Separable Verb Compounds
In Mandarin, verb compounds often consist of a coverb or resultative complement that modifies the main verb's meaning, and some particles or secondary elements can separate them in certain constructions. This guide focuses on common types of verb compounds and when they can be separated.
Key Terms
A coverb (or preposition-like verb) introduces an argument and is followed by a noun phrase; a resultative complement shows the outcome of an action. An aspect particle like le 了 or guò 過 attaches to the verb to mark time or experience.
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Common Separable Coverbs
Coverbs such as bǎ 把, gěi 給, cóng 從, and wèi 為 often appear before the noun affected by the action. The main verb can sometimes be separated from the coverb when an aspect particle intervenes.
把 (bǎ)
Bǎ 把 moves the noun phrase to immediately after itself, marking it as the object to be handled, transformed, or disposed of by the verb phrase.
| Hanzi Example | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 🌟 我把書放在桌子上了。 | Wǒ bǎ shū fàng zài zhuōzi shàng le. | I placed the book on the table. |
| 🧹 他把地掃得很乾淨。 | Tā bǎ dì sǎo de hěn gānjìng. | He swept the floor very clean. |
| 🍎 媽媽把水果洗好了。 | Māmā bǎ shuǐguǒ xǐ hǎo le. | Mom washed the fruit. |
| 🧴 我把衣服上的漬子擦掉了。 | Wǒ bǎ yīfu shàng de zìcǐ cā diào le. | I wiped off the stain on the clothes. |
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給 (gěi)
Gěi 給 can function as a coverb introducing a beneficiary or as a verb meaning "to give." When used as a coverb, it precedes the beneficiary noun.
| Hanzi Example | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 🎁 我給朋友寄了一個包裹。 | Wǒ gěi péngyǒu jì le yí ge bāoguǒ. | I sent a package to my friend. |
| 📬 他給我留了張便條。 | Tā gěi wǒ liú le zhāng biàntiáo. | He left me a note. |
| ☕ 媽媽給我泡了一杯茶。 | Māmā gěi wǒ pào le yì bēi chá. | Mom made me a cup of tea. |
| 🔑 我給弟弟拿了鑰匙。 | Wǒ gěi dìdi ná le yàoshi. | I got the keys for my younger brother. |
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從 (cóng)
Cóng 從 introduces the source of an action, such as where something is taken or received from.
| Hanzi Example | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 🚶 他從後門出去了。 | Tā cóng hòumén chūqù le. | He went out through the back door. |
| 🏞️ 我們從山頂看到了整個城市。 | Wǒmen cóng shāndǐng kàn dào le zhěnggè chéngshì. | We saw the whole city from the mountain top. |
| 🗺️ 地圖上標出了從學校到公園的路線。 | Dìtú shàng biāo chū le cóng xuéxiào dào gōngyuán de lùxiàn. | The map marked the route from school to the park. |
| 🚗 他從朋友那裡借了車。 | Tā cóng péngyǒu nàlǐ jiè le chē. | He borrowed a car from a friend. |
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為 (wèi)
Wèi 為 (or 为) introduces a beneficiary or purpose and is often followed by a noun phrase that benefits from the action.
| Hanzi Example | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 🍲 媽媽為我做了我最喜歡的湯。 | Māmā wèi wǒ zuò le wǒ zuì xǐhuān de tāng. | Mom made my favorite soup for me. |
| 📝 老師為學生準備了練習題。 | Lǎoshī wèi xuéshēng zhǔnbèi le liànxí tí. | The teacher prepared exercises for the students. |
| 🎉 我們為朋友舉辦了驚喜派對。 | Wǒmen wèi péngyǒu jǔbàn le jīngxǐ pàiduì. | We held a surprise party for a friend. |
| 💡 他為公司想出了新的廣告點子。 | Tā wèi gōngsī xiǎng chū le xīn de guǎnggào diǎnzi. | He came up with a new ad idea for the company. |
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Resultative Verb Compounds
Resultative verb compounds consist of a verb plus a resultative complement that shows the outcome, such as dǎpò 打破 ("break into pieces") or chīwán 吃完 ("eat up"). These compounds usually stay together because the complement directly modifies the verb's meaning.
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Aspect Particles and Separation
Aspect particles like le 了, guò 過, and zhe 著 attach to the verb or verb compound to indicate completed action, experience, or ongoing state. When an aspect particle appears, it can come between a coverb and the main verb, effectively separating them.
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Passive Constructions
The passive marker bèi 被 introduces the agent and typically precedes the coverb or main verb. In passives, the structure focuses on the affected noun and the action done to it, and coverbs can remain in place or be separated depending on the sentence.
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Usage Notes
Whether a particle or noun phrase can come between parts of a verb compound depends on the specific construction and intended meaning. Coverbs function more like prepositions and can be separated by aspect particles, while resultative complements tightly bind to the verb.
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Summary
Separable verb compounds in Mandarin revolve around coverbs that introduce noun phrases and resultative complements that show outcomes. Aspect particles can intervene and separate coverbs from the main verb, while resultative complements generally stay attached to preserve meaning.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025