Expressing "together" with "yiqi"

Chinese-grammar-wiki-yiqi.jpg

If you want to express that you are doing something together with someone else, 一起 (yīqǐ) is your word! 一起 (yīqǐ) is used when you are describing an action you did, or are going to do with another person. It is a helpful word and structure to know, everyone loves some company after all, right?

Note: The pinyin for 一起 is written "yīqǐ" but pronounced "yìqǐ" due to a tone change rule.

Structure

一起 (yīqǐ) is the easiest way to express an action being done together with other people.

[Plural subj.] + 一起 + Verb + Obj.

The subject must be plural - a plural noun or two or more nouns linked with a conjunction. You can't do things together on your own, after all.

Examples

  • 我们 一起 吃 晚饭 吧。Wǒmen yīqǐ chī wǎnfàn ba. Let's eat dinner together.
  • 早上 我 和 老公 一起 去 上班。Zǎoshang wǒ hé lǎogōng yīqǐ qù shàngbān. In the morning, I go to work together with my husband.
  • 周末 我们 一起 去 看电影,好 吗?Zhōumò wǒmen yīqǐ qù kàn diànyǐng, hǎo ma? Let's go to the movie this weekwend, shall we?
  • 这 两 个 公司 一起 做 这个 产品。Zhè liǎng gè gōngsī yīqǐ zuò zhège chǎnpǐn. These two businesses made this product together.
  • 下班 以后,你们 一起 来 我 家 吧。Xiàbān yǐhòu, nǐmen yīqǐ lái wǒ jiā ba. After work, you all come to my home together.
  • 下 个 月 我 和 妈妈 一起 去 旅行。Xià ge yuè wǒ hé māma yīqǐ qù lǚxíng. Next month I'll go on a trip together with me.
  • 你们 有没有 一起 玩 过 这 个 游戏?Nǐmen yǒuméiyǒu yīqǐ wán guo zhè ge yóuxì? Have you ever played this game together?
  • 他 想 和 他太太 一起 学 中文。Tā xiǎng hé tātàitai yīqǐ xué Zhōngwén. He wants to study Chinese together his wife.
  • 结婚以后,你 和 父母 会 一起 住 吗?Jiéhūn yǐhòu, nǐ hé fùmǔ huì yīqǐ zhù ma? Will you live together with my parents after you get married?
  • 今天 晚上 老板 要 和 我们 一起 加班。Jīntiān wǎnshang, lǎoban yào hé wǒmen yīqǐ jiābān. The boss is going to to work overtime together with us.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books