Chinese (Mandarin)/Lesson 3

= Lesson 3: 助詞 = The Chinese language employs heavy usage of particles to modify the meaning of characters and sentences. Since Chinese has neither inflections nor tense, the mastery of particles is an absolute must if one is to fully comprehend both written and spoken Chinese. Below, you will find some of the most common particles in everyday Chinese.

The De {的} particle
Example: 她 的   名字   是   金妮. Tā de míngzi shì Jīnní. Her name is Ginny.

Example 她是一个美丽的姑娘 Tā shì yīge měilì de gū’niang. She is a beautiful girl.

where "美丽" "beautiful" is an adjective, and

Example 研究是一个科学的过程 Yánjīu shì yígè kēxué dè guòchéng Researching is a scientific process.

and where "科学" is a noun in Chinese and is turned into adjective using "的".

The Le {了} / Liăo {了} particle
Perfective Aspect Particle

Example:

他 走  了. Tā zŏu le. He has gone. ※The "le" here is used to modify 走 (zŏu, to go) into an action which has already been completed.

Example:

別  再   打扰  我  了! 別  再   打擾  我  了! Bié zài dărăo wŏ le! Do not bother me again!

※In this instance, le is used in conjunction with bié ("do not") to form an imperative. Note: most imperatives are not formed using this construction.

Example:

我 实在    吃  不  了   了. 我 實在    吃  不  了   了. Wŏ shízài chī bù liăo le. I cannot possibly eat any more.

At first glance, this sentence may seem a bit daunting as it includes two instances of the le particle, paired side-by-side. However, the first le is understood to be liăo given its placement (bù + le is a nonsensical pairing). Therefore, liăo serves to indicate the capability of eating any further and le emphasizes this assertion.

The Zhe [着] particle showing continuation
1. 他睡着觉时有人敲门.
 * Tā shuìzhe jiào shí yǒurén qiāomén
 * While he was sleeping, someone knocked on the door.
 * For this sentence, you can take out "着" and say "他睡觉时有人敲门. " as "时" means "while" here.

The Zháo [着] particle indicating accomplishment
1. 我终于把东西买着了! (我終於把東西買著了!)


 * Wŏ zhōngyú bă dōngxī măi zháo le.
 * I've finally been able to buy this item!

And another word, dào [到], can be seen as a substitution for 着, in most cases they are interchangeable.

2. 他在行窃时被当场抓到.
 * Tā zài xíng qìe shí beì dāng chǎng zhuā dào.
 * He was(is) caught in the act of stealing.

The 把 + N + V + 着(到)了 construction is particularly useful and should be studied.

The De [得] particle indicating degree
1. 我说得很好.
 * Wŏ shuō de hěn hăo.
 * I speak very well.

This construct often requires a context to gain its full meaning.

If you wish to speak more specifically about an action, the two constructs below demonstrate the use of 得 with a direct object.

2. 我说中文说得很好.
 * Wŏ shuō zhōngwén shuō de hěn hăo.
 * I speak Chinese very well.

Note the dual-use of the verb.

3. 中文我说得很好.
 * Zhōngwén wŏ shuō de hěn hăo.
 * I speak Chinese very well.

This construct emphasizes the object (here being "Chinese").

4. 我中文说得很好.
 * Wŏ zhōngwén shuō de hěn hăo.
 * I speak Chinese very well.

This expression is the simplification of the 2nd expression by eliminating the 1st verb. This form is even more frequently used than the 2nd expression above.

Vocabulary
Note: Visit this lesson's Stroke Order subpage to see images and animations detailing how to write the following characters. Audio files of the words are linked from the pīnyīn when available. Problems listening? See media help.

Cinese/Lezione 3 Chiński/Podstawy/Lekcja 3 de:Chinesisch: Lektion 3