Chinese Language Learning Program Lesson 199 -- How to use 拿 (ná), 带 (dài) and取(qǔ) in Chinese

Chinese Language Learning Program

Lesson 199 – How to use 拿 (ná), 带 (dài) and取(qǔ) in Chinese

Hello, everyone. Welcome back. This is Baixue’s Chinese Language Learning Program. Last time we learned about the 24 Solar Terms in Chinese. Today, we will learn how to use 拿 (ná), 带 (dài) and取(qǔ) in Chinese.

First, let’s see 拿 (ná) and 带 (dài). As verbs, these two can both mean “bring” or “take”. The difference between 拿 and 带 is:

拿 prefers to the action of picking up or carrying an object, particularly in one’s hands. Or you can say when we use 拿, you can always think of things being moved in someone's hands. Depending on the direction of the action, 拿 is often translated into "bring" or "take" in English.  It also means “hold”.

带prefers to taking or bringing things with you. Or you can say “take with”. 带 can be used for both directions.

取(qǔ) means go to get/pick up something.

It’s better to have some examples to explain.

拿 (ná)

1.   bāng wǒ ná yī gè ping guǒ ba.

             帮   我  拿 一 个    苹    果  吧。

         (Please bring me an apple.)

2.   bāng wǒ ná yī zhī bǐ guò lái ba.

   帮    我  拿 一  支笔   过  来  吧。

(Please bring me a pen over.)

3.   qǐng bāng wǒ ná yī xià.

   请     帮    我  拿 一 下. (Please hold this for me.)

4.   xiǎo lín bǎ nǐ de shū ná zǒu le.

  小   林 把  你 的   书  拿   走  了。

(Xiaolin took your book away.)

5.   nǐ xiǎng ná duō shǎo jiù ná duō shǎo.

你    想    拿   多    少    就  拿   多    少。

(Take as many as you want.)

带 (dài)

1.   nǐ dài qián le ma?

你 带    钱   了 吗？(Did you bring money (with you)?)

2.   dài shàng nǐ de nán péng yǒu yī qǐ lái ba!

 带     上     你的   男     朋     友  一 起 来 吧！

(Bring your boyfriend with you.)

3.   bǎ zhè běn shū dài shàng ba,  lù shàng wú liáo le

把   这    本   书    带     上    吧，路     上    无   聊  了

kě yǐ dú yī xià.

可 以 读  一 下。

(Bring this book with you. You can read it when you feel bored.)

4.    wǒ jīn tiān dài nǐ men qù dòng wù yuán.

  我  今  天    带 你    们  去    动     物    园。

(I will bring you to the Zoo today.)

Another difference between 拿 and 带 is that 带 can be used with abstract or intangible things. For example:

tā liǎn shàng dài zhe càn làn de xiào róng.

她  脸      上     带   着    灿  烂   的   笑    容。

(She has a beaming smile on her face)

tā gěi wǒ men dài lái le xī wàng.

她  给  我    们   带  来 了 希   望。(She brings us hope.)

tā shuō huà dài zhe nóng zhòng de lún dūn kǒu yīn.

她    说    话   带    着     浓        重     的   伦    敦   口   音。

(She spoke with a strong London accent.)

取(qǔ)

Go to take; to get; to choose; to fetch or to pick up. For example,

tā qù yín háng qǔ qián qù le.

她 去  银     行    取    钱  去了。

(She went to the bank to withdraw money.)

nǐ bāng wǒ bǎ wǒ de bāo guǒ cóng yóu jú qǔ chū lái ba.

你    帮   我  把  我  的   包    裹     从     邮  局  取   出  来 吧。

(Please help me pick up my package from the post office.)

Ok, that is all for today.

xiè xiè!

 谢  谢 ! (Thanks!)

xià cì jiàn

 下 次 见!  (See you next time!)