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HSK 2.0 Level 3+ HSK 3.0 Level 3+ 6 min read

Appositive Phrases like 我们两个 and 他这个人

Put two words for the same person or thing side by side, as in 我们两个, 我自己 and 北京这个城市, to make one phrase.

Pattern

word A + word B for the same person or thing, no 的 (我们两个, 我自己, 你们大家, 他这个人)

Two names for the same thing sit side by side with nothing between them: 我朋友小王 is one person.

我们两个是同学。

When to use Appositive Phrases like 我们两个 and 他这个人

An appositive phrase (同位短语) puts two words for the same person or thing side by side: 我们两个 “the two of us”, 我自己 “I myself”, 我朋友小王 “my friend Xiao Wang”. There is no 的 between the two parts, because the second part doesn’t belong to the first; it is the same thing named again. The whole phrase works as one subject or object.

这是我自己做的菜。

I cooked this dish myself.

我朋友小王会说英语。

My friend Xiao Wang can speak English.

上海这个城市越来越漂亮了。

Shanghai is getting more and more beautiful.

他这个人很热情。

He’s a really warm person.

Common traps

  • Don’t put 的 between the two parts: say 我们两个是同学, not 我们的两个是同学.
  • 小王他们 means Xiao Wang and the people with him; to talk about Xiao Wang alone, just say 小王.
  • Use 他这个人 for someone’s character (他这个人很热情), not for a passing state: say 他今天很累, not 他这个人今天很累.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

北京 很大

Beijing, this city, is very large
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

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