{"id":8225,"date":"2017-01-16T14:47:36","date_gmt":"2017-01-16T14:47:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/?p=8225"},"modified":"2023-07-19T08:13:15","modified_gmt":"2023-07-19T08:13:15","slug":"understanding-sentences-serial-verb-phrases-chinese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/understanding-sentences-serial-verb-phrases-chinese.html","title":{"rendered":"\u8fde\u52a8\u53e5: Enhance Your Mandarin Fluency with Serial Verb Phrases"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Have you ever marveled at the elegant flow of Mandarin speakers effortlessly weaving together words? Their sentences possess a unique charm, conveying not just the meaning but also the essence of their thoughts. Among the many special sentence structures in Mandarin, there is one that captures the attention of language enthusiasts and cultural explorers alike: \u8fde\u52a8\u53e5 (li\u00e1n d\u00f2ng j\u00f9), commonly known as Serial Verb Phrases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, what exactly are Serial Verb Phrases? To put it simply, they express reasons, purposes, or ways of doing something. In this article, we\u2019ll break down the various uses of these phrases and provide guidance to help you start employing them in your own daily conversations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sentences with Serial Verb Phrases include two or more verbs or verbal phrases that describe the same subject. The basic form is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Subject + Verb 1 + (Object 1) + Verb 2 + (Object 2)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Each piece of the structure has a distinct purpose, which are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n In this form, Verb 1 describes how Verb 2 is done. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u5f00\u8f66\u53bb\u8d85\u5e02\u3002(W\u01d2 k\u0101i ch\u0113 q\u00f9 ch\u0101osh\u00ec.) \u6211\u4eec\u7528\u7b77\u5b50\u5403\u996d\u3002(W\u01d2men y\u00f2n\u0261 ku\u00e0izi ch\u012bf\u00e0n.) Verb 2 can be used to indicate the purpose of Verb 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4ed6\u53bb\u516c\u56ed\u73a9\u3002(T\u0101 q\u00f9 \u0261\u014dn\u0261yu\u00e1n w\u00e1n.) \u5976\u5976\u4e0a\u8857\u4e70\u83dc\u3002(N\u01cein\u0251i sh\u00e0n\u0261ji\u0113 m\u01cei c\u00e0i.) Sometimes, Verb 2 notes the result of Verb 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u542c\u4e86\u5f88\u9ad8\u5174\u3002(W\u01d2 t\u012bn\u0261 le h\u011bn \u0261\u0101o x\u00ecn\u0261.) \u5f1f\u5f1f\u751f\u75c5\u4f4f\u9662\u4e86\u3002(D\u00ecdi sh\u0113n\u0261b\u00ecn\u0261 zh\u00f9yu\u00e0n le.) Serial Verb Phrases can also be used to describe the chronological order of events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5927\u5bb6\u6392\u961f\u4e0a\u8f66\uff01(D\u00e0ji\u0101 p\u00e1idu\u00ec sh\u00e0n\u0261ch\u0113.) \u6211\u8d77\u5e8a\u7a7f\u8863\u670d\u3002(W\u01d2 q\u01d0chu\u00e1n\u0261 chu\u0101n y\u012bfu.) You may also come across Serial Verb Phrases containing \u6709(y\u01d2u) or \u2018\u6ca1\u6709\u2019(m\u00e9i y\u01d2u). These usually indicate that you either have or don\u2019t have the object of Verb 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4ed6\u6709<\/strong>\u4e8b\u627e\u4f60\u3002(T\u0101 y\u01d2u sh\u00ec zh\u01ceo n\u01d0.) \u6211\u6ca1\u6709\u8bdd\u8bf4\u3002(W\u01d2 m\u00e9iy\u01d2u hu\u00e0 shu\u014d.) Finally, there are some cases where Verb 1 and Verb 2 indicate the same thing, but the first is affirmative while the second is negative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4ed6\u5750\u7740\u4e0d\u52a8\u3002(T\u0101 zu\u00f2zhe b\u00fa d\u00f2n\u0261.) \u5f1f\u5f1f\u95ed\u53e3\u4e0d\u8bf4\u8bdd\u3002(D\u00ecdi b\u00eck\u01d2u b\u00f9 shu\u014dhu\u00e0.) 1)<\/strong> The order of elements in sentences with Serial Verb Phrases\u00a0cannot<\/u><\/em>\u00a0be changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2)<\/strong> There is no conjunction or comma between Verb 1 and Verb 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3)<\/strong> In this structure, the verb (specifically Verb 2) can be duplicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u53bb\u516c\u56ed\u901b\u901b<\/u>\u3002(W\u01d2 q\u00f9 \u0261\u014dn\u0261yu\u00e1n \u0261u\u00e0n\u0261\u0261uan\u0261.) \u6211\u53bb\u8d85\u5e02\u4e70\u4e70<\/u>\u4e1c\u897f\u3002(W\u01d2 q\u00f9 ch\u0101osh\u00ec m\u01ceimai d\u014dn\u0261xi.) 4)<\/strong> For added meaning, we can sometimes add \u53ef (k\u011b) before Verb 2, using the idiomatic phrase ‘\u65e0\u2026\u53ef\u2026'(w\u00fa\u2026 k\u011b)<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5546\u573a\u91cc\u6709\u5f88\u591a\u6253\u6298\u5546\u54c1\u53ef\u4e70\uff0c\u53ef\u4ee5<\/u>\u53bb\u770b\u770b\u3002 \u73b0\u5728\u6211\u65e0<\/u>\u4e8b\u53ef<\/u>\u5e72\u3002(Xi\u00e0nz\u00e0i w\u01d2 w\u00fa sh\u00ec k\u011b \u0261\u00e0n.) We have uncovered six different uses of Serial Verb Phrases. They are summarized in the chart below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n1. Means or Manner<\/h2>\n\n\n
I drive to go to the supermarket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We use chopsticks to eat.<\/p>\n\n\n2. Purpose<\/h2>\n\n\n
He goes to the park to play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grandma went to the market to buy food.<\/p>\n\n\n3. Result<\/h2>\n\n\n
I\u2019m so happy after hearing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Younger brother has been sick in the hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n4. Succession<\/h2>\n\n\n
Please line up for boarding!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get up and put on clothes.<\/p>\n\n\n5. Using \u6709 or \u6ca1\u6709<\/h2>\n\n\n
He\u2019s looking for you for something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have nothing to say.<\/p>\n\n\n6. Affirmative\/Negative<\/h2>\n\n\n
He sat still.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Younger brother closes his mouth and doesn\u2019t talk.<\/p>\n\n\nNotes<\/h2>\n\n\n
I will go to the park for fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I will go to the supermarket to buy something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Sh\u0101n\u0261ch\u01cen\u0261 l\u01d0 y\u01d2u h\u011bn du\u014d d\u01cezh\u00e9 sh\u0101n\u0261p\u01d0n k\u011b m\u01cei\uff0ck\u00e9y\u01d0 q\u00f9 k\u00e0nk\u0251n.)
There are so many goods on sale to buy, you can go and have a look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0Now I have nothing to do.<\/p>\n\n\nSummary<\/h2>\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n