Word Order
Spoken Description
学习汉语基本句型中的词序：主语、谓语、宾语。讲解常用句子结构、倒装、位置变换和强调技巧，帮助建立清晰、自然的语言表达能力。适合初学者逐步掌握。
Learn basic Chinese sentence structure: subject-verb-object order, common sentence patterns, inversion, placement shifts, and emphasis. Step-by-step guidance for beginners to build clear, natural expression.
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Mandarin Chinese follows a clear and consistent word order that shapes how meaning is built in a sentence. This guide highlights the typical sequence and shows how different elements fit together.
Basic Sentence Order
The basic sentence order in Mandarin is Subject + Time + Place + Manner + Verb + Object. This sequence helps listeners know who is doing what, when, and where.
Adverbs and Time Expressions
Time expressions usually come early, right after the subject, and adverbs follow the time or appear before the verb to show emphasis. Placing time adverbs at the start sets the scene for the action.
Place Phrases
Place phrases come before manner and usually appear after time expressions. When location is important, placing it upfront guides attention to where the action happens.
Manner and Means
Manner or means (how an action is done) typically come before the verb or immediately after time and place phrases. This order highlights the way an action is carried out.
Adverbs
Adverbs that modify the verb generally appear before the verb. Some adverbs can move depending on emphasis, but normally they slot in just ahead of the action word.
Questions
Question particles like ma (吗) attach at the end of a statement, and question words (who, what, where, when) replace the element being asked about in its normal position. This keeps the underlying sentence structure clear.
Examples
Passive Sentences
The passive construction using bèi (被) promotes the affected noun to subject position, and the word order adjusts so the agent (if mentioned) comes after the verb. Passives highlight the receiver of an action.
Serial Verbs
When multiple verbs describe a sequence or related actions, they appear in the order they occur and share the same subject. Each verb can be followed by its object or complements, maintaining a smooth flow.
Summary
Mandarin word order consistently follows the pattern Subject + Time + Place + Manner + Verb + Object, with modifiers slotting in around the verb to show when, where, and how an action occurs. Questions and passives adjust placement slightly but keep the core sequence intact.
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