Hi everyone, welcome to join Silk Mandarin today to learn the 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 finish work at 10 o'clock this evening.

However, if you speak Chinese in the English order:

- 我下班10点今天晚上。(Wǒ xiàbān shídiǎn jīntiān wǎnshang.)

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

So, how can we get rid of the 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 "today"

3. The third step is "this evening at 10 o'clock"

4. The fourth step is "finish work"

When you combine these steps together, you have the perfect Chinese sentence:
- 我今天晚上10点下班。(Wǒ jīntiān wǎnshang shídiǎn xiàbān.)

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。

• I can't squeeze into the elevator. / 我挤不进电梯。
  

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