might assume. 这件事才没那么简单呢，我就是不想麻烦你。 Zhè jiàn shì cái méi nàme jiǎndān ne , wǒ jiù shì bù xiǎng máfan nǐ . This matter is not that simple at all; I just don't want to trouble you. Here 才 refutes an assumption that the matter is simple, while 就 insists on the speaker's personal intention. 这家饭馆的菜还算便宜。 Zhè jiā fànguǎn de cài hái suàn piányi . The dishes at this restaurant are fairly cheap. Here 还 (sense 4) expresses a moderate, passable evaluation, often paired with 算 or 行. Subject 并 Negation Word (不 / 没) Verb or Adjective Phrase 这道题确实很难，但我并不想放弃。 Zhè dào tí quèshí hěn nán , dàn wǒ bìng bù xiǎng fàngqì . This question is indeed very difficult, but I do not at all want to give up. 确实 confirms the difficulty, while 并 strengthens the negation 不想. ## Surprise, Coincidence, and Reluctance: 竟然, 正好, 只好, 差（一）点儿 When events turn out differently than planned or align by chance, Mandarin uses specific modal adverbs to mark how the speaker views the outcome. - 竟然 marks strong surprise that something happened contrary to normal expectations. - 差（一）点儿 indicates that an event almost happened, whether it was a narrow miss of something bad or falling just short of a goal. - 正好 means that something fits or happens just at the relevant time or point. The coincidence can be welcome, neutral or inconvenient; the word does not itself mean “fortunate.” - 只好 expresses that the speaker has no better choice and must reluctantly take a particular action due to the circumstances. 这么简单的字他竟然写错了，我差点儿笑出来。 Zhème jiǎndān de zì tā jìngrán xiě cuò le , wǒ chàdiǎnr xiào chūlái . He unexpectedly wrote such a simple character wrong; I almost laughed out loud. 竟然 marks surprise at an unlikely error; 差点儿 shows an action that nearly happened. 我正好要去书店，可是下雨了，只好明天再去。 Wǒ zhènghǎo yào qù shūdiàn , kěshì xià yǔ le , zhǐhǎo míngtiān zài qù . I happened to be about to go to the bookstore, but it rained, so I had no choice but to go tomorrow instead. 正好 highlights a coincidence in plans, whereas 只好 marks a reluctant change of plan. ## Pressing Questions, Rhetorical Tone, and Urgent Advice: 究竟, 到底, 难道, 千万 These words can mark a pointed question, a rhetorical challenge or a strong reminder. Check the intended function rather than assigning each word to only one sentence mood. Subject 究竟 / 到底 Question Word or A-not-A Predicate ？ 究竟 and 到底 can press for a clear answer with question words or an A-not-A pattern. A 吗 question is not categorically excluded: 你到底爱我吗 is a natural pointed yes/no question. 究竟 commonly occurs with 什么, 谁 or 是不是 when seeking the facts. 难道 often marks a rhetorical challenge and can pair with 吗. 千万 strengthens advice or reminders, including 千万别忘 and 千万要注意安全. 你究竟想去哪儿？到底发生了什么事？ Nǐ jiūjìng xiǎng qù nǎr ? Dàodǐ fāshēng le shénme shì ? Where exactly do you want to go? What on earth happened? Both 究竟 and 到底 press for a clear answer inside wh-questions. 难道你还没看懂这个通知吗？ Nándào nǐ hái méi kàn dǒng zhège tōngzhī ma ? Could it be that you still haven't understood this notice? 难道 forms a rhetorical question implying the listener should already understand it. 路上很滑，你千万别骑太快。 Lùshang hěn huá , nǐ qiānwàn bié qí tài kuài . The road is very slippery; make sure you don't ride too fast. 千万 adds urgent force to the negative imperative 别. ## Keeping the Meaning When Correcting Modal 并 In its modal use, 并 commonly strengthens negation, as in 并不想放弃. It is not a general affirmative “actually.” To emphasize that someone likes coffee, use 确实喜欢, not 并喜欢. As a conjunction, 并 can connect affirmative actions; do not confuse these uses. × 他并喜欢喝咖啡。 Tā bìng xǐhuan hē kāfēi . Intended: He actually likes drinking coffee. (Incorrect) Incorrect for the intended meaning “He actually likes coffee”: bare modal 并 does not supply that affirmative emphasis. Use 确实 as in the linked correction. Conjunction 并 can connect affirmative actions, as in 他喜欢喝茶，并喜欢喝咖啡; that is a different use. Corrected example: 他确实喜欢喝咖啡。 他确实喜欢喝咖啡。 Tā quèshí xǐhuan hē kāfēi. He really does like drinking coffee. To emphasize the affirmative preference intended in the previous example, use 确实. The earlier sentence 但我并不想放弃 separately illustrates modal 并 with negation. If you want to emphasize an affirmative fact rather than a negation, use 确实 before the predicate instead of 并. ## Frequently asked questions **Can I use 究竟 or 到底 in a question ending with 吗?** Yes, a categorical ban would be wrong. 你到底爱我吗 is a natural pointed yes/no question. Question-word and A-not-A patterns are also common with these inquiry adverbs; 究竟 often occurs with 什么, 谁 or 是不是. Choose the form that matches what you are asking. **Is 千万 only used with negative words like 别 or 不要?** While 千万 appears most often in negative warnings (such as 千万别忘), it can also be used in affirmative polite requests or reminders when combined with 要, such as 千万要注意安全. **Do all of these modal adverbs have to stay after the subject?** No. 难道, 究竟, 到底, 正好 and 确实 can frame a clause before its subject in suitable contexts. In ordinary subject–predicate examples, 才, 就, modal 并, evaluative 还 and 只好 generally follow the stated subject. Learn the particular use rather than treating all meanings of a character as one fixed pattern. **Source**[hsk.cn-bj.ufileos.com · PDF page 395](https://hsk.cn-bj.ufileos.com/3.0/%E6%96%B0%E7%89%88HSK%E8%80%83%E8%AF%95%E5%A4%A7%E7%BA%B21219.pdf#page=395) ## Continue in the app Full mock exams are available in HSKReady. [![Download on the App Store](https://hskready.app/download-on-app-store-black.svg)Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id6791916440?l=en)[![Get it on Google Play](https://hskready.app/get-it-on-google-play.svg)Get it on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.curiolab.hskready&hl=en) [HSKReady App](https://hskready.app/en/app)