Table of Contents

Grammar Point

Preposition 跟 gēn

跟 gēn is one of the most useful little words in Chinese. As a preposition, it can mean “with,” “and,” “from,” or “to,” depending on the verb that follows.

一 With: 跟 … 一起一块儿

A + 跟 + B + 一块儿 + Verb

When 跟 gēn means “with” (doing something together), it often pairs with 一起 yìqǐ一块儿 yíkuàir. To make it negative, put 不 bù before 跟 gēn, not before the verb.

你nǐ想xiǎng跟gēn朋友péngyou一块儿yíkuàir去qù中国Zhōngguó吗ma？

Do you want to go to China with your friends?

我wǒ不bù跟gēn他tā一块儿yíkuàir看kàn电影diànyǐng

I don’t go to the movies with him.

我wǒ想xiǎng跟gēn她tā结婚jiéhūn

I want to marry her.

结婚 jiéhūn doesn’t take an object, so “marry someone” is 跟 gēn + person + 结婚.

但是dànshì她tā不bù想xiǎng跟gēn你nǐ结婚jiéhūn

But she doesn’t want to marry you. 😅

一起 or 一块儿?In Taiwan, “together” is 一起 yìqǐ. In northern China, people often say 一块儿 yíkuàir in casual speech, though 一起 yìqǐ is understood everywhere.

二 And: Linking Two Nouns

Noun + 跟 + Noun

跟 gēn can join two nouns (people or things) as equals, like “and.” With a list, put 跟 gēn before the last item only.

我wǒ想xiǎng喝hē这个zhège跟gēn那个nàge

I want to drink this one and that one.

我wǒ喜欢xǐhuan兔子tùzi、小鸟xiǎoniǎo、猫māo跟gēn狗gǒu

I like rabbits, birds, cats, and dogs.

我wǒ跟gēn他tā是shì公司gōngsī同事tóngshì

He and I are coworkers.

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

I’d like a coffee and a piece of cake.

三 From: Getting Something from Someone

A + 跟 + B + Verb (getting something from B)

With verbs like 學 xué学 xué (learn), 借 jiè (borrow), 拿 ná (get), or 要 yào (ask for), 跟 gēn means “from”.

我wǒ跟gēnTiffany老师lǎoshī学xué中文Zhōngwén

I learn Chinese from Teacher Tiffany.

你nǐ可以kěyǐ跟gēn柜台guìtái拿ná钥匙yàoshi

You can get the key from the front desk.

我wǒ跟gēn朋友péngyou借jiè了le一yì本běn书shū

I borrowed a book from a friend.

我wǒ跟gēn老板lǎobǎn要yào了le一yì张zhāng纸zhǐ

I asked the owner for a sheet of paper.

四 To: Talking to Someone

A + 跟 + B + 说 / 講 / 確認…

With speaking verbs like 說 shuō说 shuō, 講 jiǎng讲 jiǎng, or 確認 quèrèn确认 quèrèn, 跟 gēn means “to” or “with” the person you’re talking to.

我wǒ跟gēn老板lǎobǎn说shuō我wǒ要yào请假qǐngjià

I told my boss I need to take some time off.

你nǐ没méi跟gēn妈妈māma说shuō这zhè件jiàn事shì吗ma？

You didn’t tell Mom about this?

他tā跟gēn你nǐ讲jiǎng了le什么shénme？

What did he say to you?

我wǒ跟gēn他tā确认quèrèn过guò了le

I’ve already confirmed it with him.

五 Common Mistakes

❌ 我wǒ跟gēn他tā不bù一起yìqǐ一块儿yíkuàir看kàn電影diànyǐng电影diànyǐng

✅ 我wǒ不bù跟gēn他tā一起yìqǐ一块儿yíkuàir看kàn電影diànyǐng电影diànyǐng

不 bù goes before 跟 gēn, not before the verb.

❌ 我wǒ想xiǎng結婚jiéhūn结婚jiéhūn她tā

✅ 我wǒ想xiǎng跟gēn她tā結婚jiéhūn结婚jiéhūn

結婚 jiéhūn结婚 jiéhūn can’t take an object. Use 跟 gēn + person + 結婚结婚.

❌ 我wǒ今天jīntiān要yào洗xǐ衣服yīfú衣服yīfu跟gēn打掃dǎsǎo打扫dǎsǎo

✅ 我wǒ今天jīntiān要yào洗xǐ衣服yīfú衣服yīfu，還hái还hái要yào打掃dǎsǎo打扫dǎsǎo

跟 gēn only links nouns, not verbs or sentences. To add another action, use 還 hái还 hái or 也 yě.

六 Practice

Tap the words below in the right order to build the sentence, then check your answer. If it’s wrong, you can try again as many times as you like, or hit “Show answer” if you get stuck. Careful: some tiles are traps and are not needed!

Question 1 of 10

“I want to go to Taiwan with my friends.”