Linking actions together in a sentence is very straightforward and to
the point. Because of this, there is no new word or phrase needed!

Structure
---------

In Chinese, it's very easy to describe two actions in a row. Simply
place one [verb phrase](verb_phrase "wikilink") after another, in this
structure:

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + \[Verb Phrase 1\] + \[Verb Phrase 2\]

</div>
No connecting word is needed. A common mistake in the early stages of
learning Chinese is to try and link verbs with 和 (hé). This is
incorrect; [和 (hé) is for linking
nouns](Expressing_"and"_with_"he" "wikilink"). Just use one verb phrase
after another and the sequence of events is clear.

Examples
--------

<div class="liju">
-   我 要 <em>回</em>家 <em>吃</em>饭。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào
    <em>huí</em>jiā <em>chī</em>fàn.</span><span class="trans">I want to
    go home and eat.</span>
-   你 要 <em>去</em> 超市 <em>买</em> 东西 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ
    yào <em>qù</em> chāoshì <em>mǎi</em> dōngxi ma?
    </span><span class="trans">Are you going to the supermarket to buy
    things? </span>
-   他 不 想 <em>去</em> 图书馆 <em>看</em> 书。<span class="pinyin">Tā
    bù xiǎng <em>qù</em> túshūguǎn <em>kàn</em>
    shū.</span><span class="trans">He doesn't want to go to the library
    and read.</span>
-   你 <em>打</em> 电话 <em>告诉</em> 他 了 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ
    <em>dǎ</em> diànhuà <em>gàosu</em> tā le ma?
    </span><span class="trans">Did you call and tell him? </span>
-   我们 要 <em>坐</em> 飞机 <em>去</em>
    美国。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen yào <em>zuò</em> fēijī <em>qù</em>
    Měiguó.</span><span class="trans">We are going to take an airplane
    to go to the USA. </span>
-   你们 可以 <em>上</em> 网 <em>买</em> 机票
    吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen kěyǐ <em>shàng</em> wǎng <em>mǎi</em>
    jīpiào ma? </span><span class="trans">Can you use the Internet to
    buy airplane tickets? </span>
-   老板 下周 <em>去</em> 北京 <em>开</em>
    会。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn xià zhōu <em>qù</em> Běijīng
    <em>kāi</em> huì.</span><span class="trans">Next week the boss will
    go to Beijing to have a meeting.</span>
-   中国人 都 要 <em>回</em>家 <em>过</em>
    年。<span class="pinyin">Zhōngguó rén dōu yào <em>huí</em>jiā
    <em>guò</em>nián.</span><span class="trans">Chinese people all go
    back home for Chinese New Year.</span>
-   周末 我 喜欢 自己 <em>买</em> 菜
    <em>做</em>饭。<span class="pinyin">Zhōumò wǒ xǐhuan zìjǐ
    <em>mǎi</em> cài <em>zuò</em>fàn.</span><span class="trans"> I like
    to buy food to cook for myself on the weekend.</span>
-   早上 我 先 <em>刷</em> 牙 <em>洗</em> 脸，再 吃
    早饭。<span class="pinyin">Zǎoshang wǒ xiān <em>shuā</em> yá
    <em>xǐ</em> liǎn, zài chī zǎofàn.</span><span class="trans">In the
    morning, I first brush my teeth and wash my face, and then I eat
    breakfast.</span>

</div>
Note that the English translations of these sentences use the word
"and," but there is no equivalent to it in Chinese.

See also
--------

-   [Expressing "and" with "he"](Expressing_"and"_with_"he" "wikilink")
-   [Events in quick succession with "yi...
    jiu"](Events_in_quick_succession_with_"yi..._jiu" "wikilink")
-   [Sequencing with "xian" and
    "zai"](Sequencing_with_"xian"_and_"zai" "wikilink")

Sources and further reading
---------------------------

### Books

-   [A Practical Chinese Grammar For
    Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)](A_Practical_Chinese_Grammar_For_Foreigners_(外国人实用汉语语法) "wikilink") （pp.
    477-484)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA)
-   [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1
    (3rd ed)](Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed) "wikilink") (pp.
    207-8)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385)
-   [40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course
    (基础汉语40课下册）](40_Lessons_for_Basic_Chinese_Course_(基础汉语40课下册） "wikilink") (pp.
    384-5)[→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20)
-   [40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course
    (基础汉语40课上册）](40_Lessons_for_Basic_Chinese_Course_(基础汉语40课上册） "wikilink") (p.
    125)[→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20)

[Category:A2 grammar points](Category:A2_grammar_points "wikilink")