Spoken Grammar Mandarin IIC

Question 1

it’s not interesting at all

Answer 1

有什麽意思

- more stronger version of 沒有意思

Question 2

correct, you’re right, exactly

- used to show that the speaker agrees with the previous speaker

Answer 2

沒錯

Question 3

how shall i put it

- utterance final, shows hesitation on what to say

Answer 3

怎麽説呢

Question 4

that’s not necessarily so

- shows the current speaker does not fully agree with the previous speaker

Answer 4

那可不見得

Question 5

it would seem that, it seems that

- can be used both in reaction to what was said before, but also when reacting to something you see

Answer 5

看來

Question 6

keep verb-ing for a long time

- in most cased the verb is monosyllabic

Answer 6

verb 個不停

Question 7

it isn’t as if X

Answer 7

又 negation X

- often in the phrase “又不是”

Question 8

instead of X, it’s better to Y

- often the Y is so obvious, the whole first half can be omitted

Answer 8

與其 X 不如 Y

Question 9

it is absolutely necessary to Verb

Answer 9

非 Verb 不可

Question 10

take X as an example

- used to introduce an example to strengthen the speakers argument

Answer 10

拿 X 來説

Question 11

don’t tell me X

- used in rhetorical questions, often ending with 嗎

Answer 11

難道 X

Question 12

finally, in the end

- for questions

Answer 12

到底

Question 13

who says X?

- used to start of a rhetorical question to express the speakers disagreement with a prior statement

Answer 13

誰説 X？

Question 14

the day will come that X, one day X will happen

- introduces something the speaker expects will definitely happen one day

Answer 14

總有一天 X

Question 15

so that means X, according to what you said….

- introduces new insight the speaker has gained as a direct result of what has been said previously

Answer 15

這麽説來，X

Question 16

not so good, nothing special, mediocre

Answer 16

不怎麽樣

Question 17

it does not matter at all!, what does it matter?

Answer 17

有什麽關係！

Question 18

that may be so(, but…)

• indicates the speaker concedes a fact mentioned in the prior talk, but would like to express disagreement as well
• if it has a follow up sentence, this usually starts with 還是 or 不過

Answer 18

話是怎麽說

Question 19

would rather X than Y

- indicates reluctant preference for X

Answer 19

寧可 X，也不 Y

Question 20

simply, (+ negation) at all

- serves to imply the exaggeration

Answer 20

簡直

Question 21

quite X; rather X

- second one is frequently used in southern China and Taiwan

Answer 21

挺 X 的
ting3
蠻 X 的
man2

Question 22

X and the like, X and things like that

• after several coordinate words or phrases
• first one is informal

Answer 22

X 什麽的

X 之類的

Question 23

adj enough

• indicates the adj has achieved a certain level
• can often be translated a ‘quite’

Answer 23

夠 adj 的了

Question 24

at the very least, minimally

- first one is more colloquial

Answer 24

起碼

至少

Question 25

to regard X as Y

Answer 25

把 X 當作 Y

Question 26

rely on X | - indicates the manner in which something is achieved

Answer 26

靠 X

Question 27

utterance final particle that serves to call the attention of the interlocutor. - often occurs with 可

Answer 27

哦 | pronounced 'o' with a high pitch similar to the first tone

Question 28

i see, now i get it | - indicates that the speaker understands what the previous speaker was trying to explain

Answer 28

原來是這樣 | 原來如此

Question 29

that's ridiculous, that's shocking - indicates that a situation is unreasonable or ridiculous. - carries the tone of criticism or dissatisfaction - second one is more rhetorical

Answer 29

不像話 | 像什麽話

Question 30

just forget what i said | - usually used in a response

Answer 30

就當我沒説

Question 31

that's actually right - indicates that the speaker agrees with what the previous speaker said - implies that this agreement is proven by a fact which the speaker had not considered so far

Answer 31

還真是

Question 32

at long last, in the end, finally | - is placed after the subject and indicates the end result of a long process

Answer 32

終於

Question 33

it just happened, coincidentally | - implies a positive coincidence

Answer 33

正好

Question 34

to be good at | - can be followed by a verb

Answer 34

善於 | neg: 不善於

Question 35

this way and that, V back and forth - indicates that an action is continuously repeated - the Verb here is usually monosyllabic

Answer 35

V 來 V 去

Question 36

in succession, in a row - always co-occurs with a numeral phrase - indicates that the action of the Verb continues without interruption

Answer 36

一連 V

Question 37

an informal version of hello

Answer 37

嗨 | hai

Question 38

an interjection at the start of a sentence to indicate the speaker's surprise

Answer 38

哇 | wa

Question 39

that's ridiculous, you're kidding me - used to indicate something in the prior talk was ridiculous - sometimes used in a refusal, indicating that it is impossible to meet the demands of the interlocutors

Answer 39

開什麽玩笑

Question 40

okay, anyway | - usually used to close the current topic or conversation

Answer 40

好了

Question 41

there's nothing wrong with it | - often used to refute the prior speaker's opinion

Answer 41

沒什麽不好的

Question 42

who would have thought of that | - shows that the speaker does not understand why something happened

Answer 42

怎麽會 | 怎麽會這樣

Question 43

okay, fine then | - indicates a weak agreement, showing that the speaker can do nothing but agree

Answer 43

好吧

Question 44

not much/many N | - indicates that the Noun has a low amount involved

Answer 44

沒什麽 N

Question 45

he, she, they - functions as a third person pronoun - used more frequently by female speakers - indicates or emphasizes a perceived contrast or distance between the speaker and the person referred to

Answer 45

人家

Question 46

extremely Adj | - indicates an extreme degree of the Adjective

Answer 46

Adj 的要命

Question 47

a lot | - usually used in the predicate

Answer 47

有的是 | 多的是

Question 48

not knowing what/how to V | - indicates that the speaker finds it difficult to make a choice

Answer 48

不知道 V 什麽 | 不知道怎麽 V

Question 49

i don't know why, somehow | - can be used before or after the subject

Answer 49

不知怎麽的

Question 50

if this happens, in that way | - introduces a conclusion based on the previous conversation

Answer 50

這樣一來，。。。

Question 51

every family | - used as a subject

Answer 51

每家每戶 | 家家戶戶

Question 52

if (it/things) goes on like this, ... | - introduces an outcome that will definitely occur

Answer 52

照這樣下去，。。。

Question 53

even though it's a bit Adj, ...

Answer 53

Adj 是 Adj 了 點/些，但是/可是/不過。。。

Question 54

to be (very) particular about X

Answer 54

對 X (很)講究 | jiang3jiu4

Question 55

- utterance final particle that serves to indicate that the statement it is attached to is obvious and the hearer is supposed to know that

Answer 55

嘛 | ma

Question 56

- filler word/phrase you use when you don't know what to say or are reluctant to say something

Answer 56

呃 e, e2 這個

Question 57

that was close! | - used when a near accident or disaster has been averted

Answer 57

好險哪！ | hao3xian3na

Question 58

it's a long story | - used at the beginning of a longish explanation

Answer 58

説來説長

Question 59

... is not a big deal

Answer 59

。。。也沒什麽

Question 60

there is no need to V | - a rhetorical question that implies 'there is no need to do this'

Answer 60

有什麽可 V 的 | 有什麽好 V 的

Question 61

not very, not really | - can be used either before an adjective, an auxiliary verb or a verb

Answer 61

不太

Question 62

almost, nearly | - indicates that a state of affairs was nearly realized or that a state of affairs seemed impossible to realize

Answer 62

差一點（就）

Question 63

so that, so as to - used at the beginning of the second clause of the sentence. indicating that what is mentioned in the first clause serves to fulfill the purpose of the second clause

Answer 63

，以便

Question 64

under no circumstances | - is an emphatic word often used to dissuade somebody from doing something

Answer 64

萬萬 + negation

Question 65

by, from

Answer 65

由

Question 66

having been influenced by X | - should always be used at the beginning of a sentence

Answer 66

在 X 的影響下