When applying Chinese language to the daily conversation, the learners should not only express the meaning what they intend to say, more importantly, to express correctly. For example, 不得已 in the sentence 以前的功课也许有一部分是为了这张毕业文凭,不得已而做的 carries the meaning of “have to do in this way”. Students in qualified Mandarin program may often hear sentences like 他离开故乡南下打工,是出于不得已.
Sometimes, you may see the structure 万不得已, which is the fixed structure expressing the same meaning. For example, 除非万不得已,他不求朋友帮助. In addition, the preposition依also needs much attention in application. Carrying the meaning of “according to”, it is usually followed by monosyllabic words like 依法惩处犯罪分子, meaning to punish the criminals according to the laws.
Of course, it can be also followed by some fixed structures such as 依我看,依我说and 依你看. Therefore, you can say 依我看,我们还是坐火车去吧,能省不少钱. Another one that the foreign students who study Mandarin online should know is the word自然. As an adverb, it carries the meanings of naturally and absolutely, indicating something should be in certain way naturally. The following example is provided to illustrate. 你有了决心要研究一个问题,自然会节衣缩食去买书,自然会想出法子来设置仪器.
只能 is also an adverb with the similar meaning of “only” in English. But it is usually applied to indicate that the ability or the condition is limited so that nothing more can be done. When you go to study in Mandarin learning courses in China, you may learn sentence like 达尔文一生多病,不能多做工,每天只能做一点钟的工作. You can also use it when you are willing to help your friends but you have tried your best.