The comma in Chinese is the most frequently used punctuation mark. Furthermore, it’s also the most difficult to use among all the punctuation marks in Chinese.
A comma indicates a general pause interval in a sentence and it divides a sentence into meaning groups. In Chinese, a comma is used in the following cases:
When a pause between a subject and a predicate is needed within a sentence 当句中的主语和谓语之间需要停顿时
Examples:
这所学校的学生，大部分是外国学生。Most of the students in this school are foreign students.
我昨天晚上吃的晚餐，一点都不好吃。The dinner I had last night was not good at all.
When a pause between the verb and the object is needed within the sentence 当句中的谓语和宾语之间需要停顿时
Examples:
后来我才知道，他对我说的话是假话。I just knew later that what the told me was a lie.
你要知道，想考入这所大学需要付出很多努力。You know, it takes a lot of effort to get into this university.
When a pause after the adverbial at the beginning of the sentence is needed 句首的状语之后
Examples:
对于这位教授，她并不陌生。She is no stranger to the professor.
关于那件事情，他有自己的观点。On that matter, he has his own point of view.
For a pause between the clauses within a complex sentence, a comma must be used besides the semicolon 复句内各分句之间的停顿，除了有时要用分号外，都要用逗号
Examples:
要是不相信我们的理论能反映现实，要是不相信我们的世界有内在和谐，那就不可能有科学。If we do not believe that our theory can reflect the reality, if we do not believe that our world has inner harmony, there can be no science.
Used after a long subject 用在较长的主语后
Examples:
苏州园林建筑各种门窗的精美设计和碉楼功夫，都让人叹为观止。The exquisite design and engraving of a variety of doors and windows of the architecture of The Classical Gardens of Suzhou are really stunning.
Used before a long object 用在较长的宾语前
Examples:
许多学者认为，这些在中国南方刚出土的文物可以追溯到几千年前。Many scholars believe that these relics newly unearthed in southern China can be traced back thousands of years ago.
Between several long subjects 用在较长的主语之间
Examples:
母亲沉痛的诉说，以及亲眼见到的事实，都启发了我幼年时期追求真理的思想。
Mother’s painful telling, as well as the fact she witnessed, have inspired the idea of pursuing the truth in my childhood.
Between several long predicates 用在较长的谓语之间
Examples:
那姑娘头戴草帽，身穿一定绿色的裙子，腰间还系者一跟红色的腰带。（戴, 穿 and系 are three predicates）The girl wears a straw hat, a green dress, and also a red waist belt.
Between several long objects 用在较长的宾语之间
Examples:
必须懂得，对于文化传统，既不能不分青红皂白统统抛弃，也不能不管精华糟粕全盘继承。We must understand that, for cultural traditions, we can not indiscriminately abandon all, neither can we inherit overall, essence or dross.
After a prepositive predicate 用在前置的谓语之后
Examples:
真高啊，上海的金茂大厦。Really high, Shanghai Jinmao Tower.
Before a postpositive adverbial 用在后置的状语之前
Examples:
他吃力地站了起来，慢慢地。He struggled to stand up, slowly.
Before a postpositive attribute 用在后置的定语之前
Examples:
我只是一个人，孤孤单单的。I’m just a man, alone.
Used after the modal particle if there is any within the sentence 用在句内语气词之后
Examples:
他呢，倒是很乐意地，全神贯注地干起来了。He, however, was glad to be absorbed in the work.
Used between the coordinate elements with modal particles 用在句内带语气词的并列成分之间
Examples:
八月的大街上摆满了水果，像甜瓜啊，西瓜啊，苹果啊，葡萄啊……The streets of August are filled with fruits like melons, watermelons, apples, grapes …
Used between double-reference elements or parentheses 用在复指成分或插说成分之后
Examples:
王明，我的小学同学，高中毕业后就出国了。Wang Ming, my primary school classmate, went abroad after graduating from high school.
他，不用说，一定又买彩票了。He, needless to say, must have bought a lottery ticket.
Used after an exclamation, appellation or address with moderated tone. 语气缓和的感叹语，称谓语，或呼唤语之后。
Examples:
哎呦，疼死我了，快给我看看。Oh, it hurts me, give me a quick look.
大爷，您需要帮助吗？Grandpa, do you need help?
喂，您是哪位？Hello, who are you?
Used after words of sequence 用在次序语之后
其一，其二，第一，第二，首先，其次，然后，etc
In a word, a comma is used between the meaning groups within a sentence. A comma indicates a pause less than a semicolon greater than a comma.
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