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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing 'and' between nouns with 和 (hé)

    HSK 1
    Connecting Ideas

    Structure

    Noun₁ + 和 + Noun₂

    Explanation

    The conjunction 和 is used to connect two nouns or noun phrases, similar to "and" in English. Unlike English "and," 和 is generally not used to connect verbs, adjectives, or clauses — it is primarily for linking nouns. For example, 我和你 means "you and I."

    Examples

    • 我和朋友周末去爬山了。

      wǒ hé péngyǒu zhōumò qù páshān le.

      My friend and I went hiking on the weekend.

    • 桌子上有苹果和橙子。

      zhuōzi shàng yǒu píngguǒ hé chéngzi.

      There are apples and oranges on the table.

    • 老师和学生都在教室里。

      lǎoshī hé xuéshēng dōu zài jiàoshì lǐ.

      Both the teacher and the students are in the classroom.

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