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Topic-Comment Structure

Topic first, then a comment

Front the topic, then comment on it

Chinese often states the topic, then says something about it.

💬 Examples
这本书我看过了。
Zhè běn shū wǒ kànguo le.
This book, I've read it.
📝 Object fronted as topic
中文,我会一点。
Zhōngwén, wǒ huì yìdiǎn.
Chinese, I know a little.
📝 topic + comment
Double-subject (whole-part) topics

A topic and a sub-subject can stack.

💬 Examples
他身体很好。
Tā shēntǐ hěn hǎo.
He — (his) health is good.
📝 topic 他 + subject 身体
这个城市交通很方便。
Zhège chéngshì jiāotōng hěn fāngbiàn.
This city's transport is convenient.
📝 whole-part topic
Topics drive the discourse

Once a topic is set, it's often dropped in later clauses.

💬 Examples
那个电影,我觉得很无聊。
Nàge diànyǐng, wǒ juéde hěn wúliáo.
That movie, I find (it) boring.
📝 topic set, object dropped
苹果我喜欢,香蕉不喜欢。
Píngguǒ wǒ xǐhuan, xiāngjiāo bù xǐhuan.
Apples I like, bananas (I) don't.
📝 contrastive topics