To go, come and return in Chinese - Lesson 15

In this online Chinese lesson we will be dealing with the theme of "getting together again" and will teach us the use of the verbs "to go", "come" and "return".

Contents of this lesson

1. Vocabulary

2. Grammar

3. Dialogues

4. Exercises

1. Vocabulary

Verbs

Others

2. Grammar

A. "Together" 一起 ‹ yīqǐ ›

一起 ‹ yīqǐ › is an adverb; it is therefor placed just before the verb in a Chinese sentence. 

B. Sentences with multiple verbs

Some Chinese sentences-especially with the verbs 去 ‹ qù ›, 来 ‹ lái › and 回 ‹ huí ›- are composed of several verbs. In this lesson we will be learning about sentences with verbal series, the second verb function is to convey the purpose/objective of the first.

• 我们 一起 去 (餐馆) 吃饭。 ‹ Wǒmen yīqǐ qù (cānguǎn) chīfàn. ›
  We are going (to the restaurant) to eat together .
• 我 去 (银行) 取钱。 ‹ Wǒ qù (yínháng) qǔqián. ›
  I'm going (to the bank) to withdraw money.
• 我 回 (家) 去 上网。 ‹ Wǒ huí (jiā) qù shàngwǎng. ›
  I go back (home) to browse the Internet.
• 来 (我家) 吃饭 吧。 ‹ Lái (wǒjiā) chīfàn ba. ›
  Come (at home) to eat.

3. Dialogues

Dialogue N° 1

- 王丽，好久不见！ ‹ Wáng Lì, hǎojiǔ bùjiàn! ›
- 大卫，好久不见！你好吗？ ‹ Dàwèi, hǎojiǔ bùjiàn! Nǐ hǎo ma? ›
- 很好，谢谢！你呢？你身体好吗？ ‹ Hěn hǎo, xièxie! Nǐ ne? Nǐ shēntǐ hǎo ma? ›
- 我也很好！身体很好。 学习忙不忙？ ‹ Wǒ yě hěn hǎo! Shēntǐ hěn hǎo. Xuéxí máng bù máng? ›
- 不忙。你去哪儿？ ‹ Bù máng. Nǐ qù nǎr? ›
- 我去银行取钱。你呢？ ‹ Wǒ qù yínháng qǔqián. Nǐ ne? ›
- 我回家去上网。我想发一个电子邮件。 ‹ Wǒ huí jiā qù shàngwǎng. Wǒ xiǎng fā yī gè diànzǐyóujiàn. ›
- 在图书馆也可以上网。 ‹ Zài túshūguǎn yě kěyǐ shàngwǎng. ›
- 真的吗？我现在去图书馆吧。 ‹ Zhēnde ma? Wǒ xiànzài qù túshū guǎn ba. ›
- 大卫，你的电话号码是多少？ ‹ Dàwèi, nǐ de diànhuà hàomǎ shì duōshǎo? ›
- 1 3 8 7 5 8 0 0 0 0 0 。
- 好。再见！ ‹ Hǎo. Zàijiàn! ›
- 再见！ ‹ Zàijiàn! ›

Translation :

- Wang Li, it's a long time we haven't seen each other!
- David, it's been long! How are you?
- Very well thank you! And you? Is your health alright?
- I am good too. Health is good. And the studies, do they keep you busy?
- No ... Where are you going?
- I am going to the bank to withdraw money. And you?
- I'm going back home to go on the Internet. I would like to send an email.
- We can also browse the Internet at the library.
- Really? I stop by the library ...
- David, what's your phone number?
- 13875800000
- Okay. Goodbye!
- Goodbye!

Dialogue N° 2

- 喂，我是王丽！ ‹ Wéi, wǒ shì Wáng Lì! ›
- 王丽，你怎么样？ ‹ Wáng Lì, nǐ zěnme yàng? ›
- 我很好，谢谢！ ‹ Wǒ hěn hǎo, xièxie! ›
- 你有时间吗？有时间来我家吃饭或者我们一起去餐馆吃饭吧。 ‹ Nǐ yǒu shíjiān ma? Yǒu shíjiān lái wǒjiā chīfàn huòzhě wǒmen yīqǐ qù cānguǎn chīfàn ba. ›
- 好。我现在去你家。 ‹ Hǎo. Wǒ xiànzài qù nǐ jiā. ›

Translation :

- Hello, this is Wang Li!
- Wang Li, how are you?
- Very well thank you!
- Do you have time? If you have time, come home or let's go to a restaurant to eat.
- OK, I pass by your home.

4. Exercises

A. Answer the questions

Answer the following questions in Chinese, according to the previous dialogues:

1. 王丽去银行做什么？ ‹ Wáng Lì qù yínháng zuò shénme? ›
2. 大卫回家做什么？ ‹ Dàwèi huí jiā zuò shénme? ›
3. 王丽想大卫来她家做什么？ ‹ Wáng Lì xiǎng Dàwèi lái tā jiā zuò shénme? ›

B. Substitution exercise

Create sentences having verbal series with the subjects, verbs and objects listed below: