Expressing "together" with "yiqi" "一起"
If you want to express that you are doing something together with someone else, 一起 (yīqǐ) is your word!
Note: The pinyin for 一起 is written "yīqǐ" but pronounced "yìqǐ" due to a tone change rule.
Structure
一起 (yīqǐ) is the easiest way to express an action being done together with other people.
The subject must be plural - a plural noun or two or more nouns linked with a conjunction. You can't do things together on your own, after all.
Examples
- 我们 一起 吃 晚饭 吧。
Wǒmen yīqǐ chī wǎnfàn ba.
Let's eat dinner together.
- 早上 我 和 老公 一起 去 上班。
Zǎoshang wǒ hé lǎogōng yīqǐ qù shàngbān.
In the morning, I go to work together with my husband.
- 周末 我们 一起 去 看电影,好 吗?
Zhōumò wǒmen yīqǐ qù kàn diànyǐng, hǎo ma?
Let's go to the movies this weekend, shall we?
- 这 两 个 公司 一起 做 这个 产品。
Zhè liǎng gè gōngsī yīqǐ zuò zhège chǎnpǐn.
These two businesses made this product together.
- 下班 以后,你们 一起 来 我 家 吧。
Xiàbān yǐhòu, nǐmen yīqǐ lái wǒ jiā ba.
After work, why don't you all come to my home together?
- 下 个 月 我 和 妈妈 一起 去 旅行。
Xià gè yuè wǒ hé māma yīqǐ qù lǚxíng.
Next month I'll go on a trip together with mom.
- 你们 有没有 一起 玩 过 这 个 游戏?
Nǐmen yǒu méiyǒu yīqǐ wán guo zhège yóuxì?
Have you all ever played this game together?
- 他 想 和 他太太 一起 学 中文。
Tā xiǎng hé tā tàitai yīqǐ xué Zhōngwén.
He wants to study Chinese together with his wife.
- 结婚以后,你 和 父母 会 一起 住 吗?
Jiéhūn yǐhòu, nǐ hé fùmǔ huì yīqǐ zhù ma?
Will you live together with your parents after you get married?
- 今天 晚上 老板 要 和 我们 一起 加班。
Jīntiān wǎnshang, lǎobǎn yào hé wǒmen yīqǐ jiābān.
Tonight the boss is going to to work overtime together with us.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (p. 84, p88)
- Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 74-5)
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 14-5)