Some and Some of in Chinese

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, the words “some,” “some of,” and “others” can be translated as follows:

• Some: 一些 yìxiē
• Some of: 有的 yǒude
• Others: 别的 biéde

Structure

一些 yìxiē + N

One thing you need to know is that there is no negation form for this structure. Also, in spoken Chinese, it is possible to drop the word 一 yī.

我wǒ有yǒu一些yìxiē中國Zhōngguó朋友péngyǒu我wǒ有yǒu一些yìxiē中国Zhōngguó朋友péngyou
I have some Chinese friends.

我wǒ想xiǎng買mǎi一些yìxiē水果shuǐguǒ我wǒ想xiǎng买mǎi一些yìxiē水果shuǐguǒ
I want to buy some fruits.

她tā早上zǎoshàng吃chī了le些xiē麵包miànbāo， 所以suǒyǐ不bú太tài餓è她tā早上zǎoshang吃chī了le些xiē面包miànbāo， 所以suǒyǐ不bú太tài饿è
She had some bread in the morning, so she’s not very hungry.

你nǐ要yào不要búyào喝hē些xiē咖啡kāfēi？ 你nǐ要yào不要búyào喝hē些xiē咖啡kāfēi？
Would you like some coffee?

可以kěyǐ先xiān借jiè我wǒ一些yìxiē錢qián嗎ma？ 可以kěyǐ先xiān借jiè我wǒ一些yìxiē钱qián吗ma？
Can you lend me some money first?

他tā喝hē了le些xiē酒jiǔ， 現在xiànzài很hěn茫māng他tā喝hē了le些xiē酒jiǔ， 现在xiànzài很hěn茫māng
He had some alcohol and now he’s feeling a bit dizzy.

FYI
茫 māng is a slang term used in Taiwan to describe someone who has consumed a large amount of alcohol and is feeling dizzy or drunk. More recently, people have also started using it to describe someone who is feeling high after taking drugs. One more thing you need to know is that the character “茫” is actually pronounced as “máng,” not “māng.” It is only pronounced as “māng” when used as a slang term.

有的 yǒude + N

In Chinese, the term 有的 yǒude is often used to refer to certain individuals within a group and is commonly translated as “some” or “some of them” in English.

有的yǒude人rén不bù吃chī辣là， 你nǐ別bié都dōu點diǎn辣là的de菜cài有的yǒude人rén不bù吃chī辣là， 你nǐ别bié都dōu点diǎn辣là的de菜cài
Some people don’t eat spicy food, so don’t order all spicy dishes.

這zhè一yì課kè的de文法wénfǎ， 有的yǒude有一點yǒuyìdiǎn難nán这zhè一yì课kè的de语法yǔfǎ， 有的yǒude有一点yǒuyìdiǎn难nán
Some of grammars in this lesson are a bit difficult.

有的yǒude國家guójiā不bú太tài安全ānquán， 你nǐ旅遊lǚyóu的時候deshíhòu要yào小心xiǎoxīn有的yǒude国家guójiā不bú太tài安全ānquán， 你nǐ旅游lǚyóu的时候deshíhòu要yào小心xiǎoxīn
Some countries are not very safe, so be careful when you travel.

有的yǒude話huà， 你nǐ聽tīng聽tīng就jiù好hǎo有的yǒude话huà， 你nǐ听tīng听tīng就jiù好hǎo
There are some statements that should be taken with a grain of salt.

有的yǒude老師lǎoshī教jiāo的de中文zhōngwén不對búduì有的yǒude老师lǎoshī教jiāo的de中文zhōngwén不对búduì
Some teachers don’t teach Chinese correctly.

Also, 有的 yǒude is often repeated to refer to different groups in a sentence.

有的yǒude人rén喜歡xǐhuān狗gǒu， 有的yǒude人rén喜歡xǐhuān貓māo有的yǒude人rén喜欢xǐhuan狗gǒu， 有的yǒude人rén喜欢xǐhuan猫māo
Some people like dogs, and some people like cats.

我的wǒde朋友péngyǒu很hěn多duō， 有的yǒude是shì韓國人hánguórén， 有的yǒude是shì英國人yìngguórén我的wǒde朋友péngyou很hěn多duō， 有的yǒude是shì韩国人hánguórén， 有的yǒude是shì英国人yìngguórén
I have many friends, some of are Korean, and some of are British.

有的yǒude書shū是shì中文zhōngwén， 有的yǒude書shū是shì英文yīngwén有的yǒude书shū是shì中文zhōngwén， 有的yǒude书shū是shì英文yīngwén
Some of books are in Chinese, and some of books are in English.

下課xiàkè後hòu， 有的yǒude學生xuéshēng回家huíjiā， 有的yǒude去qù打工dǎgōng下课xiàkè后hòu， 有的yǒude学生xuésheng回家huíjiā， 有的yǒude去qù打工dǎgōng
After class, some of students go home, and some of students go to work.

别的 biéde + N

别的 biéde is a phrase used to indicate “something else” or “other things.” It is often used to refer to additional or alternative options or objects.

我wǒ早上zǎoshàng只zhǐ喝hē咖啡kāfēi， 別的biéde都dōu不喝bùhē我wǒ早上zǎoshang只zhǐ喝hē咖啡kāfēi， 别的biéde都dōu不喝bùhē
n the morning, I only drink coffee. I don’t drink anything else.

這zhè本běn書shū我wǒ看kàn完wán了le， 別的biéde書shū都dōu還沒háiméi看kàn这zhè本běn书shū我wǒ看kàn完wán了le， 别的biéde书shū都dōu还没háiméi看kàn
I have finished reading this book. I haven’t read any other books yet.

這zhè個ge電視diànshì不好bùhǎo， 我們wǒmen換huàn別的biéde这zhè个ge电视diànshì不好bùhǎo， 我们wǒmen换huàn别的biéde
This TV isn’t good. Let’s switch to something else.

你nǐ沒有méiyǒu別的biéde想法xiǎngfǎ了le嗎ma？ 你nǐ没有méiyǒu别的biéde想法xiǎngfǎ了le吗ma？
Don’t you have any other ideas?

別人biérén都dōu說shuō中文zhōngwén難nán， 你nǐ覺得juéde真的zhēnde難nán嗎ma？ 别人biérén都dōu说shuō中文zhōngwén难nán， 你nǐ觉得juéde真的zhēnde难nán吗ma？
Everyone says that Chinese is difficult. Do you really find it difficult?

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ I have some problems.

我wǒ有yǒu一些yìxiē問題wèntí我wǒ有yǒu一些yìxiē问题wèntí

✔️ Some problems are small, some are very big.

有的yǒude問題wèntí很hěn小xiǎo， 有的yǒude問題wèntí非常fēicháng大dà有的yǒude问题wèntí很hěn小xiǎo， 有的yǒude问题wèntí非常fēicháng大dà

✔️ I solved 2 of my problems, but none of the others.

我wǒ解決jiějué了le我的wǒde2 個ge問題wèntí， 但是dànshì別的biéde問題wèntí都dōu沒méi解決jiějué我wǒ解决jiějué了le我的wǒde2 个ge问题wèntí， 但是dànshì别的biéde问题wèntí都dōu没méi解决jiějué