Using the verb "qu"

Chinese-grammar-wiki-qu.jpg

You can use 去 (qù) for talking about travelling. It's pretty easy to get a handle on this verb. The only trick is getting used to not saying "to" before the destination.

去 with just a Place

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

Structure

Subj. + 去 + Place

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

Examples

  • 公司 。(公司 literally means "company" but is often used to mean "office.") gōngsī.I'm going to the office.
  • 我家。 (Present tense 去 often translates most naturally into an "-ing" form in English, expressing intent) wǒjiā.She goes to my house. / She's going to my house.
  • 洗手间 吗? xǐshǒujiān ma?Do you go to the bathroom?/ Are you going to the bathroom?
  • 下午 我 会 超市。(会 is used here to indicate the future.)Xiàwǔ wǒ huì chāoshì.In the afternoon, I'll go to the supermarket.
  • 我们 现在 公园。Wǒmen xiànzài gōngyuán.We're going to the park now.
  • 晚上 我们 酒吧 。你 去 吗 ?(Again, expressing intent, using 去 by itself)Wǎnshang wǒmen jiǔbā. Nǐ qù ma?Tonight we're going to the bar. Are you going?

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

  • A: 哪儿 nǎr ?Where are you going?
  • B: 学校 xuéxiào .I am going to school.
  • B: 酒吧 jiǔbā ma ?Are you going to the bar?
  • A:(literally, "I'm going.").Yes.

When answering a yes-no question that uses 去 (qù) you don't need anything following it. However, it's important to note that you cannot just use 去 (qù) 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 。 gōngzuò.I'm going to work.
  • 上课 。 shàngkè.He's going to class.
  • 他们 买 衣服 。Tāmen mǎi yīfu.They are going to buy clothes.
  • 看 书 。 kànshū.I'm going to (go) read a book.
  • 告诉 他 。 gàosu tā.You'll go tell him.
  • 做 饭 。 zuò fàn.I'll go cook.
  • 很 多 人 看 电影。Hěnduō rén kàn diànyǐng.A lot of people are going to watch a movie.
  • 我 想 游泳 。Wǒ xiǎng yóuyǒng.I'd like to go swimming.
  • 我们 旅游 吧 。Wǒmen lǚyóu ba.Let's go travel.
  • 九 点 开会 。Jiǔ diǎn kāihuì.At 9 o'clock, we'll (go) have the meeting.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books