Hot answers tagged meaning
9
The compound 不起 is not just limited to this particular construction. It's a bit like a suffix that succeeds a verb, meaning 'not within one's power' or 'can't afford to due to the possibility of dire consequences'.
Some examples of compounds that use 不起 include:
吃不起 (Can't afford to eat - either due to financial constraint or social constraint)
住不起 ...
8
People usually say 山羊 when they mean a goat.
--- I don't think so.
Goat or Sheep, just only depends on the context or the environment!
Actually, the scene of language is as follows:
When a sheep comes, what the brain of a Chinese-speaking people presents/thinks about is: "羊 is coming."
When a goat comes, what the brain of a Chinese-speaking people ...
8
Here are some definitions for "土著":
<现代汉语词典>(商务印书馆,1992年):"世代居住本地的人."
<辞源>(商务印书馆,2004年):(1)"世代定居于一地";(2)"后也称世代居住在本地的人为土著".
<辞海>(上海古籍出版社,1999年):(1)"古代游牧民族定居某地后,不再迁徙的称为‘土著";(2)"后指世居本地的人".
In classical Chinese, "土", when used as an adjective, means "local" or "original" (source):
<形>本地的；当地的。《柳敬亭传》：“且五方～音，乡俗好尚习见习闻。”
"著" has the ...
8
Like others said, it is just a name and names can be arbitrary.
However, to many of the audience, there is another layer of meaning that I am hesitant to lay bare.
The pronunciation of 太狼 resembles a common Japanese name 太郎. Intentionally or not, this political metaphor helped the series to gain popularity and government support.
7
háng (in most noun)
(1) line, row 表格中的一行 a row in a table, 字里行间 between the lines
(2) seniority among brothers and sisters， 我排行第二 I'm the second eldest one.
(3) some place of business, 银行 bank，花行 flower shop，商行 trading company
(4) trade, company(not very exact) 行业，同行
(5) measure word 一行，两行
xíng (verb, use verb as noun)
(1) walk -> distance ...
7
I think the Chinese language has always been very consistent here. Consider the following:
我很对不起你。
我很讨厌你。
我很爱你。
The subject-verb-object sentence structure is very consistent. In English, the last two sentences can be translated directly with:
I hate you very much.
I love you very much.
The reason why the first sentence could not be translated ...
7
yes, it is common for many Asia countries that "lodging" (typically dormitories) is provided by the companies and often these "factories" form cities on their own.
A famous (or maybe better to say notorious) example is Foxconn. From wikipdia:
Foxconn's largest factory worldwide is in Longhua, Shenzhen, where
hundreds of thousands of workers (varying ...
7
From the wikipedia article:
關於「萌」這個字現今用法的來源，至今依舊眾說紛紜，以下為部份幾種的說法：
有種說法認為，原本所用的詞語應該是「燃え」(もえ)，但是因為「萌え」和「燃え」的日語發音相同，且動漫喜好者認為「萌え」更能形容他們對事物喜好的狀態，因此後來都用「萌え」了。
亦有說法認為，這個詞語原本來自較為常用的「燃えている」（燃燒），但由於日文電腦輸入平假名時會智能判斷漢字，而萌え排序在前面，變成現在的寫法。
目前「萌」大多使用在二次元裡，如果遇到刻意將現實世界（三次元）的人套用到二次元的審美的情況，也有可能用到「萌」。 不過這種狀況十分稀少，因為三次元的人通常難以構成萌屬性。 現在「燃え」在中文界解作萌的相對詞，是對熱血的喜愛。
...
7
干妈 is a kind of relationship in Chinese culture. It has nothing to do with Christianity (Christian godparents are called 教父 教母). Like Christian godparents, 干妈 or 干爹 would usually sponsor the child in some aspect.
In Chinese tradition, 干妈 or 干爹 can act as real mother or father. They are different from 养父母 as they usually don't actrually raise the children.
...
6
Your guess is correct. You use it when you hand over or give something. You can translate it as "there you are, here you are, here you go".
For example a teacher might say it while handing out some study material. A student of course should use 给您 when handing in his exam papers.
You can also add what you are giving. For example 给你一本书.
6
To translate directly:
Even if making a mistake this time, it is still preferred for the fear of
missing the moment.
In other words, it means one would rather take this opportunity (perhaps once in a lifetime opportunity) to do something even if it means making a mistake.
For the full lyrics of this song 给我一首歌的时间 by Jay Chou, please refer to this ...
6
Yes it is true. The official word for somebody who is gay is 同性恋者 (tóngxìngliànzhě), but in recent years 同志 (tóngzhì) is frequently used as slang for somebody who is gay.
From Baidu:
...
6
It's an interjection, which means its translation relies very much on the context it's in.
In general, it's an exclamation of disbelief or disagreement on what follows the phrase.
Examples:
你真是的， 怎么没穿鞋就跑出来了？ (Come on! You ran out without any shoes on?)
你也真是的， 这么早就把我吵醒了. (Seriously? Waking me up this early?)
真是的, 他到现在还没来. (He's not here yet. Hopeless!)
6
Generally it's called 'move'.
To be precise, 招 is 'move' and 式 is 'stance' or 'form'.
When it comes to a specific move, you can use words like catch (手 as in 擒拿手), hit (打), reach (长拳), kick (踢) etc.
一招一式他都记得清清楚楚。
Every move is imprinted on his mind.
6
为 has a lot meanings, and so does 是. A common meaning between 为 and 是 is "to be" or other variations of "to be", like "being". 为 is used more for its other meanings than "to be", while 是 is used more for "to be" than its other meanings. When meaning "to be", in some cases, 为 and 是 are interchangeable. For example:
我们今年的工作目标 为 ...
我们今年的工作目标 是 ...
...
5
党和国家领导人 is both. It can refer to a few people or just someone. For example, 党和国家领导人某某(和某某)出席了某个活动。
最高领导人 can be translated as supreme leader. There must be only one at one time. And 主要领导人之一 is just some one important. For example, only 5 最高领导人 in PRC history. But anyone in the Political Bureau is one of 主要领导人。
The address(称呼) of important people of CCP ...
5
Based on the web search, It was first appeared in "<三国志·蜀书·庞统传> with annotations by 裴松之", it first appeared as "天下智谋之士所见略同耳". and then it was used as 英雄所见略同 in some later books. 英雄(Heroes, Great Leaders...) instead of 智谋之士( aka 谋士, counsellors to emperors). Literally, It can be interpreted as: Heroes ( to kings/emperors) share same points of views and ...
5
就 has many meanings, but here it means "only".
Definition + examples from 《现代汉语规范词典》:
限定范围，相当于"只"，"仅"
屋里就剩下我一个人
这次聚会就他没有来
Definition + example from《现代汉语词典》:
仅仅；只：以前就他一个人知道，现在大家都知道了）.
So it is used for a restricted scope and have the same meaning as 只 and 仅仅 (both meaning only).
Some examples where 就 has the same meaning:
家里就是他一个人 ...
5
This expression means 'to make life difficult for', 'to make it unpleasant for' or 'to pick on', just giving a few possible translations from the top of my head. Therefore your interpretation is correct. I am not sure what you mean by 'Is there a particular emphasis in this?' Emphasis in what?
As for your second question - yes, it can be used either ...
5
对不起 literally means "cannot face (someone)", implying "let down", "disappoint" or "betray".
Your guess is right, there is 对得起, which is actually a common phrase. It literally means "can face up to", implying "regret-less", "can justify", "be worthy of".
Examples using 对得起:
做人最重要是对得起自己的良心。One's primary duty is to obey the dictates of his conscience.
4
感动 can both be passive and active. For completeness' sake this is the first meaning: "受外界事物影响而引起内心激动" and this is the second "使感动" in 现代汉语规范词典. The meaning will typically be clear from the context.
Some examples:
他的话感动了在座的人: His speech touched the people who where present. (here it is active)
他很容易被感动: He's very easily moved. (here 感动 is made passive by ...
4
These are fengshui related words, each having its own meaning:
丁 - 催旺人丁 (brings male offspring)
財 - 興旺財源 (brings fortune)
貴 - 平安富貴 (brings peace and wealth)
壽 - 健康長壽 (brings health and longevity)
Quoted from this article:
玄空學說是利用五行形理相生的關係，去令一宅之中充滿生生不息的氣機。
風水學中的「催旺人丁、興旺財源、人口平安富貴及健康長壽」等等目的，簡稱為「丁財貴壽」等方法，便是依五行相生之理而建立的。
The purpose of the ...
4
Personally I have never heard of 回去回来 or 回来回去, and they are highly unlikely to be idioms in any part of China.
We do say 来回来去 in Northern China, not sure about Southern China. It means 'back and forth; repeatedly'. E.g.
他自从丢了钱包，就来回来去的说。He was complaining over and over again since he lost his wallet.
整首歌来回来去就一句词。The entire lyrics are just one sentence ...
4
非得 itself is always negative. The sentence contains only 非得 could be positive when there is a 2nd negative (most likely 不可) being omitted. This omission is common in colloquial language but not as common in written language or formal speeches.
Reference #1 below is a semantic analysis for the pattern 非..不可. It mentions the fact that 不可 can be omitted.
...
4
In ancient Chinese, 太 means 'big', 'oldest/most senior', 'extreme'... The second meaning have largely fallen out of use today, but still survives in words such as 太郎 (the oldest son, mainly used in japanese),太子(the crown prince, usually the oldest son of the king),...
Here 太狼 is an intentional pun of 太郎, making the name 灰太狼 sound like a Japanese name 'grey ...
4
真是的 generally means something you're not satisfied with. Its specific mood depends on the conversation.
Compare:
You're blaming someone:
真是的，你又搞砸了！(Oh, no, you mess up everything again!)
You're talking to a friend who comes to visit you:
真是的，还跟我客气什么。(Ah, come on, don't stand on ceremony.)
4
Unlike English, （简）优先／（繁）優先 is an adjective while （简）优先级／（繁）優先級 is a noun.
1. （简）这个项目优先级最高。
（繁）這個項目優先級最高。
If you want to use an adjective then the expression will be like
2. （简）这个项目是最高优先的。（所以……）
（繁）這個項目是最高優先的。（所以……）
You may notice a small difference in meaning, the first one is often used as response or a single sentence. The second is NOT very ...
3
As everyone else has said, it means "just over x amount" in this context. The major hint for "just over" is 才, meaning "merely", or "just". So, they could be saying "I've only been here just over three months... give me a break!"
Another thing you may see to indicate "it's just over", or "it's been about this long" is the use of 左右 zuo3 you4 ("left, ...
3
The typo aside, there are a few grammatical issues with your sentence.
(Mis)use of the 尽管...可是... construction. This conjunctional
construction, like in English (even though/notwithstanding),
indicates a condition/status, preceded by 尽管 and a second condition
that indicates a contrast to the first, usually indicated by
adverbs like 却, 但还是, 也要, and very ...
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