Difference between revisions of "Verbing briefly with "yixia""

Line 21: Line 21:
 
* 请 你 等 <em>一下</em> 。 <span class="expl">(You get the feeling that it shouldn't be a long wait.)</span><span class="pinyin">Qǐng nǐ děng <em>yīxià</em>.</span> <span class="trans">Please wait a little bit.</span>
 
* 请 你 等 <em>一下</em> 。 <span class="expl">(You get the feeling that it shouldn't be a long wait.)</span><span class="pinyin">Qǐng nǐ děng <em>yīxià</em>.</span> <span class="trans">Please wait a little bit.</span>
 
* 你 看 <em>一下</em> 。 <span class="expl">(It should be quick.)</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ kàn <em>yīxià</em>.</span> <span class="trans">Take a look.</span>
 
* 你 看 <em>一下</em> 。 <span class="expl">(It should be quick.)</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ kàn <em>yīxià</em>.</span> <span class="trans">Take a look.</span>
* 请 你 读 <em>一下</em> 。 <span class="expl">(It's just a sentence, not a whole novel.)</span><span class="pinyin">Qǐng nǐ dú <em>yīxià</em>.</span> <span class="trans">Can you please read it.</span>
+
* 试 <em>一下</em> 吧。 <span class="expl">(How long can trying it take??)</span><span class="pinyin">Shì <em>yīxià</em> ba.</span> <span class="trans">Try it.</span>
* 我 听 <em>一下</em> 。 <span class="expl">(You get the feeling that it shouldn't take long.)</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ tīng <em>yīxià</em>.</span> <span class="trans">I'll have a listen.</span>
 
* 试 <em>一下</em> <span class="expl">(How long can trying it take??)</span><span class="pinyin">Shì <em>yīxià</em>.</span> <span class="trans">Try it.</span>
 
 
* 我 要 想 <em>一下</em> 。 <span class="expl">(You're supposed to believe that I won't need to think about it long.)</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào xiǎng <em>yīxià</em>.</span> <span class="trans">I want to think a little.</span>
 
* 我 要 想 <em>一下</em> 。 <span class="expl">(You're supposed to believe that I won't need to think about it long.)</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào xiǎng <em>yīxià</em>.</span> <span class="trans">I want to think a little.</span>
 
* 请 你 说 <em>一下</em> 为什么 。 <span class="expl">(I feel it should be a quick explanation.)</span><span class="pinyin">Qǐng nǐ shuō <em>yīxià</em> wèishénme.</span> <span class="trans">Please say why.</span>
 
* 请 你 说 <em>一下</em> 为什么 。 <span class="expl">(I feel it should be a quick explanation.)</span><span class="pinyin">Qǐng nǐ shuō <em>yīxià</em> wèishénme.</span> <span class="trans">Please say why.</span>
* 不 要 哭 了 , 笑 <em>一下</em> ! <span class="expl">(Just one quick laugh!)</span><span class="pinyin">Bù yào le, xiào <em>yīxià</em>!</span> <span class="trans">Don't cry, laugh!</span>
+
* 不要 生气 了 , 笑 <em>一下</em> ! <span class="expl">(Just one quick laugh!)</span><span class="pinyin">Bù yào shēngqì le, xiào <em>yīxià</em>!</span> <span class="trans">Don't be mad, laugh!</span>
 
* 宝宝 , 亲 <em>一下</em> 爸爸 。 <span class="expl">(If a baby's kiss isn't quick, it's weird for everyone.)</span><span class="pinyin">Bǎobǎo, qīn <em>yīxià</em> bàba.</span> <span class="trans">Baby, give your dad a kiss.</span>
 
* 宝宝 , 亲 <em>一下</em> 爸爸 。 <span class="expl">(If a baby's kiss isn't quick, it's weird for everyone.)</span><span class="pinyin">Bǎobǎo, qīn <em>yīxià</em> bàba.</span> <span class="trans">Baby, give your dad a kiss.</span>
* 开 <em>一下</em> 吧 。 <span class="expl">(How long can it take to open the window?)</span><span class="pinyin">Kāi <em>yīxià</em> chuāng ba.</span> <span class="trans">Please open the window.</span>
+
* 开 <em>一下</em> 吧 。 <span class="expl">(How long can it take to open the �door?)</span><span class="pinyin">Kāi <em>yīxià</em> mén ba.</span> <span class="trans">Please open the door.</span>
* <em>一下</em> 这 个 字 。 <span class="expl">(Just write it down real quick.)</span><span class="pinyin">Xiě <em>yīxià</em> zhè ge zì.</span> <span class="trans">Please write down this character.</span>
+
* 你 可以 来 <em>一下</em> 我 的 办公室 吗?<span class="expl">(Just write it down real quick.)</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ lái <em>yīxià</em> wǒ de bàngōngshì ma?</span> <span class="trans">Could you please come to my office?</span>
 
* 你 能 介绍 <em>一下</em> 自己 吗 ? <span class="expl">(Not your life story, just a brief self-introduction.)</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ néng jièshào <em>yīxià</em> zìjǐ ma?</span> <span class="trans">Could you introduce yourself briefly?</span>
 
* 你 能 介绍 <em>一下</em> 自己 吗 ? <span class="expl">(Not your life story, just a brief self-introduction.)</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ néng jièshào <em>yīxià</em> zìjǐ ma?</span> <span class="trans">Could you introduce yourself briefly?</span>
  

Revision as of 06:36, 15 October 2015

Chinese-grammar-wiki-yixia.jpg

After briefly reading this article, you will know how to use 一下 (yīxià) to express a brief action!

Structure

To express that a verb is carried out briefly or "a little bit," you can add 一下 (yīxià) after it. Sometimes 一下 (yīxià) can soften the tone.

Subj. + Verb + 一下 + Obj.

Often, adding 一下 (yīxià) just makes the Chinese feel more natural. This is not something you can get a feel for quickly. You'll want to observe how native speakers use 一下 (yīxià) over a long period of time to really get used to how it is used.

Examples

  • 请 你 等 一下(You get the feeling that it shouldn't be a long wait.)Qǐng nǐ děng yīxià. Please wait a little bit.
  • 你 看 一下(It should be quick.)Nǐ kàn yīxià. Take a look.
  • 一下 吧。 (How long can trying it take??)Shì yīxià ba. Try it.
  • 我 要 想 一下(You're supposed to believe that I won't need to think about it long.)Wǒ yào xiǎng yīxià. I want to think a little.
  • 请 你 说 一下 为什么 。 (I feel it should be a quick explanation.)Qǐng nǐ shuō yīxià wèishénme. Please say why.
  • 不要 生气 了 , 笑 一下(Just one quick laugh!)Bù yào shēngqì le, xiào yīxià! Don't be mad, laugh!
  • 宝宝 , 亲 一下 爸爸 。 (If a baby's kiss isn't quick, it's weird for everyone.)Bǎobǎo, qīn yīxià bàba. Baby, give your dad a kiss.
  • 一下 门 吧 。 (How long can it take to open the �door?)Kāi yīxià mén ba. Please open the door.
  • 你 可以 来 一下 我 的 办公室 吗?(Just write it down real quick.)Nǐ kěyǐ lái yīxià wǒ de bàngōngshì ma? Could you please come to my office?
  • 你 能 介绍 一下 自己 吗 ? (Not your life story, just a brief self-introduction.)Nǐ néng jièshào yīxià zìjǐ ma? Could you introduce yourself briefly?

See also

Sources and further reading