eric
/
ChineseGrammarWiki


			
				
					
						
						
							123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100
							<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE html>

<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:epub="http://www.idpf.org/2007/ops">
<head>
<title>Expressing "it depends" with "kan"</title>
<link href="../Styles/main.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Expressing "it depends" with "kan"
</h1>

<p>Although there are a number of ways to express "it depends" in Chinese, the most common ones in informal spoken Chinese involve the verb 看 (kàn). Some common expressions include 要看 (yào kàn) and 得看 (děi kàn). Both mean "(it) depends (on)." Literally, they would translate as "have to look at," so the logic is not hard to understand. If you're looking for more formal language, consider 取决于 (qǔjué yú), "to be dependent on."</p>

<h2>Contents</h2>

  
<div class="contents"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">1 Basic Pattern </span></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">1.1 Structure </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">1.2 Examples</span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">2 Advanced Pattern </span></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">2.1 Structure</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">2.2 Examples </span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">3 See also </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">4 Sources and further reading </span></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">4.1 Books</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</div>

<h2>Basic Pattern</h2>

<p>If you're answering a question with "it depends on..." then this is the pattern you want.</p>

<h3>Structure</h3>

<div class="deux">这 / 那 + 要看 / 得看 + [Unclear Situation]
</div>
<h3>Examples</h3>

<p>Keep in mind that the "answers" below are meant to be an answer to some imaginary question that we don't include.</p>

<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">这 得 看 你 的 时间 。
Zhè děi kàn nǐ de shíjiān.
This depends on when you are available. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">这 得 看 天气 怎么样 。
Zhè děi kàn tiānqì zěnmeyàng.
It depends on how the weather is. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">那 得 看 考试 结果 。
Nà děi kàn kǎoshì jiéguǒ.
That depends on whether the result of the test. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">那 要 看 他 愿 不 愿意 。
Nà yào kàn tā yuàn bu yuànyì.
That depends on whether he feels like it or not. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">那 要 看 老板 怎么 想 。
Nà yào kàn lǎobǎn zěnme xiǎng.
It depends on what the boss thinks.</span><br/></li>
</ul>
</div>

<h2>Advanced Pattern</h2>

<h3>Structure</h3>

<p>If you're going to write a full sentence explaining what "it" depends on, then you're going to need to lead off with some kind of explanation of the "unknown outcome" of what "it depends" on. So you'll start with the "unknown outcome" in the first part of the sentence (before 要看 / 得看) and then end up with what "it depends on" (after 要看 / 得看).</p>

<div class="deux">[Unknown Outcome] + 要看 / 得看 + [Unclear Situation]</div>

<p>The "unknown outcome" normally includes some kind of question word, meaning something like "whether or not x happens" or "what x does," etc.</p>

<h3>Examples</h3>

<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">去不去 得 看 我 的 心情 。
Qù bu qù de kàn wǒ de xīnqíng.
Whether or not I go depends on my mood. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">什么时候 去 要 看 公司 的 安排 。
Shénme shíhou qù yào kàn gōngsī de ānpái.
Departure time depends on the company's arrangement. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">学 音乐 还是 学 画画 要 看 孩子 的 兴趣 。
Xué yīnyuè háishì xué huàhuà yào kàn háizi de xìngqù.
It depends on your child's interest when it comes to picking between studying music or painting. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">能不能 留在 中国 要 看 我 能 不 能 拿到 签证 。
Néng bu néng liú zài Zhōngguó yào kàn wǒ néng bu néng nádào qiānzhèng.
Whether or not I can stay in China depends on whether or not I can get a visa. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">谁 当 总统 得 看 大选 的 结果 。
Shéi dāng zǒngtǒng děi kàn dàxuǎn de jiéguǒ.
Who the next president will be depends on the result of the election.</span><br/></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>See also</h3>

<h3>Sources and further reading</h3>

<h4>Books</h4>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) (pp. 168) →buy</span><br/></li>
</ul>
</body>
</html>