Difference between revisions of "Expressing "thanks to" with "duokui""

 
(14 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:
 
多亏 (duōkuī) can be translated as "thanks to" and is used to express that, due to somebody's help, a negative result has been averted. 了 is often placed after it as it's about something that has been completed.
 
多亏 (duōkuī) can be translated as "thanks to" and is used to express that, due to somebody's help, a negative result has been averted. 了 is often placed after it as it's about something that has been completed.
  
== Basic Pattern ==
+
== Basic Pattern with 多亏 (了) ==
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
Line 9: Line 9:
 
[Good Outcome] ,多亏 (了) + [Lucky Incident]
 
[Good Outcome] ,多亏 (了) + [Lucky Incident]
 
</div>
 
</div>
 
Note that the part of the sentence with 多亏 (duōkuī) can be placed in the beginning or the middle of the sentence.
 
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*我 能 这么 快 做完 ,<em>多亏 了</em> 你 帮 我 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ néng zhème kuài zuò wán, <em>duōkuī le</em> nǐ bāng wǒ.</span><span class="trans">I was able to finish so soon thanks to your help.</span>
+
*我 能 这么 快 做完 ,<em>多亏 了</em> 你 帮 我 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ néng zhème kuài zuò wán, <em>duōkuī le</em> nǐ bāng wǒ.</span><span class="trans">I was able to finish so quickly thanks to your help.</span>
 
*我 没 迟到 ,<em>多亏 了</em> 你 开车 送 我 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ méi chídào, <em>duōkuī le</em> nǐ kāichē sòng wǒ.</span><span class="trans">I wasn't late, thanks to you giving me a ride.</span>
 
*我 没 迟到 ,<em>多亏 了</em> 你 开车 送 我 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ méi chídào, <em>duōkuī le</em> nǐ kāichē sòng wǒ.</span><span class="trans">I wasn't late, thanks to you giving me a ride.</span>
*我的 病 很 快 好 了 ,<em>多亏 了</em> 妈妈 仔细 照顾 我。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de bìng hěn kuài hǎo le, <em>duōkuī le</em> māma zǐxì zhàogu wǒ.</span><span class="trans">I got well soon, thanks to my mother's care and attention.</span>
+
*我的 病 很 快 好 了 ,<em>多亏 了</em> 妈妈 仔细 照顾 我。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de bìng hěn kuài hǎo le, <em>duōkuī le</em> māma zǐxì zhàogù wǒ.</span><span class="trans">I got well quickly, thanks to my mother's care and attention.</span>
 
*项目 可以 顺利 进行,<em>多亏 了</em> 你。谢谢你。<span class="pinyin">Xiàngmù kěyǐ shùnlì jìnxíng, <em>duōkuī le</em> nǐ. xièxie nǐ.</span><span class="trans">Because of you, the project is going smoothly. Thank you.</span>  
 
*项目 可以 顺利 进行,<em>多亏 了</em> 你。谢谢你。<span class="pinyin">Xiàngmù kěyǐ shùnlì jìnxíng, <em>duōkuī le</em> nǐ. xièxie nǐ.</span><span class="trans">Because of you, the project is going smoothly. Thank you.</span>  
 
</div>
 
</div>
Line 23: Line 21:
 
== Pattern with 多亏 and 才 ==
 
== Pattern with 多亏 and 才 ==
  
When the good outcome comes before 多亏, there is no need to add in 才. But if the good outcome comes after 多亏, you need to add in 才 to indicate "as a result...(the good outcome happened)." (才 gives the sense that the good outcome ''wouldn't have happened'' without that extra help.)
+
When the good outcome comes before 多亏 (as in the pattern above), there is no need to add in 才. But if the good outcome comes after 多亏, you need to add in 才 to indicate "as a result...(the good outcome happened)." (才 gives the sense that the good outcome ''wouldn't have happened'' without that extra help.)
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
Line 35: Line 33:
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*<em>多亏 了</em> 你 开车 送 我 ,我 <strong>才</strong> 没 迟到 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Duōkuīle</em> nǐ kāichē sòng wǒ, wǒ <strong>cái</strong> méi chídào.</span><span class="trans">Thanks to your ride, I'm not late to get here.</span>
+
*<em>多亏 了</em> 你 开车 送 我 ,我 <strong>才</strong> 没 迟到 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Duōkuī le</em> nǐ kāichē sòng wǒ, wǒ <strong>cái</strong> méi chídào.</span><span class="trans">Thanks to your ride, I'm not late to get here.</span>
 
*<em>多亏</em> 你 的 伞 ,我 <strong>才</strong> 没 淋湿 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Duōkuī </em>nǐ de sǎn, wǒ <strong>cái</strong> méi línshī.</span><span class="trans">Thanks to your umbrella, I didn't get wet.</span>
 
*<em>多亏</em> 你 的 伞 ,我 <strong>才</strong> 没 淋湿 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Duōkuī </em>nǐ de sǎn, wǒ <strong>cái</strong> méi línshī.</span><span class="trans">Thanks to your umbrella, I didn't get wet.</span>
 
*<em>多亏</em> 你 帮 我,我 <strong>才</strong> 能 这么 快 做完 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Duōkuī</em> nǐ bāng wǒ, wǒ <strong>cái</strong> néng zhème kuài zuò wán.</span><span class="trans">Thanks to your help, I was able to complete it so quickly.</span>
 
*<em>多亏</em> 你 帮 我,我 <strong>才</strong> 能 这么 快 做完 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Duōkuī</em> nǐ bāng wǒ, wǒ <strong>cái</strong> néng zhème kuài zuò wán.</span><span class="trans">Thanks to your help, I was able to complete it so quickly.</span>
Line 41: Line 39:
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Advanced Pattern ==
+
== Advanced Pattern with 多亏 and 不然 ==
  
 
If you want to add in 不然 (bùrán) for an "otherwise... (this really bad thing would have happened)" explanation, use this structure.
 
If you want to add in 不然 (bùrán) for an "otherwise... (this really bad thing would have happened)" explanation, use this structure.
Line 48: Line 46:
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
多亏 (了) + [Lucky Incident] ,不然 + Subj. + [Bad Outcome]  
+
多亏 (了) + [Lucky Incident] ,不然 + [Bad Outcome]  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
 +
 +
When translating to English, "thanks to" doesn't always work as well when you have to add in "otherwise."
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
+
*这 件 事情 <em>多亏 了</em> 你 的 提醒 ,<strong>不然</strong> 我 肯定 忘 了 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn shìqing <em>duōkuī le</em> nǐ de tíxǐng, <strong>bùrán</strong> wǒ kěndìng wàng le.</span><span class="trans">Thank you for reminding me about this matter! Otherwise I would definitely have forgetten.</span>
*这 件 事情 <em>多亏了</em> 你 的 提醒 ,<strong>不然</strong> 我 肯定 忘 了 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn shìqíng <em>duōkuīle</em> nǐ de tíxǐng, <strong>bùrán</strong> wǒ kěndìng wàngle.</span><span class="trans">Thank you for your reminding me about this matter! Otherwise I would definitely forget.</span>
+
*<em>多亏</em> 你 送 她 去 医院 ,<strong>不然</strong> 情况 会 很 严重 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Duōkuī</em> nǐ sòng tā qù yīyuàn, <strong>bùrán</strong> qíngkuàng huì hěn yánzhòng.</span><span class="trans">It was a good thing you took her to the hospital, otherwise her condition could have gotten really serious.</span>
*<em>多亏</em> 你 送 她 去 医院 ,<strong>不然</strong> 情况 会 很 严重 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Duōkuī</em> nǐ sòng tā qù yīyuàn, <strong>bùrán</strong> qíngkuàng huì hěn yánzhòng.</span><span class="trans">Thanks to you taking her to the hospital, otherwise her condition can be really severe.</span>
+
*<em>多亏 了</em> 你 的 建议 ,<strong>不然</strong> 我 真 不 知道 怎么 办 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Duōkuī le</em> nǐ de jiànyì, <strong>bùrán</strong> wǒ zhēn bù zhīdào zěnme bàn.</span><span class="trans">It was a good thing you gave me that suggestion, otherwise I really wouldn't have known what to do.</span>
*<em>多亏了</em> 你 的 建议 ,<strong>不然</strong> 我 真 不 知道 怎么 办 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Duōkuīle</em> nǐ de jiànyì, <strong>bùrán</strong> wǒ zhēn bù zhīdào zěnme bàn.</span><span class="trans">Thanks to your advice, otherwise I really don't know what to do about it.</span>
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
== Difference between 多亏 and 幸亏 ==
 
== Difference between 多亏 and 幸亏 ==
  
多亏 is similar to [[Expressing good luck|幸亏]] in meaning, the major similarity is both can be used with "不然" or "才." But there are a few big difference between them:   
+
多亏 (duōkuī) is similar to [[幸亏|幸亏 (xìngkuī)]] in meaning, the major grammatical similarity being that both can be used with 不然 or 才. But there are a few difference between them:   
 
 
语义:
 
多亏(duōkuī) emphasizes a feeling of gratitude towards a specific person for the outcome, rather than attributing it purely to fortune.
 
 
 
搭配:
 
多亏+noun phrase / sentence
 
幸亏 / 幸好+sentence (不能加noun phrase)
 
  
位置:
+
# '''Meaning:''' 多亏 emphasizes a feeling of gratitude towards a specific person for the outcome, rather than attributing it purely to fortune as 幸亏 does.
多亏 can be placed in the beginning or the middle while 幸亏 can be only placed in the beginning.
+
# '''Collocations:''' 多亏 can combine with just a noun phrase, but 幸亏 can't.
 +
# '''Patterns:''' 多亏 can be placed in the beginning or the middle of a sentence, while 幸亏 can be only placed in the beginning of the sentence.
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==

Latest revision as of 03:18, 4 January 2021

Chinese-grammar-wiki-Cai.jpg

多亏 (duōkuī) can be translated as "thanks to" and is used to express that, due to somebody's help, a negative result has been averted. 了 is often placed after it as it's about something that has been completed.

Basic Pattern with 多亏 (了)

Structure

[Good Outcome] ,多亏 (了) + [Lucky Incident]

Examples

  • 我 能 这么 快 做完 ,多亏 了 你 帮 我 。Wǒ néng zhème kuài zuò wán, duōkuī le nǐ bāng wǒ.I was able to finish so quickly thanks to your help.
  • 我 没 迟到 ,多亏 了 你 开车 送 我 。Wǒ méi chídào, duōkuī le nǐ kāichē sòng wǒ.I wasn't late, thanks to you giving me a ride.
  • 我的 病 很 快 好 了 ,多亏 了 妈妈 仔细 照顾 我。Wǒ de bìng hěn kuài hǎo le, duōkuī le māma zǐxì zhàogù wǒ.I got well quickly, thanks to my mother's care and attention.
  • 项目 可以 顺利 进行,多亏 了 你。谢谢你。Xiàngmù kěyǐ shùnlì jìnxíng, duōkuī le nǐ. xièxie nǐ.Because of you, the project is going smoothly. Thank you.

Pattern with 多亏 and 才

When the good outcome comes before 多亏 (as in the pattern above), there is no need to add in 才. But if the good outcome comes after 多亏, you need to add in 才 to indicate "as a result...(the good outcome happened)." (才 gives the sense that the good outcome wouldn't have happened without that extra help.)

Structure

多亏 (了) + [Lucky Incident] ,Subj. 才 + [Good Outcome]

Examples

  • 多亏 了 你 开车 送 我 ,我 没 迟到 。Duōkuī le nǐ kāichē sòng wǒ, wǒ cái méi chídào.Thanks to your ride, I'm not late to get here.
  • 多亏 你 的 伞 ,我 没 淋湿 。Duōkuī nǐ de sǎn, wǒ cái méi línshī.Thanks to your umbrella, I didn't get wet.
  • 多亏 你 帮 我,我 能 这么 快 做完 。Duōkuī nǐ bāng wǒ, wǒ cái néng zhème kuài zuò wán.Thanks to your help, I was able to complete it so quickly.

Advanced Pattern with 多亏 and 不然

If you want to add in 不然 (bùrán) for an "otherwise... (this really bad thing would have happened)" explanation, use this structure.

Structure

多亏 (了) + [Lucky Incident] ,不然 + [Bad Outcome]

Examples

When translating to English, "thanks to" doesn't always work as well when you have to add in "otherwise."

  • 这 件 事情 多亏 了 你 的 提醒 ,不然 我 肯定 忘 了 。Zhè jiàn shìqing duōkuī le nǐ de tíxǐng, bùrán wǒ kěndìng wàng le.Thank you for reminding me about this matter! Otherwise I would definitely have forgetten.
  • 多亏 你 送 她 去 医院 ,不然 情况 会 很 严重 。Duōkuī nǐ sòng tā qù yīyuàn, bùrán qíngkuàng huì hěn yánzhòng.It was a good thing you took her to the hospital, otherwise her condition could have gotten really serious.
  • 多亏 了 你 的 建议 ,不然 我 真 不 知道 怎么 办 。Duōkuī le nǐ de jiànyì, bùrán wǒ zhēn bù zhīdào zěnme bàn.It was a good thing you gave me that suggestion, otherwise I really wouldn't have known what to do.

Difference between 多亏 and 幸亏

多亏 (duōkuī) is similar to 幸亏 (xìngkuī) in meaning, the major grammatical similarity being that both can be used with 不然 or 才. But there are a few difference between them:

  1. Meaning: 多亏 emphasizes a feeling of gratitude towards a specific person for the outcome, rather than attributing it purely to fortune as 幸亏 does.
  2. Collocations: 多亏 can combine with just a noun phrase, but 幸亏 can't.
  3. Patterns: 多亏 can be placed in the beginning or the middle of a sentence, while 幸亏 can be only placed in the beginning of the sentence.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries

HSK5