和 (hé) - And (Nouns)

Imagine 和 as a small bridge. This bridge only allows nouns to cross it. You place it directly between two things. It does not move around like some other Chinese particles. It stays right in the middle of the items you are listing. It works just like a plus sign in a math equation. Noun A + 和 + Noun B. It is a static connector. It does not change based on the tense of the sentence. It does not care if you are talking about the past or the future. It just sits there and holds your nouns together. It is the simplest way to build a list in Chinese. You will find it in almost every conversation, from basic greetings to complex stories.

1. 1Using 和 follows a very strict and easy pattern. Follow these steps to build your phrase:
2. 2Start with your first noun or pronoun (e.g., 我 - I/me).
3. 3Place 和 immediately after that first noun.
4. 4Add your second noun or pronoun (e.g., 你 - you).
5. 5If you have a list of three or more, use commas for the first items.
6. 6Place 和 only before the very last item in the list.
7. 7Example: 苹果、西瓜和香蕉 (Apples, watermelons, and bananas). Notice how the 和 only appears once at the end. It acts like the final anchor for your list. This keeps the sentence from sounding repetitive or cluttered.

You should use 和 whenever you are linking two or more people, places, or things. Think about real-world scenarios. Imagine you are at a bubble tea shop. You want to order a milk tea and a green tea. You would say 奶茶和绿茶. Imagine you are introducing your family. You would say 爸爸和妈妈. It is perfect for shopping lists, travel itineraries, and office supplies. Use it when the items are of equal importance. It tells the listener that both things belong in the same group. It is the go-to word for "this thing as well as that thing."

This is the most important part of the lesson. Do not use 和 to join two actions (verbs). In English, we say "I sit and eat." In Chinese, you cannot say 我坐和吃. That sounds very strange to native speakers! Also, do not use 和 to join two full sentences. If you want to say "I like cats and he likes dogs," do not use 和. You should use a comma or other connectors like 也 (yě). 和 is strictly for things, not actions or ideas. Think of it as a "Noun-Only Zone." If you try to force a verb through the 和 bridge, the bridge might collapse! Keep it simple and stick to objects and people.

Many learners try to start a sentence with 和. In English, we sometimes start sentences with "And..." for emphasis. In Chinese, this is a big no-no. Never start your sentence with 和. It must always have something before it. Another mistake is using it too many times in one list. If you are listing five things, don't put 和 between every single one. It makes you sound like a robot or a very tired toddler. Just use it once at the end. Finally, remember that 和 does not mean "with" in the sense of "doing something with someone" in the same way English does. While it can sometimes translate that way, the grammar structure is different. Stick to the "A and B" noun rule first.

You might wonder about 也 (yě) or 还 (hái). 也 means "also" or "too." It is used with verbs. For example, "I like apples, he also likes apples." Use 也 when you are repeating an action. 还 means "also" or "in addition." It is often used to add more information to a sentence. 和 is much more basic. It just links the items themselves. If you are just making a list of nouns, 和 is your winner. If you are adding a new thought or action, look toward 也 or 还. Think of 和 as the glue and 也 as the echo.