HSK 5 • Lesson 10尊重生命
HSK 5 • 中级篇Lesson 10 / 14

尊重生命

Zūnzhòng shēngmìng
Respecting Life
Pattern 1

小/大/高 + 宾语 + 数量词

Placing adjectives like 小, 大, 高 before an object pronoun/noun followed by a quantity indicates comparative difference (equivalent to 比...小/大/高).

Examples
想想小他7岁的妻子，袁平决定瞒着她。
Xiǎngxiang xiǎo tā qī suì de qīzi, Yuán Píng juédìng mán zhe tā.
Thinking of his wife who was 7 years younger than him, Yuan Ping decided to keep it from her.
虽然我叫她姐姐，其实她只大我三天。
Suīrán wǒ jiào tā jiějie, qíshí tā zhǐ dà wǒ sān tiān.
Although I call her older sister, she is actually only three days older than me.
这孩子长得真快，半年不见已经高我半头了。
Zhè háizi zhǎng de zhēn kuài, bàn nián bú jiàn yǐjīng gāo wǒ bàn tóu le.
This kid grows so fast; haven't seen him in half a year and he's already half a head taller than me.
Pattern 2

有...有...

The repeated '有' combines with two synonymous words (for vivid emphasis: talking & laughing, flavorful) or antonyms (indicating coexistence of both sides: pros & cons, start & finish).

Examples
一群年轻人在那里有说有笑，让人觉得他们是世界上最快活的人。
Yī qún niánqīngrén zài nàlǐ yǒu shuō yǒu xiào, ràng rén juéde tāmen shì shìjiè shang zuì kuàihuo de rén.
A group of young people were talking and laughing there, making one feel they were the happiest people in the world.
他说的这个办法有利有弊，我看可以试一试。
Tā shuō de zhège bànfǎ yǒu lì yǒu bì, wǒ kàn kěyǐ shì yi shì.
The method he proposed has both pros and cons; I think we can give it a try.
Pattern 3

至于

Used to introduce a new related topic or an object of contrast ('as for...', 'regarding...').

Examples
至于是否同意让家人选择安乐死，很多人则顾虑重重。
Zhìyú shìfǒu tóngyì ràng jiārén xuǎnzé ānlèsǐ, hěn duō rén zé gùlǜ chóngchóng.
As for whether to agree to let family members choose euthanasia, many people have heavy misgivings.
值得做的事，我就坚持，至于别人怎么想，我不在乎。
Zhíde zuò de shì, wǒ jiù jiānchí, zhìyú biérén zěnme xiǎng, wǒ bú zàihu.
If it's worth doing, I'll stick to it; as for what others think, I don't care.
Pattern 4

关系到

Indicates having a direct bearing on or affecting something significant ('pertains to', 'concerns').

Examples
物价的稳定关系到社会的稳定。
Wùjià de wěndìng guānxì dào shèhuì de wěndìng.
Price stability directly affects social stability.
心情是否愉快不仅关系到身体健康，也关系到生活质量。
Xīnqíng shìfǒu yúkuài bùjǐn guānxì dào shēntǐ jiànkāng, yě guānxì dào shēnghuó zhìliàng.
Whether one is cheerful not only affects physical health, but also touches on the quality of life.
Pattern 5

再...也...

Expresses concessive condition: 'no matter how / even if...', indicating that the result remains unchanged.

Examples
事实是，经济再困难，人们也不愿意承认放弃生命。
Shìshí shì, jīngjì zài kùnnan, rénmen yě bú yuànyì chéngrèn fàngqì shēngmìng.
The truth is, no matter how difficult the financial situation is, people are unwilling to admit giving up a life.
我再忙也得去一趟啊。
Wǒ zài máng yě děi qù yí tàng a.
No matter how busy I am, I still have to make the trip.
Pattern 6

...，特别是...

Highlights the most prominent example among similar items or circumstances ('especially', 'in particular').

Examples
晚期癌症病人放弃治疗的比比皆是，特别是老人，就是因为怕给儿女增加经济负担。
Wǎnqī áizhèng bìngrén fàngqì zhìliáo de bǐbǐ jiē shì, tèbié shì lǎorén, jiù shì yīnwèi pà gěi érnǚ zēngjiā jīngjì fùdān.
Terminal cancer patients giving up treatment are everywhere, especially the elderly, precisely because they fear burdening their children financially.
Pattern 7

除非...，否则...

Expresses exclusive condition: 'unless..., otherwise...'.

Examples
除非一个人在生病之前就已经决定安乐死，否则你怎么判断他哪个时刻的哪句话代表他的真实意愿？
Chúfēi yí ge rén zài shēngbìng zhīqián jiù yǐjīng juédìng ānlèsǐ, fǒuzé nǐ zěnme pànduàn tā nǎge shíkè de nǎ jù huà dàibiǎo tā de zhēnshí yìyuàn?
Unless someone had already decided on euthanasia before falling ill, otherwise how can you judge which words at what moment represent their true wishes?
Pattern 8

与其...，不如...

Expresses preference: 'rather than..., it is better to...'. The speaker opts for the second clause.

Examples
与其经历“生不如死”的痛苦，不如选择平静安宁有尊严的死。
Yǔqí jīnglì “shēng bù rú sǐ” de tòngkǔ, bùrú xuǎnzé píngjìng ānníng yǒu zūnyán de sǐ.
Rather than suffering through agony where living is worse than dying, it is better to choose a peaceful, serene, and dignified death.
Pattern 9

反正

Adverb meaning 'anyway / in any case', used to emphasize an unalterable conclusion or certainty regardless of conditions.

Examples
不管你们谁先讲，反正每个人都要讲一讲。
Bùguǎn nǐmen shuí xiān jiǎng, fǎnzheng měi ge rén dōu yào jiǎng yi jiǎng.
No matter who speaks first, everyone will have to speak anyway.
反正我认为安乐死是对人权的尊重，是更人道的做法。
Fǎnzheng wǒ rènwéi ānlèsǐ shì duì rénquán de zūnzhòng, shì gèng réndào de zuòfǎ.
In any case, I believe euthanasia is a sign of respect for human rights and a more humane approach.