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。(Wǒmen jiàn guò miàn.) We have met each other.

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

他正就睡着了。(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.

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

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

过我几回。(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.

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

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

孩子们了一个月。(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。(tīng dào zhè ge xiāoxi, tā shēng qǐ qì lái.) Hearing this news, she got angry.

这两个陌生人突然。(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.

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.

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

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.)

你好像她的了。(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.)

他经常我的。(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.

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

他一辈子了三次。(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.

我们半个小时。(Wǒmen zhàoxiàng zhào le bàn ge xiǎoshí.) We spent half an hour taking photos.

他一辈子三次。(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.

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

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

 

我们都黑板上的字,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。(Zhèxiē zuòyè hěn nán, jīntiān wǒmen dōu wán bùchéng.) These assignments are difficult, and we can’t finish them today.

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

1. 我昨天刚跟他 ___ ,他长胖了。(Wǒ zuótiān gāng gēn tā ___ , tā zhǎng pàng le.)
A.
B.
C.
D.
2. 我正 ___ 呢,就听到外边有人在唱歌。(Wǒ zhèng ___ ne, jiù tīngdào wàibian yǒu rén zài chànggē.)
A.
B.
C.
D.
3. 我跟妹妹经常去游泳,上个月 ___ 。(Wǒ gēn mèimei jīngcháng qù yóuyǒng, shàng gè yuè ___ .)
A.
B.
C.
D.
4. 妹妹回英国以后,我们只 ___ 。(Mèimei huí Yīngguó yǐhòu, wǒmen zhǐ ___ .)
A.
B.
C.
D.
5. 我们已经 ___ 了,但是现在还没有开完。(Wǒmen yǐjīng ___ le, dànshì xiànzài hái méiyǒu kāiwán.)
A.
B.
C.
D.

 

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3 Responses

  1. In the 5th group of tasks the answer no. 3 shows as wrong in spite of the right order of the selected words. 了 is preceeded by II, and it gives a false result.

  2. Hello! In the 9th task I have selected A as an answer, but it was marked as wrong, although the explanation itself confirms that it is the right answer.
    9. 听到这个消息,他高兴地 ___ 。(Tīngdào zhè ge xiāoxī, tā gāoxìng de ___ .)

    A. 跳起舞来
    (tiào qǐ wǔ lái)

    >> Here ”跳舞” is a separable word. It means dance. The directional complement words can placed between the two characters that make up a separable word. The two constituent morphemes of separable words are separated from ”起来”. Thus, ”跳起舞来” is correct, it means start to dance.

    Can you please correct it?

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