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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How to say job offer in Mandarin/Cantonese?
Google Translate says job offer is 工作機會.
This doesn't feel right.
How do you say job offer in Cantonese and Mandarin?
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1answer
63 views
Is referring to Mandarin as just “Chinese” problematic?
I am living in Taiwan learning Mandarin Chinese (with traditional characters). When speaking in English I try to refer to the language as Mandarin both for clarity, and because I imagine people who ...
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1answer
55 views
Is there any study on the relative difficulty of native Chinese speakers with different dialects learning another dialect?
I wonder if there is any research conducted in Chine, on the relative difficulty of Chinese speakers learning different dialects. I'm looking for something like the research by the Foreign Service ...
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2answers
1k views
What is the idiomatic way to say “clothing fits”?
There are various ways to express the verb "fit" in Mandarin, such as 適合，配合，對 and so on. I'm not sure which one to use when expressing sentences like:
The clothes no longer fit me.
I need clothes ...
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2answers
59 views
Error in Book? Need help
I was reading Assimil Chinese with Ease and came across this.
你见过他？
Since this is a question, is 吗 necessary for the question? Perhaps an error? Or can you omit 吗？
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2answers
102 views
What derogatory terms are there for Chinese people?
What derogatory terms are there for Chinese people in Mandarin?
In particular, I am looking for derogatory terms that apply to any person of Chinese ancestry regardless of birthplace, nationality, ...
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2answers
78 views
Differences between 访问，面试 and 采访
All 3 words seem to mean to interview, interview but what are the differences between them?
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3answers
146 views
Differences between 条 and 根
Both of these two words 条 and 根 in the dictionary are said to be measure words for long and thin objects. What are the differences between them?
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1answer
408 views
What 蛋 is referring to in “完蛋了”
完蛋了 means: Done for; ruined; finished; goose is cooked. It is the Mandarin counterpart of a Cantonese term "玩完" (game over)
I am curious about what 蛋 is referring to. Without any reference, I can ...
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1answer
37 views
Touch: difference between 碰，碰觸，觸碰, and 觸
There appear to be multiple ways to say touch according to YellowBridge.
1) Is there a difference between 碰，碰觸，觸碰, and 觸, or are they interchangeable?
2) In Cantonese, 點 seems to be the right way to ...
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3answers
65 views
Which is used more often, 日没 and 日落
Both 日没 and 日落 express sunset but which one is often more widely used?
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2answers
498 views
Difference between 小吃 and 零食
Both of these words in the dictionary have themselves defined as “snack” but what are the differences between these 2 words?
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1answer
60 views
What is this proverb?
I met someone who told me a proverb which in English read as follows:
Wake up late and you lose the morning. Wake up early and you lose the
whole day.
She repeated it in Mandarin very quickly ...
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2answers
64 views
How can I ask for extra ingredients in a dish?
How can I ask for more of an ingredient in a dish? like add extra cheese, extra meat, etc. Not that it matters but I specifically want to know this for 手抓餅.
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1answer
72 views
Differences between 摔，落 and 掉
The 3 words all have a meaning of fall but what are the differences between the 3 of them?
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0answers
31 views
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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2answers
42 views
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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1answer
81 views
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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2answers
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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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2answers
91 views
'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 ...
5
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1answer
93 views
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
220 views
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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2answers
283 views
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
152 views
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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5answers
159 views
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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4answers
226 views
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
161 views
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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2answers
776 views
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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2answers
124 views
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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1answer
68 views
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
134 views
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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2answers
44 views
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
55 views
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
340 views
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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2answers
57 views
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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2answers
101 views
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
360 views
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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1answer
51 views
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
77 views
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
78 views
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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1answer
77 views
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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2answers
97 views
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
77 views
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
67 views
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
75 views
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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2answers
70 views
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
32 views
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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2answers
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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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2answers
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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 ...
