Questions about the rules that govern and structure the language, and the composition of clauses, sentences and expressions.
16
votes
6answers
667 views
的-地-得, when do you use which?
So the age old question of 的-地-得, when do you use which? When spoken, it all sounds the same, but on paper it depends on if it's a verb, noun, adjective. But I don't quite remember if that is all that ...
13
votes
2answers
287 views
How do I decide whether to use 還是/还是 or 或者
還是/还是 (háishì) and 或者 (huòzhě) seem to have very similar meanings:
還是/还是: or; still; nevertheless
或者: or; possibly; maybe
When I want to say 'or', how to I choose which to use, and are there ...
13
votes
1answer
177 views
What is the difference in use between 以及, 和 and 与?
I have a book with the following lesson titles:
中文以及中国
聚会和饮食
交通与环境
Why are these terms connected with 以及 / 和 / 与, why not always use 和 for example?
Are there any rules for proper use of these ...
12
votes
2answers
219 views
Tense and use of 了
I struggle a bit to get my head around tense in Mandarin, and in particular when I need to use 了 (le).
Do you have any tips, examples or resources to help me out with this?
10
votes
2answers
142 views
How do I decide whether to use 可以, 会 or 能?
According to every dictionary I've seen so far, there is a big overlap in these:
可以 = can, may, be able to
会 = can, be able to, able
能 = can, may, able, capable
How do I properly choose which one ...
9
votes
3answers
210 views
Use of 十年中 to express duration
Does 十年中 mean "in ten years"? I found it in this sentence from tatoeba.org:
他十年中第一次回家。
He returned home for the first time in ten years.
It seems like I could use the same pattern to say, ...
9
votes
5answers
176 views
Learning how to use measure / count words properly
Chinese has measure (or count) words like “个” (一个人), “部” (三部车), etc.
These always get me confused, and there way too many of them. Are there any general rules that can help me memorize them?
Also, ...
9
votes
5answers
196 views
Difference between 如果 and 要是?
In the Pimsleur Mandarin course it uses 如果 (rúguǒ) to mean 'if', but the dictionary shows 要是 (yàoshì) to have a similar meaning:
如果: if; in case; in the event that
要是: if
Are there any ...
9
votes
2answers
191 views
Why is it possible to replace 都 with 也 in 什么都没有?
I know 也 only as "also", but I see it now and then used in ways difficult to understand, especially in some negative statements. Why is this so? Does 也 have some meaning not mentioned in dictionaries ...
9
votes
4answers
287 views
How is 就 (jiù) used?
Pimsleur's Mandarin course teaches "I'm leaving very early tomorrow morning" as:
我明天早上很早就走 (wŏ míngtiān zăoshàng hĕn zăo jiù zŏu)
It says that 就 (jiù) doesn't have a corresponding meaning in ...
8
votes
2answers
232 views
Using 的 at the end of a sentence
I'm looking for confirmation of the way I'm parsing a sentence with 的 at the end, and I'd appreciate some background or other examples of this usage.
I found this sentence on tatoeba.org:
...
7
votes
2answers
421 views
What software can detect the parts of speech of written text?
What software or On-line tools can detect the parts of speech in a piece of written text (e.g. to predict if a word is a verb, adjective, etc.)?
7
votes
3answers
369 views
Why do Chinese translations of English names sound very inaccurate?
I have noticed that most Chinese translation of English names sounds really inaccurate and weird.
For example, the common translation of person's name "Robert Wilson" is "罗伯特·威尔逊", which is not ...
7
votes
2answers
116 views
Using 一样 instead of 同一 for “the same school”
In my study software, I recently had the following sentence:
我想我们会上一样的学校.
The context (a girl speaking to another girl who had just moved into the neighborhood) made it seem like the correct ...
7
votes
2answers
120 views
When do I use 着 to indicate action in progress?
It seems like for some verbs (正)在 is used to indicate action in progress, but I have also encountered 着 for some, like 穿着. When should it be used, is there a rule to follow?
6
votes
8answers
906 views
Difference between 是不是喝酒了? and 喝酒了没有？
What is the difference between
是不是吃了蛋糕？ and 吃蛋糕了没有？
or
是不是喝酒了? and 喝酒了没有？
6
votes
3answers
265 views
What is the difference between 一只狗 and 一条狗?
I've been told by native speakers that the former refers to little dogs while the latter is for bigger dogs. I also have been told that the latter has a negative connotation. I'm wondering:
how ...
6
votes
3answers
280 views
Why does the construction of 要是…的话 mean “if”?
I know other words like 如果 also provide the "if", but why would 要是...的话 mean "if"?
An example sentence:
要是你喜欢汉语（的话），你该听中国的音乐。
If you like Chinese, you should listen to Chinese music.
6
votes
4answers
276 views
What is the difference in use between 完 and 了?
If I understood correctly, both 完 and 了 can be used to indicate a completed action, so what is the difference in use? How do we properly use 完 in a sentence? Which contexts would be valid?
6
votes
3answers
114 views
Are there sentences where 跟 and 和 are interchangeable?
For example:
我跟朋友去公园了。
我和朋友去公园了。
Are both of these sentences correct? Are there any subtle differences in the meaning conveyed?
If they are not entirely interchangeable, how do we know which one ...
6
votes
3answers
133 views
Position of 面熟 in this sentence
In my textbook I found this sentence:
常常看着一个人面熟却叫不出名字来。
If 面熟 is an adjective, why is it used after 人 (to indicate a "familiar-looking person")?
Can 一个人面熟 be rewritten to 一个面熟人 without ...
5
votes
4answers
128 views
How to indicate plurality/singularity
I'm aware that basic Chinese grammar tends to lack distinction between the plural and singular forms of many nouns. For example, 我的朋友是中国人 could either mean "my friend is Chinese" (singular) or "my ...
5
votes
3answers
106 views
What is 和 used for in this sentence?
I know how to use 和 to link one or more nouns or noun phrases, but in this sentence I don't understand what purpose does it do at the beginning of the sentence?
和西方人过圣诞节差不多，这是一个全家团聚的节日。
(This ...
5
votes
2answers
163 views
Using 比 (bǐ) for comparison
I know how to use 比 in simple sentences like
哥哥比姐姐高 (my big brother is taller than my big sister)
Would it be used for other sentences like
You learn more words by listening than by ...
5
votes
2answers
145 views
Is the measure word optional in 这件毛衣?
I've heard the sentence 这毛衣, (so without measure word), but my chinese manual always use a measure word after 这:
这件毛衣
这件苹果
Is the measure word optionnal in after 这 ?
5
votes
3answers
166 views
How to add emphasis to sentences
Last week a kid wrote on the office white board "Give me all your cheese now!" and I attempted a translation into Chinese (mostly to practice my handwriting). I wrote 马上给我你的奶酪。 I felt like this ...
5
votes
3answers
111 views
Are 平常 and 通常 essentially interchangeable?
In a few of my entries on Lang-8.com, several of my Chinese friends have changed 平常 into 通常 and vice versa without providing additional explanation. It it just a matter of personal taste?
4
votes
5answers
327 views
What is that use of 得?
I have read the sentence: 你还记得我吗？
But I can’t understand the meaning of 得, here. I don’t think it belongs to the rules explained here
4
votes
6answers
572 views
Could you explain the structure of this sentence?
The sentence 我吃饭的时候看了一本书。 apparently has two verbs (吃 and 看), but I can’t see how the two actions are correlated. Could anyone explain that?
4
votes
2answers
199 views
Errors and Unnatural Language in a Translation Challenge
I was recently challenged to translate the following sentence from English into Chinese:
You should stay away from that bar. A friend of mine went there before, and he ended up in the hospital after ...
4
votes
2answers
176 views
Difference between 两个都 and 我们俩
Pimsleur's Mandarin course teaches 'both of us' as 我们两个都 (wǒ men liăng ge dōu), but in another question I asked here I recently found that 我们俩 (wǒ men liă).
Are these always interchangeable, or are ...
4
votes
3answers
151 views
What is the function of 的多 in this sentence?
中国人爱喝茶的多。
I assume the meaning is that "Chinese people love drinking tea a lot", or "...really love drinking tea." Does 的多 act as an adverbial structure here? In what other situations would it be ...
4
votes
4answers
183 views
What is the function of 了 in the sentence “她会杀了你的”?
What is the function of 了 in the following sentence? Does it imply a sequence of actions?
她会杀了你的。"She will kill you."
4
votes
1answer
131 views
What's the grammatical structure for “<subject> <verbs> like a <noun>” style simile in Chinese
I am fond of the simile structure "I eat like a wolf" or "The light flickered like a candle" in English. I never know how to express these thoughts in Chinese though, even if I know the underlying ...
4
votes
5answers
150 views
How to say “we want what is best for our kids”?
I'd like to say the above sentence.
I can't think anything but the following sentence, but it just doesn't sit right with me somehow:
我们都要对我们的孩子最好.
While the subject "what's best" in english ...
4
votes
1answer
129 views
What does the classical construction X 何由 Y mean?
I almost never see this construction in classical prose. (In fact, I'll venture I've never seen it.) However, it's in two of my favorite poems.
In this one, it's from the poem "晨詣超師院讀禪經" by 柳宗元:
...
4
votes
4answers
155 views
What comprehensive grammar books are available? [closed]
I have found many grammar books, but none that go beyond the low-intermediate level. Some textbook series contain lots of grammar, but this is spread out across many books and difficult to quickly ...
4
votes
1answer
90 views
What is the pattern for 'instead of x, y…'
For example, how would I say, 'instead of x, we should do y'?
I find it hard to balance the sentence correctly in chinese.
Do I need to use, 反而 or 而且? Or is there some better method?
4
votes
2answers
110 views
Which measure word should I use with 角色？
Nciku tells me the proper measure word is 类, but a quick search on Google garnered mostly results like "哪类角色更容易赢“小金人”？“ implying that for the most part 类 is used when inquiring about a particular type ...
4
votes
6answers
223 views
How to parse 没得 + Verb constructions
I've heard phrases of the form 没得V, where V is a verb. Sometimes, the 没得 appears to function like 没, e.g.,
我没得选: I don't have a choice.
Sometimes, it appears to function like a softer, ...
3
votes
3answers
133 views
Sentence structure “I'm [doing something] because [reason]”?
I am familiar with the sentence structure "因为。。。所以。。。", but what is the correct way to say "I am [doing something] because [reason]"?
For example, "I am asking this question because I am clueless."
...
3
votes
1answer
95 views
Measure Words and their English Analogue
I was taught that the closest analogue in English of Chinese measure words are 'units', e.g. "a pile of wood", "a cup of water", etc.
What strikes me as a bit odd about this analogy is that the units ...
3
votes
3answers
211 views
What is the function of 已 in 好像她已出去好几天了。
What is the purpose of 已 in the following sentence？
好像她已出去好几天了。
The English translation given is:
It looks as if she's gone away for a few days.
Or is this an incorrect-character, supposed ...
3
votes
4answers
223 views
That mystical 就 again
Here is a sentence:
厨房壁炉架上的那面镜子就把哈利吓了一跳
Below are my translation variants. Bold letters should be a 'jiu' english analog here.
The mirror on top of the kitchen's fireplace scared Harry the ...
3
votes
1answer
95 views
Example of using 吧 in conversation
My textbook explains that 吧 is a modal particle, but I'm not a linguist and the "modal particle" article on Wikipedia didn't help. Can you give examples of using 吧 in conversation?
3
votes
2answers
143 views
How to explain the structure of “将在外，军令有所不受。”
In my own opinion, this sentence should be "将在外，军令不受".
I can hardly imagine any use of "有" and "所" here. Could someone explain the structure of this sentence?
3
votes
2answers
64 views
How can I express the concept “There's nothing of which I'm absolutely sure” in Chinese?
Scientists and philosophers have at various times been quoted as saying:
"There's nothing of which I'm absolutely sure" or "I'm not absolutely sure of anything". (Richard Feynman, for example.)
How ...
3
votes
1answer
425 views
What software can check for grammar mistakes?
I need some software that can check the grammar of some Chinese passages. Are there any programs capable of identifying problems? I'd prefer something for Linux, but other platforms would be okay too.
...
3
votes
1answer
207 views
What is the difference in usage between 以后 and 之后？
Today John Pasden linked to an old Sinosplice post in which he discussed how Chinese grammatical categories cannot be mapped neatly onto those of Indo-European languages.
...
3
votes
1answer
66 views
What is the difference, if any, between 即使 and 無論？
Is a big difference between 即使 and 無論?
I was working on a couple of fill-in-the-blanks exercises and the following sentence came up:
你的畫很有特色，（blank）是畫家也不一定能畫德比你好。
I think the right answer ...
