The small adverbs
也, 都, 还, 再, 又, 就 and 才, always before the verb.
These short words go after the subject and before the verb or adjective, never at the start of a sentence.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 也 yě | also, too | 我也是学生。 I'm a student too. |
| 都 dōu | all, both | 我们都是学生。 We're all students. |
| 还 hái | still; also | 他还在睡觉。 He's still asleep. |
| 再 zài | again, later | 明天再来吧。 Come again tomorrow. |
| 又 yòu | again; also | 他又迟到了。 He's late again. |
| 就 jiù | as soon as, already, just | 我七点就起床了。 I was up by seven. |
| 才 cái | only then, not until | 他十点才起床。 He didn't get up until ten. |
也 and 都
也 "also" and 都 "all" both come after the subject. 都 refers to the plural before it. With both, 也 comes first: 我们也都去 "we're all going too".
- Wǒ yě xǐhuan hē chá.I like tea too.
- Wǒmen dōu qù.We're all going.
再 and 又
Both mean "again". 再 is for what hasn't happened yet; 又 for what has happened, often with 了.
- Qǐng zài shuō yí biàn.Please say that again.
- Tā yòu chídào le.He's late again.
就 and 才
就 says something happened early or easily; 才 says it happened late or with difficulty.
- Wǒ qī diǎn jiù qǐchuáng le.I was up as early as seven.
- Tā shí diǎn cái qǐchuáng.He didn't get up until ten.
还
还 is "still" (他还在睡觉), "also, in addition" (我还要一杯), and with 没 "not yet".
- Wǒ hái yào yì bēi kāfēi.I'd like another cup of coffee.
Cards from this guide
9 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Comparing and linking cards.
Where does 也 go in "I like tea too"?
After the subject, before the verb: 我也喜欢喝茶。
How do you say "We're all students"?
我们都是学生。
再 or 又: which "again" goes in "Please say that again"?
再: 请再说一遍.
How do you say "He's late again"?
他又迟到了。
What does 才 say in 他十点才起床?
That it was late: he didn't get up until ten.
What does 就 say in 我七点就起床了?
That it was early: I was up as early as seven.
How do you say "He's still asleep"?
他还在睡觉。
In which order do 也 and 都 come together?
也都: 我们也都去.
How do you say "I'd like another cup of coffee"?
我还要一杯咖啡。