With – 跟 gēn

Grammar Point:
跟 gēn It can be used to indicate association or combination, similar to “with” or “and” in English.

Structure

跟 gēn – And (Similar to 和)

我wǒ跟gēn他tā是shì公司gōngsī同事tóngshì我wǒ跟gēn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跟gēn媽媽māma的de生日shēngrì都dōu在zài三月sānyuè爸爸bàba跟gēn妈妈māma的de生日shēngrì都dōu在zài三月sānyuè
Both dad and mom have their birthdays in March.

我wǒ要yào買mǎi一yì杯bēi咖啡kāfēi跟gēn一yí塊kuài蛋糕dàngāo我wǒ要yào买mǎi一yì杯bēi咖啡kāfēi跟gēn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.

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.

跟 gēn – With

When 跟 gēn is used to mean “with” in the sense of accompanying someone or being together, it is often paired with 一起 yìqǐ, which means “together.” If you want to negate it, you need to add 不 bù before 跟 gēn or adverbs instead of before verbs.

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?

我wǒ不bù跟gēn他tā一起yìqǐ看kàn電影diànyǐng我wǒ不bù跟gēn他tā一起yìqǐ看kàn电影diànyǐng
I don’t watch movies with him.

我wǒ想xiǎng跟gēn她tā結婚jiéhūn我wǒ想xiǎng跟gēn她tā结婚jiéhūn
I want to marry her.

但是dànshì她tā不bù想xiǎng跟gēn你nǐ結婚jiéhūn但是dànshì她tā不bù想xiǎng跟gēn你nǐ结婚jiéhūn
But she doesn’t want to marry you.

Common Mistakes

我們wǒmen去qù餐廳cāntīng跟gēn吃飯chīfàn我们wǒmen去qù餐厅cāntīng跟gēn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跟gēn咖啡店kāfēidiàn我们wǒmen去qù餐厅cāntīng跟gēn咖啡店kāfēidiàn ✅
We go to restaurants and cafes.

我們wǒmen去qù吃飯chīfàn跟gēn喝hē咖啡kāfēi我们wǒmen去qù吃饭chīfàn跟gēn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跟gēn我wǒ弟弟dìdi喜歡xǐhuān貓māo我wǒ喜欢xǐhuan狗gǒu跟gēn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跟gēn我wǒ弟弟dìdi喜歡xǐhuān狗gǒu我wǒ跟gēn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跟gēn你nǐ我wǒ想xiǎng去qù旅行lǚxíng跟gēn你nǐ ❌
I want to travel with you.

我wǒ想xiǎng跟gēn你nǐ去qù旅行lǚxíng我wǒ想xiǎng跟gēn你nǐ去qù旅行lǚxíng ✅
I want to travel with you.