Using the verb "qu"

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It's pretty easy to get a handle on the verb 去 (qù). The only trick is getting used to is not having to say "to" before the destination.

去 with just a Place

The verb 去 means "to go," and is an easy way to talk about going to places.

Structure

Subject + 去 + Place

Notice that you don't need a word to express "to."

Examples

  • 学校。(Present tense 去 often translates most naturally into an "-ing" form in English, expressing intent)I go to school. / I'm going to school.
  • 图书馆 。 (Present tense 去 often translates most naturally into an "-ing" form in English, expressing intent)He goes to the library. / He's going to the library.
  • 邮局 。 (Present tense 去 often translates most naturally into an "-ing" form in English, expressing intent)She goes to the post office. / She's going to the post office.
  • 公司 。(公司 literally means "company" but is often used to mean "office.")I'm going to the office.
  • 洗手间。I go to the bathroom. / I'm going to the bathroom.
  • 下午 我 会 超市。(会 is used here to indicate the future.)In the afternoon, I'll go to the supermarket.
  • 我们 现在 公园。We're going to the park now.
  • 晚上 十 点 我们 酒吧 。你 去 吗 ?(Again, expressing intent, using 去 by itself)At 10pm we're going to the bar. Are you going?
  • 我们 那 个 中国 餐厅 吧。Let's go to that Chinese restaurant.
  • 我 想 中国。I'd like to go to China.
  • 我 太太 想 泰国。My wife would like to go to Thailand.
  • 昨天 我 了 那里。(了 is used here to express a completed action.)I went there yesterday.
  • 去年 我 了 北京。(了 is used here to express a completed action.)Last year I went to Beijing.

You can also use 去 for asking questions. (Note the use of question words and question particles.)

  • A: 哪儿Where are you going?
  • B: 学校Where are you going?
  • B: 晚会 Are you going to the party?
  • A: 我 去。(literally, "I'm going.")Yes.

When answering a yes-no question that uses 去 you don't need anything following it. However, it's important to note that you cannot just use 去 when there is no context.

去 with a Verb

The "place" can also be some sort of action. The structure then means "go to do (something)," and "go and do (something)."

Structure

Subject + 去 + Verb

Examples

  • 工作 。I'm going to work.
  • 上课 。He's going to class.
  • 他们 买 衣服 。They are going to buy clothes.
  • 看 书 。I'm going to (go) read a book.
  • 告诉 他 。I'll go tell him.
  • 做 饭 。I'll go cook.
  • 很 多 人 看 电影。A lot of people are going to watch a movie.
  • 我 想 游泳 。I'd like to go swimming.
  • 我们 旅游 吧 。Let's go travel.
  • 九 点 开会 。At 9 o'clock, we'll (go) have the meeting.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books