When do I use 跟 vs 和 in comparisons?

In the pattern [A] 跟/和 [B] 一样, both are interchangeable and mean the same thing. Choose 跟 for casual conversation (northern speech) and 和 for formal writing or if you speak southern Mandarin. Neither is wrong.

Can I use 跟 and 和 to mean 'and' between two nouns?

Yes. 和 is the standard conjunction in all registers (e.g., 猫和狗 – cats and dogs). 跟 is also used colloquially, but it is less common in formal writing. In speech, 你跟我 (you and I) is natural, but in writing, 你和我 is preferred.

Is 跟 only used in northern China?

No, 跟 is understood everywhere, but it is the default spoken form in northern Mandarin. In Taiwan and southern China, 和 (often pronounced hàn) is more common in speech. In writing across all areas, 和 is standard.

What about 与? How does it compare?

与 (yǔ) is the most formal and literary version of “and/with”. It is used in titles, formal announcements, and classical-style writing, but rarely in conversation. 和 is the everyday formal choice, and 跟 is the everyday casual choice.

Easily confusedHSK 2

跟 vs 和: Which “and” to use in comparisons and more

Both 跟 (gēn) and 和 (hé) can mean “with” or “and” and are interchangeable in the comparison structure 跟/和...一样 (same as...). The key difference is register: 和 is more formal and common in written Chinese and southern speech, while 跟 is colloquial and typical of northern Mandarin. Learners often overthink the choice—in everyday conversation, 跟 is natural, while 和 suits formal writing.

Both 跟 and 和 function as prepositions meaning “with” or conjunctions meaning “and” between nouns. In the comparison pattern [A] 跟/和 [B] 一样 (A is the same as B), they are completely interchangeable without changing meaning. The main distinction lies in register and regional preference: 和 is standard in formal writing (e.g., news, academic texts) and is more common in southern Mandarin areas; 跟 is colloquial, preferred in northern spoken Chinese and informal writing. Neither is grammatically wrong in the other context, but using 和 in very casual speech or 跟 in formal documents may sound slightly off. Also note that 和 can serve as a conjunction between two nouns (A和B) and is the default choice in written lists, while 跟 in that role is rare outside informal speech.

When to use each

跟gēn

with / and

Use 跟 in everyday conversation, especially in northern Mandarin. It is the natural choice for saying “with someone” (我跟朋友 – I with a friend) and for comparison sentences like 我跟你一样高 (I’m as tall as you). It also works as a conjunction (你跟我 – you and I) but is less formal than 和.

跟 can also be a verb meaning “to follow” (e.g., 跟着我 – follow me), which is unrelated but common.

和hé

and / with

Use 和 in formal or written Chinese, such as essays, news, and official documents. It is the standard conjunction for listing nouns (苹果和香蕉 – apples and bananas) and is fully acceptable in comparisons (我和你一样高). In southern Mandarin (e.g., Taiwan, Hong Kong), 和 is used more often in speech than 跟.

In Taiwan, 和 is frequently pronounced hàn in informal speech, but the standard pronunciation remains hé. Also, 和 can be a noun meaning “harmony” or “peace” (e.g., 和平), but that is a different word.

At a glance

	跟	和
Register	Colloquial / informal	Formal / written
Regional preference	Northern China (spoken)	Southern China, Taiwan, formal everywhere
Use as conjunction (A and B)	Rare in formal writing; natural in speech	Standard in all registers
Comparison (…一样)	Common and interchangeable	Common and interchangeable

Examples

跟
我跟你一样高。
Wǒ gēn nǐ yí yàng gāo.
I am as tall as you.
跟 is natural in spoken northern Mandarin.
和
我和你一样高。
Wǒ hé nǐ yí yàng gāo.
I am as tall as you.
和 is interchangeable here; slightly more formal.
跟
我跟朋友去吃饭。
Wǒ gēn péng you qù chī fàn.
I go to eat with a friend.
跟 as preposition meaning “with” in casual speech.
和
苹果和香蕉都很新鲜。
Píng guǒ hé xiāng jiāo dōu hěn xīn xiān.
Apples and bananas are both very fresh.
和 as conjunction in a neutral written-style sentence.
跟
这个问题跟那个问题一样难。
Zhè ge wèn tí gēn nà ge wèn tí yí yàng nán.
This problem is as difficult as that one.
Using 跟 in comparison; very common in speech.
和
这个问题和那个问题一样难。
Zhè ge wèn tí hé nà ge wèn tí yí yàng nán.
This problem is as difficult as that one.
Same meaning, 和 is fine but sounds slightly more formal.

Common mistakes

Using 和 in a very informal conversation where 跟 would sound more natural (e.g., in northern China).
Using 跟 in formal written Chinese (e.g., in an essay or news article) where 和 is expected.
Thinking that 和 cannot mean “with” – it can, e.g., 我和他说话 (I talk with him), though 跟 is more common in speech.
Overcorrecting and using 跟 everywhere even in formal contexts, making the writing sound too casual.
Confusing 和 with 与 (yǔ), which is even more formal and literary – 和 is the standard formal choice.

FAQ

When do I use 跟 vs 和 in comparisons?: In the pattern [A] 跟/和 [B] 一样, both are interchangeable and mean the same thing. Choose 跟 for casual conversation (northern speech) and 和 for formal writing or if you speak southern Mandarin. Neither is wrong.
Can I use 跟 and 和 to mean 'and' between two nouns?: Yes. 和 is the standard conjunction in all registers (e.g., 猫和狗 – cats and dogs). 跟 is also used colloquially, but it is less common in formal writing. In speech, 你跟我 (you and I) is natural, but in writing, 你和我 is preferred.
Is 跟 only used in northern China?: No, 跟 is understood everywhere, but it is the default spoken form in northern Mandarin. In Taiwan and southern China, 和 (often pronounced hàn) is more common in speech. In writing across all areas, 和 is standard.
What about 与? How does it compare?: 与 (yǔ) is the most formal and literary version of “and/with”. It is used in titles, formal announcements, and classical-style writing, but rarely in conversation. 和 is the everyday formal choice, and 跟 is the everyday casual choice.