也 (yě) - Also/Too

In Chinese, 也 is classified as an adverb. This is a fancy way of saying it describes an action or a state. The most important thing to remember is its position. In English, we can say "I like coffee, too" or "I also like coffee." English is flexible and a bit messy. Chinese is much more disciplined. The word 也 must always come before the verb or the adjective. It never moves to the end of the sentence. It never starts the sentence. It is like a loyal shadow to the verb. If there is a negative word like 不 (bù), 也 still stays in front. You would say 也不 (yě bù), never 不也. It is a simple rule, but it is the one that trips up English speakers the most. Just remember: 也 is a pre-verb word. It prepares the listener for the action that is being repeated.

1. 1To build a sentence with 也, just follow these three easy steps:
2. 2Start with your Subject (the person or thing you are talking about).
3. 3Add the word 也 (yě) immediately after the subject.
4. 4Finish with the Verb or Adjective.
5. 5The basic formula looks like this: Subject + 也 + Verb / Adjective.
6. 6Let’s look at a quick example. If you want to say "I am also a student," you say: 我 (Subject) + 也 (yě) + 是 (Verb) + 学生 (Object). It becomes 我也悬学生. If you want to say "He is also tall," it is 他 (Subject) + 也 (yě) + 很高 (Adjective). It is like building with Lego blocks. Once you have the order down, you can swap out the words easily. Just don't let the blocks roll away to the end of the sentence!

You use 也 whenever you want to express similarity or agreement. Imagine you are at a bubble tea shop with a new friend. They order a milk tea. You want the same thing. You say, "I also want milk tea" (我也要奶茶). It’s perfect for building rapport. Use it when describing family members. "My mom is a doctor, and my dad is also a doctor." Use it when talking about your skills. "I can speak English, and I can also speak Chinese." It is also great for negative agreement. In English, we use "neither" or "either." In Chinese, we just use 也 with 不. For example, "I don't like spicy food, and he also doesn't like it" (他也不喜欢). It is a versatile tool for any situation where things are the same.

Do not use 也 at the very end of a sentence. This is the biggest trap for English speakers. If you say 我喜欢也, people might understand you, but it will sound very strange. It’s like wearing your shoes on your hands. Also, do not put 也 before the subject. You cannot say 也我喜欢. The subject always leads the way. Another time to be careful is when you are adding *new* different things to a list. If you say "I like apples, and I also like oranges," 也 works fine. But if you are listing many things in a row, sometimes other words like 还 (hái) are a better fit. For now, focus on using 也 for "likewise" situations. If the subject is doing the same thing as someone else, 也 is your best friend.

Yes, even native speakers might slip up on complex grammar, but 也 is usually a mistake-free zone for them. For you, the most common mistake is the "English Echo." This is when you put 也 at the end because that's where "too" goes in English. Another classic mistake is the "Double Subject" error. Sometimes people try to say "Me too" as just 我也. While you might hear this in very fast, casual speech, it usually feels incomplete. It is better to say 我也是 (I am also/Me too). Also, watch out for the 也 and 都 (dōu) mix-up. 都 means "all." If you and your friend both like coffee, you can say 我们也喜欢 (We also like it) or 我们都喜欢 (We both/all like it). Don't try to use them both in the same spot until you're more advanced. Think of it like a grammar traffic light; only one can be green at a time.

You might run into the word 还 (hái) and get confused. They both translate to "also" or "in addition" in English. Here is the secret: 也 is for "likewise" or "same here." Use it when the action is the same as something mentioned before. 还 is for "furthermore" or "and another thing." Use 还 when you are adding a *different* action or item to your own list. For example, "I like tea, and I also (也) like coffee" is fine. But "I am a teacher, and I am also (还) a student" highlights the addition of a new role. Another comparison is with 都 (dōu). 也 focuses on the individual being "also" like someone else. 都 groups everyone together. 我也去 means "I am also going." 我们都去 means "We are all going."