Mandarin Chinese reference
游
yóu
to swim; to travel around
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.
Audio requires a compatible voice in your browser.
Aspect
Plain statement
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | yóuswim |
Completed action
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | yóu leswam |
Experience
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | yóu guohave swum before |
In progress
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | zài yóube swimming |
Future
About to
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | yào yóu lebe about to swim |
Will / can
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | huì yóuwill swim |
Negative
Not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | bù yóudo not swim |
Did not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | méi yóudid not swim |
Questions
Yes no question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | yóu ma?do you swim? |
A not A question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | yóu bu yóu?do you swim? |
Forms from the Loquus reference. Only supplied forms are shown. Browse all Mandarin Chinese entries.