Difference between revisions of "Tricky uses of "dao""

m (Text replacement - "yī xiē" to "yīxiē")
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<div class="liju">
 
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* 我还没有做。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ hái méiyǒu zuò.</span><span class="trans"> I haven‘t done it. </span>
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* 我 还 没有 做。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ hái méiyǒu zuò.</span><span class="trans"> I haven‘t done it. </span>
* 我下个星期可以做。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xià gè xīngqī kěyǐ zuò.</span><span class="trans"> I can do it next week. </span>
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* 我 下 个 星期 可以 做。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xià gè xīngqī kěyǐ zuò.</span><span class="trans"> I can do it next week. </span>
* 我相信你一定能做<em>到</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiāngxìn nǐ yīdìng néng zuò <em>dào</em>.</span><span class="trans"> I believe you will be able to do it. </span>  
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* 我 相信 你 一定 能 做<em>到</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiāngxìn nǐ yīdìng néng zuò<em>dào</em>.</span><span class="trans"> I believe you will be able to do it. </span>  
 
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<div class="liju">
* 我还没有买。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ hái méiyǒu mǎi.</span><span class="trans"> I haven't bought it yet. </span>
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* 我 还 没有 买。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ hái méiyǒu mǎi.</span><span class="trans"> I haven't bought it yet. </span>
* 我没买<em>到</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ méi mǎi <em>dào</em>.</span><span class="trans"> I didn't buy it. </span>
+
* 我 没 买<em>到</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ méi mǎi<em>dào</em>.</span><span class="trans"> I didn't buy it. </span>
* 这里很难买<em>到</em>进口食品。<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ hěn nán mǎi <em>dào</em> jìnkǒu shípǐn.</span><span class="trans"> It's hard to buy imported good here. </span>
+
* 这里 很 难 买<em>到</em> 进口 食品。<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ hěn nán mǎi<em>dào</em> jìnkǒu shípǐn.</span><span class="trans"> It's hard to buy imported good here. </span>
 
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 我想学中文。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎng xué Zhōngwén.</span><span class="trans"> I want to learn Chinese. </span>
+
* 我 想 学 中文。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎng xué Zhōngwén.</span><span class="trans"> I want to learn Chinese. </span>
* 我们今天学了“恭喜发财”。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen jīntiān xué le “gōngxǐ fācái”.</span><span class="trans"> Today we learned "kung hei fat choy." </span>
+
* 我们 今天 学 了 “恭喜发财”。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen jīntiān xué le “gōngxǐ fācái”.</span><span class="trans"> Today we learned "kung hei fat choy." </span>
* 在这个公司工作,我学<em>到</em>了很多东西。<span class="pinyin">Zài zhège gōngsī gōngzuò, wǒ xué <em>dào</em> le hěn duō dōngxi.</span><span class="trans"> Working for this company, I learned a lot of things. </span>
+
* 在 这个 公司 工作,我 学<em>到</em> 了 很 多 东西。<span class="pinyin">Zài zhège gōngsī gōngzuò, wǒ xué<em>dào</em> le hěn duō dōngxi.</span><span class="trans"> Working for this company, I learned a lot of things. </span>
 
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 你拿小包,我拿大包。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ ná xiǎobāo, wǒ ná dà bāo.</span><span class="trans"> You take the small bag, I'll take the big bag. </span>
+
* 你 拿 小包,我 拿 大包。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ ná xiǎo bāo, wǒ ná dà bāo.</span><span class="trans"> You take the small bag, I'll take the big bag. </span>
* 今天去拿婚纱,不知道能不能拿<em>到</em>。<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān qù ná hūnshā, bù zhīdào néng bùnéng ná <em>dào</em>.</span><span class="trans"> Today I'm going to pick up the wedding dress, not sure if I'll be able to get it or not. </span>
+
* 今天 去 拿 婚纱,不 知道 能 不 能 拿<em>到</em>。<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān qù ná hūnshā, bù zhīdào néng bu néng ná<em>dào</em>.</span><span class="trans">Today I'm going to pick up the wedding dress, not sure if I'll be able to get it or not. </span>
* 他偷偷进了她的房间,拿<em>到</em>了他想要的东西。<span class="pinyin">Tā tōutōu jìn le tā de fángjiān, ná <em>dào</em> le tā xiǎng yào de dōngxi.</span><span class="trans"> He secretly entered her room and got the thing he wanted to take. </span>
+
* 他 偷偷 进 了 她 的 房间,拿<em>到</em> 了 他 想要 的 东西。<span class="pinyin">Tā tōutōu jìn le tā de fángjiān, ná<em>dào</em> le tā xiǎngyào de dōngxi.</span><span class="trans"> He secretly entered her room and got the thing he wanted to take. </span>
 
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 一定要想一个办法。<span class="pinyin">Yīdìng yào xiǎng yī gè bànfǎ.</span><span class="trans"> You have to think of a method. </span>
+
* 一定 要 想 一  个办法。<span class="pinyin">Yīdìng yào xiǎng yī gè bànfǎ.</span><span class="trans"> You have to think of a method. </span>
* 你想<em>到</em>什么好办法了?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ xiǎng<em>dào</em> shénme hǎo bànfǎ le?</span><span class="trans"> Have you thought of any good methods yet? </span>
+
* 你 想<em>到</em> 了 什么好办法?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ xiǎng<em>dào</em> le shénme hǎo bànfǎ?</span><span class="trans">Have you thought of any good methods yet? </span>
* 我们都没想<em>到</em>他会这么说。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu méi xiǎng<em>dào</em> tā huì zhème shuō.</span><span class="trans"> None of us thought that he would say it like that. </span>
+
* 我们 都 没 想<em>到</em> 他 会 这么 说。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu méi xiǎng<em>dào</em> tā huì zhème shuō.</span><span class="trans">None of us thought that he would say it like that. </span>
 
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<div class="liju">
* 我在看一些老照片。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài kàn yīxiē lǎo zhàopiàn.</span><span class="trans"> I'm looking at some old photos. </span>
+
* 我 在 看 一些 老 照片。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài kàn yīxiē lǎo zhàopiàn.</span><span class="trans"> I'm looking at some old photos. </span>
* 看<em>到</em>这张照片,我想<em>到</em>了我的女儿。<span class="pinyin">Kàn <em>dào</em> zhè zhāng zhàopiàn, wǒ xiǎng<em>dào</em> le wǒ de nǚ'ér.</span><span class="trans"> After seeing this photo, I thought of my daughter.</span>
+
* 看<em>到</em> 这 张 照片,我 想<em>到</em> 了 我 的 女儿。<span class="pinyin">Kàn<em>dào</em> zhè zhāng zhàopiàn, wǒ xiǎng<em>dào</em> le wǒ de nǚ'ér.</span><span class="trans"> After seeing this photo, I thought of my daughter.</span>
* 我看<em>到</em>他了,在那里!<span class="pinyin">Wǒ kàn <em>dào</em> tā le, zài nàlǐ!</span><span class="trans"> I see him, over there! </span>
+
* 我 看<em>到</em> 他 了,在 那里!<span class="pinyin">Wǒ kàn <em>dào</em> tā le, zài nàlǐ!</span><span class="trans"> I see him, over there! </span>
 
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 怎么追女孩子?<span class="pinyin">Zěnme zhuī nǚ háizi?</span><span class="trans"> How do you chase girls? </span>
+
* 怎么 追 女孩子?<span class="pinyin">Zěnme zhuī nǚ háizi?</span><span class="trans"> How do you chase girls? </span>
* 那个女孩子,你追<em>到</em>了吗?<span class="pinyin">Nàge nǚháizi, nǐ zhuī <em>dào</em> le ma?</span><span class="trans"> That girl, did you catch her yet? </span>
+
* 那 个 女孩子,你 追<em>到</em>了吗?<span class="pinyin">Nàge nǚháizi, nǐ zhuī<em>dào</em> le ma?</span><span class="trans"> That girl, did you catch her yet? </span>
* 如果你追<em>到</em>她了,我就请你喝酒。<span class="pinyin">Rúguǒ nǐ zhuī <em>dào</em> tā le, wǒ jiù qǐng nǐ hējiǔ.</span><span class="trans"> If you can really catch her, I'll treat you to a drink. </span>
+
* 如果 你 追<em>到</em>她了,我 就 请 你 喝酒。<span class="pinyin">Rúguǒ nǐ zhuī<em>dào</em> tā le, wǒ jiù qǐng nǐ hējiǔ.</span><span class="trans"> If you can really catch her, I'll treat you to a drink. </span>
 
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<div class="liju">
* 我不太了解这个人。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ bù tài liǎojiě zhège rén.</span><span class="trans"> I don't really understand this person.</span>
+
* 我 不 太 了解 这个 人。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ bù tài liǎojiě zhège rén.</span><span class="trans"> I don't really understand this person.</span>
* 我们刚刚了解<em>到</em>一些新的信息。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen gānggāng liǎojiě <em>dào</em> yīxiē xīn de xìnxī.</span><span class="trans"> We just understood the new information. </span>
+
* 我们 刚刚 了解<em>到</em> 一些 新 的 信息。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen gānggāng liǎojiě<em>dào</em> yīxiē xīn de xìnxī.</span><span class="trans"> We just understood the new information. </span>
* 从他那里,我了解<em>到</em>了这个女人很多事。<span class="pinyin">Cóng tā nàlǐ, wǒ liǎojiě <em>dào</em> le zhège nǚrén hěn duō shì.</span><span class="trans"> From him, I understood a lot of things regarding this girl. </span>
+
* 从 他 那里,我 了解<em>到</em> 了 这个 女人 很 多 事。<span class="pinyin">Cóng tā nàlǐ, wǒ liǎojiě<em>dào</em> le zhège nǚrén hěn duō shì.</span><span class="trans"> From him, I understood a lot of things regarding this girl. </span>
 
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<div class="liju">
* 我们怎么联系?<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen zěnme liánxì?</span><span class="trans"> How do we get in contact? </span>
+
* 我们 怎么 联系?<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen zěnme liánxì?</span><span class="trans"> How do we get in contact? </span>
* 我一直想跟你联系,但是一直没联系<em>到</em>你。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yīzhí xiǎng gēn nǐ liánxì, dànshì yīzhí méi liánxì <em>dào</em> nǐ.</span><span class="trans"> I always wanted get in contact with you, but I never could get a hold of you. </span>
+
* 我 一直 想 跟 你 联系,但是 一直 没 联系<em>到</em> 你。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yīzhí xiǎng gēn nǐ liánxì, dànshì yīzhí méi liánxì<em>dào</em> nǐ.</span><span class="trans"> I always wanted get in contact with you, but I never could get a hold of you. </span>
* 你怎么才能联系<em>到</em>他吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zěnme cáinéng liánxì <em>dào</em> tā ma?</span><span class="trans"> What can you do to get in contact with him?</span>
+
* 你 知道 怎么 能 联系<em>到</em> 他吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhīdào zěnme néng liánxì <em>dào</em> tā ma?</span><span class="trans">Do you know how to get in contact with him? </span>
 
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Revision as of 08:48, 14 February 2017

You probably learned the result complement 到 a long time ago, as part of words like 看到 ("to see") and 听到 ("to hear"). But other times it's less clear what the 到 really means. Like the difference between 买 and 买到 or 做 and 做到. What 到 adds is a clearer sense that something has really been achieved.

Structure

Subj. + Verb + 到

The difference 到 makes

Adding 到 after a verb makes it very clear that the desired result was achieved. If you looked and you saw, then 到 indicates that. On the other hand, not adding 到 makes it unclear whether or not the desired result was achieved. It can have the effect of making a verb mean "try to verb." So 做 without 到 is kind of like "try to do," but when you want to make it very clear that results were achieved or must be achieved, that's when you want to add 到.

Let's look at another example. The difference between 找 and 找到 is that 找 means "to search" (in other words, "to try to find"), whereas 找到 means "to find," that the search was successful, and results were achieved. So if one were to say "你一定要找," it would mean "you must try to find it" and "你一定要找到" means "you must find it".

Illustrative examples

做 vs. 做到

  • 我 还 没有 做。Wǒ hái méiyǒu zuò. I haven‘t done it.
  • 我 下 个 星期 可以 做。Wǒ xià gè xīngqī kěyǐ zuò. I can do it next week.
  • 我 相信 你 一定 能 做Wǒ xiāngxìn nǐ yīdìng néng zuòdào. I believe you will be able to do it.

买 vs. 买到

  • 我 还 没有 买。Wǒ hái méiyǒu mǎi. I haven't bought it yet.
  • 我 没 买Wǒ méi mǎidào. I didn't buy it.
  • 这里 很 难 买 进口 食品。Zhèlǐ hěn nán mǎidào jìnkǒu shípǐn. It's hard to buy imported good here.

学 vs. 学到

  • 我 想 学 中文。Wǒ xiǎng xué Zhōngwén. I want to learn Chinese.
  • 我们 今天 学 了 “恭喜发财”。Wǒmen jīntiān xué le “gōngxǐ fācái”. Today we learned "kung hei fat choy."
  • 在 这个 公司 工作,我 学 了 很 多 东西。Zài zhège gōngsī gōngzuò, wǒ xuédào le hěn duō dōngxi. Working for this company, I learned a lot of things.

拿 vs. 拿到

  • 你 拿 小包,我 拿 大包。Nǐ ná xiǎo bāo, wǒ ná dà bāo. You take the small bag, I'll take the big bag.
  • 今天 去 拿 婚纱,不 知道 能 不 能 拿Jīntiān qù ná hūnshā, bù zhīdào néng bu néng nádào.Today I'm going to pick up the wedding dress, not sure if I'll be able to get it or not.
  • 他 偷偷 进 了 她 的 房间,拿 了 他 想要 的 东西。Tā tōutōu jìn le tā de fángjiān, nádào le tā xiǎngyào de dōngxi. He secretly entered her room and got the thing he wanted to take.

想 vs. 想到

  • 一定 要 想 一 个办法。Yīdìng yào xiǎng yī gè bànfǎ. You have to think of a method.
  • 你 想 了 什么好办法?Nǐ xiǎngdào le shénme hǎo bànfǎ?Have you thought of any good methods yet?
  • 我们 都 没 想 他 会 这么 说。Wǒmen dōu méi xiǎngdào tā huì zhème shuō.None of us thought that he would say it like that.

看 vs. 看到

  • 我 在 看 一些 老 照片。Wǒ zài kàn yīxiē lǎo zhàopiàn. I'm looking at some old photos.
  • 这 张 照片,我 想 了 我 的 女儿。Kàndào zhè zhāng zhàopiàn, wǒ xiǎngdào le wǒ de nǚ'ér. After seeing this photo, I thought of my daughter.
  • 我 看 他 了,在 那里!Wǒ kàn dào tā le, zài nàlǐ! I see him, over there!

追 vs. 追到

  • 怎么 追 女孩子?Zěnme zhuī nǚ háizi? How do you chase girls?
  • 那 个 女孩子,你 追了吗?Nàge nǚháizi, nǐ zhuīdào le ma? That girl, did you catch her yet?
  • 如果 你 追她了,我 就 请 你 喝酒。Rúguǒ nǐ zhuīdào tā le, wǒ jiù qǐng nǐ hējiǔ. If you can really catch her, I'll treat you to a drink.

了解 vs. 了解到

  • 我 不 太 了解 这个 人。Wǒ bù tài liǎojiě zhège rén. I don't really understand this person.
  • 我们 刚刚 了解 一些 新 的 信息。Wǒmen gānggāng liǎojiědào yīxiē xīn de xìnxī. We just understood the new information.
  • 从 他 那里,我 了解 了 这个 女人 很 多 事。Cóng tā nàlǐ, wǒ liǎojiědào le zhège nǚrén hěn duō shì. From him, I understood a lot of things regarding this girl.

联系 vs. 联系到

  • 我们 怎么 联系?Wǒmen zěnme liánxì? How do we get in contact?
  • 我 一直 想 跟 你 联系,但是 一直 没 联系 你。Wǒ yīzhí xiǎng gēn nǐ liánxì, dànshì yīzhí méi liánxìdào nǐ. I always wanted get in contact with you, but I never could get a hold of you.
  • 你 知道 怎么 能 联系 他吗?Nǐ zhīdào zěnme néng liánxì dào tā ma?Do you know how to get in contact with him?
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