All Questions
4
votes
2answers
180 views
What are some common Chinese terms used when playing soccer
I regularly play soccer with a group of Chinese guys and wanted to share terms that I've learnt over the years.
I would appreciate if anyone can fill in any gaps (or correct me if I'm wrong)
5
votes
2answers
150 views
我(也)很好 and tone sandhi
What are the (resultant) tones in those sentences, where all the words in isolation have 3rd tone?
我很好。
我也很好。
Reading tone shandhi rules on Wikipedia, there is no explanation about tree or ...
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?
5
votes
2answers
84 views
Methods/resources for improving formal/business Chinese?
I'm returning to China early next year to manage a business, and will be dealing with a variety of Chinese clients in that environment.
I want to ensure my formal/business Chinese skills are up to ...
4
votes
2answers
151 views
What's the difference between 房子 and 屋?
It seems like "house" is usually translated to 房子 (fáng zi) in standard Chinese, although 屋 (wū) is also a common translation, especially in Cantonese.
Is there a difference between the two? When ...
10
votes
2answers
140 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
88 views
Looking for Pinyin standards
I have noticed discrepancies in how native Mandarin speakers spell certain words in Pinyin reflecting differences in pronunciation, for instance, pángbiān vs. pángbian and zǎoshang vs. zǎoshàng. I've ...
18
votes
7answers
519 views
Why is 有 (yǒu) the only verb that requires 没 while other verbs can use 不?
To negate something, we use 不 (bù) before the verb, such as in this short dialogue:
A: 你是老师吗？ = Are you a teacher?
B: 不是。 = I'm not.
However, the verb 有 (yǒu) is the only one that requires 没 ...
9
votes
5answers
294 views
How do we choose the correct characters for a westerner name?
Since there are many characters that share a common pronunciation and sometimes also the same tone, how do we properly choose which character best represents our name? Is it totally arbitrary or are ...
7
votes
6answers
584 views
How to translate “你给我滚” properly
In a sentence like:
“你给我那一杯水” You would translate it something like: Get me a glass of water.
How is the "给我" in the sentence “你给我滚” supposed to be translated?
Should it just be "Get lost / P*ss ...
3
votes
4answers
73 views
Differences between 蝉 and 知了?
What are the main differences between 蝉 (chán) and 知了 (zhīliǎo) both meaning cicada.
Do they both refer to the same species?
Will saying either be understood by a majority of native speakers?
Is ...
7
votes
1answer
90 views
When not to use 厕所 when asking for the toilet?
I've noticed sometimes when in polite company or in the company of strangers some people will saying they are going to wash their hands 去洗手 (qù xǐshǒu) instead of going to the toilet 去上厕所 (qù shàng ...
2
votes
3answers
122 views
What is the Mandarin equivalent for the Shanghai term for dirty?
In the Shanghai dialect dirty is pronounced something like "o co" with the o pronounced like the "o" in cot and the "c" pronounced like the usual c in pinyin (kinda like an 'ts' sound).
Which ...
6
votes
1answer
86 views
General guidelines for learning stroke order
A friend asked me for a brief description of the general guidelines for writing Chinese characters. What's the simplest way to describe those "rules" that apply across most characters?
6
votes
2answers
86 views
What is the part without the radical called?
For example, these characters have different radicals:
根 跟 恨 狠
But the part of the characters minus the radical is the same.
Does that part (艮 in this case) have a name?
14
votes
5answers
335 views
How can one determine the radical for a given character?
Many times, when reading Mandarin, I will happen across a character that I don't know. Usually, the radical along with some context will clue me into the meaning, but if I can't determine the ...
7
votes
4answers
164 views
Equivalent expression to: “I don't give a f***”
Is there something in Mandarin like "I don't give a f***", something that expresses the same sense of "I don't care" but with more force.
7
votes
3answers
170 views
What is the equivalent of the English word 'Fail' in Mandarin?
Fail is a pretty popular term on the internet these days, and one I'm quite fond of.
Looking in my Chinese dictionary I can't find a great equivalent - is there a good way to say this? What would be ...
8
votes
3answers
140 views
Which regions use 计算机 for computer?
Where is 计算机 used for "computer", and where does it mean "calculator". In regions where it means "calculator" what is the word for "supercomputer" (assuming that there, 超级计算机 is not used)
6
votes
3answers
174 views
“Actually” as a sentence-starter of speech filler
When casually speaking English I use the word "actually" a lot when beginning of a sentance, or as part of the flow of my speech. e.g.
Actually, next semester doesn't start for a month.
...
8
votes
2answers
86 views
Authoritative source for translators
For translators, is there an authoritative source they go to where they can check translations are accurate?
For example say there was a political conference and someone wasn't sure if the word ...
6
votes
2answers
191 views
How widespread is the use of 妳?
When addressing a female person, do I have to use 妳 instead of 你?
How common is the usage of 妳?
4
votes
4answers
125 views
Etymology of 汉语
I knew a Chinese woman who taught me a lot about Chinese languages. One of them was about 汉语's etymology.
I was told that all parts of these characters had a meaning connected to the History of ...
4
votes
5answers
183 views
Why do Chinese “extend” the last word when speaking?
I've hear on many occasions that Chinese prolong the last word in a sentence, for example:
ni hao ma ?
becomes
ni hao maaaaa ?
(I'm not sure that's clear enough but can't think of a better way ...
9
votes
2answers
188 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 ...
2
votes
2answers
273 views
Etymology of 奴隶 (Slave)
I vaguely remember hearing somebody make observations about the word 奴隶 (slave). I would like to verify the impressions of the person who was speaking as being factual or just his impressions
What is ...
14
votes
5answers
519 views
Can native Chinese speakers distinguish tones in songs?
I already have a hard time distinguishing tones in normal speech. This gets significantly worse when I listen to Chinese songs, since the melody masks tones even further.
Yes, I understand that ...
4
votes
4answers
356 views
Written Cantonese input?
Although traditionally Cantonese speakers just use standard Chinese (mostly Traditional in my experience) for writing and reading, written Cantonese does exist as you can read about in this Wikipedia ...
8
votes
4answers
351 views
How do I say “damn!” or “bloody hell” in Chinese?
The phrase 他妈的 has been explained in this question. Since I'm a no-expletives guy, I don't feel comfortable so close to the f-word. :) I was wondering what would be the correct way to use some of the ...
12
votes
7answers
3k views
Is it easier to learn Chinese after learning Japanese or vice versa?
For those who speak both Chinese and Japanese, would first learning Chinese make it easier to learn Japanese?
Knowing that Japanese Kanji are derived from Chinese characters, how hard is it to do the ...
12
votes
4answers
199 views
Is this an exception in the use of 的?
I know that, when expressing possessives, we add 的 to the usual personal pronouns, such as 我的.
However, in a question in my grammar textbook I saw:
你爸爸忙吗？ = Is your father busy?
Why not ...
9
votes
5answers
412 views
How offensive is 他妈的?
How offensive is the expression 他妈的? What is an English expression with a similar degree of offensiveness? In what situations is this expression appropriate / not appropriate?
7
votes
1answer
167 views
Rules for saying numbers
I just wondered what are the rules of saying numbers...
For example:
10 = 十
19 = 十九
100 = 一百
1,000 = 一千
10,000 = 一萬
but
119 = 一百一十九
then
110 = 一百一
1,100 = 一千一
11,000 = 一萬一
and then
10,110 = ...
8
votes
1answer
69 views
Chinese for “vote-up”, “vote-down” and “vote to close”
What is the correct Chinese words to use for the following:
Vote-up
Vote-down
Vote to close
I assume these will have been included in certain social platforms in China.
2
votes
2answers
149 views
What are the most difficult things to learn for a westerner? [closed]
What aspects of the Chinese language are the most difficult to learn for a westerner? In particular I'm interested in thoughts on:
What do you find are the main difficulties?
Are there any aspects ...
11
votes
4answers
149 views
How to Find Characters in a Dictionary?
In English we would look words based on their alphabetical order.
But how are Chinese dictionaries ordered to allow you to find what you are looking for - is it based on the radicals, number of ...
9
votes
2answers
78 views
Is the usage of European punctuation acceptable in Chinese writing?
Chinese punctuation is a little different from European punctuation, for example:
The full stop is "。" instead of "."
The ellipsis are six vertically centered dots (… …) instead of just three (…)
...
10
votes
6answers
272 views
Do all schools in China teach in Standard Chinese (普通话)?
When I went to China, it was apparent that many (sometimes most) people still spoke their local dialects instead of Standard Chinese/Putonghua (also known as "Mandarin" in English). I was told that ...
4
votes
2answers
152 views
Useful resources for learning Taiwanese?
My girlfriend is from Fujian and speaks 闽南语, so I am trying to learn so I can communicate with her family better.
The struggle is finding any useful resources (even in Chinese), so I'm wondering if ...
8
votes
6answers
385 views
Are there word games in Chinese?
Do Chinese characters make it a lot harder to create or play word games in Chinese than it is in English? I have seen a few Chinese crosswords, but it seems like they aren't as densely cross-linked as ...
13
votes
5answers
391 views
What is a good technique for remembering tones?
I find it a great struggle to try and remember tones for all the new vocab I learn, and aside from gradually picking up tones by listening and talking with native speakers, I can't really remember ...
9
votes
5answers
174 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, ...
8
votes
7answers
819 views
How is the “r” sound pronounced?
One of the most trickiest sounds to pronounce correctly in Mandarin seems to be the "r" sound, as in 日本 (rì běn). It's not uncommon to hear people pronounce that like "urban."
I have been told it's ...
8
votes
1answer
137 views
When to use 了 and when to use 过 to express past actions or events
I kind of have an idea of when 了 and 过 should be used but it's mostly on a case by case basis, and I don't know the exact rules.
So if I want to express something that happened in the past, when ...
5
votes
3answers
320 views
Is there an equivalent for the Cantonese phrase “Ng Goi”
The Cantonese phrase "Ng Goi" has many meanings;
"Excuse me"
"Thanks" (casual)
"Hey"
Does it have a 普通话 equivalent? And how can I write it in pinyin? Is it even possible?
5
votes
2answers
116 views
Is there an authoritative reference for the stroke order of simplifed characters?
It seems various people often have various ways to write the same characters. For instance, I have seen the radical "忄" being written in three different ways (left, middle, right; left, right, middle; ...
7
votes
11answers
506 views
Techniques for learning and retaining characters
For many of us, memorizing characters is a difficult thing. In Chinese, just because you can speak the word doesn't mean you can read it. Just because you can read it doesn't mean you can write it. At ...
16
votes
6answers
662 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
195 views
Learning resources for ZhengMa input method?
I've been for some time learning chinese characters along with the Zheng Ma input method. I found it convenient for coming with Windows and being able to easily convert to my Dvorak touch-typing, as ...
5
votes
3answers
222 views
“小王” 和 “老王” how to determine which to use?
This is something I still haven't mastered and still just go with the flow.
If I wanted to call someone a nickname, say for Mr. Wang, which one should I choose? What defines whether I should call him ...
