和 vs 跟 vs 同: coverbs for “with”
和 (hé), 跟 (gēn), and 同 (tóng) all function as coverbs meaning “with”, introducing the companion or party involved in an action. Their core difference is register: 和 is neutral and widely used in both speech and writing, 跟 is colloquial and most natural in casual conversation, and 同 is formal/literary, typical of written or official contexts. Choosing the right one depends almost entirely on the formality of the setting.
All three words can be used as coverbs meaning “with”, linking a subject to another participant in a joint action. They are also used as conjunctions meaning “and” for nouns (though 同 is rare in that role). The primary distinction is register: 和 is the default, neutral option, suitable for almost any situation; 跟 is common in spoken Chinese and feels more casual; 同 is formal and appears in written documents, speeches, or official language. In many everyday contexts 和 and 跟 are interchangeable, but replacing 同 with a more casual term can sound out of place in a formal text, and using 同 in casual conversation may sound stiff or old-fashioned.
When to use each
Use 和 as the default coverb for “with” in both spoken and written Chinese. It is the most neutral and versatile choice, suitable for everyday conversation, news, academic writing, and formal documents. When in doubt, 和 is the safest option.
和 can also serve as a conjunction meaning “and”, connecting nouns or noun phrases. As a coverb, it often appears in the pattern A 和 B + verb (e.g., 我和他一起去).
Use 跟 in informal spoken Chinese to mean “with”. It is very common in everyday conversation, where it often replaces 和. 跟 is also used in informal writing, such as personal messages or social media. It can also mean “follow” as a verb, but the coverb usage is distinct.
In some dialects and in colloquial northern Mandarin, 跟 is more frequent than 和 for “with”. In the conjunction sense (“and”), 跟 is much less common than 和, though it does occur informally.
Use 同 in formal, written, or official contexts to mean “with”. It is common in legal documents, regulations, formal announcements, academic texts, and literary language. 同 is rarely used in casual speech; doing so may sound affected or overly literary.
同 also functions as an adjective meaning “same, identical” (e.g., 相同). As a coverb, it is sometimes used in fixed expressions like 同……一起 (together with…). In mainland China, 同 is less common in daily speech than 跟, but it appears in Taiwan and Hong Kong more frequently in written style.
At a glance
| 和 | 跟 | 同 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Register | Neutral (spoken & written) | Colloquial (spoken/informal) | Formal (written/official) |
| Frequency in conversation | Common | Very common (often preferred in speech) | Rare (sounds unnatural) |
| Frequency in formal writing | Common | Less common (avoid in serious documents) | Common (standard in formal texts) |
| Conjunction “and” usage | Common | Less common (informal) | Occasional (formal/literary) |
| Verb meaning | None | Follow (gēn) | Same (tóng) |
Examples
- 和我和朋友一起去看电影。Wǒ hé péngyou yīqǐ qù kàn diànyǐng.I go to see a movie with a friend.Neutral, suitable for both speech and writing.
- 跟你跟我来一下。Nǐ gēn wǒ lái yīxià.Come with me for a moment.Colloquial coverb in an everyday command.
- 同本公司同其他企业合作。Běn gōngsī tóng qítā qǐyè hézuò.This company cooperates with other enterprises.Formal written context (company statement).
- 和她和妈妈一起做饭。Tā hé māma yīqǐ zuòfàn.She cooks with her mother.Neutral, could also use 跟 informally.
- 跟我跟他说了这件事。Wǒ gēn tā shuō le zhè jiàn shì.I told him about this matter (lit. spoke with him).Natural spoken choice; using 和 would be slightly more formal.
- 同同往年相比，今年的成绩有进步。Tóng wǎngnián xiāngbǐ, jīnnián de chéngjī yǒu jìnbù.Compared with previous years, this year's results have improved.Formal structure common in written reports.
Common mistakes
- Using 同 in casual conversation (e.g., 我同你去 instead of 我跟你去) — sounds stiff or old-fashioned.
- Using 跟 in formal writing (e.g., 本报告跟其他数据比较) — prefer 同 or 和.
- Confusing the conjunction use: 和 can be used for “and” freely, but 跟 as a conjunction is less standard and may sound odd in formal contexts.
- Assuming 同 is interchangeable with 和 or 跟 in all contexts — register mismatch makes it inappropriate in everyday speech.
- Forgetting that 跟 also means “follow” as a verb, which can cause ambiguity if the coverb use is not clear.
FAQ
- When do I use 和 vs 跟 vs 同?
- Use 和 as your default choice for “with”, suitable in most situations. Use 跟 in casual, spoken Chinese to sound natural. Use 同 only in formal or written contexts, such as official documents, academic writing, or formal speeches.
- Can 和 and 跟 be used interchangeably?
- In many everyday contexts, yes. However, 和 is neutral and works everywhere, while 跟 has a colloquial flavor. In formal writing, prefer 和 or 同 over 跟. In casual speech, 跟 is often more natural than 和.
- Is 同 used in spoken Chinese at all?
- Rarely in mainland China; it may appear in set phrases or when someone wants to sound very formal. In Taiwan and Hong Kong, 同 is more common in spoken formal registers, but still less frequent than 和 or 跟 in casual talk.
- Can these words also mean “and”?
- Yes. 和 is the standard conjunction for “and” connecting nouns. 跟 can also mean “and” in informal speech, but 同 is rarely used as a conjunction except in formal or literary style.