Hi! I'm Studyfin, your tutor. Today we will learn how to build basic sentences in Mandarin Chinese!
In English, we usually say sentences in the order of Subject, Verb, and Object. For example, 'I eat apples.' In Mandarin Chinese, the basic word order is exactly the same!
Let us look at the three building blocks. The Subject is who does the action. The Verb is the action itself. The Object is what receives the action.
Now, let us compare Chinese with English. In English, we change the verb when a different person is speaking. For example, 'I eat' but 'He eats.' In Mandarin, verbs never change their form!
✏️ Worked example
Translate the English sentence 'My friend drinks water' into Mandarin Chinese step-by-step.
Identify the Subject. The person doing the action is 'My friend'. In Mandarin, 'my friend' is 'Wǒ de péngyǒu'.
Identify the Verb. The action being done is 'drinks'. In Mandarin, the verb 'to drink' is 'hē'. Remember, we do not add an 's' to the verb!
Identify the Object. The thing being drunk is 'water'. In Mandarin, 'water' is 'shuǐ'.
Put the pieces together in the Subject-Verb-Object order: 'Wǒ de péngyǒu' (Subject) + 'hē' (Verb) + 'shuǐ' (Object).
Read the complete sentence aloud: 'Wǒ de péngyǒu hē shuǐ'!
Want the full interactive lesson — quiz, animations, and Finn cheering them on?
Studyfin
✨ Sign up free
