Mandarin Chinese reference
弹琴
tánqín
to play a stringed instrument
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) | tánqínplay a stringed instrument |
Completed action
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | tán le qínplayed a stringed instrument |
Experience
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | tán guo qínhave played a stringed instrument before |
In progress
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | zài tánqínbe playing a stringed instrument |
Future
About to
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | yào tánqín lebe about to play a stringed instrument |
Will / can
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | huì tánqínwill play a stringed instrument; can play a stringed instrument |
Negative
Not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | bù tánqíndo not play a stringed instrument |
Did not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | méi tánqíndid not play a stringed instrument |
Questions
Yes no question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | tánqín ma?do you play a stringed instrument? |
A not A question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | tán bu tán qín?do you play a stringed instrument? |
Forms from the Loquus reference. Only supplied forms are shown. Browse all Mandarin Chinese entries.