How to use 凭
凭⋯⋯
凭 introduces the basis that enables an action or supports a claim. It can name a concrete credential, such as an identification document, or an abstract resource, such as experience, effort, or intuition. Put the 凭 phrase before the action or judgment. The connection is reliance on that basis rather than merely doing two things together.
A longer phrase can describe evidence for a conclusion, while 凭什么 challenges what justification or right someone has to act. That question often carries disagreement rather than neutral curiosity. 凭着 is a related form in many descriptions of reliance. The strength of the evidence still depends on context; the grammar does not make the speaker’s conclusion logically certain.
Examples with pinyin and English
凭护照， 外国人可以买火车票。
Using a passport, foreigners can buy train tickets.
他凭自己的努力学了三千多个汉字。
He studied more than three thousand Chinese characters through his own efforts.
我们凭学生证在电影院享受折扣优待。
With our student ID cards, we enjoy a special discount at the movie theater.
凭我学中文的时间比你短但是说得比你好，我就可以说我比你聪明。
From the fact that I have studied Chinese for a shorter time but speak it better than you, I can say that I'm smarter than you.
What to remember
- 凭 introduces a basis or enabling resource.
- The basis may be concrete or abstract.
- 凭什么 often challenges justification or authority.
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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.
Difficulty labels describe the level of the explanation; they are not official HSK placement. Send a correction with this page’s URL.