Questions tagged [mandarin]
Mandarin is a group of Chinese dialects that are considered the official language in many Chinese-speaking communities. The Beijing dialect is considered as standard pronunciation of Mandarin. Thus, when people say the "Chinese language", they implicitly refer to Mandarin.
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Abbreviations for Parts of Speech
I learned in another thread (Chinese Dictionary Question) that 助, 形 are abbreviated forms of 助动词, 形容词.
Is there a reference, online or in print, that lists all parts of speech and their corresponding ...
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Chinese Dictionary Question
What do the characters in angle brackets signify?
Examples:
http://www.zdic.net/z/15/xs/4E48.htm
"〈后缀〉" "〈助〉"
http://www.zdic.net/z/16/xs/54C1.htm
"〈形〉" "〈名〉" "〈动〉"
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Curious about different ways of swearing in Mandarin
I'm not sure if this is considered an appropriate conversation or question but I've had conversations with Cantonese speakers before who've mentioned that it's so easy to swear in Cantonese, but there ...
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when is the suffix 边/面 required?
I have learnt location words such as 上/下/前/后etc. and understand they can modify a noun such as -桌子上，宿舍前 . I also know the suffix 边 or 面 can be added (doesn't really change the meaning). When do i need ...
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'To revise for an exam' idiom
In English, its natural to say the following sentence:
'I will revise for my exam.'
In the above case, it could be argued that the word 'for' is being used as an idiom since you are revising for ...
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1answer
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Identify Mandarin word - “kiāng”
Have seen this word in video comments and cannot find a reference for it anywhere??
Some details:
Always rendered in zhuyin (ㄎㄧㄤ) even in otherwise ideographic text
Doesn't appear to be a native ...
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1answer
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Which is better, 其他所有 or 所有其他？
其他所有 or 所有其他，which word order is more natural and ”合乎中文的习惯” ？
For example, as in 其他所有内容 or 所有其他内容， 其他所有人 or 所有其他人， etc.
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How do I use 着呢 correctly?
So 着呢, from the book I am currently studying (汉语教程) says it uses it at the end of a sentence to express “very”. However, my teacher said this is incorrect and said 着呢 is used to express something is ...
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4answers
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What is 了 doing in the sentence 我出发了?
Consider the sentence
我出发了。
with the translation
I'm leaving.
This was given to me in a list of examples demonstrating the putting 了 after a verb expresses a completed action (perfect aspect, I ...
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Difference between 很 and 挺
As far as I know, both means “very”. I would like to know if there are any further differences that exist between them
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Using phrase 打不死
I recently encountered 打不死 as the title of a column in a US Chinese language newspaper. Asking my Chinese language teacher, she gave the literal translation of "beaten but not dead", meaning something ...
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3answers
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Difference between 厉害 and 利害
I see they have the same pronunciation but does they bear any differences. It seems like 利害 can be pronounced lìhài or lìhai while 厉害 can only be pronounced lìhai.
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Why 你在笑什么？, why not 你笑在什么？
In English, you say
What are you laughing at?
I'm laughing at this situation.
Here, the preposition "at" refers to "this situation" and "what", respectively. In German it's more clear, since the ...
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The difference between 规范，规则，规章，规矩，规定，规律
After seeing in class these words (规定，规律，规范，规矩，规章）, I’m in trouble to recognize the difference between them. I’m aware that some are used for country law, some for rules in society etc but I need a ...
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What's the difference between 逼, 迫, and 逼迫? Do they all carry the same connotation of “to force?”
1) 逼, 迫, and 逼迫 all seem to mean "to force." Is there a difference?
2) If there's a difference, when should you use each one?
3) Which is the most common to use in speaking and writing?
4) Is there ...
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3answers
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Difference between 必 and 一定
Both words kinda mean “must, necessarily, certainly”. Can someone explain the differences between the two?
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Proper Way to Address a President in a Formal Letter
I am supposed to write a formal letter in Chinese addressing a president concerning the rise of hunger in the country. I am not sure how to address someone in the said position but I have knowledge ...
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2answers
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Is 受得了 the Mandarin equivalent of 頂得住 in Cantonese?
Is 受得了 the Mandarin equivalent of 頂得住 (cannot stand this) in Cantonese?
If not, what is?
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2answers
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Understanding how to use 以後
This grammar article says 以後 must modify some time, action, or event.
However, one of the examples is: 以后再也不来这里吃饭了，又贵又难吃.
1) In the above example, 以後 starts the sentence and modifies nothing. Why is ...
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Why is 就 needed in 美國國務院稱華府仍未就卡舒吉案下定論? If it's needed, shouldn't it precede 仍未?
This news article contains the following title: 美國國務院稱華府仍未就卡舒吉案下定論
1) Why is the 就 needed? If it's needed, shouldn't it precede 仍未?
2) Is 仍 the literary version of 還？ In other words, if you were to ...
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Asking close friends what they like as souvenirs/gifts
I want to ask close friends (both in Cantonese and Mandarin) what they'd like for souvenirs.
“What/do you like anything from (Japan)?”
How do I say this in both languages?
Thanks
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2answers
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How do non-Mandarin speakers type Standard Chinese Writing System?
As far as I know, people in Hong Kong speak Cantonese but use Mandarin when writing official documents or homework using Mandarin. 粤语白话字 is not allowed in such cases.
How does this work? Does this ...
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Grammar for 看來妳忘了發一個訊息。還是妳有用一些避忌的說話所以中國政府阻擋的
This message was not understood by a friend:
看來妳忘了發一個訊息。還是妳有用一些避忌的說話所以中國政府阻擋的。
The goal was to say this:
It looks like you forgot to send a message. Or else you used some taboo words blocked by the ...
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1answer
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Best translation for “confused”: 迷惑，困惑，弄混，搞亂，搞混？
This page lists multiple entries for confused:
https://www.yellowbridge.com/chinese/dictionary.php
What's the best translation for confused in these contexts:
1) English: "What you just said ...
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2answers
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Differences in “surprise” translations: 驚奇, 吃驚, 驚喜
This page lists multiple entries for surprise:
https://www.yellowbridge.com/chinese/dictionary.php
1) What's the difference among 驚奇, 吃驚, and 驚喜?
2) Are the meaning and uses the same for Cantonese?
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Mandarin equivalent of 同 when the meaning is “for, on behalf of”
As the dictionary entry below lists, 同 in Cantonese means for, on behalf of.
http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/characters/215/
In Cantonese, you might say something like this (slightly ...
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Do you change your voice when you're surprised, unsure etc. in Mandarin?
In English you sometimes pronounce words in very different pitches/tones to express your emotions.
For example when you're offended, surprised or when being sarcastic.
Depending on the situation you ...
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1answer
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How to express psychological insecurity (not physical insecurity)?
These two dictionaries seem to offer translations for insecurity that capture the physical sort, not the psychological sort (i.e., insecurity about your looks, weight, smarts, etc.).
http://www....
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3answers
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Appearance should be 現象, 跡象, or 表面？
This dictionary page lists many options for appearance: http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/scripts/wordsearch.php?level=0
現象, 跡象, and 表面 all seem like good candidates.
1) Which one is the most common ...
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2answers
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Difference between 偏見，偏私，and 偏心？
偏見，偏私，and 偏心 all seem to mean biased in some form or another.
Is there a difference among the three, or are they interchangeable?
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從上次我們去那個咖啡店這次是第一次去了: This is the first time at the coffee shop since the last time we went?
Trying to translate This is the first time at the coffee shop since the last time we went produced these two sentences, which feel incorrect for Chinese grammar.
從上次我們去那個咖啡店這次是第一次去了
從上次我們去那個咖啡店，...
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1answer
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Single-worded verbs being repeated when use in a sentence
So in Mandarin there are verbs like 数 means count and 试 means try but I usually them being doubled when use in a sentence (I.e: 请数数 = Please count). Can somebody explains for me?
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The use of 部 as a classifier in Mandarin
So I’ve read that 部 is used for machines, films and literature. So does that mean I can use 部 for words like 书，词典, etc even though they usually go with 本？
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Understanding 了: difference between 她上个月去了北京 and 上个月我去台湾了?
This grammar page tries to explain when to use 了 after a verb and when to use 了 after an object.
It claims when the time is specified, it's acceptable to use 了 after a verb and before the object as ...
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1answer
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Could 看不起 work as the Mandarin equivalent of 睇唔起?
This dictionary entry says the Mandarin equivalent of Cantonese's 睇唔起 is 瞧不起.
http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/15825/
Some Mandarin speakers seem to use 看不起.
Is 看不起 a valid way of ...
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1answer
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Difference between 儘量 and 盡量?
Both 儘量 and 盡量 seem to mean, "try your best," according to these dictionary entries:
https://www.yellowbridge.com/chinese/sentsearch.php?word=%E7%9B%A1%E9%87%8F
https://www.yellowbridge.com/chinese/...
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2answers
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Is 看怎麼理解? a generalized expression for “it depends” in Mandarin? How about for Cantonese?
A movie used the phrase 看怎麼理解 to mean, "it depends."
The context was character A asking character B if something is good or bad. Character B responded with 看怎麼理解.
1) Is 看怎麼理解 a generalized phrase ...
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3answers
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Difference between 學識 and 知識？
According to these dictionary links, both 學識 and 知識 mean knowledge.
http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/6078/
http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/6078/
1) What's the ...
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Mandarin vs. Cantonese: 令 vs 讓 for making something happen
In Cantonese, it's common to hear someone say 令 when referring to making something happen.
Example: 妳咁做令我開心 (You make me happy when you do this.)
Some friends claimed Mandarin doesn't use 令 this way ...
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0answers
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我 or 我的 to show possession? [duplicate]
你们好，
In several language learning books for Chinese, I have seen 我 （wǒ）used rather than to mean “I” to mean “my.” Check the following example:
这是我爱人。
Literally: this be I love person.
Meaning: This ...
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3answers
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“Baby” vs “宝贝” - coincidence?
I am interested if the phonetic similarity between the English "baby" and the Chinese "宝贝" (baobei) is purely coincidental.
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Why is there such a difference between “first name” and “last name”?
I'm learning how to translate "What's your last/first name?" with Duolingo and Google Translate. Both apps indicate that the correct translations are
你的姓是什么?
and
你叫什么名字
There are many differences ...
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1answer
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Which is the more polite way to ask for permission: 能 or 可以?
According to this site, both 能 and 可以 can be used to politely ask for permission.
1) Which is considered more polite?
2) Which is more formal?
3) Is it the same for Cantonese?
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2answers
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Would 反駁 be the Mandarin equivalent to 駁嘴?
駁嘴 in Cantonese means to "answer back" or "argue" often in a disrespectful way. URL: http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/16019/
Would 反駁 be the Mandarin equivalent to 駁嘴?
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2answers
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Safe to always use 之後 instead of 以後, and 之前 instead of 以前?
According to this grammar page, it appears like 之後 can always replace 以後, whereas 以後 cannot always replace 之後. However, these grammar pages are not always reliable.
1) For simplicity, is it safe to ...
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1answer
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Do Mandarin people use 補鑊 as slang to represent fence-mending or damage control?
Cantonese people often use 補鑊 to mean fence-mending or damage control.
Do Mandarin people use this phrase as well? If not, what phrase would be the Mandarin equivalent?
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2answers
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Would 怎麼知道 or 怎麼知 be the right Mandarin equivalent to the Cantonese phrase 點知?
Would 怎麼知道 or 怎麼知 be the right Mandarin equivalent to the Cantonese phrase 點知?
If not, what would be the right equivalent?
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2answers
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Translation of 追番
What would 追番" translate to? It was displayed next to a heart icon on bilibili. From consulting a dictionary I believe hui in this context is pursue and fan is a measure word? I assume it means ...
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1answer
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Proper grammar: 生活 中 不是 缺少 美 ，而是 缺少 发现的?
This grammar page lists the following example:
生活 中 不是 缺少 美 ，而是 缺少 发现 美 的 眼睛 。
Shēnghuó zhōng bù shì quēshǎo měi, ér shì quēshǎo fāxiàn měi de
yǎnjing.
Would it be correct grammar to omit ...
