A Chinese character typically has multiple meanings or applications. It gives many Chinese students headaches. Today we will learn how to use 跟 gēn.
If you want to emphasize that someone is accompanying you, use 跟 gēn or 和 hé.
Wǒ jīntiān gēn māmā yīqǐ qù guàngjiē.
我今天跟妈妈一起去逛街。
I went shopping with my mother today.
Wǒ jīntiān hé māmā yīqǐ qù guàngjiē
我今天和妈妈一起去逛街
I went shopping with my mother today.
跟 gēn is a preposition to introduce the other agent of action when an action has two participants. 跟 gēn is in the dominant position, for example:
Wǒ bùxiǎng gēn tā chǎo.
我不想跟他吵。
I don’t want to argue with him.
跟 gēn can be used to introduce the receiver of an action:
Nǐ kuài gēn wǒ shuō shuō, zhè bù diànyǐng hǎokàn ma?
你快跟我说说，这部电影好看吗？
Tell me quickly, is this movie good?
跟 gēn is a preposition introducing the object of comparison. 跟 gēn often echoes with such words as 相同 xiāngtóng (identical),一样 yīyàng (the same) or 差不多 chàbùduō (about the same). For example:
Wǒ gēn tā yīyàng gāo.
我跟他一样高。
I am as tall as him.
Zhè shuāng xié zǐ gēn nà jiàn qún zǐ jiàqián xiāngtóng.
这双鞋子跟那件裙子价钱相同。
These shoes cost the same as that dress.
Běijīng de tiānqì gēn niǔyuē chàbùduō.
北京的天气跟纽约差不多。
The weather in Beijing is similar to that in New York.
