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

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* 请 你 等 <em>一下</em>。<span class="expl">(You get the feeling that it shouldn't be a long wait.)</span><span class="pinyin">Qǐng nǐ děng <em>yīxià</em>. </span> <span class="trans">Please wait a little bit. </span>
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* 请 你 等 <em>一下</em>。<span class="expl">You get the feeling that it shouldn't be a long wait.)</span><span class="pinyin">Qǐng nǐ děng <em>yīxià</em>. </span> <span class="trans">Please wait a little bit. </span>
* 你 看 <em>一下</em>。<span class="expl">(It should be quick.)</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ kàn <em>yīxià</em>. </span> <span class="trans">Take a look. </span>
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* 你 看 <em>一下</em>。<span class="expl">It should be quick.)</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ kàn <em>yīxià</em>. </span> <span class="trans">Take a look. </span>
* 试 <em>一下</em> 吧。<span class="expl">(How long can trying it take??)</span><span class="pinyin">Shì <em>yīxià</em> ba. </span> <span class="trans">Try it. </span>
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* 试 <em>一下</em> 吧。<span class="expl">How long can trying it take??)</span><span class="pinyin">Shì <em>yīxià</em> ba. </span> <span class="trans">Try it. </span>
* 我 要 想 <em>一下</em>。<span class="expl">(You're supposed to believe that I won't need to think about it long.)</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào xiǎng <em>yīxià</em>. </span> <span class="trans">I want to think a little. </span>
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* 我 要 想 <em>一下</em>。<span class="expl">You're supposed to believe that I won't need to think about it long.)</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào xiǎng <em>yīxià</em>. </span> <span class="trans">I want to think a little. </span>
* 开 <em>一下</em> 门 吧 。 <span class="expl">(How long can it take to open the door?)</span><span class="pinyin">Kāi <em>yīxià</em> mén. </span> <span class="trans">Please open the door. </span>
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* 开 <em>一下</em> 门 吧 。 <span class="expl">How long can it take to open the door?)</span><span class="pinyin">Kāi <em>yīxià</em> mén. </span> <span class="trans">Please open the door. </span>
* 请 你 说 <em>一下</em> 为什么。<span class="expl">(I feel it should be a quick explanation.)</span><span class="pinyin">Qǐng nǐ shuō <em>yīxià</em> wèishénme. </span> <span class="trans">Please say why. </span>
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* 请 你 说 <em>一下</em> 为什么。<span class="expl">I feel it should be a quick explanation.)</span><span class="pinyin">Qǐng nǐ shuō <em>yīxià</em> wèishénme. </span> <span class="trans">Please say why. </span>
* 不要 生气 了,笑 <em>一下</em>!<span class="expl">(Just one quick laugh!)</span><span class="pinyin">Bù yào shēngqì le, xiào <em>yīxià</em>! </span> <span class="trans">Don't be mad, laugh! </span>
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* 不要 生气 了,笑 <em>一下</em>!<span class="expl">Just one quick laugh!)</span><span class="pinyin">Bù yào shēngqì le, xiào <em>yīxià</em>! </span> <span class="trans">Don't be mad, laugh! </span>
* 宝宝,亲 <em>一下</em> 爸爸。<span class="expl">(If a baby's kiss isn't quick, it's weird for everyone.)</span><span class="pinyin">Bǎobǎo, qīn <em>yīxià</em> bàba. </span> <span class="trans">Baby, give your dad a kiss. </span>
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* 宝宝,亲 <em>一下</em> 爸爸。<span class="expl">If a baby's kiss isn't quick, it's weird for everyone.)</span><span class="pinyin">Bǎobǎo, qīn <em>yīxià</em> bàba. </span> <span class="trans">Baby, give your dad a kiss. </span>
* 你 可以 来 <em>一下</em> 我 的 办公室 吗?<span class="expl">(Just come real quick.)</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ lái <em>yīxià</em> wǒ de bàngōngshì ma? </span> <span class="trans">Could you please come to my office? </span>
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* 你 可以 来 <em>一下</em> 我 的 办公室 吗?<span class="expl">Just come real quick.)</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ lái <em>yīxià</em> wǒ de bàngōngshì ma? </span> <span class="trans">Could you please come to my office? </span>
* 你 能 介绍 <em>一下</em> 自己 吗 ? <span class="expl">(Not your life story, just a brief self-introduction.)</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ néng jièshào <em>yīxià</em> zìjǐ ma? </span> <span class="trans">Could you introduce yourself briefly? </span>
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* 你 能 介绍 <em>一下</em> 自己 吗 ? <span class="expl">Not your life story, just a brief self-introduction.)</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ néng jièshào <em>yīxià</em> zìjǐ ma? </span> <span class="trans">Could you introduce yourself briefly? </span>
  
 
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Revision as of 07:48, 17 February 2016

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.

Subj. + Verb + 一下 + Obj.

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 kàn yīxià. Take a look.
  • 一下 吧。How long can trying it take??)Shì yīxià ba. 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.
  • 一下 门 吧 。 How long can it take to open the door?)Kāi yīxià mén. Please open the door.
  • 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 生气 了,笑 一下Just one quick laugh!)Bù yào shēngqì le, xiào yīxià! Don't be mad, 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.
  • 你 可以 来 一下 我 的 办公室 吗?Just come real quick.)Nǐ kěyǐ lái yīxià wǒ de bàngōngshì ma? Could you please come to my office?
  • 你 能 介绍 一下 自己 吗 ? Not your life story, just a brief self-introduction.)Nǐ néng jièshào yīxià zìjǐ ma? Could you introduce yourself briefly?

See also

Sources and further reading