Encyclopedia of Chinese Language and Linguistics

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Imperatives
(1,770 words)

Generally speaking, Mandarin, just like other languages, has four types of sentences: declaratives, interrogatives, imperatives and exclamatives (Zhū 1982; Xú 1987; Jìn 1992; Mǎ 1995). Imperatives are used to give commands (1a), prohibitions (1b), and instructions (1c).

1.    a.    出去!

              Chū-qù!

              go.out-go

              ‘Get out!’

 

b.

別關窗戶!

 

 

Bié    guān   chuānghu!

 

 …

Cite this page
Yanyu GUO and Yang SHEN, “Imperatives”, in: Encyclopedia of Chinese Language and Linguistics, General Editor Rint Sybesma. Consulted online on 28 March 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2210-7363_ecll_COM_00000194>
First published online: 2015



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