Questions tagged [meaning]
Questions about understanding the meaning of words, phrases, etc. For in-context meaning, use [meaning-in-context].
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What is the literal translation of this: 摊主是位上了年纪、身材瘦小的老人?
...，整齐漂亮的毛笔字能充分地显示出书摊主人的文化水平。摊主是位上了年纪、身材瘦小的老人，总是穿着一件灰色长衫，...
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 20. I need your help in literal translating this: 摊主是位上了年纪、身材瘦小的老人。
So far, this is ...
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What's up with these bizarre noodle cooking instructions?
I recently purchased a pack of Yángjì Shānyě brand Nanchang noodles (阳际山野南昌拌粉). On one side of the package, under the straightforward label 食用指南, it has the following sequence of three labeled images:
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Is 结尾 a (separable) verb?
Tatoeba has the sentence
这个故事仓促地结了尾。
wherein 结尾 is being used as a separable verb. Honestly, before seeing this sentence, I didn't even realize 结尾 could be used as a verb.
CC-CEDICT includes a verb ...
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Help understand this: 每本小人书都用牛皮纸加了层封皮，封皮上用毛笔写上书名
为了减少损坏程度，每本小人书都用牛皮纸加了层封皮，封皮上用毛笔写上书名，整齐漂亮的毛笔字能充分地显示出书摊主人的文化水平。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 20. I need your help in understanding this: 每本小人书都用牛皮纸加了层封皮，封皮上用毛笔写上书名,...
Actually ...
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Does “XX是什么样的人？” refer mostly, and maybe only, to personality?
My family is made of Chinese natives while I am bilingual. My dad sometimes asks me questions like “你的老师是什么样的人？” before lightly chastising me that the askers of such questions usually want to know ...
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How to literally translate this: 会因为费用增加而让投资人不高兴?
大导演非常着急，一来，耽误了时间，日程就得重新安排；二来，会因为费用增加而让投资人不高兴，至于这部影片的投资人，...
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, section 26.
How to literally translate this: 会因为费用增加而让投资人不高兴?
I have reached to the following ...
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If A伴随着B, then is it true that B伴随着A?
CC-CEDICT: 伴随 (bànsuí) to accompany / to follow / to occur together with / concomitant
I saw on Tateoba the sentence
闪电常常伴随着雷鸣。
Lightning is usually followed by thunder.
The English sentence ...
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What is the meaning of 脚力过人 in 尽管他们背着重重的行李，但他们的脚力过人，健步如飞?
他雇了20来个当地人为他带路和搬运行李。这批当地人个个都表现出色，尽管他们背着重重的行李，但他们的脚力过人，健步如飞。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, segment 26. What is the meaning of 脚力过人?
Baidu translate: Despite carrying heavy luggage, ...
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Meaning of 他希望自己的知識面能更加寬闊
他希望自己的知識面能更加寬闊
What does 面 mean here? It seems unnecessary because 他希望自己的知識能更加寬闊 is much more clearer. Thanks.
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信息 vs 資訊: what's the difference?
I asked ChatGPT and I got the following response, is this correct?
"信息" (information) has a broader and more general use about being data/facts/information, while "资讯" (news) is ...
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Difference between 悠閒 and 優閒
Are these adjectives or nouns? They both look to me to mean relaxing/to relax, so what's the difference? Thanks.
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What is the meaning of 重重 in 尽管他们背着重重的行李?
他雇了20来个当地人为他带路和搬运行李。这批当地人个个都表现出色，尽管他们背着重重的行李，但他们的脚力过人，健步如飞。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 26. What is the meaning of 重重? How to make it make sense?
尽管(despite)他们(they)背着(...
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Can anyone tell me what this tattoo means? Please and thanks 😊
my husband of 12 years has this tattoo on his chest. He got it when he was a teen. He thought it meant danger but it looks different then anything we've seen online. Can someone please tell us what ...
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How to literally translate this: 极爱冒险的大导演...?
据说，曾经有一位很有个性、极爱冒险的大导演到南美丛林拍有关古代印加文明的纪录片。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 26. About its literal translation, I have reached to the following point:
据说 (it is said that)，曾经(once)有(...
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Looking to identify a watercolour signature (Characters identified: 郭連訓)
Looking to identify a watercolour signature i just purcashed. 1989 made. any help is much appreciated.
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Why does your mother tell you to 蹲着买药，弯腰买零食，买茶要说自己喝?
I read this Zhihu article which gives advice from different people. Among the advice is this:
母亲，告诉你，蹲着买药，弯腰买零食，买茶要说自己喝。
Literally it translates to:
Mother tells you, squat while buying medicine, ...
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Difference between 佔 and 占
In this post, I am discussing characters in traditional writing.
When reading as zhan4, I wonder what the difference between 佔 and 占 is. Is there a division in use by meaning? Or, is one totally ...
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Teapot signature/symbol/character
Could anyone tell me what this symbol at the bottom of a teapot stands for? Thank you![This is a tea set I found in my mother’s house a few years ago]
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The meaning of 鬓边不败牡丹
It's from this song:
https://www.kugeci.com/song/MNnjq2LY#txt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGP9sY9WsbY&t=95s
是意中人
鬓边不败牡丹
Something about lovers.
I wonder if it's a reference to some Chinese ...
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What is the difference between 潜艇 and 潜航器？
是意味着乌克兰现在对于克里米亚的这个战术，发生了一些新的改变，呃应该说克里米亚地区的安全形势大幅的恶化，跟乌军战法的更新，有很大关系，首先，乌军，现在的这个从装备的角度讲呢，有很多选择比如说无人机，无人艇和无人潜航器，加上现在的北约援助给乌克兰的，这个远程的战术巡航导弹等等，那么，主要还是要看到就是这各种啊，所谓的无人机...
This is from a news broadcast I ...
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What is the meaning of 却 in 却可以使我们不会在错误的道路上走得太远？
我有一个体会：现实中，我们不一定知道正确的道路是什么，但时时反省、总结，却可以使我们不会在错误的道路上走得太远。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 26. What is the meaning of 却 here?
却(?)可以(can)使(let)我们(us)不会(will not)在(in)错误的(wrong)道路(...
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Explanation of 五颜六色
棚子里有一张床板摆着各种题材的小人书，墙边还拉了几根绳子，一本本书翻开搭在上面，五颜六色的，很好看。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, segment 20.
The 五颜六色 with meaning colorful or multicolored, can it be used even if the number of the ...
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How to literally translate this: 第二种忙，忙得很主动，忙而不乱，人是工作的主人？
工作中的忙碌大概可以分为三种：第一种忙， ...；第二种忙，忙得很主动，忙而不乱，人是工作的主人；第三种忙，...
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 26. I want your help for the literal translation of this:
第二种忙，忙得很主动，忙而不乱，人是工作的主人
第二(...
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How to literally translate this: 正当水手们慌张得不知如何是好时， ..., 使劲儿朝里面放水？
有一位经验丰富的老船长，一次返航中，天气恶劣，他们的船遇到了可怕的巨大风浪。正当水手们慌张得不知如何是好时，老船长命令水手们立刻打开货舱，使劲儿朝里面放水。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, segment 25. How to literally translate this:
正当水手们慌张得不知如何是好时，...
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What is the meaning of 大事小事？
文文从小是个乖乖女，学习刻苦，遵守纪律。大事小事，尽管妈妈表示也要征求她的意见，但上哪所学校、念什么专业，甚至跟什么人交朋友，基本上都是妈妈说了算。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 23. What is the meaning of 大事小事? What does "big thing small thing&...
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Difference between 打电话给 and 打电话和?
如果只能活24小时，我会打电话和朋友们说再见。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, segment 21. What is the difference between 打电话给 and 打电话和？I would write it as:
如果只能活24小时，我会打电话给朋友们说再见。
So what is the difference? ...
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Difference between 怎么办 and 做什么？
1994年，理查德得了心脏病，当时医生说他剩下的时间可能不多了。那时，他开始思考自己的人生，“我该怎么办？ 我该做什么？”
This is from the Standard Book of HSK5, section 21.
I am in this point:
我(I)该(should)怎么(what)办(do)？ 我(I)该(should)做(do)什么(what)？
So what is ...
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Differences between 知识，知，识，知感 and 认识？
“知识” 两个字我始终认为它是要分开来谈的，“知” 就是知感，“识” 就是认识。所谓 “知感” 就是别人告诉你、说给你听、要求你记住的那一部分。但只有这一部分是不够的，还要有认识、思考。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 22.
I would appreciate if you explain the ...
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Differences between 学生，学童 and 同学？
比如，他们讨论过《卖火柴的小女孩儿》是写给谁看的，还讨论过灰姑娘的故事。老师讲完故事之后，问同学们: ...
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, section 22. I don't understand why the word 同学 is used. Why not 学生 or 学童？
老师讲完故事之后，问学生们: ...
...
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What is the meaning of 看 in 比如，他们讨论过《卖火柴的小女孩儿》是写给谁看的？
我曾经听一位美国的小学老师说，他们十分重视和学生一起讨论问题。比如，他们讨论过《卖火柴的小女孩儿》是写给谁看的，还讨论过灰姑娘的故事。
This is from the Standard Course Book of HSK5, chapter 22. What is the meaning of 看 here: 是写给谁看的？Maybe to consider?:
比如 (for example)...
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Please explain the difference between 具備, 俱備
Please explain the difference between 具備, 俱備. Do they mean the same thing? Or is there some subtle differences? To me they both seem to mean the exact same thing: to be prepared. Thanks for the help!
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Trying to find information on this silk painting - Presumably from 1666, made for the Kangxi Emperor
This painting was presented to us as follows:
“Xia Summer”. With seals“Chen Quan Xi” and “Nam Ping Kangshi”. Dated 1666.
I've figured out that this does refer to 'The year of the Fire Horse' which ...
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Can「文化」replace 「學歷」in a sentence?
I watched a Chinese documentary program, a woman told the interviewer:「我父母都沒什麼文化，所以祇能做一些低薪的勞力工作」
My reaction was "She couldn't really mean to say her parents are uncultured". Judging from ...
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Explain the meaning of「打斧頭」
I watched a mainland Cantonese program explaining 「打斧頭」. Since an axe is only sharp on one side. The back part of the axe is often cast with inferior materials to reduce costs. Therefore, the meaning ...
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What's the difference between 写下 and 记下？
Please explain to me the difference between them . When should i use them and so on .
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What is the exact meaning of 着 and how to use it in a sentence?
What is the exact meaning of 着 and how can I use it in a sentence?
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Exact Meaning of 左挑右选 and 前看后看
I'm reading 寓言故事 about the story of 郑人买履, and I found the phrase 左挑右选 and 前看后看, what does it means? Especially for the 前看后看, is it like before looking and after looking? It is kind of weird with the ...
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difference between 接到 and 收到
Can you give me as many as example sentences where I can
use 接到 but not 收到
use 收到 but not 接到
use both 接到 and 收到, and their meanings are same
use both 接到 and 收到, and their meanings are different?
I'm ...
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When to prefer “是……的” over “了” in “是谁把你送到机场的？” or “谁把你送到了机场？”?
When to prefer “是……的”· over “了”? Which one of the following is correct?
是谁把你送到机场的？
谁把你送到了机场？
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I can't understand the roles of 光 and 就 which are used inside 光写这份提纲,就花了我一个月的时间。
光写这份提纲,就花了我一个月的时间。
It took me a month to write this outline. (this translation has been made by deepL).
I can completely link the sentences of deepL and 写这份提纲,花了我一个月的时间(removed 光 and 就)。
I want to ...
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Meaning and function of "会" in 我都会把下次学生需要带东西写在黑板上?
“每次下课前，我都会把下次学生需要带东西写在黑板上”
(hsk3 standard course textbook chapter 12, text 4）
What's the meaning and function of ”会“ in this sentence?
Can I omit it and still preserve the meaning of the sentence?
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旁边那个大点儿的杯子是我的 — how to correctly break down this sentence?
I think 『那个大点儿的杯子』will be translated together as "that bigger cup", though I do not understand which thing 『旁边』 is referring to.
Is it
The object that is nearby that bigger cup is mine,
or
...
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How do you describe Chinese words when you are learning Chinese?
I am making a fantasy language and trying to learn how other languages outside of English organize their grammars. I am looking at Mandarin Chinese Result Complements, and they are all complex ...
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What does 做上饭 mean?
What means 上？ Recently i saw a phrase where a women said 你怎么做上饭了啊？ And i would like to know how often this happens and what it is used for.Please explain to me
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What does 给 mean other than "to give"?
I've seen sentences where 给 is not used in the sense of "give". Please explain to me why 给 is used here?
The sentences:
你给我听好了
你给我站住
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What's the difference between 去 and 来？
I noticed that 去 and 来 are used in a sentence in a strange meaning. For example: 1) 实际上，很多问题的答案都可以从生活中找到。但这需要你有眼睛去发现，用心去总结。
2） 自己不花时间去想
3） 眼不是用来做饭的吗？
What's the difference between them and when ...
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What's the meaning of 稿件投诉, I saw it on 哔哩哔哩 while streaming?
While I stream videos on 哔哩哔哩, I saw 稿件投诉. But when I searched on Pleco, 稿件 means contribution or manuscript, and 投诉 means appeal or complain. If we combine them both, what does it means? Contribution ...
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What does GHKWXUE mean in English?
What does GHKWXUE mean in English?
It's the brand name if a pot/pressure cooker I'm looking into buy and I wondered what it means.
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How can we conclude that 人生观的核心 is 人生目的?
This is a question from C-Eval used to evaluate Chinese generative AI, in the category "ideological and moral cultivation" (the AI is supposed to choose B (in bold) when given this question; ...
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What's the difference between 没想到 and 想不到？
There is no information about this in my dictionary. Unfortunately, for me they have exactly the same meaning. Could you explain the difference to me if I am wrong?
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