====== jùzi: 句子 - Sentence ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** juzi, 句子, Chinese sentence, how to say sentence in Chinese, Chinese grammar, making sentences in Chinese, sentence structure in Chinese, Chinese word order, 句, 子, Mandarin sentence.
  * **Summary:** Learn how to say "sentence" in Chinese with the word **句子 (jùzi)**. This guide covers the basic building block of Chinese grammar, helping you understand Chinese sentence structure, word order, and how to go from single words to making complete sentences in Mandarin. Whether you're a beginner struggling with your first **句子** or looking to refine your understanding of grammatical concepts, this page is your complete resource for mastering this fundamental term.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** jùzi
  * **Part of Speech:** Noun
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 2
  * **Concise Definition:** A complete grammatical unit of one or more words that expresses a complete thought; a sentence.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **句子 (jùzi)** is the direct and most common equivalent of the English word "sentence." It's the fundamental unit you use to communicate ideas, ask questions, or give commands in Chinese. Just like in English, a **句子** typically contains a subject (who or what the sentence is about) and a predicate (what the subject is or does). It is the primary concept you will encounter when learning Chinese grammar.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **句 (jù):** This character is composed of a "mouth" radical (口 kǒu) on the left and a phonetic component (句) on the right. The mouth radical signifies speech or utterance. The character originally meant a phrase or clause, a bend or a hook, representing a pause or a stop in speech.
  * **子 (zi):** This is a very common noun suffix in modern Mandarin. It has no specific meaning on its own in this context but is attached to many single-syllable characters to turn them into two-syllable words, which is a common feature of the modern language. Think of it as solidifying `句` (phrase/clause) into a concrete noun: "a sentence."
  * **Together,** 句 (a unit of speech) + 子 (noun suffix) creates **句子 (jùzi)**, the modern word for a sentence.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
While "sentence" might seem like a purely grammatical term, its structure in Chinese reveals a lot about the language and culture.
Unlike the strict Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order often taught to English speakers, Chinese sentences frequently use a **Topic-Comment structure**. The topic—the "what we are talking about"—is stated first, followed by a comment or information about that topic. For example, instead of saying "I have already seen that movie" (SVO), a common Chinese structure is "那个电影我看过了" (Nàge diànyǐng wǒ kàn guo le), which literally translates to "That movie, I have seen." This structure is incredibly common and reflects a way of thinking that prioritizes establishing context first.
Furthermore, Chinese culture often values economy of language. In practice, this means that a grammatically "complete" **句子** can often omit the subject or other elements if the context is clear. For an English speaker accustomed to sentences needing an explicit subject (like "I," "you," or "it"), this can be jarring. This linguistic habit is rooted in classical Chinese (文言文 wényánwén), where brevity was a high art form. Understanding this helps learners appreciate that a Chinese **句子** isn't just a translation of an English one; it's built on a different foundational logic.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**句子** is a word you'll use constantly in a language-learning environment, but also in specific everyday contexts.
  * **In the Language Classroom:** This is the most common context. Your teacher will constantly refer to **句子**.
    *   "请用这个词造一个**句子**。" (Qǐng yòng zhège cí zào yíge jùzi.) - "Please use this word to make a sentence."
    *   "这个**句子**是什么意思？" (Zhège jùzi shì shénme yìsi?) - "What does this sentence mean?"
  * **Discussing Language or Writing:** When talking about a text, a speech, or a conversation, you might analyze the sentences.
    *   "他写的**句子**很优美。" (Tā xiě de jùzi hěn yōuměi.) - "The sentences he writes are very beautiful."
    *   "这是一个很长的**句子**，我没看懂。" (Zhè shì yíge hěn cháng de jùzi, wǒ méi kàndǒng.) - "This is a very long sentence, I didn't understand it."
  * **"Golden Sentences" (金句 jīnjù):** On social media or in media, a particularly witty, insightful, or memorable line from a movie, book, or celebrity is often called a "金句 (jīnjù)" or "golden sentence."
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 这是一个简单的**句子**。
    * Pinyin: Zhè shì yíge jiǎndān de **jùzi**.
    * English: This is a simple sentence.
    * Analysis: A basic example of how to identify and talk about a sentence. The measure word `个 (ge)` is commonly and acceptably used for `句子`.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 你能帮我检查一下这个**句子**的语法吗？
    * Pinyin: Nǐ néng bāng wǒ jiǎnchá yíxià zhège **jùzi** de yǔfǎ ma?
    * English: Can you help me check the grammar of this sentence?
    * Analysis: A very practical sentence for any language learner asking for help.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 老师让我们用“虽然…但是…”造一个**句子**。
    * Pinyin: Lǎoshī ràng wǒmen yòng "suīrán... dànshì..." zào yíge **jùzi**.
    * English: The teacher had us make a sentence using "although... but...".
    * Analysis: "造句子 (zào jùzi)" means "to make a sentence" and is a standard phrase in a learning context.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 我听不懂你刚才说的最后一**句**话。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ tīngbudǒng nǐ gāngcái shuō de zuìhòu yí **jù** huà.
    * English: I didn't understand the last sentence you just said.
    * Analysis: Note the use of `话 (huà)` here. While it translates to "sentence," `一句话` refers to a spoken utterance. `句 (jù)` acts as the measure word. See "Nuances" section below.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 这个**句子**的结构有点复杂。
    * Pinyin: Zhège **jùzi** de jiégòu yǒudiǎn fùzá.
    * English: The structure of this sentence is a bit complex.
    * Analysis: Used to discuss the grammatical components of a sentence.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 中文的**句子**常常把主题放在最前面。
    * Pinyin: Zhōngwén de **jùzi** chángcháng bǎ zhǔtí fàng zài zuì qiánmiàn.
    * English: Chinese sentences often put the topic at the very beginning.
    * Analysis: This describes the "Topic-Comment" structure mentioned in the cultural section.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 他写的文章里，**句子**都比较短。
    * Pinyin: Tā xiě de wénzhāng lǐ, **jùzi** dōu bǐjiào duǎn.
    * English: In the articles he writes, the sentences are all relatively short.
    * Analysis: Shows how you can describe the characteristics of sentences within a larger text.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 把这个陈述**句**改成疑问**句**。
    * Pinyin: Bǎ zhège chénshù**jù** gǎichéng yíwèn**jù**.
    * English: Change this declarative sentence into an interrogative (question) sentence.
    * Analysis: Shows how `句 (jù)` is used as a suffix for different types of sentences: 陈述句 (chénshùjù - statement), 疑问句 (yíwènjù - question), 祈使句 (qíshǐjù - command).
  * **Example 9:**
    * 这本书里有很多优美的**句子**值得我们学习。
    * Pinyin: Zhè běn shū lǐ yǒu hěnduō yōuměi de **jùzi** zhídé wǒmen xuéxí.
    * English: There are many beautiful sentences in this book that are worth studying.
    * Analysis: Highlights how `句子` can refer to well-crafted literary sentences, not just basic grammatical ones.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 他一句话也没说，转身就走了。
    * Pinyin: Tā yí **jù** huà yě méi shuō, zhuǎnshēn jiù zǒu le.
    * English: He didn't say a single word (lit: a single sentence of speech) and just turned and left.
    * Analysis: This is a very common idiom. It demonstrates again that in the context of spoken utterance, `一句话` is the natural phrasing, where `句` is the measure word for `话` (speech).
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **`句子 (jùzi)` vs. `话 (huà)` - The Key Distinction:** This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
    *   **句子 (jùzi):** Refers to a **grammatical unit**. It's an abstract concept used for analysis, writing, and learning. You **write** a `句子`. You **analyze** a `句子`.
    *   **话 (huà):** Refers to **speech, words, or a spoken utterance**. It's what people actually **say**.
    *   **Rule of Thumb:** If you're talking about something spoken, use `话 (huà)`. If you're talking about grammar or written text, use `句子 (jùzi)`.
    *   **Incorrect:** ~~我想跟你说一个句子。~~ (Wǒ xiǎng gēn nǐ shuō yíge jùzi.) - This sounds like you want to recite a grammatically correct sentence for analysis.
    *   **Correct:** 我想跟你说几**句**话。(Wǒ xiǎng gēn nǐ shuō jǐ **jù** huà.) - I want to have a word with you / say a few things to you.
  * **Measure Words:**
    *   The most common measure word for `句子` in spoken Chinese is `个 (ge)`: `一个句子 (yíge jùzi)`.
    *   The formal measure word for `句子` and the required one for `话` is `句 (jù)` itself: `一句句子 (yí jù jùzi)` (rarely used) or `一句话 (yí jù huà)` (very common). When in doubt, `这个句子 (zhège jùzi)` is always safe.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[词]] (cí) - Word. The building blocks that make up a `句子`.
  * [[词组]] (cízǔ) - Phrase. A group of words that functions as a single unit within a `句子`.
  * [[段落]] (duànluò) - Paragraph. A group of related `句子`.
  * [[文章]] (wénzhāng) - Article, essay. A complete piece of writing made up of paragraphs.
  * [[语法]] (yǔfǎ) - Grammar. The set of rules for constructing a correct `句子`.
  * [[主语]] (zhǔyǔ) - Subject. The topic or actor in a `句子`.
  * [[谓语]] (wèiyǔ) - Predicate. The part of the `句子` that makes a statement about the subject.
  * [[宾语]] (bīnyǔ) - Object. The receiver of the action in a `句子`.
  * [[话]] (huà) - Speech, talk, utterance. The spoken equivalent of a `句子`.
  * [[成语]] (chéngyǔ) - Idiom. A fixed, four-character phrase that often functions as a complete thought or cultural reference, like a tiny, powerful `句子`.