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| 接着 [2025/08/13 13:13] – created xiaoer | 接着 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== jiēzhe: 接着 - To Continue, To Follow, Next ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** jiezhe, 接着, how to use jiezhe, jiezhe vs ranhou, Chinese for 'next', Chinese for 'then', Chinese for 'to continue', Chinese grammar sequence, HSK 3 vocabulary, Chinese adverbs | |
| * **Summary:** Learn how to use **接着 (jiēzhe)**, a fundamental Chinese adverb for sequencing actions, meaning 'next,' 'then,' or 'to continue.' This comprehensive guide breaks down its grammar, provides clear examples, and explains the crucial difference between **接着 (jiēzhe)** and similar words like **然后 (ránhòu)**. This page is perfect for HSK 3 students and beginners who want to tell stories and give instructions like a native speaker by mastering the flow of actions. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** jiēzhe | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Adverb, Verb | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 3 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** It indicates that a second action follows a first one immediately or in close succession, often performed by the same subject. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** Think of **接着 (jiēzhe)** as the glue that connects two actions happening one right after the other, like links in a chain. It’s the Chinese equivalent of saying "and then right after that..." or "continuing on...". It emphasizes a smooth, unbroken flow of events, suggesting there's little to no time gap between the actions. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **接 (jiē):** The core meaning is "to connect," "to receive," or "to catch." The left-hand radical 扌(shǒu) is the "hand" radical, suggesting an action done with the hands. So, you can picture 接 as using a hand to **connect** to or **receive** something. | |
| * **着 (zhe):** This is a grammatical particle that often indicates the continuation of an action or a state, similar to adding "-ing" in English (e.g., 看着 kànzhe - looking, 听着 tīngzhe - listening). | |
| When combined, **接着 (jiēzhe)** literally means "connecting-on." This paints a perfect picture: you are "connecting" the next action onto the previous one, creating a continuous flow. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| While **接着 (jiēzhe)** isn't a deep philosophical term, its frequent use reveals an aspect of Chinese communication style: an appreciation for narrative flow and logical sequence. In storytelling, whether it's a casual anecdote or a formal presentation, using **接着** creates a sense of momentum and keeps the listener engaged. It signals, "hold on, the story isn't over, the next part is coming immediately." | |
| Compare this to English, where we might use a more varied or sometimes disjointed set of connectors like "And then...", "So after that...", "Next...". **接着** implies a tighter, more immediate, and often more logical progression of events performed by a single actor. It’s a tool for building a seamless narrative chain, which is highly valued in clear communication. In traditional Chinese performance arts like 评书 (píngshū - storytelling), masters use words like **接着** to skillfully control the pace and keep the audience hanging on their every word. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| **接着 (jiēzhe)** is extremely common in everyday spoken Mandarin. It's a versatile word used in various contexts. | |
| * **Narrating a Sequence of Events:** This is its most common use. You do action A, and **接着** you do action B. | |
| //e.g., 我吃完饭，接着看了一会儿电视。 (Wǒ chī wán fàn, jiēzhe kànle yíhuìr diànshì.) - I finished eating, and then right after, I watched TV for a bit.// | |
| * **Giving Instructions:** It's used to lay out steps in a clear order. | |
| //e.g., 你先把水烧开，接着把面条放进去。 (Nǐ xiān bǎ shuǐ shāo kāi, jiēzhe bǎ miàntiáo fàng jìnqù.) - First, you boil the water, then put the noodles in.// | |
| * **As a Verb "To Continue":** It can function directly as a verb, often followed by another verb. This is common when asking someone to continue what they were doing or saying. | |
| //e.g., 你接着说，我听着呢。 (Nǐ jiēzhe shuō, wǒ tīngzhe ne.) - Please continue talking, I'm listening.// | |
| Its formality is neutral to informal, making it suitable for almost any daily conversation. In more formal writing or speeches, [[随后]] (suíhòu) might be used instead. | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 他吃完晚饭，**接着**就去散步了。 | |
| * Pinyin: //Tā chī wán wǎnfàn, **jiēzhe** jiù qù sànbùle.// | |
| * English: After he finished dinner, he immediately went for a walk. | |
| * Analysis: This is a classic example of a tight sequence of actions. The word 就 (jiù) further emphasizes the immediacy. | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 老师讲完了第一课，**接着**又讲了第二课。 | |
| * Pinyin: //Lǎoshī jiǎng wánle dì yī kè, **jiēzhe** yòu jiǎngle dì èr kè.// | |
| * English: The teacher finished explaining Lesson One, and then continued on to explain Lesson Two. | |
| * Analysis: Here, **接着** shows the seamless transition from one teaching topic to the next within the same class period. | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 这个故事很有意思，请你**接着**讲。 | |
| * Pinyin: //Zhège gùshì hěn yǒuyìsi, qǐng nǐ **jiēzhe** jiǎng.// | |
| * English: This story is very interesting, please continue telling it. | |
| * Analysis: In this case, **接着** is used as a verb, meaning "to continue." It's a polite way to ask someone not to stop their narrative. | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 外面打了一声雷，**接着**就下起了倾盆大雨。 | |
| * Pinyin: //Wàimiàn dǎle yī shēng léi, **jiēzhe** jiù xià qǐle qīngpén dàyǔ.// | |
| * English: There was a clap of thunder outside, and immediately after, it started pouring rain. | |
| * Analysis: **接着** is perfect for describing natural phenomena that happen in quick succession. | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 别停下，**接着**跑！ | |
| * Pinyin: //Bié tíng xià, **jiēzhe** pǎo!// | |
| * English: Don't stop, keep running! | |
| * Analysis: Used as a command or encouragement, **接着** here means "to continue" the action of running without a break. | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 我们先把桌子擦干净，**接着**再摆碗筷。 | |
| * Pinyin: //Wǒmen xiān bǎ zhuōzi cā gānjìng, **jiēzhe** zài bǎi wǎn kuài.// | |
| * English: Let's wipe the table clean first, and then set out the bowls and chopsticks. | |
| * Analysis: A great example of using **接着** to give clear, sequential instructions for a task. | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 他喝了一口水，**接着**开始了他的演讲。 | |
| * Pinyin: //Tā hēle yīkǒu shuǐ, **jiēzhe** kāishǐle tā de yǎnjiǎng.// | |
| * English: He took a sip of water, and then began his speech. | |
| * Analysis: Shows how **接着** can connect a small preparatory action to a major one, highlighting the flow. | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 你先说，我**接着**你的话说。 | |
| * Pinyin: //Nǐ xiān shuō, wǒ **jiēzhe** nǐ de huàshuō.// | |
| * English: You speak first, and I'll continue on from what you said. | |
| * Analysis: This shows a more abstract use of **接着**, meaning to build upon or continue someone else's line of thought in a conversation. | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 他挂了我的电话，**接着**就关机了。 | |
| * Pinyin: //Tā guàle wǒ de diànhuà, **jiēzhe** jiù guānjīle.// | |
| * English: He hung up on me, and then immediately turned off his phone. | |
| * Analysis: This conveys a sense of speed and perhaps frustration. The actions are rapid and directly linked. | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 看完这本书，我**接着**又读了这位作者的另一本书。 | |
| * Pinyin: //Kàn wán zhè běn shū, wǒ **jiēzhe** yòu dúle zhè wèi zuòzhě de lìng yī běn shū.// | |
| * English: After finishing this book, I went on to read another book by the same author. | |
| * Analysis: Although reading a whole new book takes time, **接着** is used here to show the speaker's continuous interest and the immediate decision to start the next book. The focus is on the sequence of personal actions, not the absolute time elapsed. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| The most common point of confusion for learners is distinguishing **接着 (jiēzhe)** from **然后 (ránhòu)**. | |
| * **`接着 (jiēzhe)` vs. `然后 (ránhòu)`:** | |
| * **Immediacy:** **接着** implies a very short, almost non-existent time gap. The second action happens right after the first. **然后** is a more general "then" and the time gap can be short or long (minutes, hours, or even days). | |
| * **Subject:** **接着** is most often used when the //same subject// performs both actions. While **然后** can also be used this way, it's the required choice if the subjects are different. | |
| * **Flow vs. List:** **接着** emphasizes a continuous flow. **然后** is more like a neutral "and then" that just lists the next item in a sequence. | |
| * **Incorrect Usage Example:** | |
| * **Wrong:** 我去年去了北京，**接着**今年去了上海。 (//Wǒ qùnián qùle Běijīng, **jiēzhe** jīnnián qùle Shànghǎi.//) | |
| * **Reason:** The time gap of one year is far too long for **接着**. It breaks the sense of immediacy. | |
| * **Correct:** 我去年去了北京，**然后**今年去了上海。 (//Wǒ qùnián qùle Běijīng, **ránhòu** jīnnián qùle Shànghǎi.//) Or simply state them as two facts. | |
| * **Incorrect Usage with Different Subjects:** | |
| * **Awkward:** 我先走了，**接着**你来。 (//Wǒ xiān zǒule, **jiēzhe** nǐ lái.//) | |
| * **Reason:** The subjects ("I" and "you") are different. While not grammatically catastrophic, it's unnatural. | |
| * **Correct:** 我先走了，**然后**你再来。 (//Wǒ xiān zǒule, **ránhòu** nǐ zài lái.//) | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[然后]] (ránhòu) - The most common sequencing word, meaning "and then" or "after that." It is more general and flexible than `接着`. | |
| * [[后来]] (hòulái) - "Afterwards," "later on." Used exclusively for describing a sequence of events in the past, usually with a significant time gap. | |
| * [[继续]] (jìxù) - A verb meaning "to continue." It focuses on resuming an action that was paused or interrupted (e.g., "let's continue the meeting"), whereas `接着` focuses on starting the //next// action in a sequence. | |
| * [[接下来]] (jiē xiàlái) - "Next," "coming up." Very similar to `接着`, but often used by a speaker or host to introduce the next item on an agenda or the next part of a performance. (e.g., "Next, let's welcome Mr. Wang to the stage.") | |
| * [[于是]] (yúshì) - "So," "therefore," "as a result." It connects two clauses based on cause-and-effect, not just a time sequence. | |
| * [[随后]] (suíhòu) - "Subsequently," "soon after." A more formal and written-style synonym for `接着` or `然后`. | |