HSK 5Lesson 5 of 11 · 8 grammar points

Perspective, composition and dilemmas

These frames organize a judgment's basis, a group's different activities, the parts of a whole or dissatisfaction with every option. Pronouns in repeated clauses need an antecedent. Interpret the whole pattern as a discourse move.

Learning goals (8)

Judging from evidence.
Distributing people across activities.
Since an event.
Composition with 由…组成.
Neither option feels right.
Both actions are constrained.
One thing behind contrasting outcomes.
Making use of an existing idle state.

从…来看

Judging from evidence

从…来看 frames the information or perspective supporting a conclusion.

从结果来看，这个办法有效。

Cóng jié guǒ lái kàn, zhè ge bàn fǎ yǒu xiào.

Judging from the result, this method works.

Pitfall: The evidence should genuinely bear on the stated conclusion.

A的A，B的B

Distributing people across activities

A的A，B的B presents different members doing different things.

大家看书的看书，聊天的聊天。

Dà jiā kàn shū de kàn shū, liáo tiān de liáo tiān.

Some were reading, while others were chatting.

走的走，留的留 presents members separating into those who leave and those who stay. The repeated predicates apply to subgroups rather than reporting every person's two actions.

Pitfall: The repeated clauses distribute a group, not two actions by everyone.

以来

Since an event

自…以来 or …以来 measures a period from its starting point up to the reference time.

毕业以来，我们一直保持联系。

Bì yè yǐ lái, wǒ men yī zhí bǎo chí lián xì.

We have kept in touch since graduation.

Pitfall: 以来 follows the starting event, unlike English since before it.

由…组成

Composition with 由…组成

Name the whole as subject and its constituent parts after 由.

这个小组由五个人组成。

Zhè ge xiǎo zǔ yóu wǔ gè rén zǔ chéng.

This group consists of five people.

Pitfall: This 由 introduces composition, not a passive victim.

X也不是，Y也不是

Neither option feels right

X也不是，Y也不是 expresses being caught between unsatisfactory choices.

去也不是，不去也不是。

Qù yě bù shì, bù qù yě bù shì.

Neither going nor staying away seems right.

Pitfall: It conveys a dilemma, not simple factual negation of identity.

X也X不得，Y也Y不得

Both actions are constrained

X也X不得，Y也Y不得 says neither of two actions is acceptable or possible.

笑也笑不得，哭也哭不得。

Xiào yě xiào bù de, kū yě kū bù de.

One can neither laugh nor cry.

Pitfall: 得 here belongs to a potential/restriction expression, not perfective 了.

X是它，Y也是它

One thing behind contrasting outcomes

X是它，Y也是它 identifies the same thing as responsible for or present in opposite outcomes.

带来方便的是它，带来麻烦的也是它。

Dài lái fāng biàn de shì tā, dài lái má fan de yě shì tā.

It brings both convenience and trouble.

Pitfall: The repeated pronoun needs a clear antecedent in the surrounding passage.

X着也是X着

Making use of an existing idle state

X着也是X着 suggests doing something useful because the present state otherwise accomplishes little.

闲着也是闲着，帮我一下吧。

Xián zhe yě shì xián zhe, bāng wǒ yī xià ba.

Since you're not doing anything anyway, give me a hand.

Pitfall: The request can sound presumptuous if the relationship does not support it.

Source details (official syllabus)

Judging from evidence
Syllabus item
从……来看
Grammar ID
grammar-L5-027
PDF page
398 (printed 395)
Distributing people across activities
Syllabus item
A的A，B的B
Grammar ID
grammar-L5-028
PDF page
398 (printed 395)
Since an event
Syllabus item
（自）……以来
Grammar ID
grammar-L5-029
PDF page
398 (printed 395)
Composition with 由…组成
Syllabus item
由……组成
Grammar ID
grammar-L5-030
PDF page
398 (printed 395)
Neither option feels right
Syllabus item
X也不是，Y也不是
Grammar ID
grammar-L5-031
PDF page
398 (printed 395)
Both actions are constrained
Syllabus item
X也X不得，Y也Y不得
Grammar ID
grammar-L5-032
PDF page
398 (printed 395)
One thing behind contrasting outcomes
Syllabus item
X是它，Y也是它
Grammar ID
grammar-L5-033
PDF page
399 (printed 396)
Making use of an existing idle state
Syllabus item
X着也是X着
Grammar ID
grammar-L5-034
PDF page
399 (printed 396)