Questions tagged [synonyms]

Questions about two or more expressions with a similar meaning.

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What's the difference between 可 and 可以?

I've seen threads for 可以 as opposed to 会 and 能, but what about 可以 with its component, 可? Wiktionary seems to use them interchangeably: 白银可以指:银,贵金属,用做货币时可称为白银 Is there a difference in nuance, or flow ...
JAF's user avatar
  • 279
8 votes
5 answers
11k views

表达 vs. 表现 vs. 表示 vs. 显示

These four words all express (get it, because they all mean express ha ha ha) similar meanings: to express/show/display/manifest/demonstrate/convey/indicate etc. I'm sure there are subtle differences ...
God's Drunkest Driver's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
5k views

What is the difference between 比如 and 例如

I know both can mean "for example/such as/for instance". They are most likely synonyms but even synonyms have slight subtle differences in precise meaning and usage. I know that 例 can be used alone: (...
God's Drunkest Driver's user avatar
3 votes
8 answers
3k views

Difference Between 计算机 and 电脑

What's the difference between 计算机 and 电脑?Does the meaning differ between regions?
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2 votes
1 answer
1k views

What is the difference between 看法 and 想法?

Both can mean "view/idea/opinion". For example, I can say: 对这个问题有两种不同的看法 (there are two different view on this question) Would it be reasonable to replace "看法" with "想法"?
God's Drunkest Driver's user avatar
4 votes
4 answers
1k views

What is the difference between 受 and 收? [duplicate]

They both can mean "to receive". It seems as if 受 has a more negative connotation than 收 but I'm 100% sure about the exact usage differences.
God's Drunkest Driver's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
5k views

What is the difference between 认为 and 以为?

They both mean "to think" or "to consider". Is there a usage difference between the two?
God's Drunkest Driver's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
2k views

Difference between 办法, 方法, and 方式?

From what I know, they all mean similar things (way, method), but 方式 can also mean style which makes it similar to 样式. Is there a difference in the way they are used grammatically or is the difference ...
God's Drunkest Driver's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
2k views

What is the difference between 夜(yè) and 晚 (wǎn)?

Both characters mean night, also when they are together, when is it better to use each character ? For example: Beautiful night: 美丽的夜 can be rephrased to 美丽的晚 ? Good night: 晚安 to 夜安 ?
marcanuy's user avatar
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3 votes
7 answers
995 views

Difference between 谦虚 and 虚心?

In my Chinese textbook, 谦虚好学 is used, and 虚心求教 is used as well. They both mean modest, so when should I use each one?
Katherine Huang's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
105 views

What is the difference (and english translation) between 风浪 and 涌浪?

As far as I can tell, 风浪 is waves created by wind, and 涌浪 would be waves created by tidal movements or surge waves. However, this is a very bulky way to describe them. What is the English for this ...
Cougar's user avatar
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3 votes
4 answers
230 views

Difference between 沒轍, 莫可奈何,沒辦法

Can anyone help me with any differences between those words? C-E dictionaries say "there's no way out" or "nothing can be done" for all of them, C-C dictionaries say about the same. However, I was ...
langdi's user avatar
  • 358
1 vote
1 answer
1k views

In how many ways can we say "go straight ahead"?

I have heard 一直走(Yīzhí) and 往前(wǎng qián)走, but it seems the online translators prefer 一直往前走(Yīzhí wǎng qián zǒu) or 一直向(xiàng)前走 (if we're going forward)... From the above which are the most ...
Armfoot's user avatar
  • 289
2 votes
3 answers
236 views

Synonyms of (不会)少块肉?

I'm quite fond of the phrase 少块肉, as in 又不会少块肉 or 能少块肉吗?. What synonyms of 少块肉 exist in Chinese?
Mou某's user avatar
  • 36k
1 vote
1 answer
64 views

枕头 versus 垫子, are these different?

I've come across these two words in a picture-book. Are 枕头 and 垫子 the same kind of pillow or are they different kinds of pillow?
Jack Maddington's user avatar
18 votes
8 answers
3k views

Why is 两 used for quantities of two rather than 二?

I understand that 两 is used instead of 二 when dealing with quantities of two. However, my question is - why? What are the historical reasons behind this? I looked at Wikitionary but it only had ...
Jimmy S's user avatar
  • 270
16 votes
4 answers
1k views

What's the difference between 帐户 and 账户?

To my understanding, both mean "account", as in a bank account or online account. 账户 also appears to be the more common (100M search results) compared to 帐户 (about 50M results). What is the difference,...
sqrtbottle's user avatar
  • 1,445
3 votes
1 answer
645 views

What is an idiom that describes aiming for high achievement or success but not forgetting one's roots?

What is an idiom/phrase/saying that describes aiming for high achievement or success but not forgetting one's roots? Something like 展翅高飞 and 饮水思源 combined
Dylan Fynn's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
766 views

Is 上下 always interchangeable with 左右?

Example sentence 1: 他的汉语能力已经达到了HSK 11级左右的程度。 Example sentence 2: 他貌似30岁上下年纪。 While 左右 sounds more natural (to me) in 1 and 上下 in 2, we can interchange them and the two sentences would still be ...
Gao's user avatar
  • 540
6 votes
2 answers
8k views

What's the difference between 说 and 讲?

It seems that in most cases, the two are interchangeable. For example: Is it 說 /说 / shuō or 講 / 讲 / jiǎng for "to speak a language"? Apart from fixed phrases, when would you use one rather ...
congusbongus's user avatar
  • 8,557
12 votes
7 answers
8k views

What is the Difference Between 方法 and 办法?

Both have comparable definitions of "method", "manner", "means", etc. and describe or define a way of doing something. The phrase 没(有)办法 is often used to deflect responsibility by claiming ...
Andrew Kozak's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
77 views

I keep running into so many different synonyms for like/dislike on Chinese websites. What others am I missing?

Like: 好文, 顶一下, 喜欢, 赞, 支持 Dislike: 踩一下, 太水, 反对
Steve's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
184 views

Introduction. What's the difference between 介绍, 简介, 入门, 引导, 导语, 导论, 引子?

I've seen 介绍, 简介 and 导语 in news pieces, which labels a one sentence synopsis of the article. Is there any difference between these three? 介绍, 简介 look to be interchangeable, and used commonly like 介绍 ...
Steve's user avatar
  • 1,997
1 vote
3 answers
437 views

時刻 (shíkè) vs 瞬間 (shùnjiān) vs 時候 (shíhòu) for "moment"

As a beginner I'd like to learn the most useful word to express the equivalent to English “moment” meaning “a very brief period of time.” I've found at least three Chinese words and would like to ...
hippietrail's user avatar
  • 4,025
3 votes
5 answers
2k views

What does “大概” mean? Are there any words with the same meaning?

I looked up in the dictionary, there are 12 meanings for it! well aiblins anywhere belike supposedly probably prob. maybe mayhap presumedly presumably ordinarily somewhere easily mainly Just wonder ...
user4457's user avatar
  • 517
16 votes
3 answers
1k views

Do 之 and 的 come from the same word?

In modern Chinese 之 is thought of as the literary genitive particle and 的 as the colloquial. In most reconstructions of Old Chinese 之 looks very similar to the way 的 is pronounced now. For example in ...
HAL's user avatar
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5 votes
3 answers
2k views

Is it 說 /说 / shuō or 講 / 讲 / jiǎng for "to speak a language"?

I've realized that I still don't know the way to talk about "speaking a language", for instance the Chinese equivalents to sentences like these: Do you speak English? I can speak a little Chinese. ...
hippietrail's user avatar
  • 4,025
21 votes
5 answers
11k views

Confusion about bian 邊 and miàn 面

I'm having a little trouble with learning directions and positions. It seems that most often the word bian is being used to indicate a position: front side 前邊, back side 後邊, etc. But then I see stuff ...
Kevin Thompson's user avatar
9 votes
6 answers
962 views

Differences between the two words for each season, such as 冬季 (dōngjì) and 冬天 (dōngtiān)

There seem to be two words for each season. Each pair has the first character in common but for the second character one will have 季 (jì) and the other will have 冬天 (tiān). For example "winter" is: ...
hippietrail's user avatar
  • 4,025
8 votes
3 answers
1k views

Which term is used for "oyster" in Taiwan?

According to the English Wiktionary there are four Chinese terms equivalent to English "oyster": mǔlì : 牡蠣 / 牡蛎 hǎilìzi : 海蠣子 háo : 蚝 háozi : 蚝子 Is one of these standard or most common in Taiwan? ...
hippietrail's user avatar
  • 4,025
10 votes
5 answers
27k views

"不客气" (bù kèqì) vs "谢谢你" (xièxiè nǐ)

At home in Australia my neighbouring shop owners are from Shanghai and taught me some Chinese. From them I learned two ways of responding to "谢谢" (xièxiè): "不客气" (bù kèqì) "谢谢你" (xièxiè nǐ) So I ...
hippietrail's user avatar
  • 4,025
5 votes
2 answers
226 views

"便利商店" (biànlì shāngdiàn) vs "便利店" (biànlì diàn)

Earlier when I was in China I learned "便利店" (biànlì diàn) to mean "convenience store". I think from looking it up in the English Wiktionary. But now that I'm in Taiwan when I used it people didn't ...
hippietrail's user avatar
  • 4,025
8 votes
3 answers
5k views

Difference between 各 and 每?

I'm used to using 每 for every. However, 各 came up one day and appears to me to have the exactly same meaning. Is there a contextual difference between the two that I am missing or can they be swapped ...
CodeNeko's user avatar
  • 115
8 votes
7 answers
9k views

What's the most usual way to say "hand sanitizer" in Chinese?

I'm finding in the non-touristy places in China where I'm spending my time in cheaper places etc that there's often no place to wash your hands, or it's dirty, or there's no soap. I've been ...
hippietrail's user avatar
  • 4,025
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

Are there any differences between these Chinese terms for "French fries" / (hot) "chips"?

I just felt like some French fries for the first time since I've been in China so I bought some from a Dico's here in Zhangjiakou. I ordered by pointing at the menu becuase I'm just beginning at ...
hippietrail's user avatar
  • 4,025
10 votes
3 answers
1k views

What's the difference between "大衣" (dàyī), "外套" (wàitào), and "外衣" (wàiyī) - which can all be translated to "coat"?

As I need to buy some cold weather clothes now that I'm heading further north than Xi'an I tried to look up the word for "coat". I found there are at least these three terms: 大衣 (dàyī) 外套 (wàitào) ...
hippietrail's user avatar
  • 4,025
10 votes
2 answers
395 views

Does "坊" also mean "square", "plaza", "piazza" like "广场"?

Where I am in Kunming there is a square that seems to go by two names: 金碧广场, Jīn bì guǎngchǎng, "Golden Square" 金马碧鸡坊, Jīnmǎ bì jī fang, "Golden Horse and Green Rooster Square" ...
hippietrail's user avatar
  • 4,025
11 votes
4 answers
548 views

What's the relationship between 炮 and 砲?

炮 and 砲 both mean "cannon", but it seems the former is much more common, and the latter only really seen in Xiangqi. Is there a difference in meaning? For example, on wikipedia it is said that 砲 ...
congusbongus's user avatar
  • 8,557
13 votes
4 answers
2k views

Difference between 同一 and 一样

I would like to know when to use 同一 and when to use 一样 when describing items or people as similar? What is the difference in usage between these two phrases?
Lynn's user avatar
  • 131
5 votes
2 answers
731 views

Meaning of 白 in words for "nonsense"?

There are a number of Chinese words containing the 白 character that all mean "nonsense" or "speaking nonsense": 白呼 夸白 白话 What's the significance of 白 in these words? 白 usually ...
congusbongus's user avatar
  • 8,557
32 votes
5 answers
28k views

中文 vs. 汉语: What's the difference?

Apparently, both of these mean Chinese, and the Chinese language. I gather that 中文 is maybe more like "written Chinese," and 汉语 is "spoken Chinese." Is this correct? I've often looked at BBC zhongwen,...
nickcoxdotme's user avatar
6 votes
5 answers
2k views

webpage loading.. 加载 vs 载入​​​​​​​

What words should we use when we want to say "a webpage is loading"? In Gmail, when I change my settings to simplified Chinese, Google says "正在加载". However, when I change my settings to traditional ...
Pacerier's user avatar
  • 395
12 votes
7 answers
10k views

What is the difference between 餐馆 and 饭店? Is 饭店 used for restaurant or hotel?

饭店 and 餐馆 can both mean restaurant. My Chinese friend here in Dongguan tells me 饭店 is not commonly used to mean hotel. I want to understand in what contexts both of these words are used. 谢谢.
amorimluc's user avatar
  • 749
10 votes
3 answers
1k views

What's the main difference between 为 and 是?

It seems like both 为 and 是 mean "to be". In which cases is one used but not the other? Is it something like the difference between "estar" and "ser" in Spanish and Portuguese? (In the sense that one ...
amorimluc's user avatar
  • 749
3 votes
1 answer
160 views

Is 级 necessary in 优先级

From the dictionary I gather that 优先 by itself means "priority" and so 优先级 means "level of priority". In a phrase such as 高优先级,or 最高优先级,is the 级 necessary to sound correct, or is it an optional "...
jsj's user avatar
  • 3,455
5 votes
2 answers
321 views

山火 vs 野火 vs 丛林大火: Chinese for "bushfire"

I would imagine that 山火 meant "a fire in the mountains", but the dictionary lists "wildfire / forest fire". Is 山火 then a generic word for an out of control fire? What about 野火? I saw 山火 on the news, ...
jsj's user avatar
  • 3,455
13 votes
3 answers
546 views

Difference between 生前 and 死前

Literally, 死前 means before death while 生前 means before life. They seem to bear the opposite meaning. However, in most cases, they actually mean the same thing, i.e., when someone was still alive. What'...
Terry Li's user avatar
  • 1,814
16 votes
5 answers
5k views

Difference between 特色, 特點, 特性, 特質, and 特徵

Looking up these five words in dictionaries gives results that are almost identical. In Chinese-English dictionaries, I find explanations identical or very close to: a characteristic; a ...
Olle Linge's user avatar
  • 3,057
5 votes
2 answers
284 views

Difference between 活 and 住?

I read that both 活 and 住 both refer to the verb "to live". Is there a difference between the two?
qdii's user avatar
  • 789
5 votes
2 answers
619 views

What is the difference between 试验 and 实验?

Both 试验 and 实验 seems to be translated into "experiment". What is the difference between the two words? Can they be used interchangeably or not?
fefe's user avatar
  • 8,725