RealHSK

HSK 3Lesson 7 of 15 · 8 grammar points

Change, appearance and framing

越来越 tracks one changing scale, whereas appearance expressions hedge a judgment. 除了 can include or exclude depending on the later clause. Starting-point and perspective frames limit the scope within which the main statement holds.

Learning goals (8)
  • Increasing change.
  • Appearance with 看起来.
  • Appearance with 看上去.
  • Generalizing cautiously.
  • An unimpressive evaluation.
  • Including and excluding.
  • Starting from a point.
  • For a person or group.

越来越

Increasing change

越来越+adjective or suitable psychological verb describes gradual increase along a scale.

天气越来越冷了。

Tiān qì yuè lái yuè lěng le.

The weather is getting colder and colder.

More

Pitfall: Do not add 比较 or 很 mechanically after 越来越.

看起来

Appearance with 看起来

看起来 introduces an impression from appearance, sometimes extending beyond literal sight.

他看起来很累。

Tā kàn qǐ lái hěn lèi.

He looks tired.

More

Pitfall: Looking tired is evidence for a judgment, not proof of a diagnosis.

看上去

Appearance with 看上去

看上去 commonly describes an impression based on visible appearance.

这件衣服看上去很贵。

Zhè jiàn yī fu kàn shàng qù hěn guì.

This item of clothing looks expensive.

More

Pitfall: Its apparent price need not be its actual price.

一般来说

Generalizing cautiously

一般来说 frames a broad tendency and leaves room for exceptions.

一般来说，早上这里人比较少。

Yī bān lái shuō, zǎo shàng zhè lǐ rén bǐ jiào shǎo.

Generally speaking, there are fewer people here in the morning.

More

Pitfall: A generalization is not an exceptionless rule.

不怎么样

An unimpressive evaluation

不怎么样 is a mild or dismissive evaluation meaning not very good.

这家店的东西不怎么样。

Zhè jiā diàn de dōng xi bù zěn me yàng.

The things in this shop aren't very good.

More

Pitfall: This is an evaluative expression, not simply an unanswered how-question.

除了

Including and excluding

除了…还/也 adds to a set; 除了…都 commonly excludes an exception from a generalization.

除了小王，大家都来了。

Chú le xiǎo wáng, dà jiā dōu lái le.

Everyone came except Xiao Wang.

More

除了小王，大家都来了 excludes him. 除了小王，小李也来了 adds Xiao Li to Xiao Wang. 除了茶，我们还有咖啡 adds coffee to tea. The later clause distinguishes subtraction from addition.

Pitfall: Read the later predicate: 除了他，我也去 includes him rather than excluding him.

从…起

Starting from a point

从…起 establishes a beginning, often for a rule or continuing situation.

从明天起，我每天跑步。

Cóng míng tiān qǐ, wǒ měi tiān pǎo bù.

Starting tomorrow, I will run every day.

More

Pitfall: 起 marks the start, not completion of the action.

对…来说

For a person or group

对…来说 establishes the person for whom an evaluation holds.

对我来说，这本书太难了。

Duì wǒ lái shuō, zhè běn shū tài nán le.

For me, this book is too difficult.

More

Pitfall: It sets an evaluative perspective, not the physical recipient of the book.

Source details (official syllabus)

  • Increasing change

    Syllabus item
    越来越
    Category
    其 他
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L3-039
    PDF page
    393 (printed 390)

  • Appearance with 看起来

    Syllabus item
    看起来
    Category
    其 他
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L3-040
    PDF page
    393 (printed 390)

  • Appearance with 看上去

    Syllabus item
    看上去
    Category
    其 他
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L3-041
    PDF page
    393 (printed 390)

  • Generalizing cautiously

    Syllabus item
    一般来说
    Category
    其 他
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L3-042
    PDF page
    393 (printed 390)

  • An unimpressive evaluation

    Syllabus item
    不怎么样
    Category
    其 他
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L3-043
    PDF page
    393 (printed 390)

  • Including and excluding

    Syllabus item
    除了 ……（以外），……还/也/都……
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L3-044
    PDF page
    393 (printed 390)

  • Starting from a point

    Syllabus item
    从……起
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L3-045
    PDF page
    393 (printed 390)

  • For a person or group

    Syllabus item
    对……来说
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L3-046
    PDF page
    393 (printed 390)