Level 2 Lesson 3.1 – Why? Because…So…

GRAMMAR

Grammar 1: Child, Husband and Wife in Chinese· HSK 2

There are more than one way to say husband and wife in Chinese, 丈夫 and 妻子 are the standard words. They tend to sound formal. For spoken language, lǎogōng 老公 and lǎopo 老婆 are more common.

To say child in Chinese, we have two words in this lesson: 小孩 and 孩子. To refer to one's own child, 孩子 is more commonly used.

Grammar 2: Ask Why in Chinese with 为什么 · HSK 2

In today's lesson we'll focus on how to ask why in Chinese with 为什么. 为什么 is a question word, and can be used in different positions in a sentence.

(1) Subject + 为什么 + Predicate

• nǐ qīzi wèishénme zìjǐ zǒu le
  你妻子为什么自己走了？
  why (has) your wife left by herself
• tā zhàngfu wèishénme bù gāoxìng
  她丈夫为什么不高兴？
  why is her husband not happy

(2) 为什么 + a short sentence

• wèishénme nǐ bú 'ài wǒ le
  为什么你不爱我了？
  why don't you love me anymore
• wèishénme biéren dōu zhīdao
  为什么别人都知道？
  why do other people all know

(2) a short sentence + 为什么

• jīntiān shāngdiàn xiūxi, wèishénme
  今天商店休息，为什么？
  today the store takes a break(not open), why
• zhèlǐ yào yòng zhège shèngcí, wèishénme
  这里要用这个生词，为什么？
  here (we) need to use this new word, why

Grammar 3: Just Because, No Why in Chinese with 不为什么 · HSK 2

Another useful phrase is how to say just because, no why in Chinese with 不为什么. Be careful when using it though, for it might sound impolite. For example,

• Q: nǐ wèishénme hétā zài yìqǐ
        你为什么和她在一起？
       why are you together with her
  A: bú wèishénme
        不为什么。
        no why

• Q: tāmen bù xǐhuan wǒde yīnyuè, wèishénme ne
        他们不喜欢我的音乐，为什么呢？
        they don't like my music, why
  A: bú wèishénme
        不为什么。
        no why

There are some other smarter way to avoid a question in Chinese, we have listed 14 ways to say no comment in Chinese.

Grammar 4: 因为 and 所以 in Chinese · HSK 2

因为 and 所以  can be used separately or together in the 因为……所以……structure , but either way, Conjunctions 因为 and 所以  are used like this:

(1) 因为 + reason

• háizi hěn gāoxìng, yīnwèi tā de péngyou lái le
  孩子很高兴，因为他的朋友来了。
  the child is very happy, because his friend came
• duìbuqǐ, wǒ bù néng hé nǐ yìqǐ qù lǚyóu, yīnwèi wǒ shēngbìng le
  对不起，我不能和你一起去旅游，因为我生病了。
  sorry, I cannot go with you to travel, because I have got sick

(2) 所以 + result (of a cause)

• wǒ fēicháng xǐhuan gǒu, suǒyǐ wǒ yào mǎi yìtiáo
  我非常喜欢狗，所以我要买一条。
  I quite like dogs, so I plan to buy one "tiao"
• jīntiān shì tā qīzi de shēngrì, suǒyǐ tā yào hé qīzi qù fànguǎn chīfàn
  今天是他妻子的生日，所以他要和妻子去饭馆吃饭。
  today is his wife's birthday, so he plans to go with the wife to a restaurant to eat meal

Unlike in English because and so are not used together, 因为 and 所以 in Chinese can be used together,

(3) 因为 + reason，所以 + result (of this reason)

• yīnwèi nàge xiǎohái bùshūfu, suǒyǐ lǎoshī yào hétā yìqǐ qù yīyuàn
  因为那个小孩不舒服，所以老师要和他一起去医院。
  because that child is not feeling well, so the teacher needs to go with him to the hospital
• yīnwèi wǒ búhuì zhège Hànzì, suǒyǐ wo yào wèn tóngxué
  因为我不会这个汉字，所以我要问同学。
  because I don't know this character,  so I want to ask a classmate

Grammar 5: 要 vs 想 vs 打算要 vs 想要 · HSK 3

打算 can be used (1) as a Dynamic Verb, meaning "to plan"or (2) as a Noun, meaning "plan". It can be combined with Modal Verb 要 to suggest "having the plan to do something":

Subject + 打算要 + Verb Predicate (+ Object)

For example,

• nín dǎsuàn yào mǎi nàliàng chē ma
  您打算要买那辆车吗？
  do you plan to buy that car
• tāmen dǎsuàn shénme shíhou gěi wǒmen kāihuì
  他们打算什么时候给我们开会？
  when do them plan to hold the meeting for us

Similarly, Stative Verb 想 can also be combined with Modal Verb 要 to suggest "to want to do something":

Subject + 想要 + Verb Predicate (+ Object)

• zhàngfu xiǎngyào xiūxi yígeyuè
  丈夫想要休息一个月。
  the husband wants to rest for one month
• nǐ xiǎngyào zài nǎge bàngōngshì gōngzuò
  你想要在哪个办公室工作？
  which office do you want to work in