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ChineseGrammarWiki


			
				
					
						
						
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  <h1></h1>

  <p>The verb <span class="hanzi">来</span> (<span class="pinyin">lái</span>) can be used as a "<b>dummy verb,</b>" similar to the way "<b>do</b>" is used in English.</p>

  <h2>Contents</h2>

  <ol>
    <li>Structure<br/></li>

    <li>Examples<br/></li>

    <li>See also<br/></li>

    <li>Sources and further reading<br/></li>

    <ol>
      <li>Books<br/></li>
    </ol>
  </ol>

  <h2 id="structure">Structure</h2>

  <p>The structure for using <span class="hanzi">来</span> as a dummy verb is very basic. Usually it is a very short phrase, kind of like "<b>your turn!</b>," "<b>let me give it a shot!</b>," or "<b>you do it!</b>" in English. Usually it is used with <span class="hanzi">你</span> or <span class="hanzi">我</span> as the subject, and it ends with the <span class="hanzi">来</span>. Sometimes it can end with a <span class="hanzi">吧</span>.</p>

  <p>A scenario: Imagine you are with your some friends making dinner. There is a bottle of Chinese pickles that you want to open, but can't because the lid is so tight. You start passing it around to see who can open it, and no one is able to, until your body-builder friend comes in and says, "<span class="hanzi">我来!</span>" He is saying, "<b>Let me do it!</b>"</p>

  <div>
    <div class="deux">
      (<span class="hanzist">让 +</span>) Subj. + <span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px;">来</span>
    </div>
  </div>

  <div>
    <div class="deux">
      (<span class="hanzist">让 +</span>) Subj. + <span class="hanzist">来</span> + Verb
    </div>
  </div>

  <h2 id="examples">Examples</h2>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">你 来 ！</span> <span class="pinyin">Nǐ lái ba.</span><br/><span> You do it!</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 来 吧。</span> <span class="pinyin">Wǒ lái ba.</span><br/><span> Let me do it.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">让 他 自己 来 。</span> <span class="pinyin">Ràng tā zìjǐ lái.</span><br/><span> Let him do it himself.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">老师 ，我 来 读 。</span> <span class="pinyin">Lāoshī, wǒ lái dú.</span><br/><span> Teacher, let me read it.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 来 看看 。</span> <span class="pinyin">Wǒ lái kànkan.</span><br/><span> Let me take a look.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 来 想想 。</span> <span class="pinyin">Wǒ lái xiǎngxiang.</span><br/><span> Let me think about it.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你 来 说 。</span> <span class="pinyin">Nǐ lái shuō.</span><br/><span> You say it.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 来 抱抱 。</span> <span class="pinyin">Ràng wǒ lái bàobao.</span><br/><span> Let me hold it.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你 写 得 好看 ，你 来 <span class="pinyin">吧 。</span> Nǐ xiě de hǎokàn, nǐ lái ba.</span><br/><span> You write well. You write it.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">如果 你 觉得 我 做饭 不 好吃 ，你 来 做 ！</span> <span class="pinyin">Rúguǒ nǐ juéde wǒ zuòfàn bù hǎochī, nǐ lái zuò!</span><br/><span> If you don't think my food is tasty, then you cook!</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>

  <h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2>

  <h3 id="books">Books</h3>

  <ul>
    <li>Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (p. 54)</li>
  </ul>

  <h3 id="academic-articles">Academic Articles</h3>

  <ul>
    <li><span class="hanzi">现代汉语形式动词研究</span> <a href="http://www.doc88.com/p-060195242529.html">Research on Dummy Verb in Modern Chinese</a></li>
  </ul>

  <ul>
    <li><span class="hanzi">現代漢語中的形式動詞</span> <a href="http://aclweb.org/anthology-new/O/O05/O05-5008.pdf">Dummy Verbs in Contemporary Chinese</a></li>
  </ul>
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