Chinese verb · action · first needed at beginner level (A1)
去
qù
to go
The place follows directly, with no word for “to”: (qù Běijīng), (qù chāoshì). To say what you go to do, add the verb: (qù mǎi dōngxi, go shopping).
Speed:
Basic
基本
Going somewhere, now or usually. Negative: (bú qù).
| affirmative | 我周末去超市。Wǒ zhōumò qù chāoshì. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我今天不去。Wǒ jīntiān bú qù. | |
| question | 你去哪儿？Nǐ qù nǎr? |
Completed
了
Something that has happened. Negative with (méi), and then 了 drops.
| affirmative | 他去超市了。Tā qù chāoshì le. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我昨天没去。Wǒ zuótiān méi qù. | |
| question | 你去了吗？Nǐ qù le ma? |
Experience
过
Places you have been to. Negative: .
| affirmative | 我去过北京。Wǒ qùguo Běijīng. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我没去过中国。Wǒ méi qùguo Zhōngguó. | |
| question | 你去过上海吗？Nǐ qùguo Shànghǎi ma? |
Future and intention
要 / 会
: a plan. To say you won't go, just use .
| affirmative | 我明天要去上海。Wǒ míngtiān yào qù Shànghǎi. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我明天不去上海。Wǒ míngtiān bú qù Shànghǎi. | |
| question | 你明天要去上海吗？Nǐ míngtiān yào qù Shànghǎi ma? |
Ability and permission
能 / 可以 / 会
: you are able to go. (qù bu liǎo): it isn't possible for you to go.
| affirmative | 我明天能去。Wǒ míngtiān néng qù. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我明天不能去。Wǒ míngtiān bù néng qù. | |
| question | 你明天能去吗？Nǐ míngtiān néng qù ma? | |
| can't | 我今天去不了。Wǒ jīntiān qù bu liǎo. |
Examples
- 我们一起去吃饭吧。Wǒmen yìqǐ qù chīfàn ba.Let's go and eat together.
- 你去过长城吗？Nǐ qùguo Chángchéng ma?Have you been to the Great Wall?
- 我坐地铁去公司。Wǒ zuò dìtiě qù gōngsī.I take the metro to the office.