Questions tagged [meaning]
Questions concerned comprehension and understanding the finer aspects of individual words or phrases, with or without a context in which they are expressed.
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74 views
What do Chinese write on a condolence card?
I was wondering what Chinese people would write when they write a condolence card. Is it just a translation from the English or are there specific sentences?
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2answers
57 views
忍耐 vs 忍受 usage/difference
Based on the dictionary, 忍耐 = endure, bear with, restraint oneself while 忍受 = bear, endure. But when I look at sample sentences, the usage of both words sort of overlap each other. So how do I use ...
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2answers
39 views
之后 vs 过后 usage & differences
Based on the dictionary, 之后 = after, afterwards while 过后 = afterwards, after. I wanted to find the difference in usage between those two words, so I analysed some sample sentences. I feel like 过后 is ...
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3answers
60 views
Word in Mandarin that is often used that sounds like “jigga”?
I saw this Very frequently used word in Mandarin that sounds like "nica" or "nigah" question, but I often hear another word in Chinese Mandarin that sounds like "jigga." It seems ...
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2answers
48 views
倔强 vs 固执 vs 顽固 usage
The dictionary says that 倔强 = stubborn, 固执 = stubborn, 顽固 =obstinate, stubborn. I looked up some sample sentences and felt like 倔强 and 固执 are synonyms. So are 倔强 and 固执 synonyms or do they have some ...
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0answers
30 views
What does this seal mean? Can it be the seal of a Tang Emperor? It is over 2" square
This is from a large Chinese Scroll. I will post some images of the Other Imperial Seals found on this Scroll. I will try to post some photographs of the Seals that I have not identified.
Thanks ...
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1answer
41 views
A song called “Lu Hua”
I recently heard a live performance of an amazing song by a Chinese woman in the United States. She said the title of the song is "Lu Hua", and I was able to find a version on YouTube:
https://www....
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3answers
87 views
What does 有多 mean?
Today, while scrolling through my Instagram feed, I found this saying :
你不需要有多完美，也可以做得很好。
I wonder what 有多 means. I tried to look for its meaning on the dictionary but it's not listed as a single ...
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2answers
65 views
脑袋 vs 脑子 vs 头脑 vs 脑筋
Based on the dictionary, I get the meaning that all 4 words mean brain, mind, head. So what's the difference between each of the words? And what is the usage of each word? It will be really helpful if ...
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5answers
156 views
What's the difference between 兵器 and 武器?
According to the dictionary, 兵器 = weapons, weaponry while 武器 = weapons, arms. It sounds like they are synonyms to me so I was wondering if those two words are synonyms or do they have some difference ...
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2answers
55 views
The word for clean (verb)
I usually see adjectives like 干净 and 清洁 for clean but I couldn't find a general verb for clean in Chinese. Let's say I want to say. "please clean your room before you leave". What's the right clean(...
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1answer
47 views
Trying to figure out what says here and what this artifact is
I'm not sure if this language is Chinese or Japanese, pardon my ignorance, but I'm trying to figure out what it says here and what this artifact is.
Thanks in advance!
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3answers
73 views
大半 vs 多数 usages
So far I know that 大半 = most, most likely while 多数 = most, majority. I've heard people say "我多数会来". And this sort of confused me since I thought 大半 is the word that means most likely instead of 多数. ...
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2answers
48 views
What is the right translation for “replacement class”?
I wanted to say the sentence "I have a replacement class this Saturday". I translated "replacement class" in Google translate and got 替换课程. But when I typed the full sentence on Google translate it is ...
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1answer
75 views
Does 跟 and 和 sounds the same meaning in this case?
Does 跟 and 和 sounds the same meaning in this case ?
我今天跟妈妈去买菜
我今天和妈妈去买菜
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5answers
71 views
躲 vs 藏 usage in terms of objects and timing
I just want to confirm if my research on the usage is correct or not for these two words. So based on my research so far, 躲 means hide (people) while 藏 means hide (objects). The thing I'm not sure ...
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1answer
20 views
Meaning of 重剑 aside from the fencing sword epee
The main translation of 重剑 is epee, which is a fencing sword. However, in a novel, I saw the term used in a fighting scene. It was also described to be placed on the character's back. Since the two ...
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2answers
397 views
What does 白沾 mean here?
In Liang Qichao‘s 新民說 there is the chapter 公德，wherein he cauterizes the ostensible tendency of the Chinese to disregard collective virtue (公德) and only cultivate personal virtue (私德).
那些只顾自己闷头做好人的人，...
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3answers
149 views
The meaning of “射” and “矮”?
The body (身) is only one inch (寸), which should mean "矮".
Throwing (委) the arrow (矢), which should mean "射".
What is wrong here?
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7answers
138 views
敌人 vs 冤家 difference
All the time, I've only heard of 敌人 = enemy, in TV shows and dramas. Yesterday I saw the word 冤家 in a folk song which apparently also means enemy in the dictionary. So I was wondering what's the ...
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1answer
46 views
Translation for “what a coincidence”
What's the right way to say "what a coincidence" when I see a friend? Like for example if I see a friend at a shopping mall by coincidence do I say "真巧呀" or "真巧合呀"? Or is there any better way to ...
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1answer
126 views
“I didn't buy that” without 了
Is 了 ever/sometimes/never omitted for past subjunctive? What if not subjunctive; i.e., positively something did happen.
wohok.com gives for 没 two example sentences
我没买这个
我没有买这个
and translates both ...
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1answer
63 views
What is the taboo against “fox”?
On the Wiki page for 自贡话民俗特色词汇列表 there's an entry that says:
毛狗：狐狸(民间因犯忌讳而改称)。
What is the taboo against 狐狸 (fox) though?
Is there some relation to 狸 being a homophone with 利?
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2answers
85 views
Meaning of the characters she tatooed on her back (it was supposed to be her name)
My friend had a bit a of a "Youth attack" when she was 19 and she, supposedly, tatooed her name on her. Now she kinda regrets this tatoo and doesn´t even knows what it means.
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4answers
132 views
Does 飛機 mean airplane, or aircraft?
Airplanes are a type of aircraft (helicopters [直升機], hot air balloons [熱氣球] are also aircraft).
飛機 is a very common Chinese word, but what does it mean?
Does 飛機 mean "airplane"? If no, what is "...
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3answers
125 views
How should you start a letter in Chinese?
How should you start a letter in Chinese? More specifically, what's the difference between starters such as 尊敬的，亲爱的，and 敬爱的, and in which cases should you use which one?
写信的时候，“尊敬的”、”亲爱的“、与“敬爱的” ...
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2answers
64 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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1answer
48 views
Usage of 长短 vs 长度
Based in the dictionary, 长短 = length and 长度 = length. What is the usage or difference between the two words?
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2answers
103 views
Why does 葛藤(갈등) mean 'conflict' or 'troubles'?
I am learning Korean, and my dictionary gives an English meaning for 葛藤(갈등) as 'conflict' or 'troubles'. Why do these characters combine do give this meaning? Both characters seem to mean some kind of ...
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2answers
103 views
How much is 三百文钱 today?
I'm going over this sentence here:
剃头匠不愿招惹麻烦，只得赔偿三百文钱。
I'm curious to know how much 三百文钱 would be worth today.
汉语大辞典 has an entry for 文钱 but all it says is:
钱。因钱有文字，故称。
How much was 300 wen ...
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3answers
130 views
Whats the difference between 抛弃，放弃，舍弃, 丢弃？
I know they all mean to give up, or abandon but what would be the different meanings and context these words are used in?
Thanks!
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3answers
41 views
Whats the difference between 毁灭，销毁，和烧毁？
I know they all mean to Destroy to some extent, but was told 烧毁 is specifically to use fire. What are the different contexts or situations you would use them in?
Thanks!
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3answers
83 views
停止 vs. 停住 usage/difference?
I am quite confused with the usage of both words as the some of the meaning is overlapping based in English translations. The dictionary shows that 停止 = stop, cease, halt while for 停住 = stop, halt. So ...
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3answers
133 views
Does 丢 mean “discard” as well as “throw” and “lose”?
On a Chinese teaching site they are translating 丢 as "throw away" but Pleco, English Wiktionary, and Google Translate do not include "throw away" as a translation of 丢 or include 丢 as a translation ...
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1answer
61 views
也许 vs 或许 vs 可能 usage
I checked the meaning for all 3 words and it appears that:
也许 = maybe, perhaps, probably /
或许 = maybe, perhaps, probably"/
可能 = possibly, possible, maybe, perhaps.
It seems to me that 也许 and 或许 have ...
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2answers
71 views
演唱会 vs 音乐会 difference
Based on the dictionary, it seems that both 演唱会 & 音乐会 means concert. I did further research and read somewhere that 演唱会 = concert (outdoor & indoor) with many ppl and lots of shouting and ...
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2answers
98 views
In “我给他打败了”, who defeated whom?
Does "我给他打败了" mean "I defeated him" or "I was defeated by him"?
It seems that “我给他骗了” means "I was cheated by him", but "我给他送走了" means "I send him away". In general, if we say "我给他……（动词）了", how to ...
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2answers
119 views
Difference between 马上，立刻，直接
What's the difference between 马上、立刻 and 直接? How do I use each word and in what situation is each word used?
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3answers
65 views
Meaning of 惹人嫌?
The full sentence is 唇上 唇下 留着 不长不短 但 总之 很 惹人嫌 的 髭须。 Which I've translated as 'His facial hair was not short or long, but overall the beard was suspicious. Is 'suspicious' a good ...
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3answers
50 views
Difference between 经常 and 时常?
When do I use 经常 and 时常? Can they be used interchangeably? If there is difference between the two words, what situation do I use each of them?
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2answers
418 views
我可不觉得 - agree or disagree?
I worked with dialogue of two persons:
A: 外边下雨. 挺有意思.
B: 我可不觉得. 上个星期我穿了新衣服出门, 忽然倾盆大雨. 我的衣服报废了.
可不 - vocabulary translation gives "1) that's just the way it is. 2) exactly".
But here Person B is ...
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0answers
39 views
Difference between 一共 and 总共 [duplicate]
The English meaning for 一共 and 总共 is "altogether, in total". Is there any difference in usage of both words? If there is difference, what situation must I use 一共 and when do I use 总共?
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2answers
83 views
Difference between 图画 and 绘画
The dictionary defines both 图画 and 绘画 as drawing & painting. Can both words be used interchangeably? Is there any difference in the words in terms of usage?
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1answer
129 views
What is the difference between 可是, 但是, 但, 而, 不过, and 然而?
What is the difference between 可是, 但是, 但, 而, 不过, and 然而?
All of these mean "but" and I can't find any information in my dictionary on what differentiates them.
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2answers
80 views
Meaning of “当鬼”
I really like this music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2311FZWoFQ
And not long before the beginning it says
"每个人都想当鬼"
The subtitle says it means "Everyone wants to give orders." But I don't ...
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4answers
109 views
How to understand “有理数贯逼近实数”？
In this article, the phrase “有理数贯逼近实数” is used (see the second last paragraph). How to understand this phrase?
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2answers
133 views
“学大汉，武立国”? Is it not “国立武汉大学”？
What is the point of "learning from the Grand Han Dynasty and Establishing the Nation by Military"?
2
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2answers
68 views
What is the difference between 真确 and 真实?
Is 真确 and 真实 used in different situations? Do provide some examples on their usage if possible. Thanks!
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1answer
49 views
What does it mean to be scratched or scraped?
I tried to translate these sentences from a convo and got a weird translation.
淺藍不戰爭會被瓜分的.
Light blue will not be divided by war.
綠國刮分結束.
The green country scrapes the end.
再來是淺藍.
Again, light ...
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1answer
101 views
I have a tattoo, i wish to find the meaning
What is the meaning of these letters, and is it somehow connected to eachother?
