Let and make – 讓 ràng

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, if you want to say that someone makes another person do something, or that something causes a feeling or action, you can use special words called causative verbs. And 讓让 ràng is one of the most common verbs in Mandarin. It has several important meanings:

1. to let / allow
2. to make / cause someone to feel or do something

Structure 1 – to let / allow

A 讓让 ràng B + Verb

他tā媽媽māma不bú讓ràng他tā出去chūqù玩wán他tā妈妈māma不bú让ràng他tā出去chūqu玩wán
His mother won’t allow him go out to play.

讓ràng我wǒ看看kànkàn让ràng我wǒ看看kànkan
Let me take a look.

老師lǎoshī讓ràng我們wǒmen提前tíqián下課xiàkè老师lǎoshī让ràng我们wǒmen提前tíqián下课xiàkè
The teacher let us leave class early.

讓ràng我wǒ想xiǎng一下yíxià让ràng我wǒ想xiǎng一会儿yìhuǐr
Let me think for a moment.

讓ràng我wǒ確認quèrèn一下yíxià時間shíjiān让ràng我wǒ确认quèrèn一下yíxià时间shíjiān
Let me check the time.

公司gōngsī不bú讓ràng員工yuángōng在zài辦公室bàngōngshì抽菸chōuyān公司gōngsī不bú让ràng员工yuángōng在zài办公室bàngōngshì抽烟chōuyān
The company doesn’t allow employees to smoke in the office.

Structure 2 – to make / cause

A 讓让 ràng B + Feeling / State

這zhè部bù電影diànyǐng讓ràng我wǒ很hěn感動gǎndòng这zhè部bù电影diànyǐng让ràng我wǒ很hěn感动gǎndòng
This movie made me feel touched.

他tā的de話huà讓ràng我wǒ很hěn生氣shēngqì他tā的de话huà让ràng我wǒ很hěn生气shēngqì
What he said made me angry.

這zhè家jiā咖啡店kāfēidiàn讓ràng我wǒ很hěn放鬆fàngsōng这zhè家jiā咖啡店kāfēidiàn让ràng我wǒ很hěn放松fàngsōng
This coffee shop makes me feel relaxed.

這zhè個ge消息xiāoxí讓ràng大家dàjiā很hěn驚訝jīngyà这zhè个ge消息xiāoxi让ràng大家dàjiā很hěn惊讶jīngyà
This news surprised everyone.

你nǐ的de支持zhīchí讓ràng我wǒ更gèng有yǒu信心xìnxīn你nǐ的de支持zhīchí让ràng我wǒ更gèng有yǒu信心xìnxīn
Your support gives me more confidence.

這zhè個ge價格jiàgé讓ràng我wǒ有點yǒudiǎn猶豫yóuyù这zhè个ge价格jiàgé让ràng我wǒ有点儿yǒudiǎnr犹豫yóuyù
This price makes me hesitate a little.

A 讓让 ràng B + Verb Phrase

下雨天xiàyǔtiān讓ràng人rén不bù想xiǎng出門chūmén下雨天xiàyǔtiān让ràng人rén不bù想xiǎng出门chūmén
Rainy days make people not want to go out.

他tā的de故事gùshì讓ràng我wǒ開始kāishǐ思考sīkǎo人生rénshēng他tā的de故事gùshi让ràng我wǒ开始kāishǐ思考sīkǎo人生rénshēng
His story made me start thinking about life.

這zhè個ge網頁wǎngyè會huì讓ràng你nǐ想xiǎng學xué中文zhōngwén嗎ma？？这zhè个ge网页wǎngyè会huì让ràng你nǐ想xiǎng学xué中文zhōngwén吗ma？？
Does this website make you want to learn Chinese?

他tā的de笑話xiàohuà讓ràng大家dàjiā一直yìzhí笑xiào他tā的de笑话xiàohuà让ràng大家dàjiā一直yìzhí笑xiào
His joke made everyone laugh.

這zhè首shǒu歌gē讓ràng我wǒ想到xiǎngdào大學dàxué的de時候shíhòu这zhè首shǒu歌gē让ràng我wǒ想到xiǎngdào大学dàxué的de时候shíhou
This song reminds me of my college days.

她tā的de成功chénggōng讓ràng很hěn多duō人rén努力nǔlì追求zhuīqiú自己zìjǐ的de夢想mèngxiǎng她tā的de成功chénggōng让ràng很hěn多duō人rén努力nǔlì追求zhuīqiú自己zìjǐ的de夢想mèngxiǎng
Her success inspired many people to pursue their dreams.