Essential Grammar for Chinese Serial Verbs
In this post we’ll learn about Chinese serial verbs, a common construction in Chinese that stacks two or more verbs together with one subject. First, we’ll start with an overview and define what, exactly, Chinese serial verbs are. Next, we’ll look at how to form these constructions. After that we’ll turn to the most common meanings that Chinese serial verbs convey. Finally, we’ll look at how to use negation and other important particles with Chinese serial verbs.
Overview: What Are Chinese Serial Verbs?
First, let’s start with the basics. A serial verb construction (连动句 liándòngjù) is a sentence that contains two or more verbs or verb phrases occurring in sequence without conjunctions such as and, because, or in order to. The verbs share the same subject and together describe a single event or a closely connected sequence of actions. These are called serial verbs because they form a series or chain of verbs.
English often uses infinitives, conjunctions, or subordinate clauses where Chinese simply places verbs one after another in a series. If we use English words to express the Chinese construction, it looks like this:
- English: “I went to the store to buy fruit.”
- Chinese: “I went to the store buy fruit.”
The relationship between the verbs is understood from context and word order.
- 我去超市买水果。
Wǒ qù chāoshì mǎi shuǐguǒ.
I go to the supermarket to buy fruit. - 他坐飞机去北京。
Tā zuò fēijī qù Běijīng.
He goes to Beijing by plane. - 我们回家吃饭。
Wǒmen huí jiā chīfàn.
We go home to eat.
In each example, multiple verbs occur in sequence and function together as one clause.
Structure of Serial Verb Constructions
Now let’s look at how to form Chinese serial verbs. The basic pattern is:
Subject + Verb Phrase 1 + Verb Phrase 2 (+ Verb Phrase 3…)
The verbs normally:
- share the same subject,
- are not connected by conjunctions,
- represent closely related actions that occur in a logically connected chain
Simple Structure
The simplest form of a serial verb construction is:
Subject + V₁ + V₂
- 我去图书馆学习。
Wǒ qù túshūguǎn xuéxí.
I go to the library to study. - 她来看看。
Tā lái kànkan.
She comes to have a look.
Chinese Serial Verbs With Objects
Sometimes each verb has its own object. In this case, the structure is:
Subject + V₁ + Object₁ + V₂ + Object₂
- 他拿钥匙开门。
Tā ná yàoshi kāi mén.
He uses a key to open the door. - 她买咖啡送朋友。
Tā mǎi kāfēi sòng péngyou.
She buys coffee and gives it to a friend.
Longer Chains
More than two verbs are possible.
- 她下楼去商店买牛奶。
Tā xià lóu qù shāngdiàn mǎi niúnǎi.
She goes downstairs, goes to the store, and buys milk. - 她起床去公园跑步。
Tā qǐchuáng qù gōngyuán pǎobù.
She gets up, goes to the park, and goes running.
Common Meanings Conveyed by Serial Verbs
Now let’s turn to the common meanings that Chinese serial verbs convey. The precise meaning will of course depend on context. But there are a few patterns that are especially common.
A. Chronological Sequence
One basic use of serial verbs is to convey a chronological sequence. The verbs represent actions occurring one after another. This is like the English construction A, B, and (then) C.
- 他起床刷牙洗脸。
Tā qǐchuáng shuāyá xǐliǎn.
He gets up, brushes his teeth, and washes his face. - 他回家洗澡睡觉。
Tā huí jiā xǐzǎo shuìjiào.
He goes home, takes a shower, and goes to sleep.
B. Purpose
Another common use of serial verbs is to convey a purpose. In this construction, the second verb expresses the reason or goal for the first. This is like the English A (in order) to B.
- 我去银行取钱。
Wǒ qù yínháng qǔ qián.
I go to the bank to withdraw money. - 我去老师办公室问问题。
Wǒ qù lǎoshī bàngōngshì wèn wèntí.
I go to the teacher’s office to ask a question. - 她来中国学中文。
Tā lái Zhōngguó xué Zhōngwén.
She came to China to study Chinese.
C. Means, Method, or Manner
A third common use of serial verbs is to convey means, method, or manner. The first verb indicates how the second action is accomplished. This is similar to the English A by doing B. Just note that the by (manner, method) verb comes first in Chinese.
- 他骑自行车上班。
Tā qí zìxíngchē shàngbān.
He goes to work by bicycle. - 我们坐火车旅行。
Wǒmen zuò huǒchē lǚxíng.
We travel by train.
D. Instrument
A related use of Chinese serial verbs is to express an instrument. The first verb introduces the tool used to accomplish the second.
- 他拿笔写字。
Tā ná bǐ xiězì.
He takes a pen to write. He writes using a pen. - 她用筷子吃面。
Tā yòng kuàizi chī miàn.
She uses chopsticks to eat noodles. She eats noodles with chopsticks.
E. Direction Toward an Action
The last common use we’ll look at expresses direction or movement toward and action. The first verb indicates movement leading to another action.
- 孩子跑出去玩。
Háizi pǎo chūqù wán.
The child runs out to play. - 他们走进教室上课。
Tāmen zǒu jìn jiàoshì shàngkè.
They walk into the classroom to attend class.
Negation and Particles
Finally, let’s wrap up with a note on how to use negation and other common particles with this key Chinese structure. Because serial verbs form a single clause, negation generally applies to the entire construction. The placement of negative words and particles follows specific rules.
A. 不 bù
不 bù negates habitual actions, intentions, future events, and general statements. It may appear before the verb phrase to negate the whole event.
- 我不去超市买水果。
Wǒ bù qù chāoshì mǎi shuǐguǒ.
I am not going to the supermarket to buy fruit.
Here, 不 negates the whole event. But sometimes only the second action is negated.
- 我去超市不买水果。
Wǒ qù chāoshì bù mǎi shuǐguǒ.
I go to the supermarket but don’t buy fruit.
B. 没(有) méi (yǒu)
没（有） méi (yǒu) negates completed or past actions. It generally precedes the entire serial construction.
- 他没去银行取钱。
Tā méi qù yínháng qǔ qián.
He didn’t go to the bank to withdraw money. - 我们没有坐火车旅行。
Wǒmen méiyǒu zuò huǒchē lǚxíng.
We didn’t travel by train.
C. Aspect Particle 了 le
The particle 了 le can have two positions in serial verb constructions, either after the verb, or at the end of the sentence. There is a difference in interpretation, though. The rule of thumb is:
- Verb +了 le focuses on the completion of that particular (part of the) action.
- Sentence-final了 le has two interpretations.
(a) it expresses completion of the entire event expressed by both verbs
(b) it introduces a change of state or a new situation
When 了 le marks completion, it usually follows the verb whose action is completed.
- 我去了超市买水果。
Wǒ qù le chāoshì mǎi shuǐguǒ.
I went to the supermarket to buy fruit. - 他拿了钥匙开门。
Tā ná le yàoshi kāi mén.
He took the key to open/for opening the door.
Sentence-final 了 le may express completion of the entire event expressed by both verbs.
- 我们回家吃饭了。
Wǒmen huí jiā chīfàn le.
We’ve gone home and ate. - 昨天我去超市买水果了。
Zuótiān wǒ qù chāoshì mǎi shuǐguǒ le.
Yesterday I went to the supermarket and bought fruit.
But sentence final 了 le can also mark a change of state. (You can read more about that in this post on the uses of this very important Chinese particle.)
- 我去超市买水果了。
Wǒ qù chāoshì mǎi shuǐguǒ le.
I’m off to the supermarket to buy fruit now. (I’m leaving/not here anymore.) - 他们回家吃饭了。
Tāmen huí jiā chīfàn le.
They’ve gone home to eat. (They’re not here any longer.)
D. Progressive 在 zài
Progressive在 zài is typically placed before the serial verb construction to indicate that the entire event is happening now.
- 我在学中文准备考试。
Wǒ zài xué Zhōngwén zhǔnbèi kǎoshì.
I am studying Chinese to prepare for an exam. - 他在看书做笔记。
Tā zài kàn shū zuò bǐjì.
He is reading and taking notes.
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