HSK 3 • Lesson 3在校园里
HSK 3 • 基础篇Lesson 3 / 25

在校园里

Zài xiàoyuán lǐ
On Campus
Pattern 1

原来……怪不得……

Meaning:As it turns out... no wonder...

'原来' introduces a cause just discovered or explained, while '怪不得' refers back to something that seemed strange before and now makes sense, so it's no longer surprising.

Examples
原来是这样，怪不得这几天我经常看见你在校园里转。
Yuánlái shì zhèyàng, guàibude zhè jǐ tiān wǒ jīngcháng kànjiàn nǐ zài xiàoyuán lǐ zhuàn.
So that's how it is, no wonder I often saw you strolling around the campus these past few days.
原来他在法国住过，怪不得他这么了解法国的情况。
Yuánlái tā zài Fǎguó zhùguo, guàibude tā zhème liǎojiě Fǎguó de qíngkuàng.
As it turns out he once lived in France, no wonder he understands the situation in France so well.
Pattern 2

不过

Meaning:However / But (Mild transition in spoken Chinese)

A conjunction of contrast in spoken Chinese, softer and gentler than '但是' or '可是'.

Examples
校园不太大；不过，环境很好，又安静又漂亮。
Xiàoyuán bú tài dà; búguò, huánjìng hěn hǎo, yòu ānjìng yòu piàoliang.
The campus isn't very large; however, the environment is great, both quiet and beautiful.
我听说过这个名字，不过不知道是谁。
Wǒ tīngshuōguo zhè ge míngzi, búguò bù zhīdào shì shéi.
I have heard of this name, but I don't know who it is.
Pattern 3

疑问代词 + 都 / 也

Meaning:Full inclusion / Full exclusion (Any, all, nothing)

Question words in statements combined with '都' or '也' express total inclusion (everyone/everything...) or total negation (no one/nowhere/nothing...).

Examples
书店、洗衣店、理发店什么的都有，非常方便。
Shūdiàn, xǐyīdiàn, lǐfàdiàn shénme de dōu yǒu, fēicháng fāngbiàn.
There are bookstores, laundromats, barbershops and everything, very convenient.
今天他去商店了，可是什么都没买。
Jīntiān tā qù shāngdiàn le, kěshì shénme dōu méi mǎi.
He went to the store today, but he didn't buy anything at all.
Pattern 4

不但……而且……

Meaning:Not only... but also... (Progressive coordination)

Conjunctions of progression. If both clauses share a subject, it comes before '不但'; if the subjects differ, each subject follows '不但' and '而且'.

Examples
里边不但有吃的、喝的，而且有穿的、用的，东西很全。
Lǐbiān búdàn yǒu chī de, hē de, érqiě yǒu chuān de, yòng de, dōngxi hěn quán.
Inside there are not only food and drinks, but also clothing and daily necessities; the goods are very comprehensive.
不但他会说汉语，而且他爸爸、妈妈也会说一点儿汉语。
Búdàn tā huì shuō Hànyǔ, érqiě tā bàba, māma yě huì shuō yìdiǎnr Hànyǔ.
Not only can he speak Chinese, but his parents can also speak a little Chinese.
Pattern 5

越来越……

Meaning:More and more... (Gradual progression over time)

Shows that the degree of a quality or feeling increases steadily over time.

Examples
现在大学生的生活越来越丰富了。
Xiànzài dàxuéshēng de shēnghuó yuè lái yuè fēngfù le.
Nowadays, university students' lives are becoming richer and more colorful.
他说汉语说得越来越流利了。
Tā shuō Hànyǔ shuō de yuè lái yuè liúlì le.
He speaks Chinese more and more fluently.
Pattern 6

为的是……

Meaning:In order to / The purpose is to...

Used in the second clause to state the purpose of the action in the first clause; synonymous with '是为了'.

Examples
他们努力学习，为的是以后能找到一个好工作。
Tāmen nǔlì xuéxí, wèi de shì yǐhòu néng zhǎodào yí ge hǎo gōngzuò.
They study hard in order to find a good job in the future.
我这次来北京，为的是学好汉语。
Wǒ zhè cì lái Běijīng, wèi de shì xuéhǎo Hànyǔ.
My coming to Beijing this time is for the purpose of mastering Chinese.