Non-exhaustive lists with "dengdeng"

等等 (děng děng), or simply 等 (děng), is just like saying “and so on” or “etc.” in English, but just a bit more formal. Both are placed after listing a series of items (generally with a list that exceeds two items).

Basic Usage

The basic structure is easy. Just make a list of things, and add 等 (děng) or 等等 (děng děng) to the end of the list. It's the same as in English when we use "etc." at the end of a list.

Structure

A1，A2⋯⋯等 / 等等

Examples

• 我们 有 茶、牛奶、可乐 等 。 Wǒmen yǒu chá, niúnǎi, kělè děng. We have tea, milk and Cola etc.
• 我 喜欢 看 书、逛街、睡觉 等 。 Wǒ xǐhuan kàn shū, guàngjiē, shuìjiào děng. I like to read books, window-shop, sleep etc.
• 西瓜、菠萝、苹果、葡萄 等等 ， 都 是 我 喜欢 的 水果 。 Xīguā, bōluó, píngguǒ, pútáo děngděng, dōu shì wǒ xǐhuan de shuǐguǒ. Watermelons, pineapples, apples, grapes and so on are all the fruits that I like.
• 上海、北京、深圳、香港 等 ， 我 都 去 过 。 Shànghǎi, Běijīng, Shēnzhèn, Xiānggǎng děng, wǒ dōu qù guò. Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Hong Kong etc., I have all been to.
• Jackie Chan、Jet Li、Bruce Li 等 都 是 中国 有名 的 功夫 明星 。 Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Bruce Li děng dōu shì Zhōngguó yǒumíng de gōngfu míngxīng. Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Bruce Li, etc. are all famous Chinese martial arts stars.
• 我 有 很 多 外国 朋友 ， 美国人、英国人、西班牙人 等等 。 Wǒ yǒu hěn duō wàiguó péngyou, Měiguórén, Yīngguórén, Xībānyárén děngděng. I have a lot of foreign friends: Americans, British, Spanish, etc.
• 我 的 男朋友 会 说 很 多 外语 ， 英语、法语、西班牙语 等等 。 Wǒ de nánpéngyou huì shuō hěn duō wàiyǔ, Yīngyǔ, Fǎyǔ, Xībānyáyǔ děngděng. My boyfriend can speak many foreign languages: English, French, Spanish, etc.

Usage Before a Noun

Occasionally, 等 (děng) is added to the end of a list and is followed by a noun that represents the list. For example, if the list is a series of countries, 等 (děng) would be followed by 国家 (guójiā).

Structure

A1，A2⋯⋯等 + [Category]

Examples

• 长城、故宫 等 地方 都 是 北京 有名 的 景点 。 Chángchéng, Gùgōng děng dìfang dōu shì Běijīng yǒumíng de jǐngdiǎn. The Great Wall, the Forbidden City, etc. are all famous Beijing scenic spots.
• 你 带 一 些 纸、笔 等 东西 吧 。 Nǐ dài yī xiē zhǐ, bǐ děng dōngxi ba. You bring some paper, pens and so on.
• 中国、印度、巴西 等 国家 都 很 穷 。 Zhōngguó, Yìndù, Bāxī děng guójiā dōu hěn qíong. China, India, Brazil and so on are poor.

See also

• Ending a Non-Exhaustive List with "shenme de"
• "Stuff like that" with "zhileide"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (p. 304) →buy