Expressing "some" with "yixie"

In order to express "some" or "a few," you can use 一些 (yīxiē). To use it in this way, it is placed before the noun it modifies. It can modify the subject or the object.

Note: The pinyin for 一些 is written "yīxiē" but pronounced "yìxiē" due to a tone change rule.

Structure

一些 + Noun

Examples

• 你 饿不饿？这里 有 一些 吃的。 Nǐ è bù è?Zhèlǐ yǒu yīxiē chīde. Are you hungry or not?There is some food here.
• 我 想 喝 一些 牛奶。 Wǒ xiǎng hē yīxiē niúnǎi. I want to drink some milk.
• 给 我 一些 时间，好吗？ Gěi wǒ yīxiē shíjiān，hǎoma? Give me some time,OK?
• 昨天 的 派对 上 我 看到 了 一些 名人。 Zuótiān de pàiduì shang, wǒ kàndào le yīxiē míngrén. I saw some famous people at yesterday's party.
• 我 在 中国 的 时候，去 过 一些 很 漂亮 的 农村。 Wǒ zài Zhōngguó de shíhou, qù guò yīxiē piàolaing de nóngcūn.When I was in China, I went to some beautiful countryside.
• 你 可以 借 我 一些 钱 吗？ yīxiē Nǐ kěyǐ jiè wǒ yīxiē qián ma? Can you lend me some money?
• 你 可以 给 我 一些 钱 吗 ？ Nǐ kěyǐ gěi wǒ yīxiē qián ma? Can you give me some money?
• 上 周末 他 买了 一些 中文书。 Tā de péngyou yǒu yīxiē Zhōngwén shū. Her friend has some Chinese books.
• 我 买 了 一些 水果 。 Wǒ mǎi le yīxiē shuǐguǒ. I bought some fruit.

See also

• Expressing "a little too" with "you dian"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 →buy