Using “和 (hé)” to Express “and” in Chinese Grammar

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

In Chinese, when you want to list multiple nouns together, the word “和 (hé)” comes to your rescue. However, it’s important to understand that “和 (hé)” isn’t a universal substitute for every instance of the English word “and.” Let’s dive into how to correctly use “和 (hé)” to link nouns in Chinese.

Structure: The primary function of “和 (hé)” is to link nouns in Chinese sentences. Here’s how you should use it: Noun 1 + 和 + Noun 2

Examples:

1. 你 和 我
   
   nǐ hé wǒ
   
   you and
   
2. 老板 喜欢 咖啡 和 茶
   。
   Lǎobǎn xǐhuan kāfēi hé chá.
   
   The boss likes coffee and tea.
   
3. 我 的 爷爷 和 奶奶 都 70 岁 。
   
   Wǒ de yéye hé nǎinai dōu qīshí suì.
   
   My grandpa and grandma are both 70 years old.
   
4. 他 和 他 女朋友 都 喜欢 中国 菜 。
   
   Tā hé tā nǚpéngyou dōu xǐhuan Zhōngguó cài.
   
   He and his girlfriend both like Chinese food.
   
5. 你 爸爸 和 你 妈妈 都 是 美国 人 吗 ？
   
   Nǐ bàba hé nǐ māma dōu shì Měiguó rén ma?
   
   Are your father and your mother both Americans?
   
6. 手机 和 电脑 都 很 贵 。
   
   Shǒujī hé diànnǎo dōu hěn guì.
   
   Cell phones and computers are both expensive.
   
7. 德语 和 法语 都 很 难 吗 ？
   
   Déyǔ hé Fǎyǔ dōu hěn nán ma?
   
   Are both German and French difficult?
   
8. 今天 和 明天 都 可以 吗 ？
   
   Jīntiān hé míngtiān dōu kěyǐ ma?
   
   Are today and tomorrow both OK?
   

Please note that “和 (hé)” should only be used to link nouns, not verbs or entire sentences. For instance, while “I went to the store and bought some gum” cannot be expressed using “和 (hé),” “I like to eat cucumbers and cheese” perfectly fits the usage of “和 (hé)” as both “cucumbers” and “cheese” are nouns.

Remember, mastering the usage of “和 (hé)” will help you effectively list items in Chinese sentences without any confusion.

If you’re uncertain about when to use “和 (hé),” feel free to refer to this guide or seek further clarification from your Chinese language instructor.

Feel confident using “和 (hé)” to express “and” in Chinese, and expand your ability to construct clear and concise sentences!