BOOK REVIEW
It’s no secret that at Elementary Chinese, I don’t like grammar. I focus on the everyday Chinese you need to communicate what you want.
But, if you are a very studious individual or you’re learning for the HSK exams this grammar book is solid.
Excel at Chinese Grammar
In fact, after pouring through it, it is the only grammar resource you need.
I studied for the HSK. It’s the standardized Mandarin test by the Chinese government. When I was studying for the exams, I bought quite a few Chinese language grammar books. And, I wish I had discovered this one earlier. It really is that good.
You know me and my Chinese journey right now, I care about teaching you the everyday Chinese you need to connect with Chinese folks.
But, I do recognize that grammar is utterly important. There is no other book — at least that I’ve found — that has better or more thorough explanations than this one right here.

Integrated Chinese is my all-time favorite textbook!
Grammar Wiki Pros + Cons
Pros: Grammar that focusses on learner level. It highlights which level of grammar you’re using so you can see how much you’re progressing. Highlights sentence structure excellently with tons of useful examples.
Cons: Boy, I wish I could find a fault with this book, but it’s ticking all my boxes.
Bottom line: Especially helpful if you’re prepping for HSK 4, 5, or 5.
I don’t like grammar. Thank god I already took all my Chinese classes and tests years ago. But, if I had to do it again, I would be buying this book to accompany my class so I could become a grammar ninja!
In my group coaching, students are always asking the difference between 要 yào and 想 xiǎng because both mean ‘want’. This book helps you decipher tricky rules like that one.
This grammar book best accompanies Chinese textbooks. If you want to watch a playlist of the favorite textbooks that I’ve reviewed, click here.
Do you want to master Chinese tones?

If you want to be confident that your tones sound good when you speak Mandarin, and you want strategies to effectively learn Chinese on your own, then I’m here to help you! ????????
A quick and important disclosure:
Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you. I recommend them because they are helpful and useful.
The Great Firewall of China
Want to use the VPN I use for a stable, quick connection in China? I depend on it to upload more than six videos a week and live-stream on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. And here’s my second choice for a VPN. Plus, when you download from either link, they share some of the cost with me, so I can keep creating the videos you love.

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