一齐(yīqí) VS 一同(yītóng)

“一齐” (yīqí) and “一同” (yītóng) both mean “together” or “simultaneously,” but they are used in slightly different contexts and have subtle nuances in meaning.

一齐

一齐 indicates different subjects doing the same thing at the same time or one subject doing several things at the same time. The emphasis is more on the aspect of doing something at the same exact moment.

It’s usually used in written Chinese and formal speech, meaning “simultaneously.”

Subject + 一齐 + Verb phrase

e.g.

教室太脏了，大家一齐动手，清理一下教室吧。(Jiàoshì tài zāng le, dàjiā yīqí dòngshǒu, qīnglǐ yīxià jiàoshì ba.) The classroom is too dirty; let’s all work together to clean it up.

她一进来，我们就一齐说“生日快乐！” (Tā yī jìn lái, wǒmen jiù yīqí shuō “Shēngrì kuàilè!”) As soon as she came in, we all said “Happy Birthday!” together.

那个机场工作人员说，乘客和行李会一齐到达目的地，不会有问题。(Nàge jīchǎng gōngzuò rényuán shuō, chéngkè hé xíngli huì yīqí dàodá mùdìdì, bù huì yǒu wèntí.) The airport staff said that passengers and luggage would arrive at the destination together, there will be no problem.

这几个项目会一齐开展，大家可能会开始忙起来了。(Zhè jǐ gè xiàngmù huì yīqí kāizhǎn, dàjiā kěnéng huì kāishǐ máng qǐlái le.) These projects will start simultaneously, and everyone might begin to get busy.

Note: “一齐” denotes events occurring simultaneously, while “一起” refers to events taking place in the same location.

e.g.

As soon as she came in, we all simultaneously said “Happy Birthday!”

✘ 她一进来，我们就一起说“生日快乐！” (Tā yī jìn lái, wǒmen jiù yīqǐ shuō “Shēngrì kuàilè!”

✔ 她一进来，我们就一齐说“生日快乐！” (Tā yī jìn lái, wǒmen jiù yīqí shuō “Shēngrì kuàilè!”)

 

We take the plane together.

✘ 我们一齐坐飞机。(Wǒmen yīqí zuò fēijī.)

✔ 我们一起坐飞机。(Wǒmen yīqǐ zuò fēijī.)

Subject + 把/将 + Noun phrase + 一齐 + Verb phrase

e.g.

我们今天把这些问题一齐解决吧。(Wǒmen jīntiān bǎ zhèxiē wèntí yīqí jiějué ba.) Let’s solve these problems all at once today.

你将这些资料一齐整理一下。(Nǐ jiāng zhèxiē zīliào yīqí zhěnglǐ yīxià.) Please organize all these materials together at once.

我们会把这些文件一齐给你送过去。(Wǒmen huì bǎ zhèxiē wénjiàn yīqí gěi nǐ sòng guòqù.) We will send these documents over to you all at once.

请律师将证据一齐递交法官。(Qǐng lǜshī jiāng zhèngjù yīqí dìjiāo fǎguān.) Please, lawyer, submit all the evidence to the judge at once.

Note: When “一齐” refers to the object of the verb, the object should precede “一齐,” rather than following it.

e.g.

You organize these materials all together at once.

✘ 你一齐整理一下这些资料。(Nǐ yīqí zhěnglǐ yīxià zhèxiē zīliào.)

✔ 这些资料你一齐整理一下。(Zhèxiē zīliào nǐ yīqí zhěnglǐ yīxià.)

✔ 你把这些资料一齐整理一下。(Nǐ bǎ zhèxiē zīliào yīqí zhěnglǐ yīxià.)

 

We will send these documents over to you all together.

✘ 我们会一齐给你送过去这些文件。(Wǒmen huì yīqí gěi nǐ sòng guòqù zhèxiē wénjiàn.)

✔ 这些文件我们会一齐给你送过去。(Zhèxiē wénjiàn wǒmen huì yīqí gěi nǐ sòng guòqù.)

✔ 我们会将这些文件一齐给你送过去。(Wǒmen huì jiāng zhèxiē wénjiàn yīqí gěi nǐ sòng guòqù.)

一同

“一同” means doing something at the same time in the same place. There is a subtle emphasis on the togetherness and collaboration among the participants rather than the exact timing.

It can be used in written and spoken Chinese, and is slightly more formal than saying “一起”.

Note that the part that 一同refers to is usually plural.

 Subject + 一同 + Verb phrase

e.g.

我们一同学习了九年。(Wǒmen yītóng xuéxí le jiǔ nián.) We studied together for nine years.

让我们一同祝福这对恋人。(Ràng wǒmen yītóng zhùfú zhè duì liànrén.) Let’s all together wish this couple well.

明天早上八点我们在公园集合，一同出发去火车站。(Míngtiān zǎoshang bā diǎn wǒmen zài gōngyuán jíhé, yītóng chūfā qù huǒchēzhàn.) Tomorrow at 8 a.m., let’s meet at the park and leave together for the train station.

这次比赛第一是我们共同努力的结果。(Zhè cì bǐsài dì yī shì wǒmen gòngtóng nǔlì de jiéguǒ.) Winning first place in this competition is the result of our joint effort.

电脑和鼠标一同赠送。(Diànnǎo hé shǔbiāo yītóng zèngsòng.) The computer and mouse are given away together.

妈妈和孩子一同庆祝母亲节。(Māma hé háizi yītóng qìngzhù Mǔqīn jié.) The mother and child celebrate Mother’s Day together.

Subject + 把/将 + Noun phrase + 一同 + Verb phrase

e.g.

房东把房子和家具一同出售了。(Fángdōng bǎ fángzi hé jiājù yītóng chūshòu le.) The landlord sold the house and the furniture together.

我把孩子和狗一同送去奶奶家了。(Wǒ bǎ háizi hé gǒu yītóng sòng qù nǎinai jiā le.) I sent the child and the dog to grandma’s house together.

她将会议记录和工作文件一同寄给我了。(Tā jiāng huìyì jìlù hé gōngzuò wénjiàn yītóng jì gěi wǒ le.) She sent me the meeting minutes and work documents together.

请你把书和信件一同带过来。(Qǐng nǐ bǎ shū hé xìnjiàn yītóng dài guòlái.) Please bring the books and letters over together.

Note: When “一同” refers to the object of the verb, the object should precede “一同,” rather than following it.

e.g.

Please bring the books and letters over together.

✘ 请你一同带过来书和信件。(Qǐng nǐ yītóng dài guòlái shū hé xìnjiàn.)

✔ 请你将书和信件一同带过来。(Qǐng nǐ jiāng shū hé xìnjiàn yītóng dài guòlái.)

✔ 书和信件请你一同带过来。(Shū hé xìnjiàn qǐng nǐ yītóng dài guòlái.)

 

I sent the child and the dog to grandma’s house together.

✘ 我一同送孩子和狗去奶奶家了。(Wǒ yītóng sòng háizi hé gǒu qù nǎinai jiā le.)

✔ 我把孩子和狗一同送去奶奶家了。(Wǒ bǎ háizi hé gǒu yītóng sòng qù nǎinai jiā le.)

✔ 孩子和狗我一同送去奶奶家了。(Háizi hé gǒu wǒ yītóng sòng qù nǎinai jiā le.)

Summary

“一齐” and “一同” both serve as adverbial modifiers, typically referring to subjects or objects that are plural and preceding the terms “一齐” and “一同”. Although both can be translated as “together,” “一齐” emphasizes actions occurring simultaneously, while “一同” underscores the collective or group aspect of undertaking an activity.