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Examples of complex Chinese sentence structures visualisation

Examples of complex Chinese sentence structures

Decoding Chinese Sentence Structure: Your Guide to Fluency: Examples of complex Chinese sentence structures
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Complex Chinese sentences contain one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses, linked by conjunctions that express relationships like cause, condition, contrast, or time. The subordinate clause can come before or after the main clause depending on emphasis.

Examples of complex sentence structures in Chinese are:

  • Conditional:
    • 如果你累了，就休息一下 (Rúguǒ nǐ lèi le, jiù xiūxí yíxià) — If you are tired, take a rest.
  • Cause and effect:
    • 因为下雨，所以我们没去公园 (Yīnwèi xiàyǔ, suǒyǐ wǒmen méi qù gōngyuán) — Because it rained, we didn’t go to the park.
  • Contrast or concession:
    • 虽然我累了，但是我还是要完成工作 (Suīrán wǒ lèi le, dànshì wǒ háishì yào wánchéng gōngzuò) — Although I am tired, I still have to finish my work.
  • Time clause:
    • 当我起床时，太阳已经升起了 (Dāng wǒ qǐchuáng shí, tàiyáng yǐjīng shēngqǐ le) — When I got up, the sun had already risen.

These examples show that complex sentences in Chinese use conjunctions like 因为 (because), 如果 (if), 虽然 (although), 当 (when), 尽管 (although), and the structure can flexibly position subordinate and main clauses to express precise relationships between ideas. Such sentences empower nuanced expression in both spoken and written forms. 1, 2

References

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