“Together” in Chinese

Grammar Point:
The word “together” in Chinese can be translated as 一起 yìqǐ or 一塊块儿 yíkuàiir. Both terms convey the idea of doing something in a shared or collective manner.

Structure

The subject must be in plural form. This can be achieved by using a plural noun or by linking two or more nouns with a conjunction.

S + 一起 yìqǐ + V + O

一起 yìqǐ is commonly used in both Taiwan and China. And it is consider more formal than 一塊块儿 yíkuàiir in China.

他們tāmen常常chángcháng一起yìqǐ讀書dúshū一起yìqǐ玩wán他们tāmen常常chángcháng一起yìqǐ读书dúshū一起yìqǐ玩儿wánr
They often study and play together.

我們wǒmen一起yìqǐ去qù海邊hǎibiān玩wán好hǎo嗎ma？ 我们wǒmen一起yìqǐ去qù海边hǎibiān玩儿wánr好hǎo吗ma？
Shall we go to the beach together and have fun?

你nǐ要yào不要búyào跟gēn我wǒ去qù中國Zhōngguó工作gōngzuò？ 你nǐ要yào不要búyào跟gēn我wǒ去qù中国Zhōngguó工作gōngzuò？
Would you like to come with me to work in China?

S + V + 在 zài + 一起 yìqǐ

This term can only be used with non-action verbs, such as hang, put, live, die, and so on.

我的wǒde狗gǒu跟gēn貓māo睡shuì在zài一起yìqǐ我的wǒde狗gǒu跟gēn猫māo睡shuì在zài一起yìqǐ
My dog sleeps together with the cat.

他們tāmen從cóng小xiǎo玩wán在zài一起yìqǐ他们tāmen从cóng小xiǎo玩儿wánr在zài一起yìqǐ
They have been playing together since childhood.

書shū、 筆bǐ跟gēn手機shǒujī都dōu放fàng在zài一起yìqǐ书shū， 笔bǐ跟gēn手机shǒujī都dōu放fàng在zài一起yìqǐ
Books, pens, and mobile phones are all placed together.

S + 一塊 yíkuài/一块儿 yíkuàir + V + O

It is less formal and is often used in colloquial speech in Northern China.

我們wǒmen一塊yíkuài加油jiāyóu！ 我们wǒmen一块儿yíkuàir加油jiāyóu！
Let’s cheer together!

妹妹mèimei跟gēn媽媽māma一塊yíkuài去qù超市chāoshì了le妹妹mèimei跟gēn妈妈māma一块儿yíkuàir去qù超市chāoshì了le
My younger sister went to the supermarket with my mom.

夏天xiàtiān大家dàjiā一塊yíkuài去qù日本rìběn玩wán怎麼樣zěnmeyàng？ 夏天xiàtiān大家dàjiā一块儿yíkuàir去qù日本rìběn玩wán怎么样zěnmeyáng？
How about all of us going to Japan together in the summer?

S + V + 在 zài + 一塊 yíkuài/一块儿 yíkuàir

他們tāmen四sì個ge人rén住zhù在zài一塊yíkuài他们tāmen四sì个ge人rén住zhù在zài一块儿yíkuàir
They all live together.

你們nǐmen别bié總是zǒngshì待dài在zài一塊yíkuài你们nǐmen别bié总是zǒngshì待dài在zài一块儿yíkuàir
Don’t always stay together. (subject is needed)

夏天xiàtiān太熱tàirè， 巧克力qiǎokēlì全quán黏nián在zài一塊yíkuài夏天xiàtiān太热tàirè， 巧克力qiǎokèlì全quán黏nián在zài一块儿yíkuàir
It’s so hot in the summer that the chocolate melts together.

Morden Usage

S + 在一起 zài yìqǐ + 了 le

It means they have started a romantic relationship or have become a couple.

聽說tīngshuō老闆lǎobǎn和hé秘書mìshū在一起zàiyìqǐ了le听说tīngshuō老板lǎobǎn和hé秘书mìshū在一起zàiyìqǐ了le
I heard that the boss and the secretary are together now.

你nǐ還hái不知道bùzhīdào嗎ma？ 他們tāmen倆liǎ已經yǐjīng沒méi在一起zàiyìqǐ了le你nǐ还hái不知道bùzhīdào吗ma？ 他们tāmen俩liǎ已经yǐjīng没méi在一起zàiyìqǐ了le
Don’t you know yet? They are no longer together.

你們nǐmen在一起zàiyìqǐ多久duōjiǔ了le？ 你们nǐmen在一起zàiyìqǐ多久duōjiǔ了le？
How long have you been together?

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ Do you have time to have a cup of coffee with me?

你nǐ有yǒu時間shíjiān跟gēn我wǒ一起yìqǐ喝hē杯bēi咖啡kāfēi嗎ma？ 你nǐ有yǒu时间shíjiān跟gēn我wǒ一起yìqǐ喝hē杯bēi咖啡kāfēi吗ma？

✔️ Do you want to watch Netflix with me at my place?

你nǐ想xiǎng不想bùxiǎng跟gēn我wǒ一起yìqǐ在zài我家wǒjiā看kànNetflix ？ 你nǐ想xiǎng不想bùxiǎng跟gēn我wǒ一起yìqǐ在zài我家wǒjiā看kànNetflix ？

✔️ Do you want to come with me to the police station?

你nǐ要yào不要búyào跟gēn我wǒ一起yìqǐ去qù警察局jǐngchájú？ 你nǐ要yào不要búyào跟gēn我wǒ一起yìqǐ去qù警察局jǐngchájú？