The Object
宾语
Place objects correctly after verbs
The object receives the action of the verb. In Chinese, the object always comes right after the verb — just like a package being handed over.
Some verbs can take two objects (indirect + direct), such as 给 (gěi — to give): 她给我一本书。
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: The Object (宾语)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 宾语 pattern
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Understanding 宾语
If the predicate is the engine, the object is the passenger! The object answers "what?" or "whom?" after the verb. In Chinese, objects follow the verb immediately — no prepositions needed for most cases. Whether you're eating rice, reading books, or calling a friend, the thing you're acting on is the object. This is actually easier than English in many ways: you don't need to worry about "me" vs. "I" or "him" vs. "he" — Chinese pronouns stay the same whether they're subjects or objects. The word order does all the work: whoever comes after the verb is automatically the object.
Key Points
- Objects follow the verb directly: 他吃面包。(Tā chī miànbāo.) — He eats bread.
- Objects can be nouns, pronouns, or noun phrases: 她买了一个手机。(Tā mǎi le yī gè shǒujī.) — She bought a phone.
- Some verbs take two objects: 老师教我们中文。(Lǎoshī jiāo wǒmen Zhōngwén.) — The teacher teaches us Chinese.
- Location objects behave differently — they often come before the verb with 在.
- Verb-object compounds (离合词) like 吃饭, 睡觉, 上课 already contain a built-in object. You can't add another one directly after them.
- When a verb has both an indirect object (person) and a direct object (thing), the person comes first: 给我一杯水。(Gěi wǒ yī bēi shuǐ.) — Give me a glass of water.
- Pronouns as objects look exactly the same as pronouns as subjects: 我 means both "I" and "me." Context makes it clear.
Chinese speakers often drop the object when it's obvious from context. If someone asks 你吃了吗？(Have you eaten?), you can just say 吃了！without repeating what you ate.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
他吃面包。
He eats bread.
Noun as direct object
她买了一个手机。
She bought a phone.
Noun phrase with measure word as object
我喜欢你。
I like you.
Pronoun as object
老师教我们中文。
The teacher teaches us Chinese.
Double object — indirect (我们) + direct (中文)
她看电影。
She watches a movie.
Simple verb + object
我要喝一杯咖啡。
I want to drink a cup of coffee.
Object with measure word 杯
服务员，我要点一个宫保鸡丁。
Waiter, I'd like to order kung pao chicken.
Ordering food at a restaurant — object with measure word
我给妈妈打电话。
I call Mom.
Built-in object in the verb-object compound 打电话
你可以帮我一个忙吗？
Can you do me a favor?
Double object — indirect (我) + direct (一个忙)
我在网上买了两本书。
I bought two books online.
Object with number + measure word — online shopping
Common Mistakes
The object must come after the verb, not before it. Chinese word order is Subject + Verb + Object.
The measure word phrase (一个) goes before the noun, not after. Number + Measure Word + Noun.
Measure word phrases always precede the noun: 一杯咖啡 (one cup of coffee), not 咖啡一杯.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
When in doubt, remember: the verb "grabs" the object and holds it close — Verb + Object always stick together.
If you see a number before a noun, there's probably a measure word hiding in between: 一个苹果, 两本书, 三杯水.
Practice by narrating your meals: 我吃米饭，喝汤，吃菜。Objects everywhere!
Watch out for verb-object compounds like 吃饭, 睡觉, 唱歌 — the object is already baked in! You can't say 吃饭米饭.
Think of double objects like passing a ball: you pass it TO someone (indirect object), and the ball itself is WHAT you pass (direct object). 给我水 = give me water.
Homework
Describe your last meal using at least five Verb + Object combinations. Example: 我吃了米饭，喝了茶，还吃了水果。