Meanings of 去
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Podcast: 去
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AI Study Notes for 去
来 (lái) - use 去 when indicating movement away from the speaker, while 来 is for movement towards the speaker.
Common mistakes include confusing 去 with 来 (lái), which means 'to come.' Remember that 去 indicates movement away from the speaker, while 来 indicates movement towards the speaker. It is generally informal, so in more formal contexts, one might choose alternatives like 离开 (líkāi) for 'to leave.'
As an HSK Level 1 word, 去 is foundational for expressing movement. Students should focus on using it in simple sentences about destinations and practice the context of movement with verbs like 来 (lái) and 回 (huí) to compare different dimensions of traveling.
Learners often misuse 去 by placing it incorrectly in sentences, such as '我去家' instead of '我去家里' (Wǒ qù jiālǐ) for 'I go home.' Additionally, they might forget to use the verb correctly after prepositions or in phrases, leading to confusion.
Pronunciation of 去
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Etymology of 去
Origin unclear. The 口 component is variously explained as (1) an opening to a building or cave that the person is departing from, or (2) an anus, i.e. the orifice through which things leave a person.
Decomposition of 去
Parts
Which of these is part of 去?
How to say to go in Chinese
“to go” in Chinese is去
去 (qù) means 'to go' and is commonly used to indicate movement towards a place or the act of going away. This verb appears frequently in daily conversations, whether referring to traveling, leaving, or even sending someone somewhere. The nuance of 去 can also imply separation or removal, making it versatile in various contexts.
When to use 去
Common mistakes include confusing 去 with 来 (lái), which means 'to come.' Remember that 去 indicates movement away from the speaker, while 来 indicates movement towards the speaker. It is generally informal, so in more formal contexts, one might choose alternatives like 离开 (líkāi) for 'to leave.'
去 or something close to it
来 (lái) - use 去 when indicating movement away from the speaker, while 来 is for movement towards the speaker.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 去 by placing it incorrectly in sentences, such as '我去家' instead of '我去家里' (Wǒ qù jiālǐ) for 'I go home.' Additionally, they might forget to use the verb correctly after prepositions or in phrases, leading to confusion.
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Grammar Patterns of 去
去 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 17 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.
Used to emphasize the action of going to a specific place.
我是去学校的。
I went to school.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他不____医院。
He doesn't go to the hospital.
Common Confusions with 去
Confusable due to similar pronunciation but refers to 'taking' rather than 'going'.
Which one
Which one means “to go”?
Usage Notes for 去
去 can be used with directional complements to indicate movement towards a place.
我去北京。
I am going to Beijing.
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我____北京。
I am going to Beijing.
Example Sentences for 去 (16)
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Cultural Notes for 去
In Chinese, '去' is often used to express not only physical movement but also abstract concepts like going to a place in time, for example, '去年的今天' means 'last year on this day'.
Word Family of 去
Characters with 去
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Frequently Asked Questions about 去
Yes, 去 (qù) appears in several idioms and expressions in Chinese. For example, '去而不返' (qù ér bù fǎn) means 'to leave and not return,' indicating a permanent departure. Understanding these idioms can enhance your language skills.
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