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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing 'teaching someone' with 教 (jiāo)

    Actions & Events
    Manner & Method

    Structure

    Subject + 教 + Person + (Object/Skill)

    Explanation

    教 (jiāo) is a verb meaning "to teach" or "to instruct." It can take a direct object (教你 = teach you) or a double object (教你中文 = teach you Chinese). Note that 教 is pronounced jiāo when meaning "to teach" and jiào in some compound words like 教室 (classroom).

    Examples

    • 王老师教我们数学，讲得特别清楚。

      Wáng lǎoshī jiāo wǒmen shùxué, jiǎng de tèbié qīngchu.

      Teacher Wang teaches us math and explains things very clearly.

    • 你能教我怎么做这道菜吗？

      nǐ néng jiāo wǒ zěnme zuò zhè dào cài ma?

      Can you teach me how to make this dish?

    • 她在一家培训机构教小朋友画画。

      tā zài yī jiā péixùn jīgòu jiāo xiǎopéngyou huàhuà.

      She teaches children to paint at a training institution.

    Expressing 'teaching someone' with 教 (jiāo) | Chinese Grammar