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 ===
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'''Note:''' The pinyin for 一下 is written "yīxià" but pronounced "yíxià" due to a [http://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/pronunciation/Tone_change_rules tone change rule].
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== 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 ==
  
 
<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>
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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>
* 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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* 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>
* 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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* 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>
* 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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* 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>
* 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>
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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">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">(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 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>
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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>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
  
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (p. 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]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|20}}
*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册)]] (p. 206)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|126}}
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{{Source|40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册)|206}}
  
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK2}}
 
[[Category:Verbs]]
 
[[Category:Verbs]]
{{Basic Grammar|一下|A2|V + 一下|你 <em>看 一下</em> 。|grammar point|ASGWCESP}}
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{{Basic Grammar|一下|A2|Verb + 一下|你 <em>看 一下</em> 。|grammar point|ASGWCESP}}
 
{{Similar|Verb reduplication with yi}}
 
{{Similar|Verb reduplication with yi}}
 
{{Similar|Verb reduplication}}   
 
{{Similar|Verb reduplication}}   

Revision as of 09:04, 27 February 2019

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