Difference between revisions of "Causative verbs"

Revision as of 08:29, 30 October 2017

Level

B1 / HSK3 and HSK4
Level

B1
Level

HSK3, HSK4
Similar to
- Using the verb "jiao" (A1)
- Polite requests with "qing" (A2)
Similar to
- Polite requests with "qing" (HSK1)
- Using the verb "jiao" (HSK1)
Used for

Sentence Patterns, Giving commands
Keywords

让, 叫, 请, 使

Causative verbs are verbs that cause people to do things. In English, these are verbs like "make," "have" and "get," as in "get Billy to eat dinner." The "get" is the causative verb.

The most common causative verbs in Chinese are:

让 (ràng)
叫 (jiào)
请 (qǐng)
使 (shǐ)

Make sure to take note of the different meanings and levels of formality. For example, 使 (shǐ) and 让 (ràng) when used as causative verbs basically mean the same thing (to make) but 使 (shǐ) is used in more formal or written Chinese while 让 (ràng) is used more in spoken Chinese.

Structure

Subj. + [Causative Verb] + Person + [Verb Phrase]

Examples

让他走！Make him leave!
这部电影让人很感动。Zhè bù diànyǐng ràng rén hěn gǎndòng.This movie really moves people.
就这一点工资，你叫我怎么活？Jiù zhè yīdiǎn gōngzī, nǐ jiào wǒ zěnme huó?Only this little salary. How do you expect me to live?
他就是不听话，你叫我怎么办？Tā jiùshì bù tīnghuà, nǐ jiào wǒ zěnmebàn?He just wouldn't listen to me. What are you expecting me to do?
我想请你帮我一个忙。Wǒ xiǎng qǐng nǐ bāng wǒ yī gè máng.I want to ask you to do me a favor.
能不能请你明天照顾一下我的狗？Néng bu néng qǐng nǐ míngtiān zhàogu yīxià wǒ de gǒu?Can I ask you to look after my dog tomorrow?
她退学使她父母非常失望。Tā tuìxué shǐ tā fùmǔ fēicháng shīwàng.Dropping out of school really disappointed her parents.
这件事使我学到了很多。Zhè jiàn shì shǐ wǒ xuédào le hěn duō.This piece of matter makes me learn a lot.

Sources and further reading

Videos

Yoyo Chinese: The word "rang"

Books

Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 170-2) →buy
Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 120-1) →buy
卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (p. 19) →buy

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 *他 就是 不 听话 ，你 <em>叫</em> 我 怎么办 ？<span class="pinyin">Tā jiùshì bù tīnghuà, nǐ <em>jiào</em> wǒ zěnmebàn?</span><span class="trans">He just wouldn't listen to me. What are you expecting me to do?</span>
 *我 想 <em>请</em> 你 帮 我 一 个 忙 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎng <em>qǐng</em> nǐ bāng wǒ yī gè máng.</span><span class="trans">I want to ask you to do me a favor.</span>
-*能 不 能 <em>请</em> 你 明天 照顾 一下 我 的 狗 ？<span class="trans">Can I ask you to look after my dog tomorrow?</span>
+*能 不 能 <em>请</em> 你 明天 照顾 一下 我 的 狗 ？<span class="pinyin">Néng bu néng <em>qǐng</em> nǐ míngtiān zhàogu yīxià wǒ de gǒu?</span><span class="trans">Can I ask you to look after my dog tomorrow?</span>
 *她 退学 <em>使</em> 她 父母 非常 失望 。<span class="pinyin">Tā tuìxué <em>shǐ</em> tā fùmǔ fēicháng shīwàng.</span><span class="trans">Dropping out of school really disappointed her parents.</span>
 *这 件 事 <em>使</em> 我 学到 了 很 多 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn shì <em>shǐ</em> wǒ xuédào le hěn duō.</span><span class="trans">This piece of matter makes me learn a lot.</span>