Hi everyone, welcome to join Silk Mandarin today to learn Chinese sentence order with just one rule!

So, what's this one rule?

As you might know, different languages could have different word orders. Let's have a look at the sentences in the picture below.

We speak English in this way:
- I can't squeeze into the elevator.

However, if you speak Chinese in the English order:

- 我不挤进电梯。(Wǒ bùjǐ jìn diàntī.)

You've just made a common mistake influenced by English!

So, how can we get rid of English thinking way when speaking Chinese?

How to switch to the Chinese mindset? 

Follow our Slow Motion Technique!

Imagine the sentence we presented as if it were seen in a movie, playing in slow motion. In this way, you can clearly see each step:

1. The first step is "I"
2. The second step is "try to squeeze into the elevator"
3. The third step is "I can't enter into it"
4. The fourth step is "the elevator leaves"

When you combine these steps together, you have the perfect Chinese sentence:
- 我挤不进电梯。(Wǒ jǐ bújìn diàntī.)

Basically, with the Slow Motion Technique, the Chinese order is exactly the order in which the actions are taking place. 

If you start to view what you want to say with this Slow Motion Technique, you will never get the Chinese order wrong!

Here's the writer's pick in case you missed the other Slow Motion Technique sentences 👇👇

• I’m drinking coffee at the coffee shop. / 我在咖啡店喝咖啡。

• I finished drinking a cup of coffee. / 我喝完了一杯咖啡。

• Chinese people eat with chopsticks. / 中国人用筷子吃饭。

• I go to the bar together with the colleague. / 我和同事一起去酒吧。

• I'm reading a book sitting on the bed. / 我坐在床上看书。

• I worked in Germany for a week. / 我在德国工作了一个星期。

• David walks out of the elevator. / David走出电梯去。

  
  

Follow us to know more about Chinese learning ❤️

In order to serve you better, and to provide you with quality learning anywhere and anytime, Letshuo and Silk Mandarin have joined forces! 

Stay tuned for our joint platform Letshuo@Silk Mandarin for a rewarding learning experience with materials and courses from our experienced educators made available to you both OffLine and OnLine.

We hope you will like it and we are looking forward to your feedback.

Scan the QR code below to follow and to know more about Letshuo!