Some Chinese words seem just words but can be some important language points often used in daily conversations. Let’s take不时as an example, which is an adverb to indicate certain action, behavior or condition appears or happens for several times irregularly. In addition, the time period is relatively short and it can be said as 时不时 in some cases. For example, we can make sentence like 这个讲座过长了,很多听众都不时地看着手表.
Some overseas students who study in online Chinese Lessons may often see the phrase 说不上 which is to indicate that something can’t be clearly spoken out. It can be used both separately and can take object. For example, 那儿的风景有很多,我也说不上,反正你一到那儿就不想走了. In addition, 说不上can be also applied to express that there is no need to mention or not worthy of mentioning because of the lack of conditions.
必然is an adjective to imply something will happen like this according to the theory or reason. Therefore, it has the opposite meaning with the word偶然. The example 经济发展的水平和国民素质的高低有必然的联系is a good example to illustrate this word. Teachers in summer program in China would also teach you the adverb 不妨is also frequently used in communication. With euphemistic tone, 不妨is applied to indicate there is nothing bad to do in certain way. For instance, 去医院看望病人,你不妨买上一束鲜花.
The last but not least language point that the students need to understand is 岂不, in which the adverb 岂is to imply the question in reply, meaning “难道”. When it is used together with 不, the tone of the rhetorical question is strengthened to indicate to affirm something. However, this word is more often used in the formal written language. Accordingly, you can make sentence like 你别琢磨了,直接去找老王问个明白,岂不省事?