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If you’ve ever learned a new language, you’ll know that one of the toughest obstacles is mastering grammar. The same goes for Mandarin, perhaps even more so because of its sophisticated nature as a language.
To help you better understand the complicated rules of Mandarin grammar, here are 12 of the best Chinese grammar books that are fit for any level of proficiency!
About Mandarin grammar
Before that, here’s a little helpful tip from your friendly neighborhood native speaker. If you’ve been looking for Chinese grammar books before this, you might have noticed that there aren’t actually a lot of them on the market.
That’s because grammar isn’t actually all that important in Mandarin, especially for beginners. While using correct grammar can make you sound more fluent, it isn’t a compulsory element to master if all you want to do is communicate effectively.
My suggestion is to first build up your vocabulary bank and focus on other aspects of Chinese before turning your attention to grammar books.Â
1. Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar
- Ross, Claudia (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 430 Pages – 06/26/2014 (Publication Date) – Routledge (Publisher)
Among all the Chinese grammar books on the market, Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar is arguably one of the most popular options. It is one of the few Chinese books that really deep dive into the rules of Chinese grammar, making it a good book to have regardless of your Mandarin proficiency.
The book is largely separated into two sections, with a well-structured table of contents that lets you find what you’re looking for easily. The first half of the book touches on the fundamental rules of grammar usage in Mandarin, with plenty of easy-to-understand examples. These also come with English translations and explanations.
The latter half of the book is much more sophisticated, branching out into other elements like vocabulary and fun facts about China.
What I like about this book:
- Easy to navigate
- Contains information in English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese
- Provides good examples that are easy to understand
2. Schaum’s Outline Of Chinese Grammar
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To be perfectly frank, Schaum’s Outline of Chinese Grammar is pretty similar to the book we just discussed. The key difference though is that this one comes with plenty of Chinese grammar exercises which makes it one of the best Chinese grammar books for those who learn best by practicing.
The book presents information in English, Mandarin (both simplified and traditional characters), and pinyin. Compared to Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar, this book presents its lessons in a more condensed form, with little to no clear separation between topics, which may be a bit challenging for new learners.
That said, the book makes up for it with tons of exercises that help drill the essential rules of Chinese grammar into most learners.
What I like about this book:
- Comes with lots of exercises and worksheets
- Fully focused on grammar
- Doesn’t spend too much time on one particular topic
3. HSK Chinese Grammar
For non-native learners of Mandarin, the HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi – standardized proficiency test for non-native speakers) books are arguably the best resources available. The same applies when it comes to Chinese grammar books.
The HSK Chinese Grammar books are separated into different levels that correspond to the same levels of proficiency used to categorize Mandarin learners. There are over 50 important grammar points that are covered in the book, with ample examples and English translations to help you familiarize yourself with different grammatical concepts.
At the end of the book, there is also a glossary that helps make referencing certain points much more convenient.
What I like about this book:
- Chapters are structured according to HSK levels
- A good companion resource when combined with other HSK books
- Highlights important points and draws attention to them
4. Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar
There are not many Chinese grammar books that cater to beginner learners, mainly because at that level, most native speakers agree that it’s best to focus on vocabulary. However, Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar is one of the few books that I recommend beginners pick up.
The concise chapters in the book focus on the grammatical rules that are used most commonly in daily conversation. These range from word order, telling time, common nouns and verbs, as well as appropriate word choices (did you know that the “two” in “two people” and “level two” in Mandarin use different words?).
Despite it being a good book for beginners, Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar is exactly what the title says it is. Its focus is on quick mastery, so if you’re looking for a deeper understanding of Mandarin grammar, you may want to give this a miss.
What I like about this book:
- One of the few Mandarin grammar books for beginners
- Only highlights the most basic, fundamental grammar rules
- Easy to understand and pick up
5. Basic Chinese: A Grammar And Workbook
Even though grammar isn’t as important in Mandarin as in most other languages, the key to mastering it is the same: practice, practice, practice.
Despite being marketed as a grammar textbook (which it is), Basic Chinese reads and feels more like a workbook with instructions, which is great for practicing.
Each chapter in this book contains a few pages of grammar lessons followed by plenty of Chinese grammar exercises. In essence, it is a learn-on-the-fly kind of Chinese grammar book. There are English explanations, which are welcome, but really the key feature of Basic Chinese is the exercises.
That said, as the name suggests, Basic Chinese caters more to beginner-intermediate learners due to the simple nature of the lessons. Advanced learners may find the book a little elementary overall.
What I like about this book:
- Short grammar explanations followed by exercises
- Clear and concise information in English
- Ideal for beginners and intermediate learners
6. Chinese: A Comprehensive Grammar
On that note, one of the Chinese grammar books that really emphasizes learning Mandarin grammar is this highly recommended book that’s suitable for all levels of proficiency.
Marketed as a “complete reference guide”, it concentrates on the most important patterns of grammar in modern Chinese, making it a good book for those who want to write and speak fluently. Inside, you’ll find thorough explanations, concise examples, and an in-depth analysis of Mandarin grammar.
The paragraphs are numbered and there is an extensive index that helps you navigate quickly to the section you want to read up on.
What I like about this book:
- Highlights common grammatical rules in great detail
- Uses examples rooted in modern native conversations
- Easy to navigate
7. Complete Modern Chinese Grammar
Another Chinese grammar book that takes a deep look at Mandarin grammar is Complete Modern Chinese Grammar. Divided into 140 chapters, this book offers insightful information on the most important grammatical aspects of the Chinese language.
Readers will find that this book becomes progressively more challenging as they go along, starting from simple nouns and working up to sophisticated lessons on sentence structure. In short, by the end of this book, you should be able to speak and write about everyday topics with minimal grammatical errors.
What I like about this book:
- Divides each topic into separate chapters
- Comes with a summary page after several units to help with revision
- Helps learners speak confidently and fluently
8. Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar
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Among all the Chinese grammar books on this list, Mandarin Grammar is perhaps best suited for intermediate to advanced level learners.
That’s because, even though the book does provide explanations and information on fundamental Mandarin grammar, it focuses more on the functional descriptions of the language. In other words, it dives into the intricate meanings of sentence structure in actual conversations.
Beginners may find this book to be a little too tough and hard to understand given its nuance and comparatively dry topics. However, for those who seek a deeper understanding of why Mandarin grammar is the way it is, this book will hook you right in.
What I like about this book:
- One of the few books that look at Mandarin grammar in functional terms
- Helps develop a deep understanding of common grammatical rules
9. Essential Mandarin Chinese Grammar: Write and Speak Chinese Like a Native!
When it comes to learning from your mistakes, this is arguably one of the best Chinese grammar books you can get.
Rather than provide accurate examples, Essential Mandarin Chinese Grammar highlights the most common Mandarin grammar mistakes that learners make and corrects them. Before that, it provides detailed information on the grammar structure in question to give you a fairly solid understanding of the particular topic. There are also exercises at the end of each chapter.
Because of the unique way that this book presents examples, it makes learning grammar efficient, practical, and memorable. By the end of it all, you’ll be able to speak almost with native-level fluency with minimal grammatical errors!
What I like about this book:
- Uses meaningful examples that highlight common mistakes
- Provides decent exercises and explanations
- Focuses on natural-sounding speech patterns
10. Side by Side Chinese and English Grammar
From a relatively challenging Chinese grammar book, we now move on to one of the more interesting books on this list!
The name of the book is self-explanatory. Through this book, you will be able to learn about Mandarin grammar while comparing it simultaneously to English. You get to see the similarities and contrasts between the two languages, helping you develop a more holistic understanding of the various Mandarin grammar topics.
The introductions to parts of speech are particularly comprehensive and practical. You can then practice what you’ve learned in the exercise section at the end for better memory retention.
What I like about this book:
- Presents lessons in a unique way
- Great for native English speakers
- Easy to understand to read
11. Chinese Grammar Wiki
Before you ask, no, Chinese Grammar Wiki isn’t affiliated with Wikipedia. Rather, it presents information on Chinese grammar in a Wikipedia-style format: easy to navigate and simple to understand.
The chapters are separated by level, with each lesson focusing on specific aspects of Chinese grammar that are appropriate for that level of proficiency. It’s a good progressive structure that doesn’t overburden the learner nor present information that is overly simplified.
The explanations of Mandarin grammar are easy to understand, with plenty of examples to drive home the point. The only downside perhaps is that there are no practice exercises in this book. So, you may need to invest in a separate Chinese workbook to complement your learning.
What I like about this book:
- Well-structured chapters that are easy to navigate
- Contains a ton of important Chinese grammar lessons
- Also available online for free
12. A Practical Chinese Grammar for Foreigners
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Right off the bat, you can tell by the name that this Chinese grammar book specifically focuses on certain aspects of grammar that are most practical for those visiting a Chinese-speaking country.
Using bilingual explanations, the book teaches you about basic and practical Mandarin grammar rules, such as ways of showing comparison, expressing emphasis, and other types of grammatical examples that one might use in daily conversation.
The explanations are simple and concise, with careful attention given to the most important topics. However, if your goal is to master Mandarin beyond a two-week holiday in China, this may not be the best long-term book Chinese grammar book for you.
What I like about this book:
- Provides good, concise bilingual explanations
- Focuses on practical Mandarin grammar usage
- Constantly updated with the most relevant information in subsequent editions
Conclusion
Again, I have to admit that grammar isn’t the most important aspect of learning Mandarin. However, for those who want to fully master the language, it remains a quintessential part of attaining full fluency. Hopefully, these 12 Chinese grammar books can help you on your way to speaking and sounding like a true local!Â
If you’re just starting out on your Chinese-learning journey, don’t forget to supplement your learning with Chinese language resources some fun Chinese learning apps, different Chinese textbooks, and other fun books to learn Chinese!