Mandarin Chinese reference
动手
dòngshǒu
to get started (on a task); to touch (mostly in warnings); to come to blows
Verb pattern · 10 form tables
Mandarin verbs do not change for tense. These tables show aspect, negation, questions and sentence patterns. Short phrases omit the subject; full examples retain theirs.
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Aspect
Plain statement
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | dòngshǒuget started |
Completed action
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | dòng le shǒugot started |
Experience
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | dòng guo shǒuhave gotten started before |
In progress
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | zài dòngshǒube getting started |
Future
About to
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | yào dòngshǒu lebe about to get started |
Will / can
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | huì dòngshǒuwill get started |
Negative
Not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | bú dòngshǒudo not get started |
Did not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | méi dòngshǒudid not get started |
Questions
Yes no question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | dòngshǒu ma?do you get started? |
A not A question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | dòng bu dòng shǒu?do you get started? |
Forms from the Loquus reference. Only supplied forms are shown. Browse all Mandarin Chinese entries.