Verbing briefly with "yixia"
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Keywords
After briefly reading this article, you will know how to use 一下 (yīxià) to express a brief action!
Structure
To express that a verb is carried out briefly or "a little bit," you can add 一下 (yīxià) after it. Sometimes 一下 (yīxià) can soften the tone.
Subject + Verb + 一下 + Object
Often, adding 一下 (yīxià) just makes the Chinese feel more natural. This is not something you can get a feel for quickly. You'll want to observe how native speakers use 一下 (yīxià) over a long period of time to really get used to how it is used.
Examples
- 请 你 等 一下 。 (You get the feeling that it shouldn't be a long wait.) Please wait a little bit.
- 你 看 一下 。 (It should be quick.) Take a look.
- 请 你 读 一下 。 (It's just a sentence, not a whole novel.) Can you please read it.
- 我 听 一下 。 (You get the feeling that it shouldn't take long.) I'll have a listen.
- 试 一下 。 (How long can trying it take??) Try it.
- 我 要 想 一下 。 (You're supposed to believe that I won't need to think about it long.) I want to think a little.
- 请 你 说 一下 为什么 。 (I feel it should be a quick explanation.) Please say why.
- 不 要 哭 了 ， 笑 一下 ！ (Just one quick laugh!) Don't cry, laugh!
- 宝宝 ， 亲 一下 爸爸 。 (If a baby's kiss isn't quick, it's weird for everyone.) Baby, give your dad a kiss.
- 开 一下 窗 吧 。 (How long can it take to open the window?) Please open the window.
- 写 一下 这 个 字 。 (Just write it down real quick.) Please write down this character.
- 你 能 介绍 一下 自己 吗 ？ (Not your life story, just a brief self-introduction.) Could you introduce yourself briefly?
