和 vs 跟 vs 与 (hé vs gēn vs yǔ): which 'and/with' to use
和, 跟, and 与 all connect nouns or pronouns to mean 'and' or 'with'. Their main difference is register: 和 is neutral and versatile; 跟 is colloquial and preferred in spoken Mandarin; 与 is formal and mainly written. Choose based on context and formality level.
All three words can connect nouns, pronouns, or noun phrases to express 'and' or 'with'. Their core distinction is register: 和 is the neutral, all-purpose choice suitable for most contexts; 跟 is casual and common in everyday speech; 与 is formal and typical of written language, official documents, or literary style. They cannot connect verbs or clauses; for that you need other conjunctions like 并且 or 然后. When used as 'with', 和 and 跟 are interchangeable in spoken Chinese, while 与 is reserved for formal writing.
When to use each
Use 和 in most situations—both spoken and written—where you need a neutral connector for nouns or pronouns. It is the safest choice for academic, professional, or everyday contexts. 和 can also mean 'with' when indicating accompaniment (e.g., 我和他一起去 'I go with him').
In informal speech, 和 can sound slightly bookish, but it is still widely used and never wrong.
Use 跟 in casual, everyday conversation (especially in Northern Mandarin) to connect nouns or pronouns. It is the most common word for 'with' in spoken Chinese when indicating accompaniment (e.g., 我跟他说话 'I talk with him'). 跟 is less common in formal writing.
In some dialects, 跟 replaces 和 entirely for 'and' meanings, but in standard Mandarin it is slightly less frequent than 和 for simple 'and' coordination.
Use 与 in formal writing, official documents, academic texts, or speeches. It conveys the same meanings as 和 and 跟 but in a more literary or elevated register. 与 is rarely used in casual conversation; it would sound unnatural or overly stiff.
与 can also appear in set phrases and idioms (e.g., 与众不同 'out of the ordinary'), where it often carries the sense of 'with' or 'compared to'.
At a glance
| 和 | 跟 | 与 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Register (formality) | Neutral (spoken & written) | Colloquial (spoken) | Formal (written / literary) |
| Typical contexts | All-purpose; daily life, work, school | Casual conversation, especially Northern Mandarin | Official documents, news, literature, speeches |
| Can mean 'with' (accompaniment)? | Yes | Yes (most common in speech) | Yes (but only in formal writing) |
| Ability to connect verbs or clauses | No | No | No |
Examples
- 和我和他是好朋友。Wǒ hé tā shì hǎo péngyou.He and I are good friends.Neutral and correct in both speech and writing.
- 跟我跟他一起看电影。Wǒ gēn tā yīqǐ kàn diànyǐng.I watch movies with him.Natural spoken Chinese; 跟 is the most common 'with' in conversation.
- 与与会人员讨论了新政策。Yù huì rényuán tǎolùn le xīn zhèngcè.Participants discussed the new policy.Formal, written style; 与 appears in the compound 与会 (attend a meeting).
- 和苹果、香蕉和橘子。Píngguǒ, xiāngjiāo hé júzi.Apples, bananas, and oranges.Neutral for listing nouns.
- 与这个问题与那个问题无关。Zhège wèntí yǔ nàge wèntí wúguān.This question is unrelated to that question.Formal, typical in writing or official contexts.
Common mistakes
- Using 与 in casual conversation (e.g., saying 我与你 instead of 我跟你) sounds unnatural and overly formal.
- Using 跟 in formal academic writing (e.g., 跟 公司 合作) is too colloquial; use 与 instead.
- Trying to connect verbs or clauses with 和/跟/与 (e.g., *我吃和睡 'I eat and sleep'). Use 并且 or 还 instead.
- Confusing 和 with 或 (huò 'or') – 和 means 'and', not 'or'.
- Using 和 exclusively for 'with' in all spoken contexts – 跟 is more natural in casual speech.
FAQ
- When do I use 和 vs 跟 vs 与 to say 'and' or 'with'?
- Use 和 in neutral situations (both spoken and written), 跟 in casual speech, and 与 in formal writing. For 'with' (accompaniment), 跟 is most natural in conversation, while 和 is also acceptable; 与 is limited to formal writing.
- Can 和, 跟, or 与 connect verbs or clauses?
- No. These words only connect nouns, pronouns, or noun phrases. To link verbs or clauses, use conjunctions like 并且 (bìngqiě, 'and') for verbs, 然后 (ránhòu, 'and then') for sequential actions, or 而且 (érqiě, 'moreover') for additional information.
- Is there any difference in meaning between 和 and 跟 when used as 'with'?
- Both can mean 'with', but 跟 is the default choice in spoken Chinese for accompaniment (e.g., 我跟他去 – 'I go with him'). 和 is also used, but it may sound slightly more formal. In writing, 和 is more common for 'with' unless the register is very formal (then 与 is used).
- Why is 与 often seen in titles and formal texts?
- 与 is a literary and formal connector. It is preferred in official documents, academic papers, news headlines, and classical-style writing because it carries a sense of elegance and precision. In daily conversation, it is rarely used.