Difference between revisions of "Expressing "on the basis of" with "ping""

 
(16 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:
 
凭 (píng) is a [[prepositions| preposition]] that means "on the basis of" or "by virtue of." Usually the subject of a sentence which makes use of 凭 is a person.   
 
凭 (píng) is a [[prepositions| preposition]] that means "on the basis of" or "by virtue of." Usually the subject of a sentence which makes use of 凭 is a person.   
  
==Structure with 凭==
+
== Structures using 凭 ==
  
=== 凭 with a noun ===
+
=== 凭 with a Noun ===
  
凭 can be followed up with a noun or noun phrase. The nouns can be something concrete like 银行卡, 身份证, etc., or they can be something abstract like 经验, 努力, 感觉 etc.  
+
凭 can be followed up with a noun or noun phrase. The nouns can be something concrete like a passport, diploma, or official ID, or they can be something abstract like experience, efforts, intuition, etc.
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
凭 + Noun / Noun Phrase ……
 
凭 + Noun / Noun Phrase ……
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
====Examples====
+
===Examples===
  
 
<div class="liju">  
 
<div class="liju">  
 
* <em>凭</em> 护照, 外国 人 可以 买 火车 票。<span class="pinyin"><em>Píng</em> hùzhào, wàiguó rén kěyǐ mǎi huǒchē piào.</span><span class="trans">Using a passport, foreigners can buy train tickets.</span>
 
* <em>凭</em> 护照, 外国 人 可以 买 火车 票。<span class="pinyin"><em>Píng</em> hùzhào, wàiguó rén kěyǐ mǎi huǒchē piào.</span><span class="trans">Using a passport, foreigners can buy train tickets.</span>
* 他 <em>凭</em> 自己 的 努力 学 了 三千 多 个 汉字。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>píng</em> zìjǐ de nǔlì xué le sānqiān duō gè hànzì.</span><span class="trans">He studied more than three thousand Chinese characters through his own efforts.</span>
+
* 他 <em>凭</em> 自己 的 努力 学 了 三千 多 个 汉字。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>píng</em> zìjǐ de nǔlì xué le sān qiān duō gè hànzì.</span><span class="trans">He studied more than three thousand Chinese characters through his own efforts.</span>
 
* 我们 <em>凭</em> 学生证 在 电影院 享受 折扣 优待。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>píng</em> xuéshēng zhèng zài diànyǐngyuàn xiǎngshòu zhékòu yōudài.</span><span class="trans">With our student ID cards, we enjoy a special discount at the movie theater.</span>
 
* 我们 <em>凭</em> 学生证 在 电影院 享受 折扣 优待。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>píng</em> xuéshēng zhèng zài diànyǐngyuàn xiǎngshòu zhékòu yōudài.</span><span class="trans">With our student ID cards, we enjoy a special discount at the movie theater.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
=== 凭 with a verb phrase ===
+
=== 凭 with a Verb Phrase ===
  
 
凭 can also be used with a verb phrase or subject-predicate phrase as follows:
 
凭 can also be used with a verb phrase or subject-predicate phrase as follows:
Line 30: Line 29:
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
====Examples====
+
===Examples===
  
 
<div class="liju">  
 
<div class="liju">  
* <em>凭</em> 我 学 中文 的 时间 比 你 短 但是 说 得 比 你 好,我 就 可以 说 我 比 你 聪明。<span class="pinyin"><em>Píng</em> wǒ xué Zhōngwén de shíjiān bǐ nǐ duǎn dànshì shuō de bǐ nǐ hǎo, wǒ jiù kěyǐ shuō wǒ bǐ nǐ cōngmíng.</span><span class="trans">From the fact that I have studied Chinese for a shorter time but speak it better than you, I can say that I'm smarter than you.</span>
+
* <em>凭</em> 我 学 中文 的 时间 比 你 短 但是 说 得 比 你 好,我 就 可以 说 我 比 你 聪明。<span class="pinyin"><em>Píng</em> wǒ xué Zhōngwén de shíjiān bǐ nǐ duǎn dànshì shuō de bǐ nǐ hǎo, wǒ jiù kěyǐ shuō wǒ bǐ nǐ cōngming.</span><span class="trans">From the fact that I have studied Chinese for a shorter time but speak it better than you, I can say that I'm smarter than you.</span>
* <em>凭</em> 老 李 在 这 一 行 做 了 二十 年,他 就 有 资格 做 你 的 师傅。<span class="pinyin"><em>Píng</em> Lǎo Lǐ zài zhè yīxíng zuò le èrshí nián, tā jiù yǒu zīgé zuò nǐ de shīfù.</span><span class="trans">On the basis of Lao Li's twenty years of experience in this industry, he is qualified to be your teacher.</span>
+
* <em>凭</em> 老 李 在 这 一 行 做 了 二十 年,他 就 有 资格 做 你 的 师傅。<span class="pinyin"><em>Píng</em> Lǎo Lǐ zài zhè yī háng zuò le èrshí nián, tā jiù yǒu zīgé zuò nǐ de shīfu.</span><span class="trans">On the basis of Lao Li's twenty years of experience in this industry, he is qualified to be your teacher.</span>
* 怪不得 那 个 孩子 的 数学 不 好,他 只 <em>凭</em> 计算器 算。<span class="pinyin">Guàibùdé nàge háizi de shùxué bù hǎo, tā zhǐ <em>píng</em> jìsuàn qì suàn.</span><span class="trans">No wonder that kid's math is so bad. It's because he always uses a calculator to do the math.</span>
+
* 只 <em>凭</em> 歌声 就 能 听出 是 谁 唱 的。<span class="pinyin">Tā zhī <em>píng</em> gēshēng jiù néng tīng chū shì shéi chàng de.</span><span class="trans">He could tell who was singing just by the sound of the song.</span>
* 学好 跳舞 不 能 只 <em>凭</em> 看 迈克尔·杰克逊 的 视屏, 还 得 凭 自己 的 努力。<span class="pinyin">Xuéhǎo tiàowǔ bù néng zhǐ <em>píng</em> kàn màikè'ěr·jiékèxùn de shìpín, hái děi píng zìjǐ de nǔlì.</span><span class="trans">Watching Michael Jackson's videos isn't enough to learn how to dance. You also have to rely on your own efforts.</span>
+
* 学好 跳舞 不 能 只 <em>凭</em> 看 迈克尔·杰克逊 的 视频, 还 得 凭 自己 的 努力。<span class="pinyin">Xuéhǎo tiàowǔ bù néng zhǐ <em>píng</em> kàn Màikè'ěr·Jiékèxùn de shìpín, hái děi píng zìjǐ de nǔlì.</span><span class="trans">Watching Michael Jackson's videos isn't enough to learn how to dance. You also have to rely on your own efforts.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
=== 凭 with 什么 ===
 
=== 凭 with 什么 ===
  
This is one of the most common grammatical phrases, heard many times. It often has a feeling of dissatisfaction or anger, perhaps said while  people are arguing. It is like saying "On what basis do you ...!?!?" Usually it is paired with blame, scold, hit etc.
+
This is one of the most common ways to use 凭, especially in spoken Chinese. It often has a feeling of dissatisfaction or anger, perhaps said during an argument. It is like saying, "On what basis do you ...!?!?" Usually it is paired with blaming, scolding, attacks, etc.
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 凭什么 + Verb Phrase
+
Subj. + 凭什么 + Verb Phrase …… ?!
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
====Examples====
+
===Examples===
  
 
<div class="liju">  
 
<div class="liju">  
* 你 <em>凭什么</em> 怪 我!<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>píng</em> shénme guàiwǒ!</span><span class="trans">On what grounds are you blaming me?</span>
+
* 你 <em>凭什么</em> 怪 我!<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>píng</em> shénme guài wǒ!</span><span class="trans">On what grounds are you blaming me?</span>
* 我 没有 做 错,他 <em>凭什么</em>  骂 我?<span class="pinyin">Wǒ méiyǒu zuò cuò, tā <em>píng</em> shénme mà wǒ?</span><span class="trans">I haven't done anything wrong. How can you scold me?</span>
+
* 我 没有 做 错,他 <em>凭什么</em>  骂 我?<span class="pinyin">Wǒ méiyǒu zuò cuò, tā <em>píng</em> shénme mà wǒ?</span><span class="trans">I haven't done anything wrong. What is he yelling at me for?</span>
* 她 一直 很忠诚, 你 <em>凭什么</em> 怀疑 她? <span class="pinyin">Tā yīzhí hěn zhōngchéng, nǐ <em>píng</em> shénme huáiyí tā?</span><span class="trans">She's always been honest, how can you mistrust her?</span>
+
* 她 一直 很忠诚, 你 <em>凭什么</em> 怀疑 她? <span class="pinyin">Tā yīzhí hěn zhōngchéng, nǐ <em>píng</em> shénme huáiyí tā?</span><span class="trans">She's always been honest. On what basis are you suspicious of her?</span>
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
==Structure with 凭着==
 
==Structure with 凭着==
  
You can also add 着 to 凭 to make it 凭着, however when you do so you can only use it if the action has already been completed. If the actions happens frequently or has not happened yet, you cannot use 凭着. The structure is the same as using 凭 by itself.  
+
You can also add 着 to 凭 to make it 凭着, however when you do so you can only use it if the action has already been completed. If the action occurs habitually or has not happened yet, you cannot use 凭着. The structure is the same as using 凭 by itself.  
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
凭着 + Noun / Noun Phrase
+
凭着 + Noun / Noun Phrase ……
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
===Examples===
+
== Examples ==
  
 
<div class="liju">  
 
<div class="liju">  
* 小白 <em>凭着</em> 自己 的 努力 致富。<span class="pinyin">Xiǎo bái <em>píngzhe</em> zìjǐ de nǔlì zhìfù.</span><span class="trans">Off of his own hard work, Little Bai was able to become rich.</span>
+
* 小白 <em>凭着</em> 自己 的 努力 致富 。<span class="pinyin">Xiǎo Bái <em>píngzhe</em> zìjǐ de nǔlì zhìfù.</span><span class="trans">On the basis of his own hard work, Xiao Bai was able to become rich.</span>
* 他 <em>凭着</em> 智慧 战胜 了 很多 的 困难。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>píngzhe</em> zhìhuì zhànshèngle hěn duō de kùnnán.</span><span class="trans">Using his intellect, he was able to overcome many challenges.</span>
+
* 他 <em>凭着</em> 智慧 战胜 了 很 多 的 困难。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>píngzhe</em> zhìhuì zhànshèng le hěn duō de kùnnan.</span><span class="trans">Using his intellect, he was able to overcome many difficulties.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>

Latest revision as of 08:02, 18 December 2020

凭 (píng) is a preposition that means "on the basis of" or "by virtue of." Usually the subject of a sentence which makes use of 凭 is a person.

Structures using 凭

凭 with a Noun

凭 can be followed up with a noun or noun phrase. The nouns can be something concrete like a passport, diploma, or official ID, or they can be something abstract like experience, efforts, intuition, etc.

凭 + Noun / Noun Phrase ……

Examples

  • 护照, 外国 人 可以 买 火车 票。Píng hùzhào, wàiguó rén kěyǐ mǎi huǒchē piào.Using a passport, foreigners can buy train tickets.
  • 自己 的 努力 学 了 三千 多 个 汉字。píng zìjǐ de nǔlì xué le sān qiān duō gè hànzì.He studied more than three thousand Chinese characters through his own efforts.
  • 我们 学生证 在 电影院 享受 折扣 优待。Wǒmen píng xuéshēng zhèng zài diànyǐngyuàn xiǎngshòu zhékòu yōudài.With our student ID cards, we enjoy a special discount at the movie theater.

凭 with a Verb Phrase

凭 can also be used with a verb phrase or subject-predicate phrase as follows:

凭 + Verb Phrase ……

Examples

  • 我 学 中文 的 时间 比 你 短 但是 说 得 比 你 好,我 就 可以 说 我 比 你 聪明。Píng wǒ xué Zhōngwén de shíjiān bǐ nǐ duǎn dànshì shuō de bǐ nǐ hǎo, wǒ jiù kěyǐ shuō wǒ bǐ nǐ cōngming.From the fact that I have studied Chinese for a shorter time but speak it better than you, I can say that I'm smarter than you.
  • 老 李 在 这 一 行 做 了 二十 年,他 就 有 资格 做 你 的 师傅。Píng Lǎo Lǐ zài zhè yī háng zuò le èrshí nián, tā jiù yǒu zīgé zuò nǐ de shīfu.On the basis of Lao Li's twenty years of experience in this industry, he is qualified to be your teacher.
  • 他 只 歌声 就 能 听出 是 谁 唱 的。Tā zhī píng gēshēng jiù néng tīng chū shì shéi chàng de.He could tell who was singing just by the sound of the song.
  • 学好 跳舞 不 能 只 看 迈克尔·杰克逊 的 视频, 还 得 凭 自己 的 努力。Xuéhǎo tiàowǔ bù néng zhǐ píng kàn Màikè'ěr·Jiékèxùn de shìpín, hái děi píng zìjǐ de nǔlì.Watching Michael Jackson's videos isn't enough to learn how to dance. You also have to rely on your own efforts.

凭 with 什么

This is one of the most common ways to use 凭, especially in spoken Chinese. It often has a feeling of dissatisfaction or anger, perhaps said during an argument. It is like saying, "On what basis do you ...!?!?" Usually it is paired with blaming, scolding, attacks, etc.

Subj. + 凭什么 + Verb Phrase …… ?!

Examples

  • 凭什么 怪 我!píng shénme guài wǒ!On what grounds are you blaming me?
  • 我 没有 做 错,他 凭什么 骂 我?Wǒ méiyǒu zuò cuò, tā píng shénme mà wǒ?I haven't done anything wrong. What is he yelling at me for?
  • 她 一直 很忠诚, 你 凭什么 怀疑 她? Tā yīzhí hěn zhōngchéng, nǐ píng shénme huáiyí tā?She's always been honest. On what basis are you suspicious of her?

Structure with 凭着

You can also add 着 to 凭 to make it 凭着, however when you do so you can only use it if the action has already been completed. If the action occurs habitually or has not happened yet, you cannot use 凭着. The structure is the same as using 凭 by itself.

凭着 + Noun / Noun Phrase ……

Examples

  • 小白 凭着 自己 的 努力 致富 。Xiǎo Bái píngzhe zìjǐ de nǔlì zhìfù.On the basis of his own hard work, Xiao Bai was able to become rich.
  • 凭着 智慧 战胜 了 很 多 的 困难。píngzhe zhìhuì zhànshèng le hěn duō de kùnnan.Using his intellect, he was able to overcome many difficulties.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5