离合词 (separable verbs)

• Pinyin: lí hé cí
• Formation: Verb + Object (basic) / Verb + (了/过/modifier) + Object (separated)
• Hanzi breakdown: 离 (separate) + 合 (combine) + 词 (word)

Meaning

Separable verbs (离合词) are verb-object compounds that function as a single word but can be split apart when grammatical elements like aspect markers, duration, or modifiers need to be inserted between the verb and object components.

Common separable verbs include 见面 (meet), 帮忙 (help), 睡觉 (sleep), 结婚 (marry), 游泳 (swim), 跑步 (run), and 生气 (get angry). These compounds must be split when adding 了, 过, duration phrases, or frequency expressions — the modifier always goes between the verb and object, not after the whole compound. Separable verbs cannot take additional direct objects because the object slot is already filled. For instance, you cannot say 见面他 because 面 is already the object; instead, use 跟他见面. This is one of the trickiest aspects of Chinese grammar because there is no reliable way to predict which verbs are separable — they must be memorized individually.

Examples

1. 我跟她见过好几次面。 I've met her quite a few times.
2. 他帮了我一个大忙。 He did me a big favor.
3. 你们什么时候结的婚？ When did you two get married?

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 我上周跟新同事见了一次面。
• 你能帮我一个忙吗？
• 她昨晚睡了一个很好的觉。
• 他们已经结了婚，现在住在北京。

Don't Say

• 我见面了他。(Separable verbs cannot take a direct object after the compound — 面 already fills the object slot, use 跟他见了面) → 我跟他见了面。
• 她帮忙了我。(Modifiers must go between the verb and object — say 帮了我的忙, not 帮忙了我) → 她帮了我的忙。
• 你结婚了谁？(The object slot is occupied by 婚 — use 跟谁结的婚 to ask whom someone married) → 你跟谁结的婚？

Origin & History

The term 离合词 literally means 'separable-combinable words.' This concept was formally described by Chinese linguists in the 1950s to categorize verb-object compounds that allow syntactic elements to be inserted between their components.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal