Questions tagged [meaning]
Questions about understanding the meaning of words, phrases, etc. For in-context meaning, use [meaning-in-context].
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In this Chinese sentence, how do I read the 3 characters (numbered 4, 17, and 19) highlighted in red? [closed]
体育館を一日二十四時間、週七日営業に保つ。
There are 19 characters in this Chinese sentence. I can read 16 of them easily, but I have trouble reading the other 3 characters (#4, #17, and #19). Can anyone tell me how to ...
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Need help for translating old signs
Dear all, I recently bought this painting and I would be keen to understand the meaning of the painted signs. Can anyone please help? Thanks a lot.
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What is the origin of 找碴?
First a little about me and why I have this question. I'm a non-native speaker of the Chinese language. Although I can fluently speak Chinese, I sometimes don't get the slang/common verbal language ...
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Meaning of 輕巧 in 在小鐘如鈴般輕巧的聲響中，我想著我的兒子
在小鐘如鈴般輕巧的聲響中，我想著我的兒子
This sentence sets up the ambience of the narrator thinking about their son. In other words 在小鐘如鈴般輕巧的聲響中 has a literary quality to it. The meaning is roughly the sounds of a small ...
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What is the subject and meaning of these scrolls from a former client?
These are photos of two framed scrolls given to me several years ago by a client in gratitude for my services.
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Meaning of 饒 in 這篇文章饒富情味。
這篇文章饒富情味。
Apparently according to online dictionaries, 饒富 is an adjective for abundance/richness etc.
My question is specifically what does 饒 mean? 富 I understand. Does 饒 describe 富 as in "饒(...
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the difference between two expressions 一直对自己坚持 and 一直坚持自己
I want to know what is the difference between "一直对自己坚持" and "一直坚持自己"
and are both of them correct in terms of grammar?
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Definition of the phrase 寬幽
我住的房子面對一條寬幽大街。
I've never seen this phrase before, but according to online dictionaries:
寬 = wide
幽 = deep in an emotional/spiritual sense
So I can understand the street is physically wide. But 幽 here ...
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What does 北渐 mean?
经历夏商至西周和春秋战国时代，随着楚人势力的北渐，淮河流域不仅是楚人与中原诸侯争夺的前沿，同时也是中原文化与楚文化交流、碰撞、融合的黄金地带。（Source）
It seems to mean "expanded northward," but can 渐 mean "expand"?
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The definition of 迎空飛來 as well as its position relative to the narrator
我們在野外散步時，有一隻鳥迎空飛來。
The general meaning of this sentence is whilst we were walking in the outdoors, a bird flew towards us.
My question is 迎 means "to face" or "to move towards". So ...
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How does 我感到最大的成就就是影响了一代又一代人对自己的看法 not imply 自己影响了别人?
From 《新汉语水平考试HSK（六级）攻略：听力》, the following is part of an interview (it's the 5th interview of 听力第02部分2; OCR by Yandex):
男：在美容界用“泰斗”这个词形容您也不为过，在美容界这么多年，您觉得最大的成就是什么？
女：我感到最大的成就就是影响了一代又一代人对自己的看法，自己是可以改变的。...
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Meaning of 勸諭, especially 諭
勸諭 generally means to persuade/educate? Am I right here?
I don't understand what 諭 means exactly. Also, what is the difference between 諭 and 喻? 比喻 means metaphor, which I fully understand.
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Meaning of 這個故事敘述一個自絕於人群之外的孤獨男人。
這個故事敘述一個自絕於人群之外的孤獨男人。
自絕 = 自行斷絕 = Voluntarily cutting off all contact
於人群 = With crowds/other people
之外 = beyond?
So it means a lonely man cutting off all contact with others, but what does 之外 mean ...
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Why is 阿卡西 written above 虚空 in the Genshin Impact sentence 因为在「虚空」之中，目前还没有你们的信息?
The following is a sentence from the game Genshin Impact (原神 in Chinese); you can watch the interaction at Douyin.
因为在「虚空」之中，目前还没有你们的信息。
Above 虚空 is written 阿卡西.
(Sorry it's hard to get a clear ...
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Pure emphasis use of 那個?
What is the exact function of "那個" here?
A: 我是電信局的。
B: 喔，您是不是那個童先生派的？
A: I'm from the Telephone Company.
B: Oh, did (that) Mr. Tong send you?
I do not find such usage listed on
https://en....
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What is the origin of the word 交通? How did it originally mean "communications" and how did it evolve to mean "transportation"?
In a Technical Communications course in university, we learned that 交通 originally meant "communications", which is why the 交通银行 is called the Bank of Communications in English, not the Bank ...
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Meaning of 為時已晚
為時已晚 means it's too late.
時已晚 literally means the time is late or it's too late.
My question is what does 為 mean here? It seems excessive and unnecessary.
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What does 閣 mean in "愛情你比我想的閣較偉大"?
I'm confused what 閣 means in the song title "愛情你比我想的閣較偉大" by the band 茄子蛋. When I look it up in a dictionary, I get things like "pavilion" or "chamber", which don't make ...
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Meaning of 靈活運用詩文名句，增添文采。
靈活運用詩文名句，增添文采。
From the dictionary, 文采 means:
Words/sentence/phrase
Writing talent
Common sense tells me it's 2, but I'm not sure because by 1 it could also mean increasing word count. Thanks for ...
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What are these Chinese characters on this metal tape measure?
I found a metal measuring tape that has lots of Chinese characters on its bottom side:
The other side has no Chinese characters:
Product label:
What is the meaning and purpose of all those Chinese ...
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Meaning of 但願今生能多交朋友，共此有情天地。
但願今生能多交朋友，共此有情天地。
I'm guessing this sentence means something like "Hope in this life to make more friends, together have feeling through the earth and sky".
As you can see its a very ...
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Translation of organic compound in classical Chinese
I have a question of "organic compound 有機化合物". Here I quote the first sentence from https://zh-classical.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9C%89%E6%A9%9F%E5%8C%96%E5%90%88%E7%89%A9.
有機化合物，略作有機物，一譯官品，...
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Meaning of 遊歷月餘? Does it mean a long and/or short trip?
I am reading this sentence: 他有多次日本自駕旅遊的經驗、去年也去了東歐四國遊歷月餘
What does 遊歷月餘 mean? Is it chengyu? Thanks.
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What's the difference between 伤心 and 难过？
What's the difference between 伤心 and 难过？
I know that both mean "sad", but is there any subtle difference?
Thanks!
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Does 发动机 mean "engine"?
我想了解“发动机”这个词的意思。我问了一些中国人，他们都说的不同。
发动机是什么？
汽车（汽油的或柴油的）有发动机吗？
电动车有发动机吗？
飞机有发动机吗？
火车（电动的）有发动机吗？
旧的火车（需要开水的）有发动机吗？
原子潜艇有发动机吗？
一些人说，电动车没有发动机，而有电机。对不对？
一个人说，发动机是内燃机的一种，对吗？这么着，内燃机有什么特点？
我觉得，发动机摄入各种能源（燃烧、电、...
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Repetitive meaning of 柵欄
木柵 = Wooden Fence
欄 = Fence
柵欄 = Fence Fence
So obviously 柵欄 means fence, but if you break it down word by word it's fence fence, which makes no sense to me.
Another example I can think of is 繩索, ...
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Meaning of 春天一到，花園裡綠意盎然
春天一到，花園裡綠意盎然
In general, this sentence means when spring comes, the garden is vigorous/blossoming with greenery or something like that.
My question is what does 意 mean? I've looked online and some ...
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The meaning of "奪耳" in 《說文解字》
When I looked up the meaning of the character "卅" (𠦃) in 《說文解字註》（段註本）, the text was as follows, as shown in the picture: "
Translate: 我在《说文解字注》（段注本）中查「卅」（古作「𠦃」）一字时，其解释如下如图：
𠦃，三十幷也。...
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What is the meaning of "复" in "聊复尔耳"?
The meaning of "聊复尔耳" is
聊复尔耳：姑且如此罢了。语出《晋书・卷四九・阮籍传》：「北阮富，南阮贫。七月七日，北阮盛晒衣服，皆锦绮粲目。咸以竿挂大布犊鼻于庭，人或怪之，答曰：『未能免俗，聊复尔耳！』」
聊：姑且，勉强，凑凑和和。
尔：如此、这样。
耳：文言助词，而已，罢了。
The meaning of this Chengyu is to ...
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What are these courtesy names and given names? - confusion in translation
This question may be a little long, but please bear with me.
Over on the Genealogy & Family History stack, here on StackExchange, I asked the question Does this Chinese gravestone belong to James ...
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變賣 vs. 賣 What is the difference?
我們回家後變賣客廳的沙發。
我們回家後賣客廳的沙發。
Both means to sell. I understand 2, and it looks correct and sufficient. I don't understand 1. In essence what is 變 doing there. Thank you.
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What's the meaning of the last part of this passage?
在 《影》 的写意镜头里，中国文化符号是晕染竹林烟雨，是八卦太极阴阳，其中的极致反差对比与冷凝窒息感，将片中角色的情感外化与人物的情绪内收双线合一.
I don't understand the meaning of "其中的极致反差对比与冷凝窒息感，将片中角色的情感外化与人物的情绪内收双线合一". Could somebody please explain?
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How to literally translate this: 但汉字叔叔每天的日程却安排得很满
中国，60多岁已经是退休的年纪了。但汉字叔叔每天的日程却安排得很满。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 21. How to literally translate this: 但汉字叔叔每天的日程却安排得很满?
I have reached that point:
但(but)汉字叔叔(Chinese ...
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Meaning of 相 in 讓僑胞擁有與國內民眾相類似之教育資源
讓僑胞擁有與國內民眾相類似之教育資源
What does 相 mean? Is this a typo? The sentence without it 讓僑胞擁有與國內民眾類似之教育資源 seems perfectly fine.
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How to literally translate this: 包括家人在内的任何人他都一律不见?
在这一周的时间里，他会把自己关在一所房子里，包括家人在内的任何人他都一律不见，使自己完全不受日常工作的打扰。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, segment 26.
How to literally translate this: 包括家人在内的任何人他都一律不见?
包括(including)家人(family)在内的(...
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What is the meaning of 多岁 in 在中国，60多岁已经是退休的年纪了?
在中国，60多岁已经是退休的年纪了, ...
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 21.
What is the meaning of 多岁? Maybe it is 年代, like "s" in English? 60多岁 = in 60s? If so, what is the difference ...
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What is the meaning and pronunciation of 为 in 他也因此被网友亲切地称呼为 “汉字叔叔”?
2011年，有人把他的故事放到微博上，引起了广泛关注，他也因此被网友亲切地称呼为 “汉字叔叔”。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 21. What is the meaning of 为? Baidu translate says that here it is pronounced wei2, while Google ...
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How to literally translate this: 不再像他最初那样学得那么痛苦?
2002年元旦，战胜疾病的他决定把自己创办的网站公开，让更多喜欢中文的人在学习汉字时，不再像他最初那样学得那么痛苦。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 21. I need your help for the literal translation of this: 不再像他最初那样学得那么痛苦。
不再(?)像(?)他(...
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What is the meaning of 则身价大涨 in 一些印刷精美、有特色的作品则身价大涨，成了收藏品?
然而，这种影响了数代人的小人书，如今只能在北京的潘家园、护国寺等地的旧书摊上找到，一些印刷精美、有特色的作品则身价大涨，成了收藏品，甚至进了博物馆。小人书和小人书摊已成为历史的记忆。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 20. What is the meaning of 则身价大涨?
则 is a classifier?
...
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How to literally translate this: 我每天放学回家总要经过这家书摊，都要进去看看?
印象中似乎没有什么押金，全凭信用。我每天放学回家总要经过这家书摊，都要进去看看。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 20. I need your help for literally translating this:
我(I)每天(every day)放学(finishing school)回家(returning ...
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What is the meaning of 仅仅 in 仅仅复印、整理和把这些资料输入电脑就用了8年?
就这样，一部部古汉字经典进入他的资料库，仅仅复印、整理和把这些资料输入电脑就用了8年。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 21. What is the meaning of 仅仅? If it means just or only (only 8 years or just 8 years), wouldn't it ...
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What is the meaning of 一部部 in 一部部古汉字经典进入他的资料库? [duplicate]
就这样，一部部古汉字经典进入他的资料库...
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 21. What is the meaning of 一部部? 一部 means some part and 部 is just a classifier?
就这样(so or such)，一部部(?)古汉字(ancient Chinese ...
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How to use 'awkward' as an adjective in Chinese
I was just wondering how the word 'awkward' would translate to Chinese in the context of a photo. How could you say 'I look awkward in this photo', meaning a bit unsure of how to look in the photo; ...
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Meaning of “想要” as opposed to “想” and “要”
I have seen the words “要”，“想”，and “想要” all being used in similar contexts and I understand that they all mean 'to want/need' something. If I understood correctly, “要” is more frequently used for ...
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阿娜这次去丽江找的那个导游怎么样? Why in this sentence is 找 not 找到
HSK4 课文20 第三部分
There is a text question like this 阿娜这次去丽江找的那个导游怎么样? Can someone explain to me why there is 找 not 找到。找 means to seek, not to find, right? There is no mention of searching in the text, ...
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Meaning of 透過閱讀論語，涵養為學與處事的良好態度
透過閱讀論語，涵養為學與處事的良好態度。
What does 涵養 mean? I found two definitions:
To cultivate (verb)
Good morals (noun)
為學 means knowledge, so if (1), then it's to cultivate knowledge, but if (2), then it means a ...
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Difference between 駕駛 and 駕馭?
They both mean to control, pilot something. A car, a horse, a plane.
So what's the difference? Is one a colloquial term and one formal?
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why words' meanings are so changing by adding 氵water?
How meaning and sound of these words can be changed so dramatically by “adding water”:
替 (tì) replace + water = 潜 (qián) hidden (??),
世 (shì) world + water = 泄 (xiè) discharge (??),
难 (nán) ...
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why that combination of radicals 警 means - police?
One the most lingering questions in my Chinese journey - why a certain combination of radicals result in a particular word. Here is the strangest one = “police” 警 – how on earth => grass + a ...
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what is a real meaning of 致 ？
致 yet another foggy character that is also frequently encountered.
Below are the words listed I am seeing it in.
Standard translation gives 2 meanings – adj. delicate, and v. deliver, cause.
Radicals -...
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