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.
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.
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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Jason Explains 跟 to You
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Etymology of 跟
Phonosemantic compound. 足 represents the meaning and 艮 represents the sound.
foot
Origin
跟 = 足 + 艮. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 跟
Parts
Which of these is part of 跟?
How to say heel in Chinese
“heel” in Chinese is跟
The character 跟 (gēn) primarily means 'to follow' or 'to go with'. It is commonly used in both literal contexts, such as following someone, and figurative contexts, such as comparing two things. Additionally, it can indicate companionship or connection between subjects.
When to use 跟
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.
跟 or something close to it
跟 (gēn) vs 随 (suí) — use 跟 for direct companionship or following, while 随 emphasizes a more passive or natural following.
What learners get wrong
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').
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.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
爸爸____妈妈都不在家。
Neither dad nor mom is home.
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.
Which one
Which one 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.
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我____她去商店。
I went to the store with her.
Example Sentences for 跟 (13)
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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.
Word Family of 跟
Words with 跟
What does 跟踪 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.
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