Little adverbs: 都, 也, 还, 再, 又, 才, 就, 已经, 一直
After the subject, before the verb: 我也去, 他们都来了, 你再说一遍, 他又迟到了.
Part of the free A2 Chinese course (about HSK 3). Examples are in Simplified characters with pinyin; press the speaker to hear one with your device's Chinese voice.
Where they go
These small words always sit after the subject and before the verb (and before 不, 没 and 在 + place). Never at the start, never at the end.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 都 | dōu | all, both |
| 也 | yě | also, too |
| 还 | hái | still; not yet (还没); also, in addition |
| 再 | zài | again (in the future) |
| 又 | yòu | again (it already happened) |
| 就 | jiù | already, as early as, right away |
| 才 | cái | only then, not until; only (with numbers) |
| 已经 | yǐjīng | already |
| 一直 | yìzhí | all along, the whole time |
Two of them together: 也 before 都 (我们也都去, we're all going too).
都 and 也
都 sums up the people or things before it: 我们都 = we all. 也 = also, too.
- 我们都喜欢吃饺子。(Wǒmen dōu xǐhuan chī jiǎozi.)We all like dumplings.
- 我也不知道。(Wǒ yě bù zhīdào.)I don't know either.
Order changes the meaning: 他们都不去 = none of them is going; 他们不都去 = not all of them are going.
再 and 又: two words for "again"
- 再: again in the future, it hasn't happened yet.
- 又: again, and it has happened (often with 了).
- 欢迎你下次再来！(Huānyíng nǐ xià cì zài lái!)Do come again next time!
- 他昨天又迟到了。(Tā zuótiān yòu chídào le.)He was late again yesterday.
又 also works for something sure to come round again: 明天又是星期一了 (it's Monday again tomorrow).
还: still
- 已经十点了，他还在睡觉。(Yǐjīng shí diǎn le, tā hái zài shuìjiào.)It's already ten, and he's still asleep.
还没 = not yet (了: a completed action); 我还想要一杯 = I'd like another one as well.
就 and 才: early or late
Both go after a time word. 就 says it happened early or easily, and usually has 了. 才 says it happened late, not until then, and has no 了.
- 他七点就来了。(Tā qī diǎn jiù lái le.)He came at seven (that's early).
- 他十点才来。(Tā shí diǎn cái lái.)He didn't come until ten (that's late).
With an amount, 才 means "only": 他才十岁 = he's only ten.
已经 and 一直
已经 … 了 = already. 一直 = continuously, all along.
- 我已经吃过饭了。(Wǒ yǐjīng chī guo fàn le.)I've already eaten.
- 这几天一直下雨。(Zhè jǐ tiān yìzhí xià yǔ.)It's been raining non-stop these past few days.
Common mistakes
也我喜欢。→ 我也喜欢。Adverbs go after the subject.我们去都。→ 我们都去。Before the verb, never at the end.他昨天再迟到了。→ 他昨天又迟到了。It already happened: 又.他十点才来了。→ 他十点才来。With 才 meaning "not until", no 了.
Practice
- 我们班的同学_____来了。(Wǒmen bān de tóngxué ___ lái le.)Options: 都 (dōu) · 也 (yě) · 又 (yòu)
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都 (dōu) — 都 = all of them.
- 这个电影太好看了，我想_____看一遍。(Zhè gè diànyǐng tài hǎokàn le, wǒ xiǎng ___ kàn yí biàn.)Options: 再 (zài) · 又 (yòu) · 才 (cái)
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再 (zài) — It hasn't happened yet: 再.
- 你怎么_____迟到了？(Nǐ zěnme ___ chídào le?)Options: 又 (yòu) · 再 (zài) · 才 (cái)
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又 (yòu) — It has already happened again: 又.
- 电影七点开始，他七点半_____到。(Diànyǐng qī diǎn kāishǐ, tā qī diǎn bàn ___ dào.)Options: 才 (cái) · 就 (jiù) · 都 (dōu)
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才 (cái) — Late, not until then: 才, with no 了.