RealHSK

HSK 6Lesson 1 of 9 · 5 grammar points

Formal word formation and precise reference

Prefix-like and suffix-like elements form families of words, but productivity is limited by conventional usage. 人家 requires discourse context, and classifiers such as 卷 carry reading distinctions. Treat lexical formation and syntactic function as related but separate questions.

Learning goals (5)
  • Productive prefix-like elements.
  • Suffix-like formations.
  • Referring to others with 人家.
  • Fine-grained measures.
  • An episode or effort with 番.

多语言

Productive prefix-like elements

超、多、反、无、亚、准 combine in established formations expressing excess, plurality, opposition, absence, substatus or near status.

这里提供多语言服务。

Zhè lǐ tí gōng duō yǔ yán fú wù.

Multilingual services are provided here.

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超高速 ultra-high-speed; 多语言 multilingual; 反战 antiwar; 无人 unmanned; 亚热带 subtropical; 准会员 provisional member. These are lexical families with different semantic relationships, not ordinary standalone adverbs before any noun.

Pitfall: 多语言 means multilingual; 超高速 means ultra-high-speed, 反战 antiwar, 无人 unmanned, 亚热带 subtropical, and 准会员 provisional member.

—化、—式、—型、—性

Suffix-like formations

化 describes transformation, 式 a style, 型 a type and 性 a property or tendency. Interpret the resulting word in its field.

这个过程体现了管理的现代化。

Zhè ge guò chéng tǐ xiàn le guǎn lǐ de xiàn dài huà.

This process reflects the modernization of management.

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现代化 modernization; 中式 Chinese-style; 大型 large-scale/type; 可能性 possibility. 化 often forms transformation or process concepts; 式 style; 型 type; 性 a property or abstract quality. Check the complete word's normal usage.

Pitfall: Do not assume every noun can combine naturally with every suffix.

人家

Referring to others with 人家

人家 can refer to another person or people and, in marked conversational styles, to oneself.

人家已经等了很久了。

Rén jiā yǐ jīng děng le hěn jiǔ le.

They have already been waiting a long time.

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Pitfall: Its referent and tone depend on context; it is not simply a formal plural pronoun.

一卷纸

Fine-grained measures

串 counts strings or bunches, 滴 drops, 枝 slender branches or stems, 扇 doors/windows, and 卷 rolls or volumes with differing readings.

窗边放着一卷纸。

Chuāng biān fàng zhe yī juǎn zhǐ.

A roll of paper is placed by the window.

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一串葡萄 a bunch of grapes; 一滴水 a drop; 一枝花 a flower on a stem; 一扇门 a door; 一卷纸 a roll of paper (juǎn); 一卷书 a volume of a work (juàn in the volume sense). Do not map the source's 卷1/卷2 number order without verification.

Pitfall: A roll uses juǎn; a volume is commonly juàn. Verify the intended noun.

番

An episode or effort with 番

番 can measure a substantial round of talk, effort or experience, often in written expression.

经过一番讨论，我们决定留下。

Jīng guò yī fān tǎo lùn, wǒ men jué dìng liú xià.

After a round of discussion, we decided to stay.

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Pitfall: It does not freely replace 次 for every everyday event.

Source details (official syllabus)

  • Productive prefix-like elements

    Syllabus item
    超—、多—、反—、无—、亚—、准—
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L6-001
    PDF page
    401 (printed 398)

  • Suffix-like formations

    Syllabus item
    —化、—式、—型、—性
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L6-002
    PDF page
    401 (printed 398)

  • Referring to others with 人家

    Syllabus item
    人家
    Category
    人称代词
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L6-003
    PDF page
    401 (printed 398)

  • Fine-grained measures

    Syllabus item
    专用名量词：串、滴、枝、扇、卷1、卷2
    Category
    名量词
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L6-004
    PDF page
    401 (printed 398)

  • An episode or effort with 番

    Syllabus item
    番
    Category
    动量词
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L6-005
    PDF page
    401 (printed 398)