长 (zhǎng) vs 长得 (zhǎngde) in Chinese grammar

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长 (zhǎng) vs 长得 (zhǎngde) in Chinese grammar

Non-native speakers of Chinese can often get the words 长 (zhǎng) vs 长得 (zhǎngde) mixed up. Both these words are about “growing”, but they have different functions. Let’s look at them one by one.

长 (zhǎng): to grow, to develop

The word 长 itself means “to grow” (note that this is pronounced zhǎng, and not cháng). It can mean “to grow” as in to grow larger or to develop physically, or to grow a particular feature. Let’s have a look at some example sentences:

她(Tā)长(zhǎng)高(gāo)了(le)五(wǔ)公(gōng)分(fēn)。

她(Tā)長(zhǎng)高(gāo)了(le)五(wǔ)公(gōng)分(fēn)。

她(Tā)長(zhǎng)高(gāo)了(le)五(wǔ)公(gōng)分(fēn)。

She's grown five centimetres taller.

草(Cǎo)已(yǐ)长(zhǎng)了(le)根(gēn)。

草(Cǎo)已(yǐ)長(zhǎng)了(le)根(gēn)。

草(Cǎo)已(yǐ)長(zhǎng)了(le)根(gēn)。

The grass has grown roots.

树(Shù)长(zhǎng)叶(yè)子(zi)了(le)。

樹(Shù)長(zhǎng)葉(yè)子(zi)了(le)。

樹(Shù)長(zhǎng)葉(yè)子(zi)了(le)。

The tree has grown leaves.

我(Wǒ)长(zhǎng)了(le)痘(dòu)痘(dòu)。

我(Wǒ)長(zhǎng)了(le)痘(dòu)痘(dòu)。

我(Wǒ)長(zhǎng)了(le)痘(dòu)痘(dòu)。

I've got a spot. (lit. I've grown a spot.)

Notice how 长 is about growing or developing features. 长 also combines into varius words related to growth, such as 增长 (zēngzhǎng).

长得 (zhǎngde): present state of growth, to look…

长得 is used to talk about the present state of growth or something, and by extension, how something or someone looks. Adding 得 to 长 is like saying “the result of growth is”: it’s how something appears now. Some example sentences:

他(Tā)长(zhǎng)得(de)很(hěn)帅(shuài)。

他(Tā)長(zhǎng)得(de)很(hěn)帥(shuài)。

他(Tā)長(zhǎng)得(de)很(hěn)帥(shuài)。

He's very handsome.

她(Tā)长(zhǎng)得(de)比(bǐ)较(jiào)结(jiē)实(shi)。

她(Tā)長(zhǎng)得(de)比(bǐ)較(jiào)結(jiē)實(shi)。

她(Tā)長(zhǎng)得(de)比(bǐ)較(jiào)結(jiē)實(shi)。

She's grown quite strong.

他(Tā)长(zhǎng)得(de)很(hěn)像(xiàng)他(tā)爸(bà)爸(ba)。

他(Tā)長(zhǎng)得(de)很(hěn)像(xiàng)他(tā)爸(bà)爸(ba)。

他(Tā)長(zhǎng)得(de)很(hěn)像(xiàng)他(tā)爸(bà)爸(ba)。

He really looks like his dad.

那(Nèi)些(xiē)树(shù)长(zhǎng)得(de)太(tài)高(gāo)了(le)。

那(Nèi)些(xiē)樹(shù)長(zhǎng)得(de)太(tài)高(gāo)了(le)。

那(Nèi)些(xiē)樹(shù)長(zhǎng)得(de)太(tài)高(gāo)了(le)。

Those trees have grown too tall.

Notice how 长得 is about the result of growth or an appearance or state that has developed.


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