Learn Hardcore Chinese: Yuánlái tā yě shì xué zhōngwén de, búguò shuǐpíng bǐ wǒ gāo yìdiǎnr. - It turns out he also studies Chinese, but his level is a bit higher than mine.

原来 + sentence often shows the speaker has just discovered some information, or something has become clear:
- 原来你也在这儿！ – Oh, so you’re here too!
If it meant “originally/at first,” it would describe an earlier state, and the context would usually contrast past vs. now:
- 我原来住在北京，现在住在上海。 – I used to live in Beijing; now I live in Shanghai.

In your sentence, 原来他也是学中文的 implies: > Ah, it turns out he also studies Chinese (I didn’t know that before / this just became clear to me).

Why do we say 他也是学中文的 with 是, instead of just 他也学中文?

Both are correct, but the nuance is different:

他也学中文。
Simple factual statement: He also studies Chinese.
他也是学中文的。
The pattern 也 + 是 + Verb Phrase + 的 gives a feeling of:
- describing someone’s identity / category: He is also (someone who) studies Chinese.
- sometimes slight emphasis or contrast: like “he’s also one of the Chinese learners.”

This 也是…的 structure can:

Feel more descriptive or explanatory.
Fit better after 原来, because you’re “discovering” a characteristic about him:
- 原来他也是学中文的 – Oh, so he’s also a Chinese learner.

What is the function of the 的 (de) at the end of 学中文的?

Here 的 is not the possessive 的, but a nominalizer / descriptive marker.

学中文 = to study Chinese (verb phrase).
学中文的 = “(person) who studies Chinese” / “(the one) studying Chinese”.

So 他也是学中文的 can be understood as:

“He is also (someone) who studies Chinese.”

This use of 的:

Turns a verb phrase into a noun-like or adjective-like description.
Is common in patterns like:
- 喜欢唱歌的(人) – (people) who like singing
- 开车来的(同学) – (classmates) who came by car

Often the noun (人, 同学, etc.) is omitted when it’s obvious from context, as in your sentence.

Could we just say 原来他也学中文, without 是 and 的? What changes?

Yes, 原来他也学中文 is correct and natural.

Difference in nuance:

原来他也学中文。
Straightforward: Oh, it turns out he also studies Chinese.
原来他也是学中文的。
Very similar meaning, but:
- Feels a bit more descriptive / emphatic.
- Slightly stronger sense of “he’s also one of the Chinese learners (like me / like them).”

In everyday conversation, both are used. The 是…的 version is slightly more “full” and often used when you are explaining or highlighting a fact you’ve just realized.

What’s the difference between 不过 (búguò) and 但是 / 可是 for “but”?

All three can mean “but / however,” but their feel is slightly different:

但是 / 可是
More neutral, often usable in almost any “but” sentence:
- 我想去，但是太远了。 – I want to go, but it’s too far.
不过
Also “but / however,” but:
- Sounds a bit softer or more colloquial.
- Often introduces a slight contrast, not a very strong objection:
  - 这个办法不错，不过有点儿贵。 – This solution is good, but it’s a bit expensive.

In your sentence:

不过水平比我高一点儿。 keeps a light tone:
He also studies Chinese, but his level is a bit higher than mine.
It doesn’t sound like a strong contradiction, just an added contrastive remark.

What does 水平 (shuǐpíng) mean here? How is it used?

Literal meaning is “water level,” but in modern usage 水平 means:

“level / standard / proficiency”, especially of a skill or ability.

Typical patterns:

中文水平 – Chinese level/proficiency
他说英语的水平很高。 – His English level is very high.
我的钢琴水平一般。 – My piano level is average.

In your sentence:

不过水平比我高一点儿。
- “But (his) level is a bit higher than mine.”
水平 here refers to Chinese level, understood from context: his Chinese level compared to my Chinese level.

How does the 比 (bǐ) comparison work in 水平比我高一点儿?

The basic 比 pattern is:

A 比 B + Adjective (+ degree word)
A is more Adj than B.

In your sentence:

A: (他的) 水平 – his (Chinese) level
B: 我 – me (understood as “my level”)
Adjective: 高 – high
Degree word: 一点儿 – a little (bit)

So:

(他的) 水平比我高一点儿。
Literally: “His level compared with me is high a little bit.”
Natural English: “His level is a little higher than mine.”

You could also say:

他的中文水平比我高。 – His Chinese is better than mine.
他的水平比我高很多。 – His level is much higher than mine.

What does 一点儿 (yìdiǎnr) add to 高 here, and where should it go?

一点儿 after an adjective like 高 indicates “a little / a bit (more)”:

高 – high / tall
高一点儿 – a bit higher / a bit taller

Position:

With adjectives in a 比 sentence, 一点儿 normally goes after the adjective:
- 水平比我高一点儿。 – The level is a bit higher than mine.
- 今天比昨天冷一点儿。 – Today is a bit colder than yesterday.

You cannot say 水平比我一点儿高; that’s unnatural.

Without 一点儿, the sentence still works:

水平比我高。 – His level is higher than mine. (no indication of how much higher) Adding 一点儿 softens it: not a lot higher, just a small difference.

What’s the difference between 一点儿, 一点, 一些, and 有点儿? They all seem like “a little” or “a bit.”

They overlap, but their typical uses differ:

一点儿 / 一点 (yìdiǎnr / yìdiǎn)
- Mostly interchangeable in writing; 一点儿 is more northern / Beijing style.
- Often used with comparatives or after adjectives:
  - 高一点儿 – a bit taller/higher
  - 便宜一点儿 – a bit cheaper
- Also used with nouns/objects:
  - 给我一点儿水。 – Give me a little water.
一些 (yìxiē)
- Means “some / a few / a certain amount” (not necessarily small):
  - 一些书 – some books
  - 买一些水果。 – buy some fruit
有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr)
- Usually before negative/unwanted adjectives; often “a bit too / somewhat” (with a complaining tone):
  - 有点儿贵。 – It’s a bit (too) expensive.
  - 有点儿冷。 – It’s a bit cold (colder than I’d like).

In your sentence, 高一点儿 is a neutral “a little higher,” so 一点儿 is appropriate; 有点儿高 would sound like “a bit too high/tall,” which is a different nuance.

Why is 不 in 不过 pronounced búguò instead of bùguò?

This is due to a common tone-change (tone sandhi) rule for 不 (bù):

When 不 is followed by a 4th-tone syllable, it usually changes from 4th tone (bù) to 2nd tone (bú):
- 不对 → búduì
- 不要 → búyào
- 不用 → búyòng

过 (guò) is 4th tone, so:

不 + 过 → búguò (不过)

Note: There is some variation with 不是:

Textbooks often give búshì, but many speakers say bù shì in natural speech. Both are heard.

In your sentence, 不过 is standardly pronounced búguò.

Do I have to say the -r in 一点儿 (yìdiǎnr)? What’s the difference from 一点 (yìdiǎn)?

一点儿 vs 一点:

In northern / Beijing Mandarin:
- People often pronounce the 儿 (r) clearly: yìdiǎnr.
- Writing 一点儿 is very common.
In southern speech or more neutral accents:
- People often don’t add the “-r” sound in pronunciation; they just say yìdiǎn.
- In writing, you will see both 一点 and 一点儿.

Meaning:

In this kind of sentence (高一点儿 / 高一点), their meaning is the same: “a bit higher.”

So:

You can safely say 一点 (yìdiǎn) without the -r; it will be understood everywhere.
Using 一点儿 (with or without pronouncing the “r”) is also fine and sounds more Beijing-style.

Why does the sentence use 中文 (zhōngwén) and not 汉语 (hànyǔ)? Are they different?

Both can mean “Chinese (language),” but their typical uses differ:

中文
- Literally “Chinese writing/language.”
- Very common in everyday speech.
- Broad: can refer to spoken and written Chinese, especially in a general sense:
  - 学中文 – study Chinese
  - 中文课 – Chinese class
  - 中文水平 – Chinese level/proficiency
汉语
- Literally “the language of the Han (Chinese) people.”
- Slightly more formal or linguistic.
- Often used in textbooks, exams, or linguistic contexts:
  - 汉语语法 – Chinese grammar
  - 汉语水平考试 (HSK) – Chinese Proficiency Test

In casual conversation, especially about learning the language, 学中文 is very natural and perhaps more common than 学汉语.