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Adjectives & Adverbs
Predicative adjectives
不是他不来，是他来不了。
It's not that he won't come
he can't.
Bùshì tā bù lái
他连饭都没吃。
He didn't even eat.
Tā lián fàn dōu méi chī.
Scalar 连…都/也 = even
她才来。(late/barely)
She finally/just came. (late)
Tā cái lái.
Focus adverb 才 = only then / as late as expected
他就来了。(early/right away)
He came right away. (early)
Tā jiù lái le.
Focus adverb 就 = as early as / right away
他竟然通过了！
He surprisingly passed!
Tā jìngrán tōngguò le!
Manner adverb 竟然 = surprisingly/unexpectedly
据说他要辞职。
He is reportedly resigning.
Jùshuō tā yào lí zhí.
Evidential adverb 据说 = reportedly/it is said
他没生气，反而笑了。
He didn't get angry; instead he laughed.
Tā méi shēngqì
fǎn'ér xiào le.
他毕竟还是孩子。
After all
he's still a child.
Tā bìjìng háishi háizi.
他未必知道。
He doesn't necessarily know.
Tā wèibì zhīdào.
Adverb 未必 (wèibì) = not necessarily
他恰好在家。
He happened to be home.
Tā qiàhǎo zài jiā.
Adverb 恰好 (qiàhǎo) = exactly/happened to