Lessons 10, 12: Multi-purpose substitute verbs: 弄, 搞, 来

Three general-purpose verbs that stand in for many specific verbs; their meaning changes with the object and context.

Hanyu textbook · Hanyu 5 · Lesson 10 · Hanyu 5 · Lesson 12

一定要把这个语法弄懂。

Yídìng yào bǎ zhège yǔfǎ nòngdǒng.

You must understand this grammar point thoroughly.

Explanation

弄 stands in for a number of verbs such as 做, 干, 办...; guess its meaning from the specific context. The textbook glosses 弄 after each example: 弄清楚 (= 了解、调查), 弄了几个菜 (= 做), 帮我弄弄 (= 修理), 弄懂 (= 研究、学习), 弄坏 (the action can't be pinned down), 弄来一盆花 (= 想办法得到).

搞 means 做, 干; it can take 了, 着, 过, can be reduplicated (搞搞), and can take a noun object. 搞 replaces different verbs, with different meanings depending on the object: 搞通 (= 调查、了解、研究), 搞电脑软件设计 (= 做、从事), 搞清楚 (= 想、考虑、调查、研究), 搞到足球票 (= 想办法得到), 不好搞 (= 做、干).

来 stands in for a verb with a specific meaning (来两瓶啤酒: bring two bottles of beer), or goes before another verb to show that one will do something (我来帮你拿).

Structure

1
弄tân ngữ / 弄bổ ngữ (弄懂, 弄坏, 弄清楚)
Stands in for 做, 干, 办...; meaning depends on context.
- 你对你们公司的业务完全弄清楚了吗？
  Nǐ duì nǐmen gōngsī de yèwù wánquán nòng qīngchu le ma?
  Have you fully figured out your company's business? (弄 = find out)
- 我给你们弄了几个菜，你们喝几杯吧。
  Wǒ gěi nǐmen nòng le jǐ ge cài, nǐmen hē jǐ bēi ba.
  I'll whip up a few dishes for you, and you can have a few drinks. (弄 = make)
- 我的电脑又死机了，你帮我弄弄吧。
  Wǒ de diànnǎo yòu sǐjī le, nǐ bāng wǒ nòngnong ba.
  My computer has crashed again; could you fix it for me? (弄 = fix)
- 一定要把这个语法弄懂。
  Yídìng yào bǎ zhège yǔfǎ nòngdǒng.
  You must understand this grammar point thoroughly. (弄 = study, learn)
- 他把我的相机弄坏了。
  Tā bǎ wǒ de xiàngjī nòng huài le.
  He broke my camera.
- 我给你弄来一盆花。
  Wǒ gěi nǐ nòng lái yì pén huā.
  I'll get you a pot of flowers. (弄 = find a way to get)
2
搞 + 了 / 着 / 过；搞 + 清楚 / 通 / 到 + N
搞 = 做, 干; the meaning changes with the object.
- 我建议你先把他们的文件和公司组织完全搞通。
  Wǒ jiànyì nǐ xiān bǎ tāmen de wénjiàn hé gōngsī zǔzhī wánquán gǎotōng.
  I suggest you first thoroughly understand their documents and company structure. (搞 = find out)
- 在一家公司搞电脑软件设计。
  Zài yì jiā gōngsī gǎo diànnǎo ruǎnjiàn shèjì.
  Doing computer software design at a company. (搞 = do, work in a field)
- 这个问题一定要搞清楚。
  Zhège wèntí yídìng yào gǎo qīngchu.
  This problem must be cleared up.
- 我搞到了一张星期日晚上的足球票。
  Wǒ gǎodào le yì zhāng xīngqīrì wǎnshang de zúqiú piào.
  I got a ticket to the soccer game on Sunday evening. (搞 = find a way to get)
- 这个工作不好搞。
  Zhège gōngzuò bù hǎo gǎo.
  This job is not easy to do.
3
来N / 来Vverb
Replaces a specific verb; or "let me do it."
- 来两瓶啤酒。
  Lái liǎng píng píjiǔ.
  Cho hai chai bia.
- 我来帮你拿。
  Wǒ lái bāng nǐ ná.
  Let me carry it for you.
- 你拿那个包，这个我自己来。
  Nǐ ná nàge bāo, zhège wǒ zìjǐ lái.
  You take that bag; I'll handle this one myself.
- 你来帮我拉一下。
  Nǐ lái bāng wǒ lā yíxià.
  Could you give me a hand pulling this?

Usage notes

弄 and 搞 both stand in for many specific verbs; the real meaning has to be guessed from the accompanying object or complement (弄坏, 弄懂, 搞到, 搞清楚).
搞 can take 了 / 着 / 过 and can be reduplicated; 来 placed before another verb shows that the speaker will do it.

Practice

22 questions in 2 sets. One at a time, checked instantly, with explanations.

Start practice