Category: Chinese Grammar

干脆 is an adverb meaning "you might as well" or "just", and is normally used by the speaker to propose a straightforward course of action within a difficult situation.

一向 (yī xiàng) is generally used to express a habit, attitude, or ‘set way of things' has continued for a long period of time until the present.

In its simplest terms, 都 (dōu) means "all", but there are also many other advanced uses for it.

总 (zǒng) can often be simply translated as "always," but it has other advanced uses as well. It can express "no matter how long or under what circumstances, facts are facts." It can also express "no matter what." It is often paired with other words to form set phrases such as 总会, 总归, 总得, 总要, 总能, etc. It can also be structured together with other unconditional compound phrases like 无论 and 不管. You cannot place it directly after the verb.

进一步, is an adverb meaning 'further' or to 'go a step forward'. Usually it is used in formal written Chinese, though it can be spoken as well.

甚至 (shènzhì) is similar to "even" in English and is used for emphasis. Like "even"， it can be used quite directly or in a more subtle manner. When used more subtly it acts to supplement the speaker’s initial thought, creating the impression that the speaker has realized half way through his statement that he hasn’t gone far enough, and wants to take the idea one step further.

原来 (yuánlái) means "originally" (similar to 本来) or "former". It can also mean "all along", and can be used to indicate a sudden realization of something previously unknown, a bit like "so it's been like that all along, how could I not have realized?".