Difference between revisions of "Emphatic adverb "ke""

 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
 
 
可 (kě) can be used to intensify an adjective, or to add emphasis to a verb. It is stronger than other modifiers, as 可 compares the speaker‘s expectations with the actual situation. The meaning of 可 is very reliant on context.  
 
可 (kě) can be used to intensify an adjective, or to add emphasis to a verb. It is stronger than other modifiers, as 可 compares the speaker‘s expectations with the actual situation. The meaning of 可 is very reliant on context.  
  
 
可 is generally used by Northern speakers and is informal, generally only used in spoken Chinese.
 
可 is generally used by Northern speakers and is informal, generally only used in spoken Chinese.
  
==可 used to intensify an adjective==
+
==可 Used to Intensify an Adjective==
  
 
===Structure===
 
===Structure===
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
可 + Adj.
+
可 + Adj. + 了
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
 +
The 了 is almost always there, but it's not 100%.
  
 
===Examples===
 
===Examples===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 这 只 小 狗 <em>可</em> 淘气 了!<span class="expl">The speaker never expected puppies to be this naughty</span><span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǐ xiǎo gǒu <em>kě</em> táoqìle!</span><span class="trans">This puppy is so naughty!</span>  
+
* 这 只 小 狗 <em>可</em> 淘气 了!<span class="expl">The speaker never expected puppies to be this naughty</span><span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǐ xiǎo gǒu <em>kě</em> táoqì le!</span><span class="trans">This puppy is so naughty!</span>  
* 我姐姐 <em>可</em> 好 了!有 什么 好吃 的 都 给 我 留着。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jiějiě <em>kě</em> hǎole! Yǒu shénme hào chī de dōu gěi wǒ liúzhe.</span><span class="trans">My sister is great! Any good food there is she saves some for me.</span>
+
* 我 姐姐 <em>可</em> 好 了!有 什么 好吃 的 都 给 我 留着。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jiějie <em>kě</em> hǎo le! Yǒu shénme hǎochī de dōu gěi wǒ liúzhe.</span><span class="trans">My sister is great! Any good food there is she saves some for me.</span>
* 他 <em>可</em> 优秀 了!你 不 想 见见 吗?<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>kě</em> yōuxiùle! Nǐ bùxiǎng jiàn jiàn ma?</span><span class="trans">He is really excellent! Don't you want to meet him?</span>
+
* 他 <em>可</em> 优秀 了!你 不 想 见见 吗?<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>kě</em> yōuxiù le! Nǐ bù xiǎng jiànjian ma?</span><span class="trans">He is really excellent! Don't you want to meet him?</span>
* 这 个 游戏 <em>可</em> 好玩 了!推荐 给 你。<span class="pinyin">Zhè gè yóuxì <em>kě</em> hǎowánle! Tuījiàn gěi nǐ.</span><span class="trans">This game is really fun! I recommend it to you.</span>
+
* 这 个 游戏 <em>可</em> 好玩 了!推荐 给 你。<span class="pinyin">Zhège yóuxì <em>kě</em> hǎowán le! Tuījiàn gěi nǐ.</span><span class="trans">This game is really fun! I recommend it to you.</span>
* 哇,这 个 糖醋 里脊 <em>可</em> 好吃 了!<span class="expl">The speaker never dreamt that sweet and sour pork could taste this good</span><span class="pinyin">Wa, zhè gè táng cù lǐjí <em>kě</em> hào chīle!</span><span class="trans">Wow! This sweet and sour pork is delicious!</span>  
+
* 哇 ,这 个 糖醋 里脊 <em>可</em> 好吃 了!<span class="expl">The speaker never dreamt that sweet and sour pork could taste this good</span><span class="pinyin">Wa, zhège tángcù lǐjí <em>kě</em> hǎochī le!</span><span class="trans">Wow! This sweet and sour pork is delicious!</span>  
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==可 used to emphasize a verb==
+
==可 Used to Emphasize a Verb==
  
 
===Structure===
 
===Structure===
  
<div class= "jiegou">
+
<div class="jiegou">
  
可 + Verb
+
可 + Verb Phrase
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
 +
了 is not needed in this pattern, but may be present.
  
 
===Examples===
 
===Examples===
  
In these examples 可 is used a bit like 真, and used to emphasize a verb:
+
In these examples 可 is used with 别, and sounds a bit like "don't even think about..." in English.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 你 <em>可</em> 来 了! <span class="expl">The speaker never expected it would take so long for you to get here</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>kě</em> láile!</span><span class="trans">You are here!</span>
+
* 你 <em>可</em> 别 喝 太 多 酒。 <span class="expl">I know you usually drink a lot, but NOT THIS TIME</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>kě</em> bié hē tài duō jiǔ.</span><span class="trans">Don't drink too much.</span>
* 你 <em>可</em> 别 喝 太 多 酒。 <span class="expl">I'm not expecting you to drink a lot</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>kě</em> bié hē tài duō jiǔ.</span><span class="trans">Don't drink too much.</span>
 
 
* 你 <em>可</em> 别 走! <span class="expl">I'm blocking your way, almost pleading with you, as I believe you are going to leave</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>kě</em> bié zǒu!</span><span class="trans">Don't go!</span>
 
* 你 <em>可</em> 别 走! <span class="expl">I'm blocking your way, almost pleading with you, as I believe you are going to leave</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>kě</em> bié zǒu!</span><span class="trans">Don't go!</span>
* 话 <em>可</em> 不 能 这 样 说。 <span class="expl">What you said doesn't accord with my own beliefs</span><span class="pinyin">Huà <em>kě</em> bùnéng zhèyàng shuō.</span><span class="trans">You can't say that.</span>
+
* 话 <em>可</em> 不 能 这样 说。 <span class="expl">What you said doesn't accord with my own beliefs</span><span class="pinyin">Huà <em>kě</em> bù néng zhèyàng shuō.</span><span class="trans">You really can't say that.</span>
* <em>可</em> 做 完 所有 的 工作。
+
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
==可 as "Finally"==
 +
 
 +
Sometimes acts like 终于 (zhōngyú), meaning "finally."
 +
 
 +
===Structure===
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
 +
可 + Verb Phrase +
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
In two of the sentences above, 可 is used with 别, and sounds a bit like "don't even think about..." in English.
+
了 will pretty much always be needed when you're talking about something "finally" happening.
  
==See also==
+
===Examples===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
* 你 <em>可</em> 来 了! <span class="expl">The speaker never expected it would take so long for you to get here</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>kě</em> lái le!</span><span class="trans">You're finally here!</span>
 +
* <em>可</em> 做 完 了 所有 的 工作。<span class="pinyin"><em>Kě</em> zuò wán le suǒyǒu de gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">I've finally finished all the work.</span>
 +
</div>
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
  
 
=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
 
 
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 4下|76}}
 
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 4下|76}}
 
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1|270-1}}
 
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1|270-1}}

Latest revision as of 09:45, 14 January 2021

Chinese-grammar-wiki-ke.jpg

可 (kě) can be used to intensify an adjective, or to add emphasis to a verb. It is stronger than other modifiers, as 可 compares the speaker‘s expectations with the actual situation. The meaning of 可 is very reliant on context.

可 is generally used by Northern speakers and is informal, generally only used in spoken Chinese.

可 Used to Intensify an Adjective

Structure

可 + Adj. + 了

The 了 is almost always there, but it's not 100%.

Examples

In these examples, 可 is used a bit like 很, as it is used to intensify an adjective:

  • 这 只 小 狗 淘气 了!The speaker never expected puppies to be this naughtyZhè zhǐ xiǎo gǒu táoqì le!This puppy is so naughty!
  • 我 姐姐 好 了!有 什么 好吃 的 都 给 我 留着。Wǒ jiějie hǎo le! Yǒu shénme hǎochī de dōu gěi wǒ liúzhe.My sister is great! Any good food there is she saves some for me.
  • 优秀 了!你 不 想 见见 吗? yōuxiù le! Nǐ bù xiǎng jiànjian ma?He is really excellent! Don't you want to meet him?
  • 这 个 游戏 好玩 了!推荐 给 你。Zhège yóuxì hǎowán le! Tuījiàn gěi nǐ.This game is really fun! I recommend it to you.
  • 哇 ,这 个 糖醋 里脊 好吃 了!The speaker never dreamt that sweet and sour pork could taste this goodWa, zhège tángcù lǐjí hǎochī le!Wow! This sweet and sour pork is delicious!

可 Used to Emphasize a Verb

Structure

可 + Verb Phrase

了 is not needed in this pattern, but may be present.

Examples

In these examples 可 is used with 别, and sounds a bit like "don't even think about..." in English.

  • 别 喝 太 多 酒。 I know you usually drink a lot, but NOT THIS TIME bié hē tài duō jiǔ.Don't drink too much.
  • 别 走! I'm blocking your way, almost pleading with you, as I believe you are going to leave bié zǒu!Don't go!
  • 不 能 这样 说。 What you said doesn't accord with my own beliefsHuà bù néng zhèyàng shuō.You really can't say that.

可 as "Finally"

Sometimes 可 acts like 终于 (zhōngyú), meaning "finally."

Structure

可 + Verb Phrase + 了

了 will pretty much always be needed when you're talking about something "finally" happening.

Examples

  • 来 了! The speaker never expected it would take so long for you to get here lái le!You're finally here!
  • 做 完 了 所有 的 工作。 zuò wán le suǒyǒu de gōngzuò.I've finally finished all the work.

Sources and further reading

Books