How to use 多
多 + Verb
多 before a verb increases the amount, frequency, or extent of the action. It appears naturally in encouragement and practical advice, but it can also describe an intention or need when a subject and modal are included. The following action determines whether English translates the expression as doing more, doing more often, or taking a greater amount.
Keep 多 before the main verb in this basic pattern. 点 or 一点 often follows the action to make the increase modest or conversational. This differs from an adjective describing a large quantity of objects and from 多 after a number in an approximate amount. Decide what is being increased before choosing the structure.
Examples with pinyin and English
多吃点。
Eat a little more.
多放点辣。
Add a little more spiciness.
多拿一点。
Take more.
爷爷，你要多出去走走。
Gramps, you need to go out and take walks more often.
What to remember
- Put action-modifying 多 before the verb.
- The increase may concern amount or frequency.
- 点 or 一点 often makes the suggestion modest.
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Source and editorial notes
Explanation rewritten for Laowai. Examples are adapted from the Laowai English grammar curriculum, with editorial corrections where needed. The original curriculum credits AllSet Learning’s Chinese Grammar Wiki as used with permission. Read the retained source credits.
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