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HSK 7

带关联词语

dài guān lián cí yǔ

Using connectives (to link clauses in a complex sentence)

Explanation

This point concerns the use of connectives (关联词语 = conjunctions, words/pairs of words that link the clauses of a sentence) to join the clauses within a compound sentence (a sentence with two or more clauses) and express the logical relationship between them.

Structure

connectives come in pairs/chains depending on the relationship—因为 (yīnwèi = because)...因此 (yīncǐ = therefore)... for cause and effect; 假如 (jiǎrú = if)...那么 (nàme = then)... for hypothesis; 除了 (chúle = besides)...之外 (zhīwài)... for inclusion/exclusion; 然而 (rán'ér = however) for a contrastive turn; 即使 (jíshǐ = even if)...也 (yě)... for concession.

When to use

when writing argumentative or narrative passages that need to be coherent; connectives help the reader clearly see cause, result, condition, and contrast.

Common mistakes

mixing up pairs (for example, having '因为' go with '所以' or '因此'—it must be consistent); omitting the corresponding clause of a pair (with 即使 there must be 也); and placing the connective in the wrong position within the clause.

Examples

除了记忆能力差之外，我还有其他的缺点，这些缺点在很大程度上使我变得无知。
chúlejìyìnénglìchàzhīwài，wǒháiyǒuqítādequēdiǎn，zhèxiēquēdiǎnzàihěndàchéngdùshàngshǐwǒbiàndewúzhī。

Besides having a poor memory, I have other shortcomings as well, and these shortcomings to a large extent make me ignorant.

因为我脑子慢、糊涂，周围环境稍有变化就会看不清楚。因此，即使是十分容易解开的谜，我也从不要求自己去解。
yīnwèiwǒnǎozimàn、hútu，zhōuwéihuánjìngshāoyǒubiànhuàjiùhuìkànbùqīngchu。yīncǐ，jíshǐshìshífēnróngyìjiěkāidemí，wǒyěcóngbúyāoqiúzìjǐqùjiě。

Because my mind is slow and muddled, I fail to see clearly the moment the surroundings change even slightly. Therefore, even for a puzzle that is very easy to solve, I have never demanded that I solve it myself.

您花上几天时间，到处寻找，也可能没有一点儿收获。假如一个上午能找到两三片化石，那么这个上午就可以说是终生难忘的时刻了。然而，上个月我们竟然有过三次“终生难忘的时刻”。
nínhuāshàngjǐtiānshíjiān，dàochùxúnzhǎo，yěkěnéngméiyǒuyìdiǎnrshōuhuò。jiǎrúyīgèshàngwǔnéngzhǎodàoliǎngsānpiànhuàshí，nàmezhègeshàngwǔjiùkěyǐshuōshìzhōngshēngnánwàngdeshíkèle。ránér，shànggèyuèwǒmenjìngrányǒuguòsāncì“zhōngshēngnánwàngdeshíkè”。

You may spend several days searching everywhere and still gain nothing at all. Suppose in one morning you could find two or three fossils—then that morning could be called a moment to remember for a lifetime. And yet, last month we actually had three such "moments to remember for a lifetime."

Practice

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Learn “带关联词语” effectively

The grammar point “带关联词语” (Using connectives (to link clauses in a complex sentence)) is one of the key structures at HSK 7. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.

Study tip: read the examples aloud many times to build a natural reflex. Then try making your own sentences for your own situations. Use the audio button to hear and practice accurate pronunciation.

You can also view the full “” lesson to understand the related grammar and vocabulary more deeply.

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