Questions tagged [mandarin]
Question specifically about the Mandarin dialect. (Not for arbitrary questions that happen to involve Mandarin.)
643
questions
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1answer
55 views
Is there a translation of the daodejing into modern mandarin grammar?
Apologies for a classic "lmgtfy" question, but you probably appreciate that the nature of what I'm asking is hard to properly convey to a search engine, regardless of whether the query is ...
0
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4answers
83 views
What is the difference between 创造，创作，制造，制作，and 创建？
Hello good people of Chinese Stack Exchange! Hope you're doing well.
It seems like the words 创造，创作，制造，制作，and 建造 are similar in that they mean "make" or "create," but from what I've ...
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1answer
70 views
Need help in converting mandarin to english? [closed]
I am trying to complete my mandarin assignment. can someone please help me to translate these. I was unable to understand them.
0
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0answers
56 views
Documentaries in Chinese | Quality on-demand video and podcast resources [closed]
I'd like to immerse myself in Chinese and I find for me the easiest is if the topics are interesting. Would you be able to recommend any quality documentary and news content - video and podcasts? ...
0
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0answers
62 views
“小盒儿”中的“盒儿”韵母念作“而”，还是反切“庵”“而”？
改： 答案大概已经找到了：知乎专栏：新老派普通话的宽严式记音（含儿化韵） 。以“e”为韵尾的韵母儿化处理时，声音有点像[ɯ̽˞ɝ̯]，偏“er”音。
原问题：
标准普通话有儿化音吗？如有，鉴于所有的不带儿化音的音位都有标准读音，按理来说，带儿化音的音位也应该有自己的标准发音，对不对？
对于儿化韵的标准，可以举两个例子，相信大家都会同意的：“会儿”要做“huer”/“ㄏㄨㄦ”（尉二切），而不是“...
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0answers
48 views
Is there an offline version for "Tofu Learn" or a similar offline software? [closed]
大家好
I tried some apps for learning Chinese, but honestly I like so much "Tofu Learn" (for Android, Apple, and even you can use it through your Internet browser). However, it requires the ...
1
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2answers
262 views
Is there a Mandarin counterpart for the Cantonese slang 做媒?
做媒 (jyutping) zou6 mui4; (pinyin) zuo4 mei2 literally means "be a matchmaker"
However, there is a Cantonese slang 做媒 /zou6 mui42/ that means:
be a salesperson's decoy
a partner of a street ...
5
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3answers
442 views
How to express "I'm reading about (something)" in oral speech/informal contexts?
Good day to you all!
I wanted to express the sentence: "I'm reading about the Malaysian language." I realized I didn't actually know how to express this, so I looked it up on a translator, ...
1
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1answer
72 views
How do you indicate a habitual, ongoing action, as opposed to an action you are currently doing?
Hear me out.
Recently I rediscovered the 2010 classic "Doin' Your Mom" by Ray William Johnson (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t53TcKIlMc), and since the song is not really stimulating, my ...
0
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1answer
86 views
What are the names of men's haircuts popular among young Chinese idols?
What are some popular haircuts among young Chinese idols (preferably men) called in Chinese? Preferable a list in Chinese, if possible.
For example, take the TFBoy members have haircuts that kind of ...
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2answers
112 views
Help choosing a better Chinese name
Recently, someone helped me come up with a Chinese name for myself, and after some discussion, the surname 高 and given names 偉恩, 大恩 and 太恩 were recommended.
The first (偉恩) I liked but found that it ...
2
votes
2answers
58 views
How to give news of my grandmothers death
In English I would say: I am sorry to say my grandmother passed away on X date.
How would I give that news in mandarin? Is there a way to say ‘I am sorry to say’ or do they not say that in mandarin?
1
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1answer
106 views
Monolingual Mandarin illustrated dictionary in traditional characters
Is there any Mandarin picture dictionary that:
Is 100% in Mandarin (no English or other languages).
Uses traditional Chinese characters.
Is available as a physical book.
If possible, there should be ...
0
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2answers
51 views
Two-part Allegorical Saying Collection | 歇后语合集
歇后语 is a unique language form of Chinese.
The allegorical words are composed of two parts. The first part plays a guiding role, like a riddle, and the second part plays a role as a foil, like an ...
0
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2answers
75 views
Can anyone identify the characters on this ivory pipe?
My father-in-law showed us an ivory pipe that his family has had for many decades.
I can’t identify the characters by looking up the radical and then the remaining strokes.
Can anyone help out?
0
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2answers
132 views
Timeframe for Learning Ancient Chinese
As a complete newbie to the Chinese language, I would like to ask the following questions.
What is an approximate time for learning enough of the Chinese language to be able to read something like ...
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1answer
71 views
can you help me identify the word xiamen
In a mandarin course, before the dialogs they always say "qing ting ... Xiamen de duihua". I have never been able to find out what the word "xiamen" means. The rest of it means ...
3
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2answers
228 views
When you first meet someone, sometimes they say (for example): " 我是小朋...“
。。。 “小时的小，朋友的朋。”
I think Chinese people will say that because you may not know how their name is written, so you get a better description of what their name is.
But... does the word have to be the ...
0
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0answers
132 views
What phonetic sounds are there in Chinese?
What are the IPA symbols for sounds in (Beijing) Mandarin? Which Mandarin sounds are not in (American) English? Which English sounds are not in Mandarin?
Below are the IPA consonant and vowel charts ...
4
votes
4answers
151 views
How to properly translate "to deserve" while preserving its moral implication?
Over the course of my studies and practice in Chinese, there's one particular type of sentence that I always get wrong: the one with the verb to deserve.
In English — and several other neo-latin ...
0
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2answers
144 views
What is the difference between 碰，触，碰触 and 触碰
difference between 碰，触，碰触 and 触碰？The dictionary differences are not clear.
Thanks!
1
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1answer
146 views
Who knows the most number of characters in Chinese?
I am mainly just curious as to the answer. And it would be interesting to hear if it is different for simplified and traditional.
I know there are 80,000+ characters and most native speakers will ...
1
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4answers
80 views
Phrase or idiom for "vocal minority"
How do you say "vocal minority" in Chinese? Specifially, in Mandarin?
0
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1answer
90 views
How do you answer the following question when someone asks: 我想认识一个美国朋友，你给我介绍一下，可以吗？
我想认识一个美国朋友，你给我介绍一下，可以吗？
My Chinese teacher asked me the question above ^. Am I supposed to say:
这是我的中国老师, 王朋.
or
这是我的美国朋友, Rodger Smith.
Basically, should I be introducing my Chinese teacher who ...
0
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1answer
111 views
Help with expanding on a Chinese character's name (in headcanon)
(To clarify: I'm a white American, trying to make fanlore for a canonically Chinese character from a Korean game. There's several different levels of possible lost-in-translation here. If you need any ...
0
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3answers
191 views
How can I answer the question "你什么时候开始学中文的?"
How can I answer the question "你什么时候开始学中文的?"
I cannot answer the "什么时候" questions. Can anybody help me please?
2
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2answers
105 views
呢 meaning "where", is it possible?
Is it true that 呢 can mean "WHERE"??? If so, then what is the difference between 呢 and 哪儿???
I've seen those sentences and they made me wonder:
"我的杯子在哪儿? - where is my cup?" and &...
0
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1answer
45 views
Air quality meter name
I have an air quality detector meter.
It has the name of the manufactures written on the bottom.
What's the english translation?
Does this manufacturer have a web page?
Thanks
EDIT:
In the web page ...
2
votes
1answer
125 views
Month-on-month and Quarter-on-Quarter
I know that 同比 is “year over year”, while 環比 is “month over month”, but can also mean “quarter over quarter”. In reality, the latter is used to compare two different periods. Therefore, if one says 環比,...
0
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1answer
60 views
What are some popular Engish songs that have Mandarin translations?
I know a few like:
Perfect by Sophie Chen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjKumvgMy7s
Call Me Maybe by Dawen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grWp1KzmTYM
Are there any others?
2
votes
3answers
727 views
Does 没有办法 have the same idiomatic meaning in Chinese that "No way" does in English?
"No way" in English has a couple of meanings.
Like, it can be used to express surprise. Does 没有办法 also carry some idiomatic meanings?
1
vote
1answer
75 views
How do I ecourage my spouse, in Mandarin, to fly free in her job, and assure here we are supporting her and welcoming her home
My spouse just landed their dream job! They start next week and I am going to celebrate their first day.
Their dream is to be able to fly free, and high and to always be welcomed home in a warm and ...
3
votes
3answers
392 views
What’s the difference between 吃上饭 and 吃下饭?
I think one means it hasn’t happened yet and the other means it’s already happened, but I don’t really understand what that means when trying to translate into English or when trying to think of it in ...
4
votes
3answers
210 views
Are there any multi-syllabic words in Chinese without a glottal stop?
Are there any words in Chinese of 2 more syllables where there isn't a glottal stop between the syllables such that each syllable is not pronounced clearly, that a final consonant and initial ...
1
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2answers
141 views
What does "我牛起来" mean?
I know what each of the characters mean, but I'm confuse on how to put it into a sentence.
我 - I
牛 - ox
起来 - up
1
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1answer
64 views
Can someone translate what is written in this photo please?
Please i need help translating this into english. I have no idea what it says.
0
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3answers
116 views
How to discuss preferences / ask which do you prefer in Mandarin
How does one discuss preferences/ask what someone prefers out of a series of options?
Do you just list each option followed by 好不好？
Thanks
1
vote
1answer
112 views
what does 上疾 mean in this sentence (她在网球场上疾如闪电。)
I have the sentence 她在网球场上疾如闪电。I know that it means "she is as quick as lightning on the tennis court" What role does 上疾 have in the sentence it clearly doesn't mean, on disease!
Are there ...
2
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4answers
176 views
What is the difference between 没 and 不 when used with 又?
What's the difference between these sentences:
他又没来上课
他又不来上课()
Here: https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22again%22_in_the_past_with_%22you%22#Negative_Form
it says both 没 ...
3
votes
1answer
98 views
What tone for retroflex r?
The retroflex r is not the consonant r in a word (pinyin) like in 人 rén.
The retroflex is added as a suffix in the Beijing area, or as a diminutive suffix.
Would it be pronounced with the second tone,...
0
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2answers
78 views
Is 摆有 a word in MSM?
桌上摆有一卷书
(source: example sentence in a publicly available flashcard deck - no other context provided).
None of the 40+ dictionaries I consulted carry this lemma, and google offers precious little too....
0
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1answer
203 views
Chinese-characters learning software for Ubuntu (Linux)
I am looking for a software that shows a Chinese alphabet/word on my desktop with its pinyin and meaning in English, and each day it will give a different word.
Since I am using a Linux (Ubuntu 18.04) ...
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3answers
127 views
Hello! Can someone please translate: 'My Little Ghost' to Chinese?
I'm creating a story with this title and the setting I'm supposed to have is in ancient China. It would be helpful if you can show me how it is spelled and if the translated version sounds more like ...
0
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1answer
95 views
There is this song that I can't find the Pinyin lyrics to on Youtube
Can someone help me find it please? This is just copied and pasted from what should be the songs title 凌震 尤金 多看一眼
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3answers
448 views
Exactly how bad is it to call a family member by their given name?
I hear it is taboo to call any family member by their given name, especially if you are speaking to an older relative. Or if not taboo, then at the very least it is extremely rude. Do people ever call ...
0
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1answer
99 views
How to say financial trader in Mandarin?
How does one say "trader" in Mandarin. I am meaning a financial trader who invests in the stock market. Would it be 股民？
谢谢
1
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1answer
127 views
How to say "What was your favourite subject" and "tell me something interesting about you"
I want to know how to say "What was your favourite subject" (i.e. school subject when younger) and "tell me something interesting about you" in Mandarin.
Would it be something like:...
0
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1answer
114 views
Can someone translate these lyrics in English?
爱恨廉价 似苍苍蒹葭
苦艾后劲 皆贪共与他
望光亮 两世皆行走潇洒
破万枷 散馀霞 众相皆渡他
Ref 众相渡他·2020肖战生贺原创曲
I used Google Translate and a dictionary to find the meaning, but it doesn't make sense.
4
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2answers
134 views
In a 还是 question, do I need to repeat the verb?
I'm learning Chinese from a book, and there are some examples regarding the use of 还是. In some cases, the verb is repeated, like in 你喝茶还是喝咖啡？ (note the two 喝 here). In other places, the second ...
3
votes
1answer
135 views
Are there any Mandarin dialects with three tones?
有只有三个声调的官话方言吗？东干语有四个音素的声调，但是在没有变调的上下文只有三个不同的声调, 例如在短语的末尾。有没有在每个上下文都用三个声调的方言？
Are there any Mandarin dialects with three tones? Standard Dungan has four phonemic tones, but only has three in contexts ...
