Grammar Points (Intermediate Lessons)

Drinking Game:

Lao Wang Meets the Big Boss:

go_manly,
no.

UI: Budget Meeting:

Henning,

Ever thought of making a PDF of the info on this page?

Ordering Songs at Karaoke:

cheers and many thanks for linking to the lesson Henning!

Job Interview:

Baba，I'm "signed up" but not charged anything. I don't do anything else over there, just those tests (and doing miserably at them I must say).

Found it,but it looks like you need to subscribe in order to do it.

Henning,

我体惜。

btw,I'm very interested in this Popup-HSK test you refer to.But I won't trouble you any further tonight.I'll try and google it.

Henning,

我体惜。

btw,I'm very interested in this Popup-HSK test you refer to.But I won't trouble you any further tonight.I'll try and google it.

哎呀，didn't mean to bury you alive Henning 对不起哦～

Babardwan,
first of all: the decision regarding the grammar/ language points is not yet final as they did force me to a more careful study. And if someone besides me is still paying attention to this, I might be convinced to keep it up...Although it really gets fun after a thorough indexing as pointed out above. The algorithms for reviving the Grammar Index are still intact, but the meta data is missing for all lessons since mid 2008.

"Red Chamber". Sigh! Soft spot. The issue with that particular activity was that it was pure luxury for a learner who ist still struggling with many much more fundamental questions like writing some basic characters. If I had more time I would still do it - it was definately fun and enriching and I learned a lot.

I am currently heavily investing in Skritter time and also once in a while do a Popup-HSK test (besides a more busy work load), so there is hardly any room left. Once I passed the next level I might come back to that.

Bababardwan,

Most of the language points at Intermediate have been brought up now numerous times or even covered in Qing Wens

Yes Henning's opus will still be here, and as he points out, I guess most language points coverable at this level have already been so that they are now making repeat appearances. So I think we're OK.

(bad omen--lol)

henning,

I'm starting to feel like a bad omen.First [a little while back now] I think of joining your "Dream of Red Mansions" group and getting involved there,and then I realise it's all stopped.And just earlier tonight,I too started checking out your grammar posts,and thinking I'll have to start paying more attention to grammar and your helpful posts,and now it's winding up too.Anyhow,thanks for sharing all your hard work mate.The good thing is it's all still going to be there.And good luck for your next venture.

Henning--wow.

I meant a simple link. Using your latest post as an example, like so:

UI: About to Give Birth:

But you've less than two weeks til graduation. I won't want to be the one giving you a silly task at this juncture. Congratulations, I know you'll go on to even greater things!

zhenlijiang,

you mean something like this? (the links don't work anymore)

Henning, just read your post. Makes a lot of sense to me. Pls disregard the request I made for links!

pretzellogic,
you are entering at a point where I am seriously considering abonding this - at exactly the 2-years anniversary mark. The originally intended audience was the CPod staff who in those days signaled they could benefit from some help for interlinking the soon-to-come Grammar Guide with the lessons.

I personally still use my list for two sorts of tasks:

• Finding lessons on certain language points (e.g. all lessons on the 是...的-pattern). Around Christmas 2007 I created an alphabetically ordered index based on this with links and cross-references and posted it here. The indexing and sorting was quite cumbersome, though, so I did not repeat that exercise.
• To skim through a lesson without the need to relisten to it completely. The entries document language points in order of their appearance in the lesson, so it gets easier to find an explanation.

And yes, it is primarily aiming at an Intermediate or UI level for a very simple reason: That is when grammar really kicks in - there are hardly any meaty language points in Newbie and Elementry lessons - most discussed items in the dialogues are basic phrases.Note that I later also included Elementary lessons [because I thought this would be helpful for the interlinking of the Grammar guide which - an idea that has been revived in Spring 2008].

And yes, I figured that someone who reached Intermediate is at a point when (reading) characters is not considered a fundamental barrier anymore.

For me personally, keeping up this list is less and less relevant. Most of the language points at Intermediate have been brought up now numerous times or even covered in Qing Wens, so I am mostly familiar with those.

haha5588: I am well aware of this. In the lesson these two words were brought up together because of their similarity in composition.

V. late here, but I've just begun using Grammar Points today.  Finding it really useful, to search in here for constructions I came across studying the latest Media lesson--thanks for the work Henning!  Would it be too much to ask you to insert the direct link to the lessons as well?  Well I do know it is mafan (would be super though ...).

(But someday these are all going to be incorporated in the Grammar Guide, right?)

但愿如此 和 原来如此 是两个意思完全不同的句子

但愿如此--还不知道结果

原来如此--知道结果后的感慨。。

Henning, i've noticed that you've been doing this for a couple of years.  This is the first time i've seen this page, and I was looking for information that helped me solve some of questions that I had regarding the "When the Taxi takes the Long Way" lesson. Your posts look like they would be helpful for me to answer some of my questions, I'm nowhere near where you and other advanced learners are in being able to read characters. 

I guess what i'm saying is that I sense that your effort here would be immensely valuable for those of us that are looking for tools that help transition us from ele to intermediate and above, but i'm not quite sure how to use this tremendous post you've created to help do that. 

Any thoughts on how this post of yours could be used by a lower level learner would be appreciated. Or if this is intended to be for intermediate and above that know plenty of characters, just say so, and i'll leave it at that. I'm also not suggesting that you go back over 2 years worth of posts to start putting things in pinyin or english. Thanks.

UI: About to Give Birth:

UI: A Suspicious Text Message:

Saved by the Gong: Tai Chi:

A Dodgy Opportunity for Lao Wang:

UI: Choosing a Name for the Baby:

Delivery Problems:

UI: Funny Business, Part Two:

Dubai:

Delegating Tasks:

UI: Pre-Marital Health Testing:

UI: Buying a House:

Tea Tasting:

Lao Wang in the Doghouse:

Ele: Blow out Your Candles:

Hi pchenery, click on "lesson" on the top, and you could find the latest lessons.

Why can't I find the "Shopping for the Newborn" lesson ?

I received email notification, but the lesson cannot be found on CPOD.

我为什么偏偏找不到这个课程？

UI: Shopping for the Newborn:

shenyajin,
you're right.Thanks.

In fact, the Elementry lessons are always a little hard to structure with my scheme, as each sentence is discussed and almost all dialogue lines are presented as standard phrases...

@henning, something missing,"但是很好吃"!

Ele: Hungry Traveler: Taiwan:

UI: Dealing With Depression:

City: Mumbai:

so much!

看来你很喜欢学中文哦！学的很地道（di4dao4）！

比我学英语还认真（ren4zheng1).

come on!

UI: Funny Business:

UI: Funny Business:

Ele: Big Bed:

Excuses for Being Late:

UI: Getting Old Isn't Easy:

Ele: Renting a Bike:

Zombies: Deader than Ever:

Boston:

UI: Super Babies and Ultrasounds:

Ele: What do Foreigners Like?

Ele: Global Positioning System:

Ele:  Hungry Traveler: Halal:

Ele: How Many Zeroes?

Lao Wang Plans to Sue:

Business Card Gone Wrong:

Which Finger?

UI: Opening a Factory:

UI: Saved by the Gong: Music Class:

UI: Welfare Lottery:

Gone Fishing:

UI: Fetal Attraction:

UI: Dog Meat and Animal Rights:

Lao Wang Plans Revenge:

Ele: HK visa:

Ele: In a Moment:

UI: Zombies!

Reporting a Loss:

Ele: Watch Out!

Munich:

UI: Saved by the Gong：Cutting Open a Frog:

Ele: Bad Cell Reception:

Ele: Hungry Traveler: Inner Mongolia:

Personal Ad:

UI: Finance Segment on TV:

Ele: Expired!

UI: Pre-natal Checkup:

Trimming the Fat at Wang's Office:

Ele: Valentine's Special:

Simple Electrical Stuff:

UI: Health Check:

Ele: Illegal taxis:

Mexico City:

真的很了不起！

Wow, this is amazing!

UI: A Day at the Races:

UI: New Year's Cash:

Ele: New Clothes:

Making Dumplings:

UI: Pregnancy House Ar-rest:

Ele: Hanging Up the Phone:

A Firing Afoot?

Terrorized at the Airport:

Ele: Happiness Candy:

UI: Buying Jade:

Will you marry me?

language 语言，我觉得用起来比学起来要容易得多，呵，用多了，也就熟悉了。

我刚才无意中看到上面有介绍在中国网络聊天用的聊天工具tencent QQ and MSN,呵呵，好像还有sinaUC，163 网易泡泡 and so on.

The conceived function of this collection is to provide  an index that helps localizing lessons in which certain structures are discussed.

的确，单词只有在特定的语言环境下才能够明白他的真正意思。不然讲起来很枯燥乏味，嘿嘿 ~

不过，按中国人的习惯，我看起来还是很吃力，哈哈

microsofttcl,
the heading "Grammar Points" does not really fit anymore. Over time I included a more and more flexible understanding of "Grammar" until I came to the point where I started adding every language aspect discussed in a lesson that might be of value beyond one specific context...

So it is more "Language Points" (excluding pronounciation).

这语法太蹊跷了，感觉是在组词造句，呵呵~~

UI: Lost in the Desert:

Ele: Outrageous Power Bill :

Ele: Don't push that button:

UI: Insurance Insanity:

Karaoke:

Ele: Hungry Traveler: Hangzhou:

Not So Silent Night:

UI: Officially Pregnant:

UI: Personal Trainer:

Thanks for the warm welcome. I now see how important it has been to reload my batteries...

Now I start working on my immense backlog in order to return to my full program as soon as possible. Hope to be able to continue the 红楼梦 group then, too.

欢迎回来！终于又看到你总结的语法啦！

Ele: Learning the Lei Feng Song:

Up-and-Comer in the Office:

Ele: What's your (animal) sign?:

UI: The Good Husband:

Borrowing Money:

Someone should put this in the grammar guide!  Wonderful idea henning, but I can't help but feel that this should be accessable to learners in a way that doesn't involve finding this post thread.  Great job.

Ele: Table for Three:

The Perfect Sandwich:

UI: Job Market for Laowai:

Ele: Stopped at the Gate :

The Surname Code:

UI: Argument over Garbage (2):

double post

Ele: Get in line!

Ele: Leaving Luggage with the Hotel:

UI: Argument over Garbage:

UI: The Big Deal about Shenzhou 7:

Buying a Plasma TV:

Birth by Chinese Zodiac:

Ele: Hungry Traveler: Beijing:

Communication in the Office:

UI: Google vs. Baidu

open chinese learning materials for you

hi ,my friend ! I find a place  for us to share  chinese study materials for free !
videos ,chinese sayings , stories .... colorful and interesting !
join us !http://www.Chineseclass123.com

Ele: No Walking on the Grass:

UI: Saved by the Gong: Chemistry:

Rome:

Ele: Introducing the Managers:

UI: Rating Restaurants on Dianping:

Ele: Clearing the Table:

UI: Getting a Driver's License:

Ele: A Very Special Day:

I'm pregnant!

Recovering a Cell Phone Number:

UI: Buying on Taobao:

Ele: ID Check at the Internet Cafe:

UI: F1 in China:

As the newest member of the ChinesePod team I am just stopping by to say how impressed I am by this free-wheeling and intense grammar discussion group. Keep it up!

Ele: Checking Baggage:

UI: Considering a Credit Card:

Ele: Keys, Wallet, Phone:

Los Angeles:

Hanoi:

Ele: Afraid of Dogs:

UI: Editing a Photo:

Henning,

Thanks, you explain it well. These constructs always puzzle me.  So 拼 不 过 makes sense because its more of a process to go through, than a single action like 买 不 到

不 起    不 到    不过    不 上    不 了  I think all of us Chinese learners need help with these!

Tommy,

For a start:
拼不到 -> 833 google hits
拼不过 -> 260,000 google hits

拼不到明明拼不过拼不过 :P

Furthermore:
过->pass
到->reach

Eventually:
The 拼不到-examples I googled use a different meaning of 拼 - the "piece-together-拼" you might know from 拼图 (jigsaw puzzle).

拼不到 --> cannot be connected, e.g. in the context of IP connections / routers and the like

拼 不 过   跟    拼 不 到  一样 意思  吗?

Ele: Hungry Traveler: Hainan

Hi henning,

Don't forget 备考 and 考核, I hate both though.

UI: Taking the HSK:

Antiperspirant in China:

Ele: Wake-up Call:

UI: Chinese Medicine: Acupuncture, Cupping and Scraping:

Ele: Hungry Traveler: Hong Kong

Wang's Office:

Ele: Instant Noodles:

UI: Harry Potter:

UI: SBTG: Sun Yatsen:

Bangkok:

特色 (here: 堵车是曼谷的特色)

经过 and its composition (here: 我们会经过皇宫吗？)

参观 and its various applications (here: 我们应该去参观一下)

坐 for "take a ride" in 坐船 

combining 然后 and 再 for an enforced "and then" (here: 然后再去做按摩)

按摩 for "get a message" (not give a massage)

家 as a measureword for restaurants (here: 那我们找一家吧)

Sorry everybody for the huge backlog. The stuff from last week will come. 一步一步来.

Last week was a combination of CPod-blocking influences (conference, paper deadline,...)

Ele: Missing Luggage:

找不到 and the phrase Obj+找不到 (here: 我的行李找不到了)

Omissions in Chinese sentences, e.g. leaving out 行李 in "都出来了"

the construction of the word 登机牌

找 does not need an object (here: 我帮你找)

急

adding 死 for emphasis (here: 急死我了)

Man2Toe:
never... ;)

Financial and personal reasons aside, there are better qualified persons out there. And much, much more important: Female ones who are good looking.

However, I might be tempted to become the Academic Director for KlingonPod. Important condition: I need to share the job with changye (for the Upper levels). We just need to find a native host.

By the way: New entries hopefully coming this weekend or Monday (paper deadline).

Henning,

Off subject here but.....when are you applying for the Lead German Host at Praxis? Being of German hertiage myself, I just might re-start learning German if you where the host, especially if you taught in German and Chinese!

(all this grammar needed to be sidetracked, if just for a little while:)

Ele: Hiking:

the complement 不动 in 爬不动 or similar constructions (here: 爬不动了)

才 (here: 我们才爬了半个小时)

你应 (here: 你应该多运动)

多+V (here: 你应该多运动)

the phrase 一步一步来

UI: Preparing to give an Interview:

案例 in 销售案例

开发 (here: 我们这个项目要开发西方国家的客户)

开展 in between "develop", "execute", and "do" (here: 可以有效地开展网络营销)

the phrase 意想不到 (here: 在外国会碰到很多意想不到的困难)

the meaning of 期望 in 期望薪酬

高于, 小于, and 等于 (here: 他要求的底薪稍高于我们的预算)

the phrase 独当一面

Airplane Arrival:

各位 for formaly addressing a group of people (here: 各位乘客)

架 as a measure word for planes (本架飞机)

本 as a formal way to say "this" (here: 本架飞机)

预 for estimations, here in 预计

Breaking down the sentence 本架飞机预计在北京时间16点20分，当地时间3点20分到达机场

到达 as a formal equivalent of 到 (here: 本架飞机预计在北京时间16点20分，当地时间3点20分到达机场)

prevailance of "military" time (24 hours, here: 16点20分)

温度 and 地面温度

摄氏度 for degree Celsius and 华氏度 for degree Fahrenheit

据 for "according to" (here: 据最新天气预报)

为 as a very formal alternative to 是 (here: 当地天气为晴天)

addressing with 您 as an indicator for formality (here: 感谢您乘坐美国航空公司的航班)

乘坐 for "riding" / "sitting"  (here: 感谢您乘坐美国航空公司的航班 )

Ele: Seoul

the option to leave out a pronoun in sentences like "改名字了"

改

meta language: 名字 ("name")

the phrase 好玩

the phrase 不错

the phrase 特别好

人家 for "others" (here: 人家都这么说)

不过 (here: 不过有点儿贵)

Ele: Barbecuing:

the word 周末 and its components

打算 as the verb and the noun "plan" (here: 你周末打算干什么)

giving sparse replies as a natural and expected behaviour

Pageant Final Episode:

the phrase 听说了吗

假 (here: 博客小姐的冠军是假的)

the 是。。。的-pattern for framing adjectives / descriptions (here: 冠军是假的 and 是枪手帮她写的)

the phrase 还好 for "it's a good thing that…"

the various uses of 退出

水平, and the *adjectives* 没水平, and 有水平 (here: 这样的比赛，太没水平了)

the phrase 想当初 (here: 想当初我还鼓励你去呢)

太没意思了 and 太没水平了 as similar constructions with 没-adjectives

青春 as a life phase (here: 真是浪费我的青春)

UI: Billiards:

the phrase 什么风把+Person+[给]吹来啦。

局 as a measure word for "a set" / "a game" (here: 来杀一局)

the phrase 来杀一局

过招 (here: 特别是跟高手过招)

瞄 for "aim" and the collocation with 准 (here: 底袋瞄得可真准)

倾斜 (here: 是不是哪儿倾斜了)

the phrase 说风凉话

One-on-One Basketball:

一对一 for "one on one" (here: in basketball)

asking for a score with 几比几 and giving the score with x比y (x-to-y) and x平 for an x-to-x-situation

投 (投得漂亮)

using 漂亮 for praise

切 for a dismissive noise

the phrase 要你说 for "I don't need you to tell me that"

putting the subject to the end of the sentence for verbal fingerpointing (here: 放屁吧你)

就是 for emphasis (here: 你就是犯规了！)

the phrase 有种 (here: 有种你就来吧)

using 老子 as first person personal pronoun (老子赢了！)

the phrase "走了狗屎运"

Ele: Equestrian:

术 in words like 马术 想 (here: 我想去香港看奥运会)

想 (here: 我想去香港看奥运会)

the phrase 在那儿 (here: 马术比赛在那儿)

肯定 and the synonym 一定 (here: 肯定有好多人去看)

好 in 好多 as an adverb, synonym to 很多,  meaning "very", "a lot" (here: 肯定有好多人去看)

赶快 (here: 我要赶快去订票了)

订 in 订票

我也想去

Ele: Valentine's Day:

宝贝 as a form of address

你也是 as a reply to a wish (你也是，宝贝)

送 (here: 喜欢我送你的礼物吗)

喜欢 (here: 喜欢我送你的礼物吗)

the idiomatic word order in "喜欢我送你的礼物吗"

的 to mark a completed action (here: 喜欢我送你的礼物吗)

nouns collocating with 送 (here: 我送你我的爱)

word composition with 鬼 (here: 小气鬼)

Ele: KTV:

the phrase 没关系

the composition of the word 难听

特 as a short form of 特别 - for emphasis (here: 特难听)

别人 for "other people" (here: 别人听不见)

听不见

the phrase 算了

Regional Accents Part II:

Meta language: 口音 (accent)

Meta language: 儿化音 (adding an 儿-sound to the end of a syllable)

Meta language: 前后鼻音 n- and ng-ending of a syllable

Meta language: 平舌音 (non-retroflex consonant, e.g. c, s, z)

Meta language: 翘舌音 (retroflex consonant, e.g. ch, sh, zh)

Meta language: 发音 (pronounciation)

UI: Saved by the Gong: Confusius:

the expression "有思想"

弟子 and 再传弟子

the formal, a bit old-fashioned 并非 (here: 论语并非出自一个人之手)

the formal 出自, and 出自 vs. 来自 (here: 论语并非出自一个人之手)

the 古文-modal-partical 焉 (in Konfucius' saying: 三人行必有我师焉)

在。。。才有 and the alternatives 只有。。。才有 and 只有。。。有 - combining 只有 and 才 for emphasizing "only" (here: 只有在古文里才有)

meta language: 语气字 ("modal particle")

meta language: 句尾 (end of the sentence) and 句头 (beginning of the sentence)

虚心

在课堂上 vs. 在课上

Taipei:

the word order and phrase composition of 你是+[location]+哪里人?

一 as 幺 (yāo) or 一 (yī) - in Taiwan and the mainland

楼 for "floor" or "building" (here: 是台湾最高的楼)

超 vs. 特 or 很 (here: 小吃超好吃)

都 in the sense of "even" (here: 我口水都流下来了)

Ele: Hungry Traveler: Xinjiang:

新鲜 (here: 新鲜的羊肉串儿)

the phrase 还有什么 (here: 新疆还有什么好吃的)

盘 for "plate" or "dish" (here: 大盘鸡也不错)

不错 for "pretty good"

the phrase "什么东西？" for expressing perplexion

Ele: Event Times:

决 for "decide" and the word composition of 决赛

开始 (here: 决赛几点开始)

晚上 (here: 晚上六点)

the word order in the sentence "白天有比赛吗？"

白天 vs. 晚上

预 for "prior" / "prepare" and 预赛 vs. 决赛

大多数 vs. 大部分 (here: 不过大多数都是预赛)

不过 (here: 不过大多数都是预赛)

精彩 (here: 预赛应该也很精彩)

应该 and ist usage (here: 预赛应该也很精彩)

没错 for agreeing

Ele: MSN and QQ:

用 (here: 你用MSN吗？)

一直 for a marking a continuious action (here: 我一直用QQ)

changing the verb to 是 in the agreement phrase "我也是"

the relativity of 回 and ist relevance (here: 我回去加你)

加 for "to add (here: 我回去加你)

the phrase "保持联系" and the words 保持 and 联系

Leaving off with 网上见 vs. 晚上见 vs. 晚上网上见

Ele: Yang Jie's Fury:

the blunt, impacient phrase "干吗？"

在一起 and the dating implications (here: 你是不是和王伟在一起？)

the phrase "关你什么事？"

the option to drop the 的 in 他的+[closely related person] (here: 我是他女朋友)

the insulting phrase "神经病" and the shortened form 神经

Ele: Bank Hours:

开门 and 关门

师傅 as a form of address

the phrases "几点开门" and "几点关门"

啊 to add enthusiasm, and 呢 to denote a follow-up-question (here: 行几点开门啊 and 几点关门呢)

啊 to show shock

方便 for convinient (here: 真不方便)

a range of time 从。。。到 and dropping the 从 (here: 我九点到六点都在上班)

for a complete range of time: "都在" (here: 我九点到六点都在上班)

the phrase 上班

the possibility to enlist components without "and" or "or" (here: 你可以星期六星期天来)

周末 (here: 这里周末也开门)

the (positive) phrase "太好了"

Ele: I dont want it!

和 (here: 要不要手表和包)

不要 is not rude at all

吧 for encouragement and softening (here: 看一下吧)

The pattern 又+Adj.+又+Adj (here: 又好又便宜)

只要 for "all you need" in 只要一分钟

真的 for demonstrate one is resolved (here: 真的不要)

Ele: Baseball:

听说 ("I have heard") as an opening gambit (here: 听说你会打棒球)

打 as a verb for playing a hand-based sport

球 for "sphere" and 棒 for "club" and 棒球

the 的 for describing a past actions (here: 在台北学的)

the pattern 在。。。学的

位置

手 for "professional" in word compostions (here: 一垒手)

过 for "ever" (here: 你打过本垒打吗)

当然

Ele: Cheering:

队 for squad or team in words like 啦啦队

the phrase 加油 and its components

the phrase 干吗 (here: 你在干吗？)

练习

当 for "being" / "taking a role" and possible applications (here: 练习当啦啦队)

数 for "count" or "number" and the phrase "我数三" for "counting to three"

喊 for scream or shout and 喊 vs. 叫 (here: 我们一起喊)

Ele: Dublin:

啊 for creating a question (here: 这是哪里啊?)

首 for "first/primary" and the word "首都"

哇

到处 for "everywhere" / "the whole place (here: 到处都是绿色)

呢 for expressing amazement / discovery (here: 还有很多老房子呢)

很不一样 (here: 跟南京很不一样)

特色 (here: 很有特色)

Ele: Going Dutch:

服务员 for addressing a waiter

买单

the phrase 请客 and its components

行 and 不行

the connotations of 客气 and the construction of the phrase "别那么客气"

我来 for "I'll do it"

吧 for emphasis and persuasion (here: 我来吧)

争 (here: 别争了)

words with 制 (here: AA制 and 我们AA制吧)

Ele: Country Standings:

the meaning of 牌 and the word 金牌

superlative with 最 (最多金牌)

拿 (here: 你觉得哪个国家会拿最多金牌)

一定 (here: 一定是美国)

觉得 and its usage as an opening gambit (here: 我觉得中国可能会超过美国)

会 for "could", esp. In combination with 可能会 (here: 我觉得中国可能会超过美国)

超过 and other word compositions with 超 (here: 我觉得中国可能会超过美国)

using 太 for softening in phrases like 不太可能

前+N for "Top N", e.g. 前三 for "top three" (here: 那，你觉得前三会是谁？)

Ele: Yang Jie's Diary: The Final Episode:

做 in the sense of be/become/take a role, e.g. my girlfirend or friend (here:做我的女朋友吧 and 做朋友), futher examples

吧 for adding enthusiasm (here:做我的女朋友吧)

the phrase "开玩笑" in 别开玩笑了

认真 and the phrase "我是认真的"

the 是。。。的-pattern for adding certainty (here: 我是认真的)

还 for "still" (here: 你还喜欢我吗)

还是 in the sense of "better" and the phrase "我们还是做朋友吧"

Ele: Tomb Sweeping Day:

回 (here: 回老家扫)

the meaning of "老家"

就 for emphasis as in "right (here)" (here: 我就在北京)

爷爷 (paternal grandfather)

就 for emphasis (here: 我爷爷的墓就在北京)

方便

Ele: April Fool's:

尝尝 for "try" / "taste" (here: 快尝尝吧)

怎么这么+Adj for expressing surprise or disbelieve (here: 怎么这么辣)

juice vocab with "汁" (here: 番茄汁)

死了-Compositions (here: 辣死了)

the phrase "干吗" and its usage (here: 你干吗笑啊)

Ele: Art Museum:

words for large, closed spaces with 馆 (here: 美术馆)

看看 (here: 我想看看画)

吧 for softening and encouragement (here: 你自己去吧)

The phrase "你自己去吧"

the particle 嘛 for softening and persuation (here: 去看看嘛)

chillosk, minazhu, changye, lujiaojie,

thanks for the encouragement.

Actually it has become part of my regular study routine, no 辛苦-ness involved at all. Forces me to listen more carefully....

Thanks for keeping this up Henning, it's a big help for everyone. :) 辛苦你了。。 :)

UI: Chinese Universities:

悠久 and its use context (here: 历史悠久)

尖子 for "top-notch" in 尖子生

the verb 思考 vs. the noun 思想 and possible combinations with 独立 (here: 鼓励学生独立思考)

浓 in 感觉+浓 and 感觉+浓 vs. 感觉+强 (here: 北大好像是政治的感觉比较浓)

the phrase "天高皇帝远"

指不定 (here: 现在热门的指不定我们毕业的时候就变冷门了呢)

the phrase "不相上下" (here: 金融的话北大和复旦不相上下)

白搭

Ele: Pearl Tea:

冰的 and 热的 for drinks

嗯 for para-verbal agreement

the phrase 不错

Ele: Not on purpose:

Greeting several persons with the second person, plural: 你们好

using 呢 to efficiently form a question (here: 你女朋友呢)

没来 for the negative of 来

怎么 (here: 她怎么没来)

一下 for indicating "a short while" (here: 我去一下洗手间)

怎么 (here: 你怎么问他这个问题)

The word order in "你怎么问他这个问题" (pronoun first)

the phrases "不是故意的"

Ele: Going to the Pharmacy:

了 to indicate completion (here: 我感冒了)

吧 to add a degree of involvement and for softening (here: 西药吧)

the phrase 不错

种 for "type" (here: 这种不错)

Beauty Pagaent: It's a Mess:

继续 and ist usage (here: 我不想继续比赛了)

word composion with 乱 as in 乱写, 乱说, 乱跑 (here: 记者都是乱写的)

心里 and 难受 in 心里很难受

后悔

the construction of 你别这么想

多 for emphasis - replacing 很 (here: 这个机会多好啊)

过分 (here: 他们可能写得更过分)

更 for "even more" (here: 他们可能写得更过分)

放弃

劝 (here: 你别劝我了)

可惜 (here: 放弃太可惜了)

复杂

Ele: Hungry Traveler: Hunan:

菜 for "cuisine"

the construction of the sentence 你们这儿什么菜好吃？

都 for "both" and the phrase 两个都要

the phrase 就行了

微 as a degree of spiciness: 微辣

微 as a degree of spiciness: 微辣 and other words composed with 微

word compositions with 死 (here: 辣死了)

Ele: Diet Coke:

只有 (here: 只有可口可乐)

omission of a pronoun in 只有可口可乐

好像 in the phrase 好像有

the phrase 我看一下

the phrase 有的

Ele: Paris:

太 for emphasis in the phrase 太美了

最 for superlative (here: 是世界上最浪漫的城市)

the preposition 上 in the phrase 世界上 ("in the world")

proper nouns with 宫 (here: 卢浮宫)

什么时候

the 是。。。的-pattern for marking past tense and enhancing clarity (here: 你是什么时候去的？)

henning:

你总结得真好！

UI: Saved by the Gong: Geology:

the various meanings of 图; 示意图 (here: 地理示意图)

我国 (here: 为什么我国是一个多地震的国家)

comical, rhetorical questions like 我知道还问你呀？or 你问我我问谁?

哥们儿 (here: 好哥们儿)

著名 as a formal synonym for 有名 (here: 是世界著名的两大火山地震带)

带 for zone/area/region (here: 火山地震带)

only in the banter: 环 for surround (here: 环太平洋) and 环 for ring (here: 火环)

危害 (here: 地震有哪些危害？)

the variety of meanings of 钻 (here: 钻桌子)

壮观

还 for "how can you" (here: 还壮观呢！)

sorry, typo, first point shoud read:

大 for "strong" wind; the common 风很大 vs. the uncommon 风很强

Chicago:

大 for "strong" wind; the common 风很大 vs.the uncommon 分很强

the phrase 长见识

公 for male animals like 公牛 (*not* 男牛) (here: 公牛队)

还 and 真 for emphasis (here: 还真不知道那儿风大)

the broad usage of 社会 (here: 黑社会)

突然 (here: 你怎么突然对芝加哥那么感兴趣？)

the pattern 对。。。感兴趣 (here: 你怎么突然对芝加哥那么感兴趣？)

adding 那么 for emphasis (here: 你怎么突然对芝加哥那么感兴趣？)

the 是。。。的-pattern for marking and emphasizing an explanation (here: 是介绍芝加哥的)

厚

thank you so much for your hard work, henning !

(You must be a really diligent student...)

Mobile Repairman:

出问题 vs. 有问题 (here: 出了什么问题?)

都 in the sense of "even" (here: 二十分钟都不热)

parsing "买了多久？" correctly

the 快。。。了-pattern (here: 快十年了)

还是 in the sense of "better" (here: 还是买个新的吧)

the complement 不好 in 修不好 for "can't fix" and 修得好 for "can fix"

合算

UI: Yoga:

专利 for all kinds of "privilege" - not only for "patent" (here: 瑜伽又不是女人的专利)

the measure word 张 for a flyer, but not for a brochure which needs 本 (here: 一张广告)

the verb 扭

支撑 vs. 支持

the phrase 天人合一

和谐 (here: 通过冥想、呼吸和动作，达到身体、心灵与精神的和谐)

意念

缓解 (here: 缓解压力)

名堂 (here: 这么多名堂啊)

Signing up for Art Class:

基础 (一点基础都没有)

the pattern 一点。。。 [都|也] (here: 一点基础都没有)

shortening 一个+Adj+的+ to 个+Adj+的 (here: 简单的吧)

the phrases 有道理 and 没道理

好 in the sense of "easy" for word composition in the case of 好学 and the opposite 不好学 or 难学 (here: 你说哪种好学)

搞 in 搞错 and the phrase 你没搞错吧？+ the alternative 有没有搞错

adding a 的 for emphasis (here: 很难的)

the preposition 为 for "for" (here: 为艺术牺牲嘛)

劣势 is actually commonly used depend on the context, I can't agree with everything the hosts had said.

Hi henning,

I've just noticed this very helpful thread.

Incredibly useful especially for a free user, just like me.

UI: Overseas Chinese:

the pattern "V是V + restriction" for relativization (here: 会是会一点)

the preposition 回 in 回国 in the context of overseas Chinese coming to China

人 instead of 他这个人 (here: 人都晕了)

the phrase 七大姑八大

一阵 for an (not fully specified) period of time and 好一阵 (here: 光那些七大姑八大姨就要记好一阵)

辈 for generation (here: 爷爷那辈就去了)

the general 华人 and the subsets 华侨 and 华裔 (incl. 美籍华裔)

闭塞

the phrase 家常便饭

两边跑

有优势 and the opposite 没有优势 and the more formal, rarely used 劣势 (here: 所以华裔特别有优势)

过关 (here: 语言过关, alternatively: 过语言关)

难免 and its collocation with 要 or 会 (这样难免要忽略中文)

双重 for "double" and several sample uses (here: 双重身份真不容易)

Regional Accents:

Meta language: 口音 (accent)

Meta language: 儿化音 (adding an 儿-sound to the end of a syllable)

Meta language: 前鼻音 n-ending of a syllable

Meta language: 后鼻音 (ng-ending of a syllable)

Meta language: 平舌音 (non-retroflex consonant, e.g. c, s, z)

Meta language: 翘舌音 (retroflex consonant, e.g. ch, sh, zh)

UI: Ping Pong Nation:

the phrase "一夜间" and alternatives

the structure and the meaning of the phrase 为国争光

基础 and its meaning in phrases like 群众基础, and 群众基础好

the noun 抵制 (here: 好多运动都受到抵制不能开展)

the various uses of 成绩 (here: 可是成绩好是因为我们比别人刻苦)

刻苦 (here: 可是成绩好是因为我们比别人刻苦)

统治 (here: 中国一直统治乒坛)

word composition with 坛 (for one-character words) and with 界 (for poly-character words)

有底

Please keep up the great work, Henning. You rock!

What is a Chengyu?

meta language: 成语 for that special form of Chinese idioms

the phrase "乱七八糟"

日常 and 日常生活

以为 and the emphasized 还以为 (here: 我还以为四个字的都是成语，结果好多只是普通词组)

普通 (here: 普通词组)

meta language: 词组 for "phrase"

结果 as a linking construction that expresses "in fact" or "it turns out" (here: 我还以为四个字的都是成语，结果好多只是普通词组)

特点 for "characteristic"

家 for professional / master, e.g. in 语言学家, and the need for using that prudently to convey modesty

the noun 压力 (here: 你别给自己那么大压力)

影响 (here: 不会成语不影响沟通)

沟通

也 for softening (here: 说的也对)

the relevance of 成语

UI: SBTG: Special Economic Zones:

the differences between 设立, 建立, and 建设

区域 as a formal variation of 区

优惠 (here in: 优惠政策)

碰上 for coincidences (here: 又碰上香港商人要求来广东投资)

the phrase "水深火热"

Train to Beijing:

号 for dates (here: 有3号晚上去北京的车吗？)

一些 as an alternative for "一点" (here: 直达的快一些)

splitting up 睡觉 and inserting an 一 to 睡一觉 (here: 睡一觉就到了)

就 for connection and emphasis of the quickness of an effect (here: 睡一觉就到了)

硬卧, 软卧, 硬座, 软座 for different types of train tickets + 上铺,中铺，and 上铺 for the bunk positions

再 for "and then" (here: 你到北京再买吧。)

Detroit:

the various uses of 破 (here: 底特律是不是很破？)

combining 汽车+城市 to 汽车城

a 可是 that is not "but" with the 可 for emphasis and the role of word order and context (here: 它可是美国的汽车城)

combining 汽车 + 工厂 to 车厂

complementing 搬 with a 走 to 搬走

adding an optional 都 for emphasis (here: 好多车厂都搬走了)

好 as a replacement for 很 and words that tend to prefer 好 like in 好多, 好漂亮, or 好高 (here: 好多车厂都搬走了。所以好多人失业)

the pattern 对+Obj+有偏见 (here: 你对底特律有偏见吧？)

事实 and the tongue twister 是事实 (here: 我说的是事实)

combining 音乐+城市 to 音乐城

年代 and its use for the x-tees (here: 六十年代)

流行 and 流行音乐

the phrase 没想到 and the more emphasised 真没想到

the phrase 有机会 and an omitted 如果 (here: 有机会，我想去看看)

another 可 for emphasis (here: 我可不想去)

UI: Saved by the Gong: Math class:

the measure word 道 for (math) problem (here:我一道题都没做)

面积 for "area"

公式 for "formula"

底 for "base", 高 for "height", plus 长 for length" and 宽 for "width" (here: 底乘以高再除以2就行了)

乘以 for "multiply by" and 除以 for "divide by", 减 for "substract" and 加 for "add" (here: 底乘以高再除以2)

x的y次方 for x raised to the yth-power of (here 2的4次方=16)

相乘 for multiply with itsself (here: 4个2相乘)

说不定 as a colloquial form for "maybe" and 说不定 vs. 也许 and 可能 (here: 说不定成绩比我们还好呢)

the phrase "条条大路通罗马"

照样 (here: 你看我爸，数学一塌糊涂，炒股票照样赚钱。)

Henning, this is such an amazing amount of work. I really hope that one day there will be a quick reference to this important info by typing in either the name of the lesson or the grammar point. You are to be commended. So many lessons...so much time. Thanks from everyone!

Scandal in the Pageant:

the pattern [media outlet]+都是+Obj (here: 网上都是你和赞助商的绯闻)

the phrase "这是怎么一回事?" and "这是怎么一回事" vs. "怎么了"

the phrase "那怎么会"

the verb 拿 in 拿冠军

被 for passive in 我是被冤枉的

the 是。。。的-pattern for emphasis (here: 我是被冤枉的)

the meaning of 没什么 in 我和周鹏真的没什么 and the importance of the prepositional phrase 和周鹏

the phrase 没用 and its postioning at the end of a sentence (here: 你跟我说没用)

UI: Online Shopping

the phrases 放一百个心 and 放一万个心 and the necessity to include the 个

笔 as a measure word for a business transaction (here: 我做了五千多笔生意)

率 for rate in 好评率

正规 (here: 商品和服务都很正规)

the 度 in 信用度 for denoting a measurable concept

Sweet Roasted Chestnuts:

the 又。。。又-pattern (here: 又甜又香)

adding a 是 for confirmation and emphasis (here: 嗯，是不错)

the 瞎 in 瞎说

人人 for "everybody" and alternatives (here: 人人吃了都说好)

The composition of the senctence: 人人吃了都说好。

说好 for saying something is good

the phrase "怎么卖?"

expressing "per 斤" with [amount]一斤 (here: 十五块一斤)

the Chinese unit 斤 (half of a kilogram)

人家 for "everybody else" (here: 人家都是十块钱一斤。)

inserting a 的是 between verb and object to express past tense (here: 我用的是最好的栗子)

adding a 是 for confirmation and emphasis (here: 是好吃)

tesshardingcraig,

I am just an ordinary user and absolute layman. ;)

The real Grammar Guide will render your requirements obsolete....

Henning, these grammar posts are GREAT! Would the chinesepod folks let you post your grammar notes as PDF files available to print out from the "Lessons" tab, instead of as posts in the Conversations tab? Maybe one PDF file covers 10 lessons or so, e.g. "Intermediate Lessons 21-30", etc? To make everyone comfortable with this, there could be a "disclaimer" at the beginning of each pdf file, you know, "These notes produced by a volunteer chinesepod subscriber; notes have not been evaluated by chinesepod staff", or whatever? (Or maybe this isn't necessary...maybe you yourself are a chinese professor at university??) Anyway, thanks for all your work!!

UI: The Pickup Artist:

哪 for "somewhere" (here: 我们肯定在哪儿见过)

眼熟, 脸熟 (alternative pronounciations: shú or shóu) and the opposites: 眼生, 脸生

the phrase 似曾相识 and its composition

complement 得上 and 不上 in 配得上 and 配不上

缘分 and the phrase 有缘无分

感受 vs. 感觉

Knitting a Scarf:

word compostion with 好 at the example of 好织 and its superlative form with 最 (最好织)

是。。。的 without 的 (here: 哪儿买的？and 我自己织的)

是。。。的 for emphasis of a place or an action; the exclusiveness of the pattern for emphasizing *past* events

the 连+N+都+V pattern (here: 我连围巾都不会织。)

no 是。。。的 for actions that haven't happened yet, here at the example of 在哪儿买？

UI: Relativity:

the phrase "等你等得花儿都谢了" (alternative: "等你等到花儿都谢了")

the phrase "耍贫嘴" and the reduced 贫

狭义 and 广义 (here: 分狭义的和广义的[相对论])

衡量 vs.量