Chinese word list: Particles — 40 words

attributive linker

Also means: possessive/genitive marker · particle that turns a predicate into a noun phrase · particle emphasizing details in the 是…的 construction

be

Also means: focus copula: be the one who … · first part of an A-not-A question · indeed

at/in

Also means: be present · marks an ongoing action · in

marks a completed action

Also means: change-of-state particle · sentence-final particle marking a new situation or decision · emphatic sentence-final particle

有

yǒu

there is/are

Also means: have · once · auxiliary indicating that an action occurred

到

dào

arrive at a place

Also means: reach · successfully obtain · reach a point in time

not

Also means: marks inability in a potential complement · should not · don't

上

shàng

on

Also means: at · put on · onto

来

lái

come

Also means: let’s · arrive · toward the speaker

passive marker

did not / have not

Also means: there is no / there are no · not have · no

一

yī

one

Also means: at a time · each · as soon as

particle marking an ongoing action or state

Also means: marks the manner or accompanying state of an action · keep doing it · try to

去

qù

go

Also means: to · back and forth (in repeated actions)

not be

Also means: or not? · not · no way

indicates having done something before

Also means: after · across/through · marks transfer to a receiver

下

xià

next

Also means: fall · under · down

possessive linker

Also means: of

particle marking the preceding manner phrase as an adverbial modifier

Also means: plot of land · ground · place

没

méi

not have / did not

Also means: be gone · not be · not be missing

particle linking a verb to a complement showing manner, degree, or result

Also means: have to · can (ability marker between the verb and its complement) · achieve

shall we?

please

Also means: treat someone · ask someone to do something · request leave

一样

yíyàng

same

Also means: like/as if · (item)

look

Also means: up · begin to become · begin to

raise

Also means: from then on · begin to · get

even

Also means: company · connect

住

zhù

live

Also means: become fixed or frozen · keep under control

if

or something like that

oh

Also means: know · okay?

完

wán

mark that an action is completed

stop

Also means: move down · settle down · record and preserve

下去

xiàqù

downward

Also means: continue · pass down to later generations · be unable to keep watching

掉

diào

fall

Also means: drop · get away

完了

wánle

oh no

Also means: finish completely · be settled

cannot help but

Also means: be unable to stop or defend against

eh

know

Also means: oh · hey

sentence-final particle softening an apology or reassurance