Difference between revisions of "Expressing "had better" with "haishi""
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| − | 吧 is often placed after this structure, [[Softening speech with "ba"|as it's a suggestion]]. | + | |
| + | One of the ways to use 还是 (háishì) is to have it mean "you had better," similar to how in English we may say "I think you had better start on your homework." | ||
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| + | == Structure == | ||
| + | |||
| + | 还是 as an [[adverbs|adverb]] can express "had better" or "it would be better to". The idea is that the speaker has given the matter some thought, and after considering it, has finally come to a decision. The announcement of this decision will frequently include 还是, and it usually comes before a verb or a subject. | ||
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| + | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
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| + | Subject + 还是 + Action + (吧) | ||
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| + | </div> | ||
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| + | |||
| + | 吧 is often placed after this structure, [[Softening speech with "ba"|as it's a suggestion]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Examples == | ||
| + | |||
| + | <div class="liju"> | ||
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| + | * 你 不 会， <em>还是</em> 我 做 吧。<span class="trans">You can't, I had better do it.</span> | ||
* 我 饿 了，我们 <em>还是</em> 先 吃饭 吧。<span class="trans">I'm hungry, we had better eat first.</span> | * 我 饿 了，我们 <em>还是</em> 先 吃饭 吧。<span class="trans">I'm hungry, we had better eat first.</span> | ||
* 这里 太 脏 了， 我们 <em>还是</em> 走 吧。<span class="trans">It's too dirty here. We'd better go.</span> | * 这里 太 脏 了， 我们 <em>还是</em> 走 吧。<span class="trans">It's too dirty here. We'd better go.</span> | ||
* 你 <em>还是</em> 现在 就 跟 我 说 吧。<span class="trans">You'd better talk with me now.</span> | * 你 <em>还是</em> 现在 就 跟 我 说 吧。<span class="trans">You'd better talk with me now.</span> | ||
| − | * 你 病 了 这么 长 时间，<em>还是</em> 去 医院 吧。<span class="trans">I've been sick for a long time. I'd better go to the doctor.</span> | + | * 你 病 了 这么 长 时间，<em>还是</em> 去 医院 吧。<span class="trans">I've been sick for a long time. I'd better go to the doctor.</span> |
| − | * [["Yinggai" for should]] | + | |
| + | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [[Offering choices with haishi]] | ||
| + | * [["Yinggai" for should]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Sources and further reading == | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Books === | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 144) [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] | ||
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 259-60) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy] | * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 259-60) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy] | ||
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)]] (pp. 103) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192 →buy] | * [[New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)]] (pp. 103) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192 →buy] | ||
| − | *[[卓越汉语－公司实战篇]] (p. 211) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%8D%93%E8%B6%8A%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD-%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E5%AE%9E%E6%88%98%E7%AF%87-%E8%83%A1%E7%81%B5%E5%9D%87/dp/B003QZWQ6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347863170&sr=8-1 →buy] | + | *[[卓越汉语－公司实战篇]] (p. 211) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%8D%93%E8%B6%8A%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD-%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E5%AE%9E%E6%88%98%E7%AF%87-%E8%83%A1%E7%81%B5%E5%9D%87/dp/B003QZWQ6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347863170&sr=8-1 →buy] |
| − | [[Category: Adverbs]] | + | |
| + | [[Category:B1 grammar points]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Adverbs]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{Basic Grammar|还是|B1|还是 + V|我们 <em>还是</em> 先 吃饭 吧。|grammar point|ASGWAR65}} | ||
{{Rel char|还}} | {{Rel char|还}} | ||
{{Rel char|是}} | {{Rel char|是}} | ||
Revision as of 08:55, 26 November 2013
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Level
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Used for
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Keywords
One of the ways to use 还是 (háishì) is to have it mean "you had better," similar to how in English we may say "I think you had better start on your homework."
Structure
还是 as an adverb can express "had better" or "it would be better to". The idea is that the speaker has given the matter some thought, and after considering it, has finally come to a decision. The announcement of this decision will frequently include 还是, and it usually comes before a verb or a subject.
Subject + 还是 + Action + (吧)
吧 is often placed after this structure, as it's a suggestion.
Examples
- 你 不 会， 还是 我 做 吧。You can't, I had better do it.
- 我 饿 了，我们 还是 先 吃饭 吧。I'm hungry, we had better eat first.
- 这里 太 脏 了， 我们 还是 走 吧。It's too dirty here. We'd better go.
- 你 还是 现在 就 跟 我 说 吧。You'd better talk with me now.
- 你 病 了 这么 长 时间，还是 去 医院 吧。I've been sick for a long time. I'd better go to the doctor.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 144) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 259-60) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 103) →buy
- 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (p. 211) →buy
