笑着说 · 用…做
two verbs in a row: the first shows how the second is done
Structure
动词1 + 着 + 动词2 · 用 + 东西 + 动词
What it means
Two verbs in a row, where the first tells you how the second is done: smiling, standing up, or with a tool.
How it is built
Verb 1 + 着 + verb 2: 她笑着说 (she said with a smile), 站着吃 (eat standing up). 用 + tool + verb: 我们用筷子吃饭 (we eat with chopsticks).
When to use it
English puts “with a smile” or “with chopsticks” at the end; Chinese puts the how first, before the main verb. 着 (h2-12) marks a lasting state, so verb 1 is a posture or expression held while verb 2 happens.
Watch out
“With” a tool is 用, not 跟; 跟 is “with” a person: ✗ 我跟筷子吃饭。 ✓ 我用筷子吃饭。 ✓ 我跟朋友吃饭。
Examples
她笑着说：“没关系。”
She said with a smile, “That’s OK.”
我们用筷子吃饭。
We eat with chopsticks.
别站着吃饭，坐下吧。
Don’t eat standing up; sit down.
Learn this in HSK 3 · Lesson 6: 把房间打扫干净 (The big clean)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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