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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing playing chess with 下棋 (xiàqí)

    Actions & Events

    Structure

    下棋

    Explanation

    下棋 (xiàqí) means "to play chess" or "to play a board game." The verb 下 here specifically pairs with 棋 to form this activity expression. For example, 正在下棋 means "currently playing chess."

    Examples

    • 爸爸每天晚饭后都跟邻居下棋。

      Bàba měi tiān wǎnfàn hòu dōu gēn línjū xià qí.

      Dad plays chess with the neighbor every evening after dinner.

    • 你会下棋吗？我教你吧。

      Nǐ huì xià qí ma? Wǒ jiāo nǐ ba.

      Do you know how to play chess? Let me teach you.

    • 他们在公园里下棋，围了一圈人看。

      Tāmen zài gōngyuán lǐ xià qí, wéi le yī quān rén kàn.

      They were playing chess in the park, surrounded by a circle of onlookers.

    Expressing playing chess with 下棋 (xiàqí) | Chinese Grammar