Difference between revisions of "Expressing "had better" with "haishi""
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
One of the ways to use 还是 (háishì) is to have it mean "you had better," similar to how in English we may say "I think you had better start on your homework." | One of the ways to use 还是 (háishì) is to have it mean "you had better," similar to how in English we may say "I think you had better start on your homework." | ||
| − | == Structure == | + | === Structure === |
还是 as an [[adverbs|adverb]] can express "had better" or "it would be better to". The idea is that the speaker has given the matter some thought, and after considering it, has finally come to a decision. The announcement of this decision will frequently include 还是, and it usually comes before a verb or a subject. | 还是 as an [[adverbs|adverb]] can express "had better" or "it would be better to". The idea is that the speaker has given the matter some thought, and after considering it, has finally come to a decision. The announcement of this decision will frequently include 还是, and it usually comes before a verb or a subject. | ||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
吧 is often placed after this structure, [[Softening speech with "ba"|as it's a suggestion]]. | 吧 is often placed after this structure, [[Softening speech with "ba"|as it's a suggestion]]. | ||
| − | == Examples == | + | === Examples === |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
Revision as of 07:15, 2 July 2015
-
Level
-
Similar to
-
Used for
-
Keywords
One of the ways to use 还是 (háishì) is to have it mean "you had better," similar to how in English we may say "I think you had better start on your homework."
Structure
还是 as an adverb can express "had better" or "it would be better to". The idea is that the speaker has given the matter some thought, and after considering it, has finally come to a decision. The announcement of this decision will frequently include 还是, and it usually comes before a verb or a subject.
Subject + 还是 + Action + (吧)
吧 is often placed after this structure, as it's a suggestion.
Examples
- 你 不 会， 还是 我 做 吧。You don't know how; I had better do it.
- 我 饿 了，我们 还是 先 吃饭 吧。I'm hungry; we had better eat first.
- 这里 太 脏 了， 我们 还是 走 吧。It's too dirty here; we'd better leave.
- 你 还是 现在 就 跟 我 说 吧。You'd better talk with me now.
- 你 病 了 这么 长 时间，还是 去 医院 吧。You've been sick for such a long time. You'd better go to the doctor.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 144) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 259-60) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 103) →buy
- 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (p. 211) →buy
