HSK 2 grammar · new HSK syllabus
让, 叫, 请: get someone to do something
A 让 B + verb = A has B do something or lets B do it: 妈妈让我早点儿睡觉.
Structure
- A + 让 / 叫 / 请 + B + verb
How it works
These verbs put a person between two verbs: the first person makes, lets, asks or invites the second person to do something.
让 is the most general: make or let. 叫 is more spoken and close to “tell”. 请 is polite: invite or ask.
The negative goes before 让/叫: 妈妈不让我玩手机.
Examples
-
妈妈让我早点儿睡觉。
Māma ràng wǒ zǎo diǎn ér shuìjiào.
Mum told me to go to bed early.
-
老师叫我们读课文。
Lǎoshī jiào wǒmen dú kèwén.
The teacher told us to read the text.
-
我想请你吃饭。
Wǒ xiǎng qǐng nǐ chī fàn.
I’d like to treat you to dinner.
-
爸爸不让我一个人出去。
Bàba bú ràng wǒ yí gè rén chūqù.
Dad doesn’t let me go out alone.
-
经理请他明天来公司。
Jīnglǐ qǐng tā míngtiān lái gōngsī.
The manager asked him to come to the office tomorrow.
Words in these examples (27)
| 妈妈 | māma | mum; mother | HSK 1 |
| 让 | ràng | to let; to ask (someone to do something) | HSK 2 |
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 早 | zǎo | early; good morning | HSK 1 |
| 点 | diǎn | o'clock; (measure word) a little | HSK 1 |
| 睡觉 | shuìjiào | to sleep; to go to bed | HSK 1 |
| 老师 | lǎoshī | teacher | HSK 1 |
| 叫 | jiào | to call; to be called; to shout | HSK 1 |
| 我们 | wǒmen | we; us | HSK 1 |
| 读 | dú | to read (aloud); to study | HSK 1 |
| 课文 | kèwén | text (of a lesson) | HSK 3 |
| 想 | xiǎng | to want to; to think; to miss | HSK 1 |
| 请 | qǐng | please; to invite; to treat (pay for) | HSK 1 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 吃 | chī | to eat | HSK 1 |
| 饭 | fàn | meal; cooked rice | HSK 1 |
| 爸爸 | bàba | dad; father | HSK 1 |
| 不 | bù | not; no | HSK 1 |
| 一 | yī | one | HSK 1 |
| 个 | gè | (general measure word) | HSK 1 |
| 人 | rén | person; people | HSK 1 |
| 出去 | chūqù | to go out | HSK 2 |
| 经理 | jīnglǐ | manager | HSK 3 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 明天 | míngtiān | tomorrow | HSK 1 |
| 来 | lái | to come | HSK 1 |
| 公司 | gōngsī | company; firm | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗妈妈让早点儿睡觉我。
✓妈妈让我早点儿睡觉。
The person comes right after 让.
-
✗我让他不去。（meaning “I didn’t let him go”）
✓我不让他去。
Negate 让, not the second verb.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 老师 我们明天早点儿来。
2. 我想 你喝咖啡。
3. 妈妈不 我吃太多糖。