# Chinese Grammar for HSK: Structures & Examples · Page 40 | HSKReady Canonical: https://hskready.app/en/grammar/page/40 Language: en Content ID: grammar-index-page-40 Scope: published website educational content; full vocabulary, question bank and mock exams remain in the app. Page 40 · Explore all 593 grammar points in the HSK Official Examination Outline by level and category, with available lessons, examples and explanations. # Grammar Follow the HSK Official Examination Outline, with explanations and Chinese examples. ## Explore the outline by HSK level All 593 outline points · choose a level to see its categories and available lessons. [**HSK 1**70 points](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-1)[**HSK 2**78 points](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-2)[**HSK 3**96 points](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-3)[**HSK 4**95 points](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-4)[**HSK 5**70 points](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-5)[**HSK 6**50 points](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-6)[**HSK 7–9**134 points](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9) Level HSK 1 / HSK 2 / HSK 3 / HSK 4 / HSK 5 / HSK 6 / HSK 7–9 Outline category All categories / Morphemes / Word classes / Phrases / Fixed patterns / Sentence components / Sentence types / Aspect / Special expressions / Discourse ## Grammar 469–480 / 593 HSK 7–9 Phrases › Fixed phrases › Four-character patterns ## [HSK 7-9 Four-Character Pattern: 忽A忽B](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-2c437783dd) 忽A忽B is a four-character frame for alternation, as in 忽冷忽热 and 忽快忽慢. It often makes changes feel abrupt or marked, but does not by itself show that they are unplanned, uncontrollable or unwelcome. [View details](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-2c437783dd) HSK 7–9 Phrases › Fixed phrases › Discourse markers ## [HSK 7-9 Discourse Marker: 反过来（说） (fǎn guòlái (shuō))](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-2f13046a60) In the HSK 7-9 outline, 反过来（说） is categorized as a fixed phrase functioning as a discourse marker. It signals that the speaker is flipping the direction of an argument, examining the converse of a statement, or reversing the roles of the pa… [View details](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-2f13046a60) HSK 7–9 Phrases › Fixed phrases › Four-character patterns ## [HSK 7-9 Four-Character Pattern: 无A可B (wú A kě B)](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-3652e35f5c) 无A可B is a four-character frame expressing an absence or lack, as in 无话可说 and 无路可走. Learn the whole expression: the missing element can be content, a destination, a resource or a means, and the meanings range from having nothing to say to ha… [View details](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-3652e35f5c) HSK 7–9 Phrases › Fixed phrases › Four-character patterns ## [HSK 7-9 Four-Character Pattern: 自A自B](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-67a348d2d5) 自A自B is a four-character frame found in expressions such as 自言自语, 自作自受 and 自给自足. It can describe self-directed activity, one’s own consequences or a self-managed arrangement. Learn the whole expression; the subject is not always also the ob… [View details](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-67a348d2d5) HSK 7–9 Phrases › Fixed phrases › Four-character patterns ## [HSK 7-9 Four-Character Pattern: 爱A不A (ài A bù A)](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-7c72423142) The four-character fixed phrase pattern 爱A不A (ài A bù A) expresses blunt indifference toward someone else's choice or describes a cold, unenthusiastic demeanor. [View details](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-7c72423142) HSK 7–9 Phrases › Fixed phrases › Four-character patterns ## [HSK 7-9 Fixed Four-Character Pattern: 七A八B](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-966b259f16) The four-character pattern 七A八B uses the numerals 七 (seven) and 八 (eight) figuratively with paired nouns, verbs, or directional words to express disorder, bustling multiplicity, scattered states, or emotional agitation. [View details](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-966b259f16) HSK 7–9 Phrases › Fixed phrases › Four-character patterns ## [HSK 7-9 Fixed Four-Character Pattern: 非A非B](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-ac8c6f3d9e) The four-character pattern 非A非B expresses 'neither A nor B' using paired single-character nouns or adjectives. It belongs to formal or idiomatic Chinese and describes states, relationships, or categories that fall outside two related extrem… [View details](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-ac8c6f3d9e) HSK 7–9 Phrases › Fixed phrases › Discourse markers ## [Using 不是 (bù shì) as a Discourse Marker in Advanced Chinese](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-bc44b61aa1) As a conversational discourse marker, 不是 (bù shì) can introduce a clarification, puzzled response or immediate self-correction. Its function differs from 不是 used within a clause to negate a judgment. Context and delivery help identify the u… [View details](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-bc44b61aa1) HSK 7–9 Phrases › Fixed phrases › Four-character patterns ## [HSK 7-9 Four-Character Pattern: 时A时B (shí A shí B) for Alternating States](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-bce901f96b) The four-character pattern 时A时B describes alternating states or actions: sometimes A, sometimes B. Common pairs include 时好时坏 and 时断时续. The alternation need not be rapid, irregular, or undesirable. [View details](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-bce901f96b) HSK 7–9 Phrases › Fixed phrases › Four-character patterns ## [HSK 7-9 Four-Character Pattern: 可A可B (kě A kě B)](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-c12b1f4dc2) 可A可B is a four-character frame with different meanings in different expressions. 可坐可卧 offers two uses; 可有可无 means non-essential; 可喜可贺 expresses two positive evaluations. Learn the whole expression rather than assuming every example presents… [View details](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-c12b1f4dc2) HSK 7–9 Phrases › Fixed phrases › Four-character patterns ## [HSK 7-9 Four-Character Frame: 连A带B (lián A dài B)](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-c705364afb) 连A带B combines actions, states, or included items into one description. Familiar four-character examples include 连蹦带跳 and 连本带利; longer 连…带… expressions are also possible. [View details](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-c705364afb) HSK 7–9 Phrases › Fixed phrases › Discourse markers ## [Using the Discourse Marker 不瞒你说 (bù mán nǐ shuō) for Candid Disclosures](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-d7febc8a65) 不瞒你说 means to be honest with you. As a discourse marker, it presents the following information or opinion as a candid disclosure. It can introduce an admission, a preference, a positive assessment, or an ordinary personal fact; secrecy and … [View details](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-7-9-fixed-phrases-d7febc8a65) ### No matching results Try another keyword or clear the filters. [‹ Previous](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/page/39) [1](https://hskready.app/en/grammar)[39](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/page/39)[40](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/page/40)[41](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/page/41)[50](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/page/50) [Next ›](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/page/41)