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    Chinese Grammar

    Marking a clause boundary with the comma (,)

    Connecting Ideas
    Sequence & Order

    Structure

    Clause + , + Clause

    Explanation

    In Chinese, the full-width comma (,) is used to mark boundaries between clauses within a sentence, helping to organize complex ideas into manageable parts. It often separates a time or place phrase from the main clause, or connects two related but distinct statements. The Chinese comma is a distinct character from the English comma and is standard in Chinese punctuation.

    Examples

    • 下课以后,我们一起去图书馆吧。

      Xiàkè yǐhòu, wǒmen yīqǐ qù túshūguǎn ba.

      After class, let's go to the library together.

    • 因为下雨了,他决定不出门了。

      Yīnwèi xiàyǔ le, tā juédìng bù chūmén le.

      Because it started raining, he decided not to go out.

    • 到了北京,你一定要去长城看看。

      Dào le Běijīng, nǐ yīdìng yào qù Chángchéng kànkan.

      When you get to Beijing, you must go visit the Great Wall.

    • 下课以后,我们一起去图书馆吧。

      Xià kè yǐhòu, wǒmen yīqǐ qù túshūguǎn ba.

      After class, let's go to the library together.

    • 因为下雨了,他决定不出门了。

      Yīnwèi xià yǔ le, tā juédìng bù chūmén le.

      Because it started raining, he decided not to go out.

    • 到了北京,你一定要去长城看看。

      Dào le Běijīng, nǐ yīdìng yào qù Chángchéng kànkan.

      When you get to Beijing, you must visit the Great Wall.

    Marking a clause boundary with the comma (,) | Chinese Grammar