跟 (with)

• Pinyin: gēn
• Formation: Subj. + 跟 + Person + 一起 + Verb + Obj. :: Subj. + 跟 + Person + Verb
• Hanzi breakdown: 跟 = 足 (foot) + 艮 (stubborn/firm)

Meaning

跟 is used to express doing something together with someone or comparing one thing with another. It often pairs with 一起 to emphasize joint action.

跟 primarily functions as a preposition meaning 'with' and is one of the most common ways to express accompaniment in Mandarin. When paired with 一起, it emphasizes the togetherness of the action. 跟 can also be used for comparisons, similar to 和, but 跟 is slightly more colloquial. Learners sometimes confuse 跟 with 和 — both can mean 'with' or 'and,' but 跟 is more common in spoken Chinese, especially for actions done together. Unlike 对, which implies direction or targeting, 跟 implies mutual participation.

Examples

1. 我每天跟同事一起吃午饭。 I eat lunch with my colleagues every day.
2. 她跟朋友一起去旅游了。 She went travelling with her friends.
3. 你跟谁学的中文？ Who did you learn Chinese from?

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 我跟他一起长大的，关系特别好。
• 你跟老师说了吗？
• 她跟家人一起过春节。
• 我们跟邻居关系不错。

Don't Say

• 我跟一起他去了。(一起 must come after the person, not before — the structure is 跟 + Person + 一起 + Verb) → 我跟他一起去了。
• 她跟很高兴。(跟 requires a person or object after it — it cannot directly precede an adjective) → 她很高兴。
• 他跟去北京。(跟 needs a companion noun — without specifying who, the sentence is incomplete) → 他跟朋友去北京。

Origin & History

跟 originally meant 'heel' (of the foot) in classical Chinese, implying following or being close to someone. Over time it evolved into a preposition expressing accompaniment and comparison.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal