The Separable words – 离合词

The Separable words – 离合词

The separable word can be used as a single word or a phrase. There can be some other elements in between.

Some typical examples You Might Use Wrongly.

e.g.

✘ 我想和你吃饭一顿。(Wǒ xiǎng hé nǐ chīfàn yī dùn.)

✘ 他洗澡了一个小时。(Tā xǐzǎole yīgè xiǎoshí.)

✘ 请你帮忙我。(Qǐng nǐ bāngmáng wǒ.)

✘ 我们见面过一次。(Wǒmen jiànmiànguò yīcì.)

Two types of separable words,

“Verb + Object” construction separable words

And the verb can be used without the object.

The common words: 帮忙、点头、放假、干杯、见面、结婚、离婚、看病、睡觉、洗澡、理发、说话、聊天、游泳……

1. The modifiers are often placed between the two characters that make up a separable word, such as

the dynamic auxiliary words, like “着 (zhe), 了(le), 过(guò)”;

e.g.

我们见过面。(Wǒmen jiàn guò miàn.) We have met each other.

放了假我就要去旅行。(Fàng le jiǎ wǒ jiù yào qù lǚxíng.) I’m going to travel on vacation.

他正洗着澡就睡着了。(Tā zhèng xǐzhe zǎo jiù shuìzháo le.) He fell asleep in the shower.

the complement words of momentum, such as “次(cì) 趟(tàng) 遍(biàn) and etc.;

e.g.

她结过两次婚。(Tā jié guò liǎng cì hūn.) She has been married two times.

来中国以后，我们只见过一次面。(Lái Zhōngguó yǐhòu, wǒmen zhǐ jiànguò yīcì miàn.) After coming to China, we only met once.

他帮过我几回忙。(Tā bāngguò wǒ jǐ huí máng.) He helped me several times.

the quantifier complements, such as “一个小时(yí gè xiǎoshí) , 三天(sān tiān)” and etc.;

e.g.

他看了一个小时书。(Tā kàn le yí gè xiǎoshí shū.) He read the book for an hour.

老师对我点了一下头。(Lǎoshī duì wǒ diǎnle yīxià tóu.) The teacher nodded to me.

孩子们放了一个月假。(Háizimen fàngle yīgè yuè jià.) The children took a month off.

the directional complement words, such as “起来(qǐlái), 下去(xiàqù)” and etc.

e.g.

听到这个消息，她生起气来。(tīng dào zhè ge xiāoxi, tā shēng qǐ qì lái.) Hearing this news, she got angry.

这两个陌生人突然干起杯来。(Zhè liǎng gè mòshēng rén tūrán gān qǐ bēi lái.) The two strangers suddenly toasted.

the result complement words, such as “完(wán), 好(hǎo)” and etc.

e.g.

你洗好澡了吗？ 已经一个小时了。(Nǐ xǐ hǎo zǎo le ma? Yǐjīng yīgè xiǎoshí le.) Have you finished the bath yet? It’s been an hour.

我看完病给你打电话。(Wǒ kàn wán bìng gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà.) I’ll call you after seeing the doctor.

离完婚我们就别再见面了。(Lí wán hūn wǒmen jiù bié zài jiànmiàn le.) We won’t meet again after we divorce.

2. You can`t add an object directly after the separable word. Instead, the object can be introduced in the sentence by preposition or pronoun.

e.g.

X 我今天下午见面他。(Wǒ jīntiān xiàwǔ jiànmiàn tā.)

我今天下午和他见面。(Wǒ jīntiān xiàwǔ hé tā jiànmiàn.) I will meet him this afternoon.

 

X 你应该道歉他。(Nǐ yīnggāi dàoqiàn tā.)

你应该向他道歉。(Nǐ yīnggāi xiàng tā dàoqiàn.) You should make an apology to him.

 

X 你好像生气她了。(Nǐ hǎoxiàng shēng qì tā le.)

你好像生她的气了。(Nǐ hǎoxiàng shēng tā de qì le.) It seems that you are angry with her.

 

X 他经常帮忙我。(Tā jīngcháng bāngmáng wǒ.)

他经常帮我的忙。(Tā jīngcháng bāng wǒ de máng.) He often helps me.

3. The overlapping form of separable words： AAB

e.g.

我想和你聊聊天儿。(Wǒ xiǎng hé nǐ liáo liáotiānr.) I want to have a chat with you.

晚饭后我们出去散散步吧。(Wǎnfàn hòu wǒmen chūqù sàn sànbù ba.) Let’s go for a walk after dinner.

In contrast, the overlapping form of the general normal words: AABB

e.g.

下课了，大家休息休息吧！(Xiàkè le, dàjiā xiūxi xiūxiba.) Class is over and you can all can have a rest.

这个问题很复杂，我们需要讨论讨论再做决定。(Zhè ge wèntí hěn fùzá, wǒmen xǖyào tǎolùn tǎolùn zài zuò juédìng.) It’s such a complicated problem that we need further discussion before making the decision.

4. When there is a complement of momentum or quantifier complement to modify the separable word, you can put the modifier between the two characters.

e.g.

我们照了半个小时相。(Wǒmen zhào le bàn ge xiǎoshíxiàng.) We spent half an hour taking photos.

他一辈子结了三次婚。(Tā yíbèizi jié le sān cì hūn.) He got married three times in his whole life.

Or You can also repeat the verb in front.

e.g.

我们照相照了半个小时。(Wǒmen zhàoxiàng zhào le bàn ge xiǎoshí.) We spent half an hour taking photos.

他一辈子结婚结了三次。(Tā yíbèizi jiéhūn jié le sān cì.) He got married three times in his whole life.

“Verb + Complement” construction separable words

The common words: 打开、看见、离开、完成……

“不” or “得” is often used in between the separable word. Note that the negative form of it is putting 不 after the verb and before the complement.

e.g.

我打不开你的电脑。(Wǒ dǎ bù kāi nǐ de diànnǎo.) I can’t open your computer.

他打得开你的电脑。(Tā dǎ de kāi nǐ de diànnǎo.) He can open your computer.

 

我们都看不见黑板上的字，太小了。(Wǒmen dōu kàn bùjiàn hēibǎn shàng de zì, tài xiǎole.) We can’t see the words on the blackboard, it’s too small.

但是他们都看得见黑板上的字。(Dànshì tāmen dōu kàn de jiàn hēibǎn shàng de zì.) But they can all see the words on the blackboard.

 

这些作业很难，今天我们都完不成。(Zhèxiē zuòyè hěn nán, jīntiān wǒmen dōu wán bùchéng.) These assignments are difficult, and we can’t finish them today.

可能明天完得成这些作业。(Kěnéng míngtiān wán de chéng zhèxiē zuòyè.) This homework may be completed tomorrow.