Adverbs (副词)

Input Date:07/12/2006 Read: [Print] [Close]

1. What is an adverb?
 
　　An adverb is used to add more information about degree or manner or mood or circumstance or place or time, etc. to a verb, an adjective, a phrase or another adverb, as in English, e.g.
 
很(very)　　更(still)　　非常(extremely)　　都(all)　　常常(often)　　就(at once)
再(again)　　不(no; not)　　没(not yet)　　究竟　　(after all)　　欣然(happily)
忽然(suddenly)　　立刻(immediately)　　恍然(all of a sudden)　　渐渐(gradually)　
顺便(by the way)　　曾经(once)　　已经(already)　　将要(will)　  
 
 
2. What is noteworthy about Chinese adverbs? 
 
2.1. No “immigrates” from other word classes 
 
　　The number of adverbs in Chinese is much fewer than that in English, because many Chinese adjectives, verbs or even nouns ending with character "地" and functioning as adverbs remain to be regarded as adjectives, verbs or nouns respectively according to the Chinese grammar, unlike in English whose adjectives may be turned into adverbs by adding suffix "ly". So, all "inhabitants" in the class of Chinese adverbs are "original" --- No “immigrates” from other word classes. 
 
2.2. An adverb doesn't occur alone 
 
　　A Chinese adverb is only used to add more meaning to another word or a phrase, and never occurs alone, with only a few exceptions as: 未必(not necessarily); 也许(perhaps); 大概(probably); 不(not; no) , which are sometimes used alone in spoken Chinese. 
 
2.3. The use of "不" in answering a negative question 
 
　　The adverb “不” is used to negate the meaning implied by a verb, an adjective or a phrase. When being used to answer a negative question, it is contrary to English “NO” in meaning, e.g.
 
　　“他不爱喝酒吗？” “不，他爱喝酒。” (“He doesn't like wine, does he?” “Yes, he does.”)

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