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

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After briefly reading this article, you will know how to use 一下 (yīxià) to express a brief action!
 
After briefly reading this article, you will know how to use 一下 (yīxià) to express a brief action!
  
== Structure ==
+
=== Structure ===
  
 
To express that a verb is carried out briefly or "a little bit," you can add 一下 (yīxià) after it. Sometimes 一下 (yīxià) can soften the tone.  
 
To express that a verb is carried out briefly or "a little bit," you can add 一下 (yīxià) after it. Sometimes 一下 (yīxià) can soften the tone.  
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Often, adding 一下 (yīxià) 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 (yīxià)  over a long period of time to really get used to how it is used.
 
Often, adding 一下 (yīxià) 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 (yīxià)  over a long period of time to really get used to how it is used.
  
== Examples ==
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=== Examples ===
  
 
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<div class="liju">

Revision as of 07:23, 3 July 2015

Chinese-grammar-wiki-yixia.jpg

After briefly reading this article, you will know how to 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 (yīxià) after it. Sometimes 一下 (yīxià) can soften the tone.

Subject + Verb + 一下 + Object

Often, adding 一下 (yīxià) 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 (yīxià) over a long period of time to really get used to how it is used.

Examples

  • 请 你 等 一下(You get the feeling that it shouldn't be a long wait.)Qǐng nǐ děng yīxià. Please wait a little bit.
  • 你 看 一下(It should be quick.)Nǐ kān yīxià. Take a look.
  • 请 你 读 一下(It's just a sentence, not a whole novel.)Qǐng nǐ dú yīxià. Can you please read it.
  • 我 听 一下(You get the feeling that it shouldn't take long.)Wǒ tīng yīxià. I'll have a listen.
  • 一下(How long can trying it take??)Shì yīxià. Try it.
  • 我 要 想 一下(You're supposed to believe that I won't need to think about it long.)Wǒ yào xiǎng yīxià. I want to think a little.
  • 请 你 说 一下 为什么 。 (I feel it should be a quick explanation.)Qǐng nǐ shuō yīxià wèishénme. Please say why.
  • 不 要 哭 了 , 笑 一下(Just one quick laugh!)Bù yào kū le, xiào yīxià! Don't cry, laugh!
  • 宝宝 , 亲 一下 爸爸 。 (If a baby's kiss isn't quick, it's weird for everyone.)Bǎobǎo, qīn yīxià bàba. Baby, give your dad a kiss.
  • 一下 窗 吧 。 (How long can it take to open the window?)Kāi yīxià chuāng bā. Please open the window.
  • 一下 这 个 字 。 (Just write it down real quick.)Xiě yīxià zhè gè zì. Please write down this character.
  • 你 能 介绍 一下 自己 吗 ? (Not your life story, just a brief self-introduction.)Nǐ néng jièshào yīxì zìjǐ ma? Could you introduce yourself briefly?

See also

Sources and further reading