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

m (Text replacement - "</span> <span class=" to "</span><span class=")
Line 21: Line 21:
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 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>
+
* 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>
+
* 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>
+
* 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>
+
* 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 ba. </span> <span class="trans">Please open the door. </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 ba. </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>
+
* 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 pdf-simple-expl">Just one quick laugh!</span><span class="pinyin">Bùyào shēngqì le, xiào <em>yīxià</em>! </span> <span class="trans">Don't be mad, laugh! </span>
+
* 不要 生气 了,笑 <em>一下</em>!<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">Just one quick laugh!</span><span class="pinyin">Bùyào 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">Bǎobao, qīn <em>yīxià</em> bàba. </span> <span class="trans">Baby, give your dad a kiss. </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">Bǎobao, 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 pdf-simple-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 可以 来 <em>一下</em> 我 的 办公室 吗?<span class="expl pdf-simple-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>
+
* 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>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>

Revision as of 03:52, 24 May 2017

Chinese-grammar-wiki-yixia.jpg

After briefly reading this article, you will know how to use 一下 (yīxià) to express a brief action!

Note: The pinyin for 一下 is written "yīxià" but pronounced "yíxià" due to a tone change rule.

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 ba. 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!Bùyào 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.Bǎobao, 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