去 (purpose)
HSK 4- Other
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Use `去` to link a movement action with its purpose, meaning "to go (somewhere) in order to do something".
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
This structure expresses going somewhere in order to do something. The main verb is 去 (to go), followed by a place and a purpose. Sometimes, before 去, there may be another directional verb such as 上 (up), 下 (down), or 回 (back).
Just remember the simple formula: Go where (去 + place) + to do what (purpose verb).
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 我去银行换钱。繁: 我去銀行換錢。Wǒ qù yínháng huànqián.
I went to the bank to exchange money.
- 他去食堂吃饭了。繁: 他去食堂吃飯了。Tā qù shítáng chīfàn le.
He went to the cafeteria to eat.
- 我明天去上海出差。Wǒ míngtiān qù Shànghǎi chūchāi.
I will go to Shanghai on a business trip tomorrow.
- 我们下楼去买咖啡吧。繁: 我們下樓去買咖啡吧。Wǒmen xiàlóu qù mǎi kāfēi ba.
Let's go downstairs and buy coffee.
- 他回国去看父母。繁: 他回國去看父母。Tā huíguó qù kàn fùmǔ.
He returned to his home country to visit his parents.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:我走去吃饭。Correct:我去吃饭。
去 already contains the meaning of "go." Adding 走 (walk) before it is redundant, unless you want to emphasize the manner of movement.
- Wrong:我去买东西在超市。Correct:我去超市买东西。
The correct structure is `去 + place + action`. The place (`超市`) must come before the action (`买东西`).