Coordinating Nouns with 跟 and 和 in Chinese
跟/和
跟 and 和 can join parallel noun phrases meaning and. The coordinated phrase can be a subject or object, and a following 都 often gives the predicate scope over both members. This coordinating use links equals; it does not replace a conjunction that connects two complete contrasting or causal clauses.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Noun Phrase + 跟/和 + Noun Phrase
Read the structure
跟 and 和 can join parallel noun phrases meaning and. The coordinated phrase can be a subject or object, and a following 都 often gives the predicate scope over both members. This coordinating use links equals; it does not replace a conjunction that connects two complete contrasting or causal clauses. Keep the model Noun Phrase + 跟/和 + Noun Phrase visible while you compare each sentence.
我和弟弟都学习中文。
My younger brother and I both study Chinese.
Choose the right context
Join two people as a compound subject before one shared predicate. Join two objects selected by the same verb. Add 都 after a coordinated subject when the predicate applies to both members.
爸爸跟妈妈在家。
Dad and Mom are at home.
Respect the boundary
Do not leave the second coordinated noun without a shared predicate or larger phrase. Do not place 都 between 跟/和 and the second noun. Do not use noun coordination alone to express cause, contrast, or sequence between clauses.
我和都弟弟学习中文。
(My brother and I both study Chinese.)
Repair the pattern
Scope adverb splits the coordinated nouns: 和 must directly join the two noun phrases; 都 follows the complete coordinated subject and scopes over it. Coordinator precedes both coordinated nouns: 和 must stand between the two parallel objects 茶 and 咖啡; it cannot precede the entire pair.
我和弟弟都学习中文。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
我和弟弟都学习中文。
My younger brother and I both study Chinese.
我
Noun Phrase
This part occupies the Noun Phrase position in the model pattern.
和
跟/和
This part occupies the 跟/和 position in the model pattern.
弟弟
Noun Phrase
This part occupies the Noun Phrase position in the model pattern.
都
Noun Phrase
This part occupies the Noun Phrase position in the model pattern.
学习
跟/和
This part occupies the 跟/和 position in the model pattern.
中文
Noun Phrase
This part occupies the Noun Phrase position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
我和弟弟都学习中文。
My younger brother and I both study Chinese.
爸爸跟妈妈在家。
Dad and Mom are at home.
我喜欢茶和咖啡。
I like tea and coffee.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Join two people as a compound subject before one shared predicate.
- Join two objects selected by the same verb.
- Add 都 after a coordinated subject when the predicate applies to both members.
Do not use it when
- Do not leave the second coordinated noun without a shared predicate or larger phrase.
- Do not place 都 between 跟/和 and the second noun.
- Do not use noun coordination alone to express cause, contrast, or sequence between clauses.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
我和都弟弟学习中文。
我和弟弟都学习中文。
Scope adverb splits the coordinated nouns
和 must directly join the two noun phrases; 都 follows the complete coordinated subject and scopes over it.
我喜欢和茶咖啡。
我喜欢茶和咖啡。
Coordinator precedes both coordinated nouns
和 must stand between the two parallel objects 茶 and 咖啡; it cannot precede the entire pair.
我和都弟弟学习中文。
和 must directly join the two noun phrases; 都 follows the complete coordinated subject and scopes over it.
我喜欢和茶咖啡。
和 must stand between the two parallel objects 茶 and 咖啡; it cannot precede the entire pair.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 跟/和.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 跟/和. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
Coordinating Nouns with 跟 and 和 Questions
Is 跟 more conversational than 和?
Often yes, though both commonly coordinate nouns in speech.
Can 和 connect two full clauses?
Usually not as a general English-style and. Mandarin often uses adverbs or leaves the relation unmarked.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: GF0025-2021 Appendix A, Level 1 item 【一19】 (PDF p. 179)
Provides official Level 1 directory placement and examples only; it does not establish the learner-facing usage explanation.
Official sourceModern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Chapter 16, §§16.1-16.2, conjunctions joining noun phrases and alternatives
Treats 跟 and 和 as coordinators between parallel noun phrases and distinguishes noun coordination from clause linking.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
同/与Formal Coordination with 同 and 与
Compare the common spoken language of 跟和 with the more formal choice of 与同与, confirming the parallel component 和 style.
Compare
及Formal Nominal Coordination with 及
Distinguish between the daily parallelism of 跟和 and the written enumeration of 及, paying special attention to the connection of the last item of multiple parallelisms.
Continue learning
还是/或者还是 vs 或者: Two Ways to Say Or
From the joint parallel of 跟和 to the selection relationship of 还是或者, avoid writing the coexistence as an alternative.
Compare
一面…一面Simultaneous Actions with 一面…一面
Use 跟 or 和 mainly between noun phrases, but use 一面…一面… between two simultaneous actions.
RECOMMENDED NEXT
Continue learning
From the joint parallel of 跟和 to the selection relationship of 还是或者, avoid writing the coexistence as an alternative.