Expressing “And” with 和 hé 跟 gēn

Grammar Point:
和 hànhé and 跟 gēn are two conjunctions used to connect two nouns or noun phrases, indicating that they are both included in a list or group. It is similar to the English “and” and is often used to connect two people, two things, or two action activities.

Structure

Noun + 和/跟 + Noun

和 hànhé is generally considered more formal and literary than 跟 gēn. It is often used in written or formal contexts, such as news reports, official documents, and academic papers. 跟 gēn is more colloquial and informal, and is often used in everyday speech.

我wǒ和hàn他tā是shì公司gōngsī同事tóngshì我wǒ和hé他tā是shì公司gōngsī同事tóngshì
He and I are colleagues in the company.

我wǒ喜歡xǐhuān兔子tùzi、 小鳥xiǎoniǎo、 貓māo跟gēn狗gǒu我wǒ喜欢xǐhuan兔子tùzi， 小鸟xiǎoniǎo， 猫māo跟gēn狗gǒu
I like rabbits, birds, cats, and dogs.

你nǐ跟gēn你nǐ爸爸bàba都dōu會huì說shuō英文yīngwén嗎ma？ 你nǐ跟gēn你nǐ爸爸bàba都dōu会huì说shuō英文yīngwén吗ma？
Do you and your dad both speak English?

爸爸bàba和hàn媽媽māma的de生日shēngrì都dōu在zài三月sānyuè爸爸bàba和hé妈妈māma的de生日shēngrì都dōu在zài三月sānyuè
Both dad and mom have their birthdays in March.

你nǐ想xiǎng跟gēn朋友péngyǒu一起yìqǐ去qù中國Zhōngguó嗎ma？ 你nǐ想xiǎng跟gēn朋友péngyou一起yìqǐ去qù中国Zhōngguó吗ma？
Do you want to go to China with friends?

Noun Phrase + 和/跟 + Noun Phrase

我wǒ要yào買mǎi一yì杯bēi咖啡kāfēi和hàn一yí塊kuài蛋糕dàngāo我wǒ要yào买mǎi一yì杯bēi咖啡kāfēi和hé一yí块kuài蛋糕dàngāo
I want to buy a cup of coffee and a piece of cake.

週末zhōumò的時候deshíhòu他tā常常chángcháng在家zàijiā聽tīng音樂yīnyuè跟gēn看kàn電視diànshì周末zhōumò的时候deshíhou他tā常常chángcháng在家zàijiā听tīng音乐yīnyuè跟gēn看kàn电视diànshì
During the weekend, he often listens to music and watches TV at home.

他tā家jiā有yǒu一yì隻zhī狗gǒu跟gēn一yì隻zhī貓māo他tā家jiā有yǒu一yì只zhī狗gǒu跟gēn一yì只zhī猫māo
He has a dog and a cat at home.

我wǒ想xiǎng喝hē這個zhège跟gēn那個nàge我wǒ想xiǎng喝hē这个zhège跟gēn那个nàge
I want to drink this one and that one.

FYI
那個那个 nàge or nèige is a common Chinese phrase that can be translated to “that” or “um” in English. It’s often used as a filler word in conversation, similar to saying “um” or “uh” in English. However, some foreigners may associate it with the word “nig*er”, which can be shocking and offensive. But the fact is, most of Chinese people do not know this word.

Common Mistakes

我們wǒmen去qù餐廳cāntīng和hàn吃飯chīfàn我们wǒmen去qù餐厅cāntīng和hé吃饭chīfàn ❌
We go to the restaurant and eat.
(We don’t use ‘and’ in this context. Also, ‘go to a restaurant’ is not a noun phrase.)

我們wǒmen去qù餐廳cāntīng和hàn咖啡店kāfēidiàn我们wǒmen去qù餐厅cāntīng和hé咖啡店kāfēidiàn ✅
We go to restaurants and cafes.

我們wǒmen去qù吃飯chīfàn和hàn喝hē咖啡kāfēi我们wǒmen去qù吃饭chīfàn和hé喝hē咖啡kāfēi ✅
We go to eat and drink coffee.
(Both eating and drinking coffee are noun activities.)

我wǒ喜歡xǐhuān狗gǒu和hàn我wǒ弟弟dìdi喜歡xǐhuān貓māo我wǒ喜欢xǐhuan狗gǒu和hé我wǒ弟弟dìdi喜欢xǐhuan猫māo ❌
I like dogs and my younger brother likes cats.
(Again, ‘I like dog’ and ‘my younger brother likes cat’ are not noun phrases.)

我wǒ和hàn我wǒ弟弟dìdi喜歡xǐhuān狗gǒu我wǒ和hé我wǒ弟弟dìdi喜欢xǐhuan狗gǒu ✅
I and my younger brother like dogs.

我wǒ喜歡xǐhuān狗gǒu可是kěshì我wǒ弟弟dìdi喜歡xǐhuān貓māo我wǒ喜欢xǐhuan狗gǒu可是kěshì我wǒ弟弟dìdi喜欢xǐhuan猫māo ✅
I like dogs, but my younger brother likes cats.

我wǒ想xiǎng去qù旅行lǚxíng和hàn你nǐ我wǒ想xiǎng去qù旅行lǚxíng和hé你nǐ ❌
I want to travel with you.

我wǒ想xiǎng和hàn你nǐ去qù旅行lǚxíng我wǒ想xiǎng和hé你nǐ去qù旅行lǚxíng ✅
I want to travel with you.