Hi ChinesePod team, my question is this: I was wondering when you shouldn’t use the word 和. Are there any specific rules with it? I use it similar to how it would be used in English, but I have been told that I am overusing it. Do you have any tips to help me understand this better?
Hi Alanna,
The most common meaning of 和 is “and”. But we have to remember that not all the words can be translated directly. In Chinese, 和 can only be used between nouns. For example,
- Subject noun
我和她今天要出去。
I am going out with her today. - Time noun
我星期三和星期四有空。
I am available on Wednesday and Thursday. - Place noun
我想去日本和英国。
I want to go to Japan and England.
Now, let’s see what we use to connect other words except nouns.
- Adjective and Adjective
-
这件裙子很漂亮，也很便宜。
这件裙子很漂亮，还很便宜。
This dress is pretty and cheap.
Note: 也 and 还 are another common translations for “and”. But when we use 还, it’s more like “not only…but also…” -
这件裙子又漂亮又便宜。
Note: You can also use the sentence structure 又…又… to put two adjectives together.
- Verb and Verb
-
我今天去了学校，也去了医院。
我今天去了学校，还去了医院。
I went to the school and went to the hospital.
＝我今天去了学校和医院。
Note: If you omit the verb, of course, you still can use 和. -
我看了电视，然后就睡了。
I watched TV and then slept.
Note: When the “and” in the sentence indicates the order, we would use 然后.
Hope this would help 
Betty
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