Meanings of 跟
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About 跟
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Podcast: 跟
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AI Study Notes for 跟
跟 (gēn) vs 随 (suí) — use 跟 for direct companionship or following, while 随 emphasizes a more passive or natural following.
Imagine a dog following closely behind its owner, its tail wagging. The character 跟 resembles the action of a dog’s tail (the radical '足' means foot) following its owner (the horizontal stroke represents the path they take together). Remember 'gēn' as the sound of a dog barking while it happily follows.
Learners often confuse 跟 with the character 和 (hé), which also means 'and'. Remember that 跟 is used for direct companionship or following, while 和 is more for conjunction in lists. It is informal and commonly used in everyday speech.
At HSK Level 3, students should focus on using 跟 in sentences that describe actions with others, such as 'I go with him' (我跟他去). Practicing with collocations like 跟我来 (gēn wǒ lái, 'follow me') can help solidify understanding.
In Chinese culture, the concept of companionship is significant, especially in social settings. The word 跟 reflects the importance of relationships and following social norms, often seen in contexts like family gatherings where individuals follow the lead of elders.
Learners often mistakenly use 跟 to mean 'and' in all situations, which can lead to awkward sentences. For example, saying '我跟你和他' (wǒ gēn nǐ hé tā) instead of '我跟你一起和他' (wǒ gēn nǐ yīqǐ hé tā, 'I go with you and him').
Pronunciation of 跟
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Etymology of 跟
Phonosemantic compound. 足 represents the meaning and 艮 represents the sound.
foot
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 跟?
Decomposition of 跟
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Write 跟
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Practice writing 跟 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 跟
跟 functions as a preposition (often called a "coverb" in Chinese). It introduces a phrase that comes BEFORE the main verb (我在家吃饭, 给妈妈打电话), unlike English which puts prepositions after the verb. It carries 14 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
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这是跟他一起去的。
This is the one who went with him.
Complete the Sentence
我____朋友一起看电影。
I'm watching a movie with friends.
Common Confusions with 跟
Both are pronounced the same, but have different meanings.
跟 is more colloquial and informal, while 与 is more formal and literary.
我跟他一起去。 vs. 我与他一起去。
跟 is more colloquial and informal, while 与 is more formal and literary.
Spot the Difference
Which character means "heel"?
Usage Notes for 跟
跟 should be used to indicate accompaniment or comparison. Avoid using it where '与' or '和' is more appropriate.
我跟她去商店。
I went to the store with her.
Fill in the Blank
我____她去商店。
I went to the store with her.
Example Sentences for 跟 (10)
Cultural Notes for 跟
'跟' is often used in daily conversation to indicate companionship or association, similar to saying 'with' in English. It is common in phrases that involve going places together.
In Chinese culture, the concept of companionship is significant, especially in social settings. The word 跟 reflects the importance of relationships and following social norms, often seen in contexts like family gatherings where individuals follow the lead of elders.
Word Family of 跟
Compound Meaning
What does 跟 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 跟
While 跟 is primarily informal, it can be used in semi-formal contexts, such as conversations with acquaintances. However, in very formal writing or speeches, alternatives like 与 (yǔ) might be preferred.