Expressing "in this way" with "zheyang"

这样 (zhèyàng) is used at the beginning of a phrase to express "this way" or "in this way."

Used as an Adverb

Structure

这样 + Verb

Examples

• 这样 做 不 对 。Zhèyàng zuò bù duì.It's not right to do this.
• 这样 说 不 礼貌 。Zhèyàng shuō bù lǐmào.It's not polite to say this.
• 这样 走 过去 更 近 。Zhèyàng zǒu guòqù gèng jìn.It's closer to walk over from this way.
• 你们 真的 是 这样 想 的 吗 ？Nǐmen zhēnde shì zhèyàng xiǎng de ma?Do you guys really think so?

Used as a Conjunction

This use of 这样 corresponds to "in this way," which is another way of expressing "so that" or "thus."

Structure

⋯⋯ ，这样 + 会 / 才 ⋯⋯

You will often see 会 or 才 following 这样 to indicate "only in this way can or will something happen."

Examples

• 你 要 多 鼓励 学生 ，这样 他们 会 更 有 自信 。Nǐ yào duō gǔlì xuéshēng, zhèyàng tāmen huì gèng yǒu zìxìn.You need to encourage your students more. This will help them become more confident.
• 父母 应该 多 陪 孩子 ，这样 孩子 会 更 快乐 。Fùmǔ yīnggāi duō péi háizi, zhèyàng háizi huì gèng kuàilè.Parents should spend more time with their children, this will make the children happier.
• 你 要 多 说 ，这样 才 能 越来越 流利 。Nǐ yào duō shuō, zhèyàng cái néng yuèláiyuè liúlì.You need to speak more. This will help you become more and more fluent.
• 让 他 自己 来 ，这样 他 才 能 学会 。Ràng tā zìjǐ lái, zhèyàng tā cái néng xuéhuì.Let him do it by himself. This is the only way he will learn.

Colloquial Saying 这样的话

This use of 这样 corresponds to "this way," as in if we do it this way. Adding 的话 gives the pattern more of an "if" flavor.

To make the "if" even more explicit, you can even add 如果是 before 这样的话.

(如果是 +) 这样的话 ，⋯⋯

A few examples:

• 这样 的话 ，你 还 怕 什么 呢 ？Zhèyàng de huà, nǐ hái pà shénme ne?If this is the case, what else are you afraid?
• 如果 是 这样 的话 ，麻烦 就 大 了 。Rúguǒ shì zhèyàng dehuà, máfan jiù dà le.If this is the case, I think we're going to have more trouble.
• 我 会 住在 美国 朋友 的 家里 。这样 的话 ，我 家人 就 不 那么 担心 我 了 。Wǒ huì zhù zài Měiguó péngyou de jiā lǐ. Zhèyàng dehuà, wǒ jiārén jiù bù nàme dānxīn wǒ le.I will stay at my American friend's house when I go to visit the US. This way my family won't worry about me so much.

See also

• The "zui" superlative
• Expressing "excessively" with "tai"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Short-term Spoken Chinese: Elementary (汉语口语速成基础篇) (pp. 15) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 71 - 2) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 103) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy