把 bǎ + V (一) V

What is a 把 bǎ sentence?

In Chinese, sometimes you want to focus on what you do to something, not just the action.

What does “V 一 V” mean?

You do the action quickly or lightly
You are just trying or checking
The action is small or casual

📌 See more details here

Structure

把 bǎ + object + V + 一 + V

These two verbs must be a monosyllabic verb, and the 一 yī can be dropped without changing the meaning.

把bǎ衣服yīfú收shōu一yì收shōu把bǎ衣服yīfu收shōu一yì收shōu
Tidy up the clothes a little.

把bǎ桌子zhuōzi擦cā一yì擦cā把bǎ桌子zhuōzi擦cā一yì擦cā
Wipe the table quickly.

把bǎ杯子bēizi洗xǐ一yì洗xǐ把bǎ杯子bēizi洗xǐ一yì洗xǐ
Wash the cup quickly.

你nǐ把bǎ這些zhèxiē東西dōngxī拌bàn一yí拌bàn再zài放fàng進jìn冰箱bīngxiāng裡lǐ你nǐ把bǎ这些zhèxiē东西dōngxi拌bàn一yí拌bàn再zài放fàng进jìn冰箱bīngxiāng里lǐ
Mix these things and then put them in the fridge.

等děng你nǐ有空yǒukòng的de時候shíhòu， 幫bāng我wǒ把bǎ錢qián算suàn一yí算suàn等děng你nǐ有空yǒukòng的de时候shíhou， 帮bāng我wǒ把bǎ钱qián算suàn一yí算suàn
When you have time, help me count the money.

如果rúguǒ把bǎ心裡xīnlǐ的de事shì說shuō一yì說shuō， 心情xīnqíng會huì比較bǐjiào好hǎo如果rúguǒ把bǎ心里xīnlǐ的de事shì说shuō一yì说shuō， 心情xīnqíng会huì比较bǐjiào好hǎo
If you talk about what’s on your mind, you’ll feel better.

出門chūmén前qián把bǎ所有suǒyǒu窗戶chuānghù都dōu關guān一yì關guān出门chūmén前qián把bǎ所有suǒyǒu窗户chuānghu都dōu关guān一yì关guān
Before going out, close all the windows.

Common Mistakes

把 bǎ is usually used when you treat a specific object as something to handle or act upon. However, when combined with the V一V structure:

• If the action takes some time to complete, such as washing, writing, or making something, then it is natural to use V一V with a specific object.

• If the action can be done very quickly (in a second), then using V一V is unnecessary and sounds redundant, unless you are performing the action on multiple objects, in which case it makes sense.

出門chūmén前qián把bǎ那個nàge窗戶chuānghù關guān一yì關guān出门chūmén前qián把bǎ那个nàge窗户chuānghu关guān一yì关guān ❌
Before going out, close that window.

出門chūmén前qián把bǎ所有suǒyǒu窗戶chuānghù都dōu關guān一yì關guān出门chūmén前qián把bǎ所有suǒyǒu窗户chuānghu都dōu关guān一yì关guān ✅
Before going out, close all the windows.

把bǎ電視diànshì開kāi一yì開kāi把bǎ电视diànshì开kāi一yì开kāi
Turn on the TV. ❌
Turn on all the TVs. ✅