Formal Nominal Coordination with 及 in Chinese
及
及 is a formal conjunction joining parallel nominal constituents, especially in notices, reports, and compact lists. It stands between the coordinated units and does not carry aspect. Both sides should have matching syntactic status; 及 cannot be inserted inside a classifier phrase or moved after the completed list it connects.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Noun Phrase A + 及 + Noun Phrase B
Read the structure
及 is a formal conjunction joining parallel nominal constituents, especially in notices, reports, and compact lists. It stands between the coordinated units and does not carry aspect. Both sides should have matching syntactic status; 及 cannot be inserted inside a classifier phrase or moved after the completed list it connects. Keep the model Noun Phrase A + 及 + Noun Phrase B visible while you compare each sentence.
会议讨论预算及人员安排。
The meeting discusses the budget and staffing arrangements.
Choose the right context
Use 及 between parallel nouns or noun phrases in formal prose. Use it to close a compact administrative or expository list. Keep the constituents on both sides syntactically parallel.
请提交护照及签证复印件。
Please submit copies of the passport and visa.
Respect the boundary
Do not attach aspect 了 to 及. Do not insert 及 inside a numeral-classifier-noun phrase. Do not place it after both coordinated constituents.
会议讨论预算及了人员安排。
(The meeting discusses the budget and staffing arrangements.)
Repair the pattern
Aspect marker attaches to the conjunction: Conjunction 及 cannot bear perfective 了 between the coordinated noun phrases. Conjunction is stranded without a right-hand constituent: Every 及 must connect a complete constituent on each side; sentence-final 及 lacks a right-hand conjunct.
会议讨论预算及人员安排。
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.
会议讨论预算及人员安排。
The meeting discusses the budget and staffing arrangements.
会议
Noun Phrase A
This part occupies the Noun Phrase A position in the model pattern.
讨论
及
This part occupies the 及 position in the model pattern.
预算
Noun Phrase B
This part occupies the Noun Phrase B position in the model pattern.
及
Noun Phrase A
This part occupies the Noun Phrase A position in the model pattern.
人员
及
This part occupies the 及 position in the model pattern.
安排
Noun Phrase B
This part occupies the Noun Phrase B 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.
会议讨论预算及人员安排。
The meeting discusses the budget and staffing arrangements.
请提交护照及签证复印件。
Please submit copies of the passport and visa.
本章介绍方法、结果及局限。
This chapter introduces the methods, results, and limitations.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Use 及 between parallel nouns or noun phrases in formal prose.
- Use it to close a compact administrative or expository list.
- Keep the constituents on both sides syntactically parallel.
Do not use it when
- Do not attach aspect 了 to 及.
- Do not insert 及 inside a numeral-classifier-noun phrase.
- Do not place it after both coordinated constituents.
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.
会议讨论预算及了人员安排。
会议讨论预算及人员安排。
Aspect marker attaches to the conjunction
Conjunction 及 cannot bear perfective 了 between the coordinated noun phrases.
请提交护照及签证复印件及。
请提交护照及签证复印件。
Conjunction is stranded without a right-hand constituent
Every 及 must connect a complete constituent on each side; sentence-final 及 lacks a right-hand conjunct.
会议讨论预算及了人员安排。
Conjunction 及 cannot bear perfective 了 between the coordinated noun phrases.
请提交护照及签证复印件及。
Every 及 must connect a complete constituent on each side; sentence-final 及 lacks a right-hand conjunct.
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 及.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 及. 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
Formal Nominal Coordination with 及 Questions
Can 及 join full clauses?
Its core modern formal use is coordination of nominal or similarly compact parallel constituents.
How is 及 different from 和?
Their coordination overlaps, but 及 is more characteristic of formal lists and written notices.
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, official combined Levels 7-9 item 【七—九054】 (PDF p. 248)
Provides official combined Levels 7-9 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
Supports conjunction placement between parallel noun phrases; GF supplies formal 及 as the exact item.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
跟/和Coordinating Nouns with 跟 and 和
Compare formal 及 in written lists with everyday 跟 or 和 joining ordinary noun phrases.
Easy to confuse
亦Formal Additive Adverb 亦
Distinguish between 及 connecting nominal items and 亦 adding another judgment. The two have different syntactic responsibilities in written language.
Easy to confuse
同/与Formal Coordination with 同 and 与
Distinguish the connection habit of 及 at the end of a multiple enumeration. 与同与 is the common usage of connecting components on both sides.
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Compare
Compare formal 及 in written lists with everyday 跟 or 和 joining ordinary noun phrases.