Causative verbs

Causative verbs are verbs that cause people to do things. In English, these are verbs like "make," "have" and "get," as in "get Billy to eat dinner." The "get" is the causative verb.

The most common causative verbs in Chinese are:

• 让 (ràng)
• 叫 (jiào)
• 请 (qǐng)
• 使 (shǐ)

Make sure to take note of the different meanings and levels of formality. For example, 使 (shǐ) and 让 (ràng) when used as causative verbs basically mean the same thing (to make) but 使 (shǐ) is used in more formal or written Chinese while 让 (ràng) is used more in spoken Chinese.

Structure

Subj. + [Causative Verb] + Person + Adv. + Adj.

or

Subj. + [Causative Verb] + Person + [Verb Phrase]

Examples

• 你 为什么 不 让 我 去 ？Why wouldn't you let me go there?
• 他 偷偷 约 别的 女生 吃饭 ，你 叫 我 怎么 想 ？He secretly asked other girls out for dinner. What do you expect me to think?
• 这 部 电影 让 人 很 感动 。Zhè bù diànyǐng ràng rén hěn gǎndòng.This movie really moves people.
• 那个 老人 让 我 想到 了 我 爷爷 。Nàge lǎorén ràng wǒ xiǎng dào le wǒ yéye.That old man makes me think about my grandpa.
• 他 就是 不 听话 ，你 叫 我 怎么办 ？Tā jiùshì bù tīnghuà, nǐ jiào wǒ zěnmebàn?He just wouldn't listen to me. What are you expecting me to do?
• 我 想 请 你 帮 我 一 个 忙 。Wǒ xiǎng qǐng nǐ bāng wǒ yī gè máng.I want to ask you to do me a favor.
• 能 不 能 请 你 明天 照顾 一下 我 的 狗 ？Néng bu néng qǐng nǐ míngtiān zhàogu yīxià wǒ de gǒu?Can I ask you to look after my dog tomorrow?
• 老板 决定 请 你 当 主持人 。Lǎobǎn juédìng qǐng nǐ dāng zhǔchírén.The boss decided to ask you to be the host.
• 你 的 态度 使 老板 很 失望 。Nǐ de tàidu shǐ lǎobǎn hěn shīwàng.Your attitude really disappointed the boss.
• 这 件 事 使 我 学到 了 很 多 。Zhè jiàn shì shǐ wǒ xuédào le hěn duō.This piece of matter makes me learn a lot.

See also

• Passive voice

Sources and further reading

Videos

• Yoyo Chinese: The word "rang"

Books

• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 170-2) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 120-1) →buy
• 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (p. 19) →buy