Emphasis: 就是, 可, 并, 偏偏, 是…的, 才, 都
The small words that add insistence, surprise, contradiction and attitude.
Part of the free B2 Chinese course (about HSK 5). Examples are in Simplified characters, with pinyin only for some new or hard words; press the speaker to hear one with your device's Chinese voice.
Words that carry attitude
Chinese adds feeling with short adverbs placed before the verb or adjective. They don't change the facts; they change how the speaker feels about them.
| Word | Pinyin | What it adds | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 就是 | jiùshì | stubborn insistence; "exactly" | 他就是不听 |
| 可 | kě | strong feeling (spoken) | 可好了, 可别忘了 |
| 并 | bìng | "actually not" (contradicting an assumption) | 并不难, 并没有 |
| 偏偏 | piānpiān | contrary to what's wanted | 偏偏下雨了 |
| 是…的 | shì … de | a firm statement of a view | 是可以解决的 |
| 才 | cái | a retort; "now that's …" | 我才不去呢, 这才对 |
| 都 | dōu | "already!" (impatience) | 都八点了 |
就是 and 可
就是 + verb: "simply, just (and that's that)".
- 我说了好几次，他就是不听。I've told him several times; he just won't listen.
可 + adjective + 了/啦/呢 is a spoken "really": 可好吃了, 可热闹呢. 可 + 别/要 adds urgency: 你可别告诉别人.
- 这儿的风景可美了！The scenery here is really beautiful!
- 你可别告诉别人。Whatever you do, don't tell anyone.
并 + negative
并 goes right before 不 or 没 and contradicts what someone thinks: "not, as you might assume".
- 这道题并不难，你再想想。This question isn't actually hard; think again.
偏偏
偏偏 says that things go against what was wanted, as if on purpose: someone stubbornly does the opposite, or luck turns against you.
- 我们正要出发，偏偏下起了大雨。Just as we were about to set off, it started pouring, of all things.
是…的 for a view
Unlike the past-event 是…的 of 是…的: when, where and how it happened, this one frames a judgement, often with 会, 能 or 可以: the speaker states it firmly.
- 只要大家一起努力，困难是能克服的。As long as we all work together, the difficulties can be overcome.
才 and 都 for attitude
才…呢 answers back: "as if!". 这才是 means "now that's …". 都…了 is impatient: "it's already …!".
- 我才不相信他的话呢！As if I'd believe what he says!
- 都八点了，你怎么还不起床？It's already eight o'clock; why aren't you up yet?
Common mistakes
他不并笨。→ 他并不笨。并 comes before the negative.他并很聪明。→ 他很聪明。As an emphatic adverb, 并 goes with a negative (不, 没, 非). (并 as "and" between verbs, 讨论并通过, is a different, written use.)都十二点，快睡吧。→ 都十二点了。"Already" 都 needs 了 at the end.这个问题是可以解决。→ 是可以解决的。This 是 needs its 的.- 这儿的菜可好吃。 sounds unfinished in standard speech (some northern speakers do say it): exclamatory 可 + adjective usually ends in 了, 啦 or 呢, as in 可好吃了.
Practice
- 大家都说他很有钱，其实他_____不富。// Everyone says he's rich, but in fact he isn't rich at all.Options: 并 · 偏偏 · 都
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并 — 并 + negative contradicts what people assume.
- Where does 并 go?Options: 我并没有说过那句话。 · 我没有并说过那句话。 · 我没有说过并那句话。
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我并没有说过那句话。 — 并 goes directly before 不 or 没.
- 妈妈不让他吃糖，他_____要吃。// His mum won't let him eat sweets, but he insists on eating them anyway.Options: 偏偏 · 并 · 才
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偏偏 — 偏偏: doing exactly the opposite of what is wanted.
- 这家店的饺子_____好吃了！// The dumplings at this shop are really delicious!Options: 可 · 并 · 偏偏
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可 — 可 + adjective + 了: a spoken 'really'.