Difference between revisions of "Expressing "and" with "he""

m (Text replacement - "{{HSK|HSK1}}" to "{{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}}")
 
(23 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
 
 
When listing out multiple nouns, 和 (hé) is there to help you out. Just remember that 和 (hé) isn't a word you can use to translate just ''any'' usage of the English word "[[and]]."
 
When listing out multiple nouns, 和 (hé) is there to help you out. Just remember that 和 (hé) isn't a word you can use to translate just ''any'' usage of the English word "[[and]]."
  
=== Structure ===
+
== Structure ==
  
 
The most common way to express "and" in Chinese is with 和 (hé). It's important to note that 和 (hé) '''is mainly used to link nouns'''. This is how you should use it ''exclusively'' as you get used to it. Don't try to link [[verb]]s (or whole sentences) with 和 (hé).  
 
The most common way to express "and" in Chinese is with 和 (hé). It's important to note that 和 (hé) '''is mainly used to link nouns'''. This is how you should use it ''exclusively'' as you get used to it. Don't try to link [[verb]]s (or whole sentences) with 和 (hé).  
Line 13: Line 12:
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Just to be absolutely clear what we mean by this, here are two English examples of what you should and shouldn't try to express with 和 (hé):
+
== Examples ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
<ul>
+
* <strong>你</strong> <em>和</em> <strong>我</strong><span class="pinyin"><strong>nǐ</strong> <em>hé</em> <strong>wǒ</strong></span><span class="trans">you and I</span>
<li class="q"><span class="spaced">I went to the store <em>and</em> bought some gum.</span><span class="expl">(Don't use (hé) for this "and"! "Went to the store" and "bought some gum" are both verb phrases, not nouns.)</span></li>
+
* 老板 喜欢 <strong>咖啡</strong> <em>和</em> <strong>茶</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn xǐhuan <strong>kāfēi</strong> <em>hé</em> <strong>chá</strong>.</span><span class="trans">The boss likes coffee and tea.</span>
<li class="o"><span class="spaced">I like to eat cucumbers <em>and</em> cheese.</span><span class="expl">(This one is good! "Cucumbers" and "cheese" are both nouns, so you can use () here.)</span></li>
+
* <strong>我 的 爷爷</strong> <em></em> <strong>奶奶</strong> 都 70 岁 。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Wǒ de yéye</strong> <em>hé</em> <strong> nǎinai</strong> dōu qīshí suì.</span><span class="trans">My grandpa and grandma are both 70 years old.</span>
</ul>
+
* <strong>他</strong> <em>和</em> <strong>他 女朋友</strong> 都 喜欢 中国 菜 。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Tā </strong> <em>hé</em> <strong>tā nǚpéngyou</strong> dōu xǐhuan Zhōngguó cài.</span><span class="trans">He and his girlfriend both like Chinese food.</span>
 +
* <strong> 你 爸爸</strong> <em>和</em> <strong> 你 妈妈</strong> 都 是 美国 人 吗 ?<span class="pinyin"><strong>Nǐ bàba </strong> <em>hé</em> <strong>nǐ māma</strong> dōu shì Měiguó rén ma?</span><span class="trans">Are your father and your mother both Americans?</span>
 +
* <strong>手机</strong> <em>和</em> <strong>电脑</strong> 都 很 贵 。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Shǒujī</strong> <em>hé</em> <strong>diànnǎo</strong> dōu hěn guì.</span><span class="trans">Cell phones and computers are both expensive.</span>
 +
* <strong>德语</strong> <em>和</em> <strong>法语</strong> 都 很 难 吗 ?<span class="pinyin"> <strong>Déyǔ</strong> <em>hé</em> <strong>Fǎyǔ</strong> dōu hěn nán ma?</span><span class="trans">Are both German and French difficult?</span>
 +
* <strong>今天</strong> <em></em> <strong>明天</strong> 都 可以 吗 ?<span class="pinyin"> <strong>Jīntiān</strong> <em>hé</em> <strong>míngtiān</strong> dōu kěyǐ ma?</span><span class="trans">Are today and tomorrow both OK?</span>
 +
</div>
  
</div>
+
(If you're unclear why the 都 (dōu) is used in the sentences above, see our article on [[The "all" adverb "dou"|the adverb 都 (dōu)]].)
  
=== Examples ===
+
Just to be absolutely clear what we mean by using 和 (hé) with nouns only, here are two English examples of what you should and shouldn't try to express with 和 (hé):
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* <strong>我</strong> <em>和</em><strong>他</strong> 都 不 去。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Wǒ</strong> <em>hé</em> <strong>tā</strong> dōu bù qù.</span><span class="expl">(Literally, "he and I both will not go.")</span><span class="trans">Neither he nor I will go. </span>
+
<ul>
* 老板 喜欢 <strong>咖啡</strong> <em>和</em> <strong>茶</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn xǐhuan <strong>kāfēi</strong> <em>hé</em> <strong>chá</strong>.</span><span class="trans">The boss likes coffee and tea.</span>
+
<li class="q"><span class="spaced">I went to the store <em>and</em> bought some gum.</span><span class="expl pdf-long-expl">Don't use (hé) for this "and"! "Went to the store" and "bought some gum" are both verb phrases, not nouns.</span></li>
* <strong>我 的 爷爷</strong> <em></em> <strong>奶奶</strong> 都 70 岁。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Wǒ de yéye</strong> <em>hé</em> <strong> nǎinai</strong> dōu qīshí suì.</span><span class="trans">My grandpa and grandma are both 70 years old.</span>
+
<li class="o"><span class="spaced">I like to eat cucumbers <em>and</em> cheese.</span><span class="expl pdf-long-expl">This one is good! "Cucumbers" and "cheese" are both nouns, so you can use () here.</span></li>
* <strong>他</strong> <em>和</em> <strong>他 女朋友</strong> 都 喜欢 中国 菜。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Tā </strong> <em>hé</em> <strong>tā nǚ péngyou</strong> dōu xǐhuan Zhōngguó cài.</span><span class="trans">His girlfriend and he both like Chinese food.</span>
+
</ul>
* <strong> 你 爸爸</strong> <em></em> <strong> 你 妈妈</strong> 都 是 美国 人 吗?<span class="pinyin"><strong>Nǐ bàba </strong> <em>hé</em> <strong>nǐ māma</strong> dōu shì Měiguó rén ma?</span><span class="trans">Are your father and your mother both Americans?</span>
+
 
* <strong>苹果 手机</strong> <em>和</em> <strong>苹果 电脑</strong> 都 很 贵。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Píngguǒ shǒujī</strong> <em>hé</em> <strong>Píngguǒ diànnǎo</strong> dōu hěn guì.</span><span class="trans">The Apple smartphone and the Apple computer are both expensive.</span>
 
* <strong>德语</strong> <em></em> <strong>法语</strong> 都 很 难 吗 ?<span class="pinyin"> <strong>Déyǔ</strong> <em>hé</em> <strong>Fǎyǔ</strong> dōu hěn nán ma?</span><span class="trans">Are both German and French difficult?</span>
 
* <strong>今天</strong> <em>和</em> <strong>明天</strong> 都 可以 吗?<span class="pinyin"> <strong>Jīntiān</strong> <em>hé</em> <strong> míngtiān</strong>dōu kěyǐ ma?</span><span class="trans">Are today and tomorrow both OK?</span>
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
 +
 
*[[Expressing "in addition" with "haiyou"]]
 
*[[Expressing "in addition" with "haiyou"]]
 
*[["In addition" as "lingwai"]]
 
*[["In addition" as "lingwai"]]
Line 48: Line 50:
 
=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 74-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy]
+
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|74}}
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 14-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
+
{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|74-5}}
* [[A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)]] (p. 126) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA →buy]
+
{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|14-5}}
 +
{{Source|A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)|126}}
  
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|和|A1|N1 + 和 + N2|我 <em>和</em> 他 都 不 去。|grammar point|ASGP0KFF}}
+
{{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}}
 +
{{Basic Grammar|和|A1|Noun 1 + 和 + Noun 2|我 <em>和</em> 他 都 不 去。|grammar point|ASGP0KFF}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing "in addition" with "haiyou"}}  
 
{{Similar|Expressing "in addition" with "haiyou"}}  
 
{{Similar|"In Addition" as "lingwai"}}  
 
{{Similar|"In Addition" as "lingwai"}}  

Latest revision as of 09:20, 20 April 2021

When listing out multiple nouns, 和 (hé) is there to help you out. Just remember that 和 (hé) isn't a word you can use to translate just any usage of the English word "and."

Structure

The most common way to express "and" in Chinese is with 和 (hé). It's important to note that 和 (hé) is mainly used to link nouns. This is how you should use it exclusively as you get used to it. Don't try to link verbs (or whole sentences) with 和 (hé).

Noun 1 + 和 + Noun 2

Examples

  • you and I
  • 老板 喜欢 咖啡 Lǎobǎn xǐhuan kāfēi chá.The boss likes coffee and tea.
  • 我 的 爷爷 奶奶 都 70 岁 。Wǒ de yéye nǎinai dōu qīshí suì.My grandpa and grandma are both 70 years old.
  • 他 女朋友 都 喜欢 中国 菜 。 tā nǚpéngyou dōu xǐhuan Zhōngguó cài.He and his girlfriend both like Chinese food.
  • 你 爸爸 你 妈妈 都 是 美国 人 吗 ?Nǐ bàba nǐ māma dōu shì Měiguó rén ma?Are your father and your mother both Americans?
  • 手机 电脑 都 很 贵 。Shǒujī diànnǎo dōu hěn guì.Cell phones and computers are both expensive.
  • 德语 法语 都 很 难 吗 ? Déyǔ Fǎyǔ dōu hěn nán ma?Are both German and French difficult?
  • 今天 明天 都 可以 吗 ? Jīntiān míngtiān dōu kěyǐ ma?Are today and tomorrow both OK?

(If you're unclear why the 都 (dōu) is used in the sentences above, see our article on the adverb 都 (dōu).)

Just to be absolutely clear what we mean by using 和 (hé) with nouns only, here are two English examples of what you should and shouldn't try to express with 和 (hé):

  • I went to the store and bought some gum.Don't use 和 (hé) for this "and"! "Went to the store" and "bought some gum" are both verb phrases, not nouns.
  • I like to eat cucumbers and cheese.This one is good! "Cucumbers" and "cheese" are both nouns, so you can use 和 (hé) here.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books