Difference between revisions of "Verbing briefly with "yixia""

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== Structure ==
 
== Structure ==
  
To express that a verb is carried out briefly or "a little bit," you can add 一下 after it.  
+
To express that a verb is carried out briefly or "a little bit," you can add 一下 after it. Sometimes 一下 can soften the tone.
 
 
The structure is:
 
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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</div>
 
</div>
 +
 +
Often, adding 一下 just makes the Chinese feel more natural.  This is not something you can get a feel for quickly.  You'll want to observe how native speakers use 一下  over a long period of time to really get used to how it is used.
  
 
== Examples ==
 
== Examples ==
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* 我 听 <em>一下</em> 音乐。<span class="trans">I'll listen to some music.</span>
 
* 我 听 <em>一下</em> 音乐。<span class="trans">I'll listen to some music.</span>
 
* 你 尝 <em>一下</em> 这 个 菜。<span class="trans">Have a little taste of this dish.</span>
 
* 你 尝 <em>一下</em> 这 个 菜。<span class="trans">Have a little taste of this dish.</span>
 +
* 我 要 试 <em>一下</em> 这 件 衣服。<span class="trans"></span>
 +
* 你 可以 帮 我 做 <em>一下</em> 这 个 工作 吗?<span class="trans"></span>
 +
* 你 让 我 想 <em>一下</em> 。<span class="trans"></span>
 +
* 帮 我 修 <em>一下</em> 电脑 吧。<span class="trans"></span>
 +
* 不 要 哭 了,笑 <em>一下</em> !<span class="trans"></span>
 +
* 宝宝,亲 <em>一下</em> 爸爸。<span class="trans"></span>
 +
* 来,抱 <em>一下</em> ,祝 你 一路 平安!<span class="trans"></span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
 
Often, adding 一下 just makes the Chinese feel more natural.  This is not something you can get a feel for quickly.  You'll want to observe how native speakers use 一下  over a long period of time to really get used to how it is used.
 
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
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== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
=== Books ===
 
  
 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 126) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 126) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]

Revision as of 08:00, 6 September 2013

Chinese-grammar-wiki-yixia.jpg

Use 一下 (yīxià) to express a brief action.

Structure

To express that a verb is carried out briefly or "a little bit," you can add 一下 after it. Sometimes 一下 can soften the tone.

Subject + Verb + 一下 + Object

Often, adding 一下 just makes the Chinese feel more natural. This is not something you can get a feel for quickly. You'll want to observe how native speakers use 一下 over a long period of time to really get used to how it is used.

Examples

  • 你 看 一下Take a quick look.
  • 请 你 读 一下Can you please read a bit of it.
  • 我 听 一下 音乐。I'll listen to some music.
  • 你 尝 一下 这 个 菜。Have a little taste of this dish.
  • 我 要 试 一下 这 件 衣服。
  • 你 可以 帮 我 做 一下 这 个 工作 吗?
  • 你 让 我 想 一下
  • 帮 我 修 一下 电脑 吧。
  • 不 要 哭 了,笑 一下
  • 宝宝,亲 一下 爸爸。
  • 来,抱 一下 ,祝 你 一路 平安!

See also

Sources and further reading