Verb-Object Separable Words in Chinese
动宾式离合词
Verb-object separable words behave partly like words and partly like phrases. Elements such as aspect, quantity, or a modifier can appear between their verb and object parts: 见过面, 洗了个澡, 睡了一觉. Because the second element already functions as the internal object, another object usually needs a preposition or a different verb.
Published July 28, 2026
Reviewed July 28, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Verb + inserted Aspect / Modifier / Quantity + Object Element
Read the structure
Verb-object separable words behave partly like words and partly like phrases. Elements such as aspect, quantity, or a modifier can appear between their verb and object parts: 见过面, 洗了个澡, 睡了一觉. Because the second element already functions as the internal object, another object usually needs a preposition or a different verb. Keep the model Verb + inserted Aspect / Modifier / Quantity + Object Element visible while you compare each sentence.
我昨天跟他见了面。
I met him yesterday.
Choose the right context
Insert aspect between the verb and object parts when required. Use verb reduplication on the verb part in accepted patterns. Introduce an additional participant with a suitable preposition.
孩子已经睡了一觉。
The child has had a sleep.
Respect the boundary
Do not attach an external object directly after the complete separable word. Do not put 着 after the whole verb-object unit when it modifies the action. Do not reduplicate the complete two-part form as an ordinary ABAB verb.
我们昨天见面了老师。
(We met the teacher yesterday.)
Repair the pattern
A complete separable word takes another direct object: 面 is already the internal object of 见面, so the participant is introduced with 跟 and aspect splits 见了面. 着 follows the complete verb-object unit: With this separable verb, 着 occurs between 鼓 and 掌.
我们昨天跟老师见了面。
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.
我昨天跟他见了面。
I met him yesterday.
我
Verb
This part occupies the Verb position in the model pattern.
昨天
inserted Aspect / Modifier / Quantity
This part occupies the inserted Aspect / Modifier / Quantity position in the model pattern.
跟
Object Element
This part occupies the Object Element position in the model pattern.
他
Verb
This part occupies the Verb position in the model pattern.
见了
inserted Aspect / Modifier / Quantity
This part occupies the inserted Aspect / Modifier / Quantity position in the model pattern.
面
Object Element
This part occupies the Object Element 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.
我昨天跟他见了面。
I met him yesterday.
孩子已经睡了一觉。
The child has had a sleep.
大家鼓着掌欢迎客人。
Everyone welcomed the guests while applauding.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Insert aspect between the verb and object parts when required.
- Use verb reduplication on the verb part in accepted patterns.
- Introduce an additional participant with a suitable preposition.
Do not use it when
- Do not attach an external object directly after the complete separable word.
- Do not put 着 after the whole verb-object unit when it modifies the action.
- Do not reduplicate the complete two-part form as an ordinary ABAB verb.
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.
我们昨天见面了老师。
我们昨天跟老师见了面。
A complete separable word takes another direct object
面 is already the internal object of 见面, so the participant is introduced with 跟 and aspect splits 见了面.
他们鼓掌着欢迎客人。
他们鼓着掌欢迎客人。
着 follows the complete verb-object unit
With this separable verb, 着 occurs between 鼓 and 掌.
我们昨天见面了老师。
面 is already the internal object of 见面, so the participant is introduced with 跟 and aspect splits 见了面.
他们鼓掌着欢迎客人。
With this separable verb, 着 occurs between 鼓 and 掌.
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 动宾式离合词.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 动宾式离合词. 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
Verb-Object Separable Words Questions
Are all verb-object words separable?
No. Separability is lexical and construction-dependent. Learn the documented patterns for each item rather than splitting every apparent verb-object compound.
Can a separable word take another object?
Usually not directly. Introduce the other participant with a preposition, or choose a different transitive verb when the meaning requires one.
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: Appendix A, Level 3 item 【三05】, PDF p. 198
Lists common Level 3 verb-object separable words including 见面, 睡觉, 洗澡, and 说话.
Official source从实例分析日本学生对动词、动宾式离合词、双宾语的使用偏误
董梅香 · 爱知淑德大学 · 2023
Locator: Sections 1.2, 2.2 and 3.2, PDF pp. 3–11
Documents aspect placement, reduplication, direct-object restrictions, and corrections such as 鼓着掌 and 散散步.
Official sourceModern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Open-ended action verbs and default objects, printed pp. 75–77
Explains how common action expressions contain a verb with a default object and how additional information interacts with that structure.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
打开/看见/离开/完成Result Verbs and Achieved Endpoints
Contrast an internal verb-object structure with an action-result combination that separates differently.
Easy to confuse
动词重叠：AA / A一A / A了A / ABABMandarin Verb Reduplication for Brief Actions
Only the verb part reduplicates in accepted separable-word patterns such as 散散步.
Compare
重动词Repeated Verb Around a Complement
Compare splitting an internal object with repeating a verb before a descriptive complement.
Learn first
了了 (le): Completed Actions
Place aspect after the verb part rather than after the complete separable expression.
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Easy to confuse
Contrast an internal verb-object structure with an action-result combination that separates differently.