Expressing duration

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The following structures that are used to express the duration of verbs in Chinese are organized according to our grammar points by level.


A2 Expressing duration

Grammar Point (English) Pattern Examples
Expressing "from… to…" with "cong… dao…" 从⋯⋯到⋯⋯ 1 号 5 号 我 在 上海。
Expressing duration with "le" Verb + 了 + Duration 他 在 北京 住 了 两 年
Expressing ongoing duration with double "le" Verb + 了 + Duration + 了 他 在 北京 住 了 两 年 了
Reduplication of verbs Verb + Verb 看看
Verbing briefly with "yixia" Verb + 一下 看 一下

B1 Expressing duration

Grammar Point (English) Pattern Examples
Aspect particle "zhe" Verb + 着 我 读 ,你 听
Expressing "all at once" with "yixiazi" Subj. + 一下子 + Verb + 了 天气 一下子 变 冷
Expressing duration of inaction Duration + 没 + Verb + 了 已经 一 个 星期 洗澡

B2 Expressing duration

Grammar Point (English) Pattern Examples
Advanced result complements "zhu", "kai", and "chulai" Verb + 住 / 开 / 出(来) 抓住 那个 小偷 !
Complement "-zhao" Verb + 着 宝宝 刚 睡
Expressing "within" a period of time using "zai... nei" 在 + Time + 内 你 必须 一周 完成。
Using "lai" and "qu" when "verbing around" Verb + 来 + Verb + 去 他 考虑 考虑 , 最后 还是 决定 回 学校 。
Using "zhe" when "verbing away" Verb + 着 + Verb + 着 + 就 + Comment + 了 , 他们 到 家 了 。

C1 Expressing duration

Grammar Point (English) Pattern Examples
Comparing "buduan" and "buting" 不断 vs 不停 不断 地 找 我,每次 都 说 个 不停


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