While Mandarin Chinese grammar is often considered a unique challenge for learners, students of the language can rejoice in one aspect of grammatical simplicity: there is no verb conjugation in Chinese. In contrast to languages like English, Mandarin employs distinct methods for conveying past, present, and future tenses without altering the form of its verbs. Instead, it utilizes alternative approaches to indicate imminent or near-future events. Here, we\u2019ll delve into several of these techniques, which will prove highly practical and contribute to improving your proficiency in both written and spoken Chinese.<\/p>\n\n\n
To indicate that something will happen soon, you can use \u8981(y\u00e0o)\u2026\u2026\u4e86(le); or you can put \u5c31(ji\u00f9) or \u5feb(ku\u00e0i) before \u8981(y\u00e0o) to make \u5c31\u8981(ji\u00f9 y\u00e0o)\u2026\u2026\u4e86(le) or \u5feb\u8981(ku\u00e0i y\u00e0o)\u2026\u2026\u4e86(le).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u7535\u5f71\u8981\u5f00\u59cb\u4e86\uff0c\u4f60\u5feb\u70b9\u513f\uff01(Di\u00e0ny\u01d0n\u0261 y\u00e0o k\u0101ish\u01d0 le, n\u01d0 ku\u00e0i di\u00e1nr\uff01) \u98de\u673a\u5c31\u8981\u8d77\u98de\u4e86\u3002(F\u0113ij\u012b ji\u00f9y\u00e0o q\u01d0f\u0113i le.) \u8239\u5feb\u8981\u5f00\u4e86\u3002(Chu\u00e1n ku\u00e0iy\u00e0o k\u0101i le.) We can also describe future events using \u5feb(ku\u00e0i)\u2026\u2026\u4e86(le), which is similar to \u8981(y\u00e0o)\u2026\u2026\u4e86(le).<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u996d\u5feb\u716e\u597d\u4e86\u3002(F\u00e0n ku\u00e0i zh\u01d4 h\u01ceo le.) \u7ecf\u7406\u5feb\u6765\u4e86\u3002(J\u012bn\u0261l\u01d0 ku\u00e0i l\u00e1i le.) To turn these sentences into questions, add \u5417(ma) at the end followed by a question mark. The negative response to these questions is \u6ca1\u6709(m\u00e9i y\u01d2u).<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 \u8001\u5e08\u8981\u5f00\u59cb\u4e0a\u8bfe\u4e86\u5417\uff1f\uff08L\u01ceosh\u012b y\u00e0o k\u0101ish\u01d0 sh\u00e0n\u0261k\u00e8 le m\u0251?\uff09 \u2014 \u4f1a\u8bae\u5feb\u7ed3\u675f\u4e86\u5417\uff1f(Hu\u00ecy\u00ec ku\u00e0i ji\u00e9sh\u00f9 le m\u0251\uff1f) Generally speaking, \u5feb(ku\u00e0i)\u2026\u2026\u4e86(le) and \u8981(y\u00e0o)\u2026\u2026\u4e86(le). can be substituted for each other, but there are still some differences, as shown below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5feb<\/strong> + Verb\/Adjective\/<\/strong> Time words\/Quantifiers <\/strong>+<\/strong>\u4e86<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \uff08\u5feb\uff09\u8981<\/strong> + Verb\/Adjective +<\/strong>\u4e86<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u8f66\u5feb\/\u8981\u5f00\u4e86\u3002(Ch\u0113 ku\u00e0i\/y\u00e0o k\u0101i le.) \u7ca5\u5feb\/\u8981\u51b7\u4e86\u3002(Zh\u014du ku\u00e0i\/y\u00e0o l\u011bn\u0261 le.) \u5feb\u6625\u8282\u4e86\uff0c\u4ed6\u51c6\u5907\u597d\u56de\u5bb6\u8fc7\u6625\u8282\u4e86\u3002 \u6211\u5feb\u5341\u5c81\u4e86\uff0c\u6211\u4e0d\u5c0f\u4e86\u3002(W\u01d2 ku\u00e0i sh\u00edsu\u00ec le\uff0cw\u01d2 b\u00f9 xi\u01ceo le.) In general, \u5feb\u8981(ku\u00e0i y\u00e0o) \u2026\u2026\u4e86(le) and \u5c31\u8981(ji\u00f9 y\u00e0o)\u2026\u2026\u4e86(le) are interchangeable. However, the key difference lies in using \u5c31\u8981(ji\u00f9 y\u00e0o)\u2026\u2026\u4e86(le) when a specific time is mentioned in the sentence, in which case “\u5feb\u8981\u2026\u2026\u4e86” is not a suitable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4ed6\u4eec\u660e\u5929\u5c31\u8981\u51fa\u53d1\u4e86\u3002(T\u0101men m\u00edn\u0261ti\u0101n ji\u00f9 y\u00e0o ch\u016bf\u0101 le.) \u7238\u7238\u540e\u5929\u5c31\u8981\u51fa\u5dee\u4e86\u3002(B\u00e0b\u0251 h\u00f2uti\u0101n ji\u00f9y\u00e0o ch\u016bch\u0101i le.) Embracing the intricacies of Mandarin’s near-future expressions might seem like a small step, but it opens the door to a richer understanding of this fascinating language. As you delve into these methods and familiarize yourself with their nuances, you’ll find that the seemingly complex task of conveying imminent events becomes a commonplace part of your Mandarin communication toolkit. Remember, language is not just about words; it’s about the subtle art of expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your native language involves changing the form of verbs to indicate past, present, or future events, adapting to how Chinese expresses tense might initially seem challenging. The transition may take some time, but with consistent practice and a keen grasp of contextual usage, you’ll find that understanding these expressions becomes remarkably intuitive. Before you know it, you’ll seamlessly integrate them into your language repertoire, contributing to your growing expertise in Mandarin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, keep practicing, keep immersing yourself in the context, and soon enough, you’ll find yourself effortlessly navigating the realm of Mandarin’s linguistic landscape.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" While Mandarin Chinese grammar is often considered a unique challenge for learners, students of the language can rejoice in one aspect of grammatical simplicity: there is no verb conjugation in Chinese. In contrast to languages like English, Mandarin employs distinct methods for conveying past, present, and future tenses without altering the form of its verbs.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":111,"featured_media":8525,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,176],"tags":[77,7,93,78,80,81],"post_series":[],"class_list":["post-8522","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learn-mandarin-online","category-usage","tag-beginner","tag-grammar","tag-how-to-use","tag-intermediate","tag-self-study","tag-speaking","entry","has-media"],"yoast_head":"\n
The movie is about to start, hurry up!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The airplane is about to take off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ship is about to leave.<\/p>\n\n\nMethod 2: \u5feb\u2026\u2026\u4e86<\/h2>\n\n\n
The rice is almost cooked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The manager is about to arrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Will the teacher start class soon?
\u2014 \u6ca1\u6709\u3002(M\u00e9i y\u01d2u.)
Not yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Will the meeting be over soon?
\u2014\u6ca1\u6709\u3002(M\u00e9i y\u01d2u.)
Not yet.<\/p>\n\n\nDifferences:<\/h2>\n\n
\u5feb\u2026\u2026\u4e86 VS (\u5feb)\u8981\u2026\u2026\u4e86<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
The car is about to leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The porridge is getting cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Ku\u00e0i ch\u016bnji\u00e9 le, t\u0101 zh\u01d4nb\u00e8i h\u01ceo hu\u00edji\u0101 \u0261u\u00f2 ch\u016bnji\u00e9 le.)
The Spring Festival is coming, and he is ready to go home and spend it there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I’m almost ten years old; I’m not young anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\u201c\u5feb\u8981\u2026\u2026\u4e86\u201d VS \u201c\u5c31\u8981\u2026\u2026\u4e86\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n
They will set out tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My father will be on a business trip the day after tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\nConclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n