wèiyǔ: 谓语 - Predicate

• Keywords: 谓语, weiyu, Chinese predicate, what is a predicate in Chinese, Chinese grammar, Chinese sentence structure, 主谓宾, predicate in Mandarin, learn Chinese grammar, adjective as predicate, verb phrase.
• Summary: Understand the core of Chinese sentence structure by learning about the 谓语 (wèiyǔ), or predicate. This guide explains what a predicate is in Mandarin, how it differs from English, and why you often don't need the verb “to be” (是, shì) with adjectives. Master this concept to build natural-sounding and grammatically correct Chinese sentences.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): wèiyǔ
• Part of Speech: Noun (Linguistic Term)
• HSK Level: N/A (Linguistic Term)
• Concise Definition: The predicate is the part of a sentence that comments on or describes the subject.
• In a Nutshell: The “谓语” (wèiyǔ) is the heart of a Chinese sentence. It's what the subject *is*, *does*, or *is like*. While it's often a verb (like “eat” or “go”), its most unique feature in Chinese is that it can also be an adjective directly (“is beautiful,” “is tall”) without needing a linking verb like “is” or “am”.

• 谓 (wèi): This character means “to say,” “to call,” or “to refer to.” The left part, a radical 言 (yán), means “speech.” The right part provides the sound. So, 谓 is about defining or describing something with words.
• 语 (yǔ): This character means “language” or “word.” It also contains the “speech” radical 言 (yán).
• Together, 谓语 (wèiyǔ) literally translates to “describing word” or “defining language.” This perfectly captures its grammatical function: it's the part of the sentence that describes or defines the subject.

The concept of a “predicate” isn't a cultural item like a festival, but its structure in Chinese reveals a different linguistic worldview compared to English. The most significant difference is the adjectival predicate. In English, we must say, “He is tall.” The verb “is” is essential to link the subject “He” to the description “tall.” In Chinese, you simply say 他高 (tā gāo) - “He tall.” The adjective 高 (gāo) itself functions as the complete predicate. This structure reflects a linguistic efficiency and a more direct state of being. You aren't *performing the action of being* tall; you simply *are* tall. This might seem small, but it's a fundamental shift for learners. It forces you away from a verb-centric English mindset and into a more topic-comment structure that is common in Chinese. The subject is the topic, and the predicate is the comment about that topic. This comment can be an action (verb), but it can just as easily be a quality or state (adjective).

You won't hear “谓语” used in everyday conversation. It is a technical term used in academic and educational settings.

• In the Classroom: When a teacher explains Chinese grammar (语法, yǔfǎ), they will break sentences down into their core components: 主语 (zhǔyǔ, subject), 谓语 (wèiyǔ, predicate), and 宾语 (bīnyǔ, object). This is a standard part of language education for both native Chinese children and foreign learners.
• For Learners: Understanding the concept of “谓语” is crucial for deconstructing and building sentences correctly. It's the key to knowing why you say `他很高 (tā hěn gāo)` instead of `他是很高 (tā shì hěn gāo)`. It's a foundational building block for mastering Chinese sentence patterns.

The predicate of each sentence is in bold. * Example 1: (Verb as Predicate) * 我 喜欢 中国菜。 * Pinyin: Wǒ xǐhuān Zhōngguó cài. * English: I like Chinese food. * Analysis: This is the most straightforward type of predicate, identical to English. The verb 喜欢 (xǐhuān) describes the action/feeling of the subject 我 (wǒ). * Example 2: (Adjective as Predicate) * 今天天气 很好。 * Pinyin: Jīntiān tiānqì hěn hǎo. * English: The weather is very good today. * Analysis: A classic example. Notice there is no 是 (shì). The adjective 好 (hǎo), modified by the adverb 很 (hěn), directly forms the predicate describing the subject 天气 (tiānqì). * Example 3: (Adjective as Predicate without 很) * 这个苹果 红。 * Pinyin: Zhège píngguǒ hóng. * English: This apple is red. * Analysis: This sentence is often used in a comparative context (e.g., “This apple is red, that one is green”). Without 很 (hěn), the sentence has a slightly contrastive feel. The adjective 红 (hóng) is the entire predicate. * Example 4: (Verb Phrase as Predicate) * 他 去商店买东西。 * Pinyin: Tā qù shāngdiàn mǎi dōngxi. * English: He goes to the store to buy things. * Analysis: This is a serial verb construction. The entire phrase 去商店买东西 (qù shāngdiàn mǎi dōngxi) acts as the predicate, describing a sequence of actions taken by the subject 他 (tā). * Example 5: (Using 是 as the Predicate) * 她 是 一名医生。 * Pinyin: Tā shì yī míng yīshēng. * English: She is a doctor. * Analysis: The verb 是 (shì) is used as the predicate here because it is linking two nouns: the subject (她, tā) and the object (一名医生, yī míng yīshēng). This is where Chinese and English grammar align perfectly. * Example 6: (Existential Predicate with 有) * 桌子上 有 一本书。 * Pinyin: Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yī běn shū. * English: There is a book on the table. * Analysis: Here, the verb 有 (yǒu) acts as the predicate to state the existence of something. The subject is the location 桌子上 (zhuōzi shàng). * Example 7: (Predicate with a Modal Verb) * 你 应该 多喝水。 * Pinyin: Nǐ yīnggāi duō hē shuǐ. * English: You should drink more water. * Analysis: The predicate is the entire verb phrase 应该多喝水 (yīnggāi duō hē shuǐ). It starts with the modal verb 应该 (yīnggāi) and describes what the subject 你 (nǐ) ought to do. * Example 8: (Negative Predicate) * 我 不累。 * Pinyin: Wǒ bù lèi. * English: I am not tired. * Analysis: To negate an adjectival predicate, you simply add 不 (bù) before the adjective. The phrase 不累 (bù lèi) is the predicate. * Example 9: (Using the word “谓语” itself) * 老师，这个句子的 谓语 是什么？ * Pinyin: Lǎoshī, zhège jùzi de wèiyǔ shì shénme? * English: Teacher, what is the predicate of this sentence? * Analysis: This is how you would use the term in a classroom setting to ask a grammatical question. * Example 10: (Explaining the grammar of “谓语”) * 在汉语里，形容词可以直接作 谓语。 * Pinyin: Zài Hànyǔ lǐ, xíngróngcí kěyǐ zhíjiē zuò wèiyǔ. * English: In Chinese, adjectives can directly function as predicates. * Analysis: A meta-sentence that explains the core rule this page is teaching. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * The “是 (shì)” Trap: The most common mistake for English speakers is unnecessarily adding 是 (shì) before an adjective. * Incorrect: `他 是 很高兴。` (Tā shì hěn gāoxìng.) * Correct: `他 很高兴。` (Tā hěn gāoxìng.) * Reason: In Chinese, you only use 是 (shì) to link two nouns (A=B, e.g., “I am a student”) or for emphasis. You do not use it to link a noun to an adjective. The adjective can stand alone as the predicate. * Forgetting “很 (hěn)”: While you don't use 是 (shì), you often need 很 (hěn) before a simple adjective in a positive statement. Sentences like `她漂亮 (tā piàoliang)` sound abrupt or comparative. `她很漂亮 (tā hěn piàoliang)` is the more natural, neutral statement. Think of 很 (hěn) here less as “very” and more as a default connector that smooths out the sentence. * Predicate vs. Verb: Do not assume “predicate” and “verb” are the same. A verb is a *part of speech*. A predicate is a *sentence component*. The predicate is the entire verb phrase or adjective phrase that describes the subject. For example, in `他想去中国 (Tā xiǎng qù Zhōngguó)`, the predicate is 想去中国 (xiǎng qù Zhōngguó), not just the verb 想 (xiǎng). ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * 主语 (zhǔyǔ) - Subject. The topic of the sentence; what the 谓语 describes. * 宾语 (bīnyǔ) - Object. The receiver of the action in a verb-predicate. * 动词 (dòngcí) - Verb. A common type of word that serves as the predicate. * 形容词 (xíngróngcí) - Adjective. A type of word that can uniquely serve as a predicate in Chinese without a linking verb. * 句子 (jùzi) - Sentence. The complete grammatical unit, typically composed of a subject and a predicate. * 语法 (yǔfǎ) - Grammar. The system of rules that includes concepts like 谓语. * 定语 (dìngyǔ) - Attributive. The part that modifies a noun (e.g., the “red apple”). * 状语 (zhuàngyǔ) - Adverbial. The part that modifies the predicate (e.g., “happily eat”). * 补语 (bǔyǔ) - Complement. A word or phrase that follows a verb or adjective to provide more detail (e.g., in `看得清楚`, `清楚` is the complement).