Chinese Grammar Levels
All the content in our Chinese grammar section is assigned a level based on the CEFR (this system is also used by the Chinese Grammar Wiki).
Each article, dictionary entry and example sentence also carries an HSK band, and its CEFR level is read off that band. The HSK groups its nine levels into three stages, and the usual reading of those against the CEFR is A1 to A2, B1 to B2 and C1 to C2:
- HSK 1 and HSK 2 are A1, and HSK 3 is A2
- HSK 4 is B1, and HSK 5 and HSK 6 are B2
- HSK 7-9 is C1
Neither the HSK syllabus nor the standard behind it publishes a CEFR equivalence, so this is a reading rather than an official table. Nothing here is levelled C2. The syllabus has one word list for HSK 7, 8 and 9, and cannot say which of those words a C2 learner needs that a C1 learner does not.
Level A1
- Comparing two things with 比 (bǐ)
- Video lesson: 一点儿 (yìdiǎnr) with two objects in Mandarin Chinese grammar, part 2 of 2
- Video lesson: Where 一点儿 (yìdiǎnr) goes in a sentence in Mandarin Chinese grammar, part 1 of 2
See all A1 articles A1 vocabulary list (728 words)
Level A2
- Video lesson: More ways to say “if” with 的话 (dehuà) in Mandarin Chinese grammar, part 2 of 2
- Video lesson: 的话 (dehuà) for saying “if” in Mandarin Chinese grammar, part 1 of 2
- Video lesson: Three ways to use 才 (cái) in Mandarin Chinese grammar
See all A2 articles A2 vocabulary list (754 words)
Level B1
- How to use 方便 (fāngbiàn) ‘convenient’ and 顺便 (shùnbiàn) ‘in passing’ in Mandarin Chinese
- How to use 关于 (guānyú) and 对于 (duìyú) correctly in Chinese
- "Sorry" and "excuse me" in Chinese: 对不起, 请问, 麻烦你, 劳驾
See all B1 articles B1 vocabulary list (1,507 words)
Level B2
- How to use 可怜 (kělián) ‘pitiful’ and 可惜 (kěxī) ‘a pity’ in Mandarin Chinese
- How to use 碰 (pèng), 碰见 (pèngjiàn) and 碰上 (pèngshàng) in Chinese grammar
- 加以 (jiāyǐ) in Chinese grammar: apply to, engage in, endeavour to
See all B2 articles B2 vocabulary list (5,293 words)
Level C1
See all C1 articles C1 vocabulary list (8,901 words)