Questions tagged [meaning]
Questions about understanding the meaning of words, phrases, etc. For in-context meaning, use [meaning-in-context].
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How is the term 盎格鲁撒克逊人 used?
In some Indo-European languages, including Greek, French, Russian etc., but not in English, the term Anglo-Saxons or Anglosaxons is used very often to describe the alliance of the English-speaking ...
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Why native say 我说汉语说得很好 not 我很好地说汉语
I want to say: I speak very good Chinese. Can I also say 我很好地说汉语？
How to understand the differences in meaning?
Thank you.
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Why 致 in "一致" (unanimous)?
一 makes sense to me, because it means "one". Collins Dictionary defines '一致' as 'unanimous', which itself originates ["from Latin unanimus "of one mind, in union," from Latin ...
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What does this Chinese seal translate to?
I have just recently bought this from a antique shop nearby and would like to know what it translates too
Thanks! :)
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Why does 派 mean "school of thought, sect, branch; clique; school; group; faction; to dispatch; to send; to assign; to appoint"?
The entire character depicts a long, flowing river network. But Dong Chinese skipped steps, and does not spell out how this meaning "later expanded to "faction", "school of ...
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Why does a "foot (止) kicking a person (人)" mean `here" (此)?
I am asking just about meaning (2) below. Meaning (2) flabbergasted me, because "here" is a bloodless, unbiased, and uncommitted adverb. But "foot (止)) kicking a person (人)" is ...
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How to literally translate this sentence: 志愿者同时欣赏原作和画面元素被调整后的画作?
另一个实验是这样，志愿者同时欣赏原作和画面元素被调整后的画作，包括静物画和抽象画。结果，几乎每个人都更喜欢原作。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, section 18.
Please help me understand the literal translation of this sentence: ...
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How to literally translate the 由人类艺术家挥笔 in 志愿者普遍更喜欢的作品都是由人类艺术家挥笔完成的?
也许有人认为，在这种情况下根本不可能分辨出来。然而在每一次测试中，志愿者普遍更喜欢的作品都是由人类艺术家挥笔完成的。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, section 18. How to literally translate this part: 由人类艺术家挥笔?
I have reached at this point:
志愿者(...
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What is the meaning of 之手 in 每组中一幅出自著名抽象艺术家之手?
志愿者的任务很简单，每个人会看到两两一组出现的一些图画，每组中一幅出自著名抽象艺术家之手，另一幅是业余爱好者、婴儿、黑猩猩或者大象的涂鸦。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, section 18.
What is the meaning of 之手? His hand? 之 has many meanings, while 手 I ...
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Why does 如 (a women obeying spoken orders) mean "if", "as if", "supposing"?
https://www.dong-chinese.com/wiki/%E5%A6%82
Depicts a woman (女) obeying spoken (口) orders. Based on the original meaning "obey". The meaning later shifted to "be similar" and &...
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What is the meaning of 两两一组出现 in 每个人会看到两两一组出现的一些图画?
研究者设计了一个有趣的实验。志愿者的任务很简单，每个人会看到两两一组出现的一些图画，每组中一幅出自著名抽象艺术家之手，...
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 18.
I don't understand the meaning of 两两一组出现。
This is my literal translation:
每个人(...
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What is the meaning of 把更多的精力 in 我们宁可把更多的精力集中在闭幕式上?
作为电视节目主持人，我在工作中常常会运用“峰终定律”。例如，做节目时，与开幕式相比，我们宁可把更多的精力集中在闭幕式上，这样可以加强观众对节目的印象。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 17.
What is the meaning of 把更多的精力?
Baidu translate: As a TV presenter,...
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What is the meaning of 会 in 我在工作中常常会运用“峰终定律”?
作为电视节目主持人，我在工作中常常会运用“峰终定律”。例如，做节目时，与开幕式相比，我们宁可把更多的精力集中在闭幕式上，这样可以加强观众对节目的印象。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 17. What is the meaning of 会?
Baidu translate: As a TV presenter, I ...
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What is the meaning of 死 in 死搬兵书上的理论?
公元前260年，赵括带兵出战。一直盲目自信、轻视秦军的他完全改变了廉颇的作战方案，死搬兵书上的理论，主动进攻秦军，结果数十万赵军全部被杀，丢掉了宝贵的生命。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 15.
What is the meaning of 死?
Baidu and Google literally translate ...
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What is the meaning of 去换回 in 他派赵括去换回廉颇?
这时，赵王正因廉颇闭门不战而生气呢，听到外面的那些谣言，果然上当了，他派赵括去换回廉颇。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, section 15.
What is the meaning of 去换回? I know that 去回 means to return or to go back and 换 to change or to ...
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What does 一般 mean?
'一般' 的意思? 初学者的问题 我查了字典这个词的意思，但我不明白
这个词
经常看到
我想知道意思
一般来说
i guess in English nuances is close to
generally
rule of thumb
broadly speaking
p.s. I am quarter British so idk wide knowledge of hanzi
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What is the meaning of 结束退场时 in 却常常忽视结束退场时的准备?
比如说为了一场戏剧演出，我们会投入很多时间，准备服装、化妆、道具、舞台美术，以创造良好的效果，争取给观众留下一个好的印象，却常常忽视结束退场时的准备。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5 section 17.
What is the meaning of 结束退场时? end leaving the theater time?
Why do ...
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What is the meaning of 僝头？
I don't normally read about linguistics. Now I know why!
汉语里甚至有动词性主语加名词性谓语的句子，例如：
逃，僝头。(no more context, just this)
Maybe: Flee, you poor bastards!
僝头是什么意思呢？
I find 僝僽：
1.憔悴；烦恼。haggard
2.折磨。worried
...
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What is the literal translation of this sentence: 渐渐地，秦军无法快速取得胜利?
这个办法果然非常有效，成功地把秦军拦在了国门之外。渐渐地，秦军无法快速取得胜利，粮食也快没了，有些坚持不住了。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5 section 15.
How can 渐渐地 and 快速 be combined in the same sentence?
渐渐地(gradually)，秦军(Qin army)无法(...
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What is the difference between 我 and 我们 as "we"?
几年后，赵奢去世了。这一年正好秦国军队来打赵国，赵国派老将廉颇带20万大军迎战。廉颇根据敌强我弱的形势，命令士兵们坚守阵地，绝对不可主动出战。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, section 15.
Baidu and Google say that here 我 means we and indeed according to ...
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What is the difference between 困扰 and 问题 in 困扰人们很长时间的取球问题就这样被一个小孩子解决了?
你瞧，困扰人们很长时间的取球问题就这样被一个小孩子解决了。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 13.
What is the difference between 困扰 and 问题? Why are they both needed here? Is 这样 referred to 困扰 or 问题? Isn't ...
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What is the meaning for the 炮 in 娘炮?
I know what the word as a whole means but just wondering if anyone know something about perhaps the etymology and/or meaning or the like of the 炮 part in the word 娘炮, i.e. why use the character 炮 here ...
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What is the literal translation of this sentence: 一位球员连忙找来一把锯子把篮筐的底锯掉?
“何必这么麻烦呢？把篮筐的底去掉不就行了吗？”多亏了他这句话，人们如梦初醒，一位球员连忙找来一把锯子把篮筐的底锯掉。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, section 13.
Please help me understand the literal translation of this sentence: ...
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What is the glyph origin of 乍 ( the radical in 怎 )?
My research has indicated 乍 is related to soil and farming, but I have seen other sources claim it's a collar of a robe. The meaning in English is "suddenly" - I assume this to be a phonetic ...
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What is the meaning of 旁边经过 in 一个上幼儿园的小男孩跟着父亲从一群正在进行篮球比赛的人旁边经过?
几年后的一天，一个上幼儿园的小男孩跟着父亲从一群正在进行篮球比赛的人旁边经过。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, section 13.
What is the meaning of 旁边经过?
This is my literal translation:
几年(a few years)后(later)的一天(a day)，一个(one)...
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What is the difference between 跟, 跟着 and 跟着着?
What is the difference between 跟着 and 跟? All dictionaries say that both can mean the verb "to follow".
If I want to use the 着 as a "particle indicating the continuation of an action or ...
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What is the meaning of 从中 in 有人却从中感受到对自由?
抽象派画家的作品中经常见到好像随便洒上颜料而形成的画作，在有人看来极其神秘甚至丑陋，有人却从中感受到对自由、对生命的赞美。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 18.
What is the meaning of 从中?
According to dictionaries, 从中 is an adverb meaning &...
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What is the meaning of 事情的经过 in 而事情的经过对记忆几乎没有影响?
我们对事物的记忆仅在高峰和结尾，而事情的经过对记忆几乎没有影响。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 17.
What is the meaning of 事情的经过?
I am at this point:
而(and)事情的经过(?)对(towards)记忆(memory)几乎(almost)没有(not have)影响(...
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What is the meaning of 正好 in 这一年正好秦国军队来打赵国?
几年后，赵奢去世了。这一年正好秦国军队来打赵国，赵国派老将廉颇带20万大军迎战。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 15.
What is the meaning of 正好? Wiktionary says that it means "by chance". Something like ...
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What is the meaning of 出来 in 在下面一拉篮筐就能把球弹出来?
有一位工程师甚至专门制造出一种机器，在下面一拉篮筐就能把球弹出来。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, section 13.
What is the meaning of 出来? To get out? Maybe a 取 is omitted? Something like 取出来? Or what?
Maybe all ...
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What is the meaning of 拉 in 在下面一拉篮筐就能把球弹出来?
有一位工程师甚至专门制造出一种机器，在下面一拉篮筐就能把球弹出来。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, section 13.
What is the meaning of 拉? In dictionaries there are many meanings, such as to pull, to drag, to play, to ...
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What is the meaning of 大家纷纷 in 大家纷纷出主意?
这样的行为必须一再地重复，为此，比赛不得不断断续续地进行，缺少了激烈紧张的气氛，连运动员都不满意，更何况看比赛的球迷呢？为了解决这个问题，大家纷纷出主意，想出了很多取球的办法。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 13.
What is the meaning of 大家纷纷? Everyone in great ...
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What is the meaning of 踩 in 就得有一个人踩着梯子上去把球取出来?
不过，由于栏杆上固定的是真正的筐，每当球投进时，就得有一个人踩着梯子上去把球取出来。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, section 13.
What is the meaning of 踩?
Something like:
就得有一个人踩着梯子上去 =
should exist a person stepping up to go ...
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Why 海 (ocean, sea) in 腦海 (mind)?
How is 海 related to 腦? Why does compounding sea/ocean (海) to brain (腦) mean mind (腦海)?
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What is the meaning of 来说更是如此 in 特别是对于那些体重减轻者和体重保持者来说更是如此?
这项联合多所医学院校所做的研究发现，除了个别人以外，多数人体重的增加会从周六开始，而体重减轻则会从周二开始，特别是对于那些体重减轻者和体重保持者来说更是如此。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 16.
What is the meaning of 来说更是如此？
After searching dictionaries, ...
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Why does 鬱 mean lush as well as gloomy, moody and melancholic?
Originally 鬱 meant (茂盛) lush, luxuriant, and "densely overgrown". But then how did it mean "anxious; depressed; grieved; [...] melancholic; moody"?
Lush trees and nature therapy ...
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What is the meaning of 杂院?
但也有多户合住一座四合院的情况，被称为“大杂院”，住户多为普通劳动人民。
I found this in the Standard Course Book of HSK5, section 14.
What is the meaning of 杂院? According to dictionaries (character by character), it means "mixed ...
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What is the meaning of 合 in 但也有多户合住一座四合院的情况?
但也有多户合住一座四合院的情况，被称为“大杂院”，住户多为普通劳动人民。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, section 14.
What is the meaning of 合 (...户合住...)？My feeling is "together". Do you agree? Or it means ...
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What is the difference between 过 and 度 in their meanings "to spend/pass (time)"?
Is there a general difference between the two?
There are two examples I have found:
度假
Is this interchangeable with 过假?
And the second
这个假期你打算怎么过？
Can this be exchanged with "...怎么度"?
If ...
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What is the meaning of 在经营销售上?
在经营销售上，微信针对不同的国家和地区，推出了不同的广告片，邀请当地明星和名人代言，收效相当不错。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 12.
What is the meaning of 在经营销售上?
At the moment I am here:
在经营销售上 = 在［经营销售］上 = in managing / ...
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Why it's called 勾芡？
I understand the meaning of "勾芡", but I was not able to find the origin of this term. I am trying to learn why when "勾" and "芡" combine together, they mean velveting. ...
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What is the meaning of 多所 in 这项联合多所医学院校所做的研究发现？
这项联合多所医学院校所做的研究发现，除了个别人以外，多数人体重的增加会从周六开始，...
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, section 16.
What is the meaning of 多所？
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What is the meaning of 封闭式 in 四合院内便形成一个封闭式的小环境？
只要关闭起大门，四合院内便形成一个封闭式的小环境。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, section 14.
What is the meaning of 封闭式？
I understand that 封闭 means "closed" and 式 means "style/type", yet ...
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Why does 舉 mean "whole, entire"?
I see that 舉's 意義 means "elevate with the hands". But why does 舉 mean "act, deed; move"? And "whole, entire"?
I am even more befuddled, because all 3 詞類 differ! See below....
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How does 止 work in 舉止?
舉止 means "behaviour". But 舉止 feels like a contronym, because 止 means "to stop".
What is 止 doing in 舉止? What's the role of 止? How does 止 relate to "behaviour"?
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Why does 慢 mean "supercilious; rude"?
I have lived in China and Taiwan for at least 20 years. I have always known that 慢 means "slow". But I never knew until today — and could never have guessed that — 慢 also means "...
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What are the implications of saying 保护好自己?
I've heard this used in various contexts, but there is one that I am confused about which relates to being emotionally vulnerable. Specifically, it seems like people say that about situations where ...
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What does 她个做饭乜叫做饭 mean?
I never met this little fella before: 乜。Is it 粤语 for what? I thought they'd written 也 wrong!
I have no more context, this is an example of 个 being used as 冠词, according to the author.
她个做饭乜叫做饭？
...
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Different meanings of ‘儿’
I know 儿 can be a diminutive suffix, and can convey endearment or smallness but when used as a suffix for 这 to change the meaning from ‘this’ to ‘here’ I don’t think this applies. (Same with 那 ...
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What does "荒野寒暑换红颜" mean?
The following line comes from the song 归去来兮 by 花粥:
此去必经年 荒野寒暑换红颜
此去必经年: This time I will be gone for several years.
荒野 is clearly wilderness.
寒暑 is hot and cold, and by synecdoche summer and winter, ...
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