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 a Adverb

Structure

这样 + Verb

The predicate part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective.

Examples

• 这样 做 不 对 。Zhèyàng zuò bù duì.It's not right to do so.
• 这样 说 不 礼貌 。Zhèyàng shuō bù lǐmào.It's not polite to say so.
• 这样 走 过去 更 近 。Zhèyàng zǒu guòqù gèng jìn.It's closer to walk this way over there.
• 你们 真的 是 这样 想 的 吗 ？Nǐmen zhēnde shì zhèyàng xiǎng de ma?Do you really think so?
• 一定 要 这样 安排 吗 ？Yīdìng yào zhèyàng ānpái ma?Do you have to arrange so?

Used as a Conjunction

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

Structure

⋯⋯ ，这样 ⋯⋯

You will ofen see the adverb 才 following 这样 to indicate "only in this way can something happen."

Examples

• 你 要 多 鼓励 孩子 ，这样 他 才 会 更 有 自信 。You should eat more vegetables. It's better for your body this way.
• 你 要 多 说 ，这样 才 能 提高 口语。Nǐ yào duō shuō, zhèyàng cái néng tígāo kǒuyǔ.You need to speak more. You can improve your spoken Chinese this way.
• 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. Only in this way can he learn.

这样的话

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

Structure

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

(如果 是 +) 这样的话 ，……

Examples

• 这样 的话 ，你 还 怕 什么 呢 ？Zhèyàng de huà, nǐ hái pà shénme ne?What are you afraid of in this case?
• 如果 真的 是 这样 的话 ，那 麻烦 就 更 大 了 。If this is the real case, I think we're going to have a bigger trouble.

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