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Questions about understanding the meaning of words, phrases, etc. For in-context meaning, use [meaning-in-context].

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45 views

Please help me change these sentences using 不止

I'm not sure what I changed are correct or not. 我看陳太太那麼老，恐怕不會只有70歲吧? -> 我看陳太太那麼老，恐怕不止70歲吧？ 愛闖紅燈的，並不是只有騎摩托車的，開車的也一樣。 -> 愛闖紅燈的，不止是騎摩托車的，開車的也一樣。 王小姐家不但她能幹，她兩個姐姐也是女強人。 -> 王小姐家不止她能幹，...
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Hi I was planning on getting tattooed 'love yourself' in Chinese. Should I use '爱你自己' or '爱自己'?

Hi I was planning on getting tattooed 'love yourself' in Chinese. Should I use '爱你自己' or '爱自己'? Is there any difference and if so what are they?
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2answers
112 views

该讲不该讲 vs. 当讲不当讲

有句话不知该讲不该讲。 In 古代 dramas they used it quite a bit. But I have also heard the 当讲不当讲 version. It has always been in a situation where a lower ranking personnel was addressing a higher. Are there any ...
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7answers
355 views

Why is 上下 used in 这套房子是上下两层的?

I am confused by the use of 上下 in the sentence: 这套房子是上下两层的，楼下是客厅，楼上有三个房间。 This house has two floors, the living room is downstairs, and there are three rooms upstairs. I understand 上下 as up and down,...
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4answers
148 views

Is 易牙 really a compliment?

I have only ever known 易牙 is connection to cooking up his own child. 《汉语大词典》 人名。又称 狄牙 、 雍巫 。 春秋 时 齐桓公 宠臣, 长于调味, 善逢迎, 传说曾烹其子为羹以献 桓公 。见《左传·僖公十七年》、《战国策·魏策二》、《史记·齐太公世家》。后多以指善烹调者。 Hanyu Da Cidian, ...
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78 views

Is 各行各业 equivalent to “all walks of life”?

各行各业 was from of Google Translate.
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4answers
154 views

Help understanding this sentence “你不会不明白的”

I saw this sentence when I was watching a TV play. I don't understand what it means. The heroine said this to the hero. My brother thinks this sentence means "you don't understand". However, ...
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4answers
124 views

Correct understanding and use and of the words in 全都是用爷爷的番茄，生菜和黄瓜做的。

In the sentence 全都是用爷爷的番茄，生菜和黄瓜做的。 全都是 is a adverb to say without exception. 用 is a preposition to say "with" 爷爷的番茄 , is the object 生菜和黄瓜做 ,is the other part of the object and 做的 , is the ...
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2answers
113 views

What does "Xian" mean to a native Chinese speaker?

This might sound a little silly I know, but there is a game called Tomb Raider 2, which contains an artifact called the Dagger of Xian. No explanation is given in the game for the name. I have looked ...
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1answer
73 views

What is the difference between 暍 and 热? [closed]

大家好 What is the difference between 暍 and 热 and when they are used ? 谢谢
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3answers
706 views

搞得头 ，弄得头 ，睡过头 what does mean 头 in these three examples?

What does 头 in 搞得头 / 弄得头 / 睡过头 For example in this sentence: 可是这个密码那个密码，搞得头都大了。 “头” 是 head的意思？ “头” 字是个结果补语还是名词？
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2answers
56 views

What does 鲜明 mean?

I looked it up in more than 3 dictionaries, but I still have trouble understanding it. Please use some other ways other than dictionaries to explain it. Thank you so much in advance. An example ...
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1answer
56 views

How can I understand “老牛追兔子--有劲使不上”?

I know "老牛追兔子--有劲使不上" is a 歇后语. But why does it mean "有劲使不上"? Could you make a sentence with it? Thanks so much.
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What does my tattoo really mean? (Characters identified: 媳自強)

Ive had it for over 10 years kinda forget. I think it means daughter and inner strenth? Its kanji if that helps.
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3answers
92 views

What is the difference in 一点儿都不贵 with and without the 都?

What is the difference if we say: 一点儿都不贵 or without the 都 (i.e., 一点儿不贵)?
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5answers
127 views

What is the difference between 做 vs. none in 这是我妈妈(做)的菜?

What is the difference if we say: 这是我妈妈做的菜 and 这是我妈妈的菜? With\without (做)
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125 views

What does 黄 (Huáng) in 黄色 ("yellow") mean, and can it be used as a name?

According to Google Translate, "yellow" translates to "黄色" (Huáng sè). What is the meaning of "Huáng" alone? Does it make sense used as a pet name? Or is it silly? What ...
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1answer
755 views

How to understand "乒乓大方卜"?

I saw a brand (Hup Seng) of sugar crackers with the Chinese character "乒乓大方卜". Though I recognise every character here, I do not see how these five characters make sense together. Does not &...
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How long will it take when people say 马上?

If someone say 马上, how long will it take? 2 min? 10 min? 马上，汉语词汇，拼音是mǎ shàng，意思是立即。作时间副词，表示时间很短的意思。 马上https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E9%A9%AC%E4%B8%8A/80352
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2answers
122 views

汉语里的这种看似而并非纯属口语、平时不跟他字搭配成词的字有特别的名字吗？

据我所观察，以下字均符合这两个条件：一、看似而并非纯属口语（词典作根据），二、平时不跟他字搭配成词。进一步说，在这些字中，很多平时会被其他频率较高的字或词所代替。 且看： 字：蒙（哄骗） 例句：你别蒙我。 字：蒙（胡乱猜测；碰运气） 例句：这球踢进门，全是蒙上的。 字：蒙（糊涂；不清楚） 例句：一上台就蒙了，不知道该说什么好。 字：蒙（昏迷） 例句：被人打蒙了 字：磨（消耗(时间); 拖延） 例句：...
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1answer
96 views

Why does typing "qi" into my pinyin keyboard produce the trans flag?

I use an online Pinyin keyboard which suggests emojis based on what I write. For example, if I write "开心“, a smiley face is suggested. I've noticed, if I type "qi", the trans flag emoji ...
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2answers
92 views

What is the meaning of "削平巨寇"?

I read the sentence 岳飞真是一员猛将，在很短的几天内削平巨寇。 削 means cut 巨 means huge how to read the 削平巨寇？ it means cut the 巨寇？
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1answer
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Precisely what do 净入学率 (~"net enrollment rate") and 毛入学率 (~"gross enrollment rate") mean?

I'm reading about literacy in China, and encounter the terms 净入学率 and 毛入学率, but I'm unclear on their precise meaning: CC-CEDICT: 净 (jìng​) ... / net (income, exports etc) / ... CC-CEDICT: 毛 (máo) ... ...
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1answer
79 views

What does 经起 actually mean?

What does 经起 actually mean? Can you please give some sample sentences?
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1answer
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the difference between 出价 发价 报价 提价

Anyone know the the difference between 出价 发价 报价 提价？ I want to know the detailed different meaning about those words. thank you for answering my question.
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1answer
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I don’t know Chinese, so can someone help me figure out what this sentence says?

I don’t know Chinese, but I want to know what the sentence in the attached image says in. I only have the sentence in an image so hopefully you can see it. I apologize for the low picture quality. I ...
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5answers
148 views

Is there any difference in meaning between 世间 and 世界上?

As far as I understand, 世界 means world or the world. And these two words 世间 and 世界上, I think they both mean the same: in the world. But I am not sure if I interpret them correctly. Is there any ...
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5answers
163 views

What does 老铁 mean?

I found some people call others 老铁. What does this mean? Does it mean friend? I can't find this usage in any dictionaries.
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1answer
100 views

what's the meaning/origin of 呲东西停不下来桑?

I came across this sentence that is puzzling me, especially the last characters: 呲东西停不下来桑 Its meaning should be "I can't stop eating" but I cannot really understand where is coming from. ...
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3answers
111 views

What does "你究竟是还看了些 什么东西" mean?

So I was reading a novel and I don't get "你究竟是还看了些 什么东西" does it mean "what else did you see?" Or would it be more like "what else did you learn?"
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What are some example sentences for 现代汉语词典's first definition of 论证, which means something like "argumentation"?

Since I'm encountering issues originating from using (insufficiently precise and often incomplete) Chinese-English and English-Chinese dictionaries, I'm trying to make the switch to Chinese-Chinese ...
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2answers
93 views

是 assessing an overall situation

This is the title of a paragraph in the book "Chinese: A Comprehensive Grammar", by Yip Po-Ching and Don Rimmington, whose content I find really hard to understand. The explanation: 是 shì ...
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614 views

警察 vs 武警 difference

So I'm trying to understand the first sentence from the book 三体. The original: 汪淼觉得，来找他的这四个人是一个奇怪的组合：两名警察和两名军人，如果那两个军人是武警还算正常，但这是两名陆军军官。 My translation: Wang Miao thought the 4 men coming to him ...
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Does 面对疾病，特别是癌症，也就是恶性肿瘤 not imply 癌症就是肿瘤?

面对疾病，特别是癌症，也就是恶性肿瘤，除了及早治疗，彻底消灭癌细胞，心态也很重要。开朗、乐观是战胜癌症的武器。据统计，因此而完全恢复健康的奇迹并不少见；而悲观情绪，却间接成了癌细胞的帮手，加快了癌细胞在我们体内的繁殖。 HSK Coursebook 6上, listening, page 196 (original) The above is the listening component of ...
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2answers
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What is the difference between 但 and 只?

I see that 但 means "only" besides its typical meaning "but". So what is the difference between 但 and 只 and when do you use 但 with the meaning "only"?
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2answers
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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?
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How do I precisely understand 坐井而观天，曰天小者，非天小也 (the origin of the chengyu 坐井观天)?

CC-CEDICT: 坐井观天 (zuò​jǐng​guān​tiān) lit. to view the sky from the bottom of a well (idiom); ignorant and narrow-minded The origin of the above 成语 (idiom) is reported to be the line 坐井而观天，曰天小者，非天小也。 ...
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2answers
311 views

Why does 苏 have the meaning revive?

苏 originally referred to the plant with purple flowers, I believe. Maybe it likes to grow by a river. 江苏 苏生：come back to life 苏醒：awake from being unconscious 苏：昏迷中醒过来 苏 can refer to Perilla frutescens ...
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153 views

Precise meaning of 马到成功

So I just happened to watch a youtube video that has displayed in the background an artwork with horses and the phrase 马到成功. Google Translate offered these: It's a success. Gain an immediate victory....
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4answers
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What are the key traits of someone with a 坚强的性格, and which notable people are examples?

I'm having trouble making 坚强 concrete: CC-CEDICT: 坚强 (jiān​qiáng​) staunch / strong The standard example phrase is 坚强的性格 which is sometimes translated to a "strong/staunch personality". ...
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2answers
79 views

Compound words with 生

The dictionary says 生词 means "new words". I know that 词 means "word". Then I concluded that 生 would mean "new" as well as the famous meaning "birth" that it has....
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2answers
106 views

What is the difference between 赞赏, 欣赏 and 佩服?

These are the meanings in the MDBG.net dictionary (based on CC-CEDICT dictionary) 赞赏 to admire / to praise / to appreciate, 欣赏 to appreciate / to enjoy / to admire, 佩服 to admire. So all of them ...
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2answers
86 views

Meaning of a slogan for an advert

I found this old airline advert with a “slogan” using 3 by 3 words: 生於斯 情所依 In context, there is a huge calligraphy of 家， which means home. So the first three characters i would interpret as “i was ...
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3answers
94 views

Expressing "it is there" 是在那儿 vs 在那儿

Dear fellow community members, I recently encountered the wording 是。是在那儿 to express "yes. it is there" as a response to the question "是在这儿吗？" . I was wondering if this is correct? ...
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105 views

Use of 是 and 很 to express "I am not well"

Dear Chinese Language community users, I have the following question. During my learning I encountered the answer 我不是很好 in response to 你好吗？I was puzzled because I thought the correct negative answers ...
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2answers
231 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 ...
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2answers
125 views

Is 俄 still used as an adverb?

According to PLC, 俄 can be an adverb and it means "very soon, presently, suddenly". Does this meaning still occur in modern Chinese?
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2answers
460 views

Interpretation of 冂 in 大盂鼎

I was recently looking into the origins of the character「冖」, which《說文新證》states does not appear on its own in the texts excavated so far: 現有考古文字材料未見獨體的冂（偏旁或作冖）字，... However, searching「冖」on 小學堂 gives ...
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3answers
147 views

What does this mean in English?

I wasn’t sure what this person meant when she said 你的国语太累 Not sure if I used the right lei?
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5answers
133 views

What is the exact function/purpose of 来了 at the end of sentences like this:

她吃晚饭的时候她朋友打电话来了。 I know it focuses the mind on perspective -- like the action previously stated has come toward the speaker in some way. But what is the exact function? I'd love to start naturally ...

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