The "also" adverb "ye"

The English adverb "too" or "also" is expressed in Chinese as 也 (yě). In Chinese, it needs to always come before the verb (or adjective), though.

也 with Verb Phrases

Structure

Since it is an adverb, 也 (yě) is inserted after the subject, before the verb or auxiliary verb:

Subj. + 也 + Verb / [Verb Phrase]

Please note that in English, we replace the word "too" with "either" in negative sentences. For example:

• A:I like cats.
• B:I like cats too.

• A: I don't like cats.
• B: I don't like cats either.

In Chinese, regardless of whether the sentence is positive ("I like them too") or negative ("I don't like them either"), 也 (yě) is used the same way. Just make sure you put the 也 (yě) before the 不 (bù) or other negative part that comes before the verb.

Examples

• 我 也 喜欢。 Wǒ yě xǐhuān. I like it too. / I also like it.
• 我 也 不 知道。 Wǒ yě bù zhīdào. I don't know either.
• 他 也 有 一个 儿子。 Tā yě yǒu yī gè érzi. He, too, has a son.
• 他们 也 是 法国 人。 Tāmen yě shì Fǎguó rén. They are also French.
• 我 也 想 学 中文。 Wǒ yě xiǎng xué Zhōngwén. I, too, want to study Chinese.
• 我 知道 他们 也 会 去。 Wǒ zhīdao tāmen yě huì qù. I know that they also will go.
• 我 妈妈 也 喜欢 吃 水饺。 Wǒ māmayě xǐhuan chī shuǐjiǎo. My mother likes to eat boiled dumplings too.
• 小孩 也 可以 喝 酒 吗？ Xiǎohāi yě kěyǐ hē jiǔ ma? Can kids drink too?
• 你 也 想 来 我 家 吗？ Nǐ yě xiǎng lái wǒ jiā ma? Do you want to come to my house too?
• 她 也 觉得 这 个 老师 不 好。 Tā yě juéde zhè ge cāntīng bù hǎo. She also thinks this teacher isn't good.

也 with Adjectives

Structure

也 (yě) can also be used with adjectives. Remember that for simple "noun + adjective" sentences you normally need to include an adverb like 很 (hěn) before the adjective. In that case, just put the 也 (yě) before the adverb.

Subject + 也 + Adverb + Adjective

Examples

• 你 也 很 高 。 Nǐ yě hěn gāo. You are also tall.
• 他 也 很 胖 。 Tā yě hěn pàng. He is also fat.
• 昨天 很 冷 ， 今天 也 很 冷 。 Zuótiān hěn lěng, jīntiān yě hěn lěng. Yesterday was very cold, and today is also very cold.
• 这 种 酒 也 很 好喝 。 Zhè zhǒng jiǔ yě hěn hǎohē. This kind of alcohol is also very good.
• 他 生气 了 ？ 我 也 很 生气 ！ Tā shēngqì le? Wǒ yě hěn shēngqì! He got angry? I'm also very angry!
• 这 个 问题 也 很 麻烦 。 Zhè ge wèntí yě hěn máfan. This problem is also very troublesome.
• 我 觉得 这 个 餐厅 也 很 好 。 Wǒ juéde zhè ge cāntīng yě hěn hǎo. I think that this restaurant is also good.
• 日本 菜 也 很 好吃 。 Rìběn cài yě hěn hǎochī. Japanese food is also very delicious.
• 我 爸爸 也 很 有钱 。 Wǒ bàba yě hěn yǒuqián. My dad is also very rich.
• 湖南 菜 也 很 辣 。 Húnán cài yě hěn là. Hunan food is very spicy too.

Expressing "me too" with 也

It can be tricky to know how to say "me too" when you first study 也 (yě), as you can't say "wǒ yě" all by itself. That's not a complete sentence; you can't just leave 也 (yě) hanging there with nothing after it.

The all-purpose correct sentence is "wǒ yě shì," which literally means, "I am too," but can also stand in for "me too."

Structure

The correct structure uses the verb 是 (shì):

• 我 也 是。(The 是 fills in for whatever was just said.) Wǒ yě shì. I am too. / Me too.
• 我 也 。 (Always put something after 也! It never ends a sentence.) Wǒ yě.

Examples

The "me too" structure works with other subjects, as well. But for these simple examples, we'll stick to the classic 我 (wǒ) subject.

• A: 我 是 美国人 。 Wǒ shì Měiguó rén. I am an American.
• B: 我 也 是 ？ Wǒ yě shì.Me too. / I am too.

For this next one, you'll notice that the "me too" reply repeats the original verb 喜欢 (xǐhuan) instead of using 是 (shì). Both ways are possible.

• A: 我 喜欢 看书 。Wǒ xǐhuan kànshū. I like to read.
• B: 我 也 喜欢 。 Wǒ yě xǐhuān.Me too. / So do I.

You'll notice that some of those English translations use "so do I." The Chinese works exactly the same; they're just translated that way to produce more natural-sounding English.

See also

• "Ye" and "dou" together
• The "all" adverb
• Expressing "and also" with "hai"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 31-2) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (p. 88) →buy
• 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册） (p. 73)→buy