Answer to Test Yourself with this Sample HSK Quiz-Advanced

Correct Answer:
C
Zuò wán shǒushù, Liú dàifu de shǒu dōu zhǒng le, kě tā xīnlǐ shì gāoxìng de.
做    完       手术，  刘  大夫 的  手    都   肿     了，可 他心里 是   高兴    的。
After completing the surgery, Doctor Liu’s hand was swollen, but in his heart he was happy.

Let’s take a look at the 4 answers:

1. 却 (què) — but; however; yet; nevertheless; actually
“却 (què)” is an adverb, and its basic definition is “however” or “yet.” This suggests that it is used to express a situation or an idea that is contrary to what might normally be expected. Although “却 (què)” means “but,” which would work in this sentence in English, in Chinese this word has to be put behind the subject. And sometimes but not always use a word such as “但是 (dànshì)” in front of the subject, such as: “但是 (dànshì)+ Subject + 却 (què).”

Example：

Wǒ ài tā, dànshì tā què ài biéren.
我 爱 她，但是  她  却  爱  别人。
I love her, but she loves someone else.

2. 就 (jiù) — as early as
By placing “就 (jiù)” in front of the verb, you can indicate that the event took place sooner than would be expected. This could be translated into “as early as” or “as quickly as,” but in English it’s often not explicitly stated. When “就 (jiù)” is used in this way, the sentence will usually end with the particle “了 (le)” to mark the completed action.

Example：

Tā shí bā suì jiù dàxué bìyè le.
她  十 八  岁 就   大学 毕业 了。
She graduated from university at eighteen years old (that early!).
(Or, more idiomatically) She was only 18 when she graduated from university.

3. 可 (kě)— but; yet
This expresses a turn of events or a turn in the conversation, and is used the same as in English. It is also commonly used as “可是 (kěshì).”

Example：

Tā hěn máng, kěshì tā zǒng huì chōu shíjiān qù bāngzhù biéren.
她  很   忙，   可是  她 总    会   抽      时间   去  帮助      别人。
She is very busy, but she always finds time to help other people.

4. 所以 (suǒyǐ): therefore; as a result; so; the reason why
You can use “所以 (suǒyǐ)” by itself to point out the result of something. Just as “因为 (yīnwèi)” can be used to point out a cause, meaning “because,” “所以 (suǒyǐ)” can be used to point out a result, meaning “so…” or “therefore…” in English.

Example：

Hànzì tài nán le, suǒyǐ wǒ bù xiǎng xué.
汉字  太  难  了，所以  我 不   想    学 。
Chinese characters are too hard, so I don’t want to study them.

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