PM Translation #63: Practice “Together” Words

🌀 Pearls of Mandarin: Translation #63

Hello Mandarin Enthusiasts! 🌟

In this week’s CGG #64, we explored the many flavors of “together” in Mandarin: from the friendly 一块儿 (yíkuàir) to the polished 一同 (yìtóng). While they all mean “together,” each one brings its own tone, context, and charm.

Now it’s time to roll up our sleeves and put these structures into action with this week’s translation exercises. Whether you’re talking about weekend plans with friends or writing about formal diplomatic events, these drills will help you choose the right kind of ‘together’, naturally and confidently.

Let’s dive in and get comfortable using these “together” words!

Recap of CGG #64 lesson

• Using 一起 (yìqǐ): This is the go-to word for saying “together” in Mandarin. It’s neutral and versatile, fitting naturally into both spoken and written language. Use it before the verb to show that people are doing something jointly, optionally adding 和 (hé) or 跟 (gēn) to specify with whom.

• Using 一块儿 (yíkuàir): A casual, friendly synonym of 一起, mostly heard in northern China. The 儿 (-r) ending adds a distinctly colloquial Beijing flavor. It follows the same structure as 一起 but is best reserved for informal settings.

• Using 一齐 (yìqí): A more literary or formal choice that emphasizes simultaneous or synchronized action. It’s used less in daily conversation and more in writing or older styles of speech, adding a nuance of “at the exact same time.”

• Using 一同 (yìtóng): The most formal of the group, often appearing in written documents, news reports, or elegant phrasing. Typically paired with 与 (yǔ) instead of 和/跟, it signals a more refined or official tone when describing people doing something together.

Today’s Exercises

Translate these English sentences into Mandarin:

🌱 Easy

1. We watch movies together every weekend.

2. He and I play basketball together after school.

🌿 Intermediate

3. Are you going to the concert with them?

4. She was supposed to attend the meeting with me, but last minute said “the internet’s bad” and never joined.

🌳 Advanced

5. The fireworks burst simultaneously in the night sky, illuminating the city skyline, creating a brilliant and dazzling scene.

6. After the high-level talks concluded, the heads of state of the two countries jointly attended a press conference and responded to questions from the media.

Take your time, and remember: practicing will help you sound more natural and confident in your Mandarin conversations. You’ve got this! 💫

🌱 Translation #1

We watch movies together every weekend.

一起 (yìqǐ) is the perfect choice here because it’s the most versatile and neutral way to express “together” in Mandarin, suitable for both casual conversations and formal contexts. For habitual activities like this, 一起 sounds natural whereas other options might seem either too casual or unnecessarily formal.

📚 Structure: [Subject] + [Time Expression] + 一起 + [Verb Phrase]

Let’s break down the translation step by step:

• 我们 (wǒmen) means “we.”

• 每个 (měi gè) means “every.”

• 周末 (zhōumò) means “weekend.”

• 一起 (yìqǐ) means “together.”

  • This is placed before the verb to indicate a joint action.

  • This is the most versatile way to express “together” in Mandarin.

• 看 (kàn) means “to watch.”

• 电影 (diànyǐng) means “movie.”

Notes

• The time expression 每个周末 comes before 一起, following the standard Mandarin word order of placing time expressions early in the sentence.

• Using 一块儿 here would also be acceptable but would give the sentence a more casual, northern Chinese feel.

Recap

• 我们每个周末一起看电影。

• 我们 / 每个 / 周末 / 一起 / 看 / 电影 。

• wǒmen měi gè zhōumò yìqǐ kàn diànyǐng

• We watch movies together every weekend.

• we / every / weekend / together / watch / movie.

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🌱 Translation #2

He and I play basketball together after school.