Questions tagged [meaning]
Questions about understanding the meaning of words, phrases, etc. For in-context meaning, use [meaning-in-context].
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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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56 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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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
162 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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1answer
86 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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386 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
139 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
106 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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67 views
Are these sentences correct?
大家好！
1.大女方四岁。
2.男方大四岁。
3.男方大其四岁。
Are these sentences correct?
谢谢！
有大神回答下吗？
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1answer
60 views
What does 按 mean in 打印机好像坏了，我按半天了，一直没反应?
This is from a HSK5 exam listening section:
男：打印机好像坏了，我按半天了，一直没反应。
女：昨天刚修的，居然又坏了?真耽误事儿，我看看。
问：女的对什么感到奇怪?
I'm not sure what 按 is doing in this sentence. From the context, it seems to mean something ...
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1answer
50 views
What is the difference between 有时 and 有时候? How are they used differently in context?
大家好！
I noticed that in Chinese, there are two similar words for "sometimes": 有时 and 有时候. Are they any different from each other? For example, is one more formal than the other?
Thanks! :)
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1answer
81 views
稀里糊涂and糊里糊涂, Are there any differences?
大家好！
1.稀里糊涂/糊里糊涂，它们有区别吗？
2.稀，里是什么意思？These are words not found in most dictionaries.
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87 views
Who would we describe as 豪爽?
豪爽 (háoshuǎng)
CC-CEDICT: outspoken and straightforward / forthright / expansive
豪爽 is an adjective used to describe people's personalities. Judging from dictionary definitions and examples, such ...
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1answer
54 views
Why is 因为 listed as an adverb in the dictionary?
“因为”是连词，为什么有副词？
https://www.yellowbridge.com/chinese/thesaurus.php?word=%E5%9B%A0%E4%B8%BA
Please show me example sentences with 因为。
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2answers
160 views
Chinese characters on original Art (Painting and Litho on Wood) I bought in China
Does anyone know what the chinese characters say on these pictures? I bought them in China while visiting a few years ago and everyone always asks me what they mean. I love them but would love to know ...
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89 views
What does 头上养马 mean?
I've tried to understand it using context clues from the following but I really can't make sense if it. Is it literal?
Some example:
让他头上养马
那怎么还敢在她头上养马？
敢接受莫可可的人，必须得有在头上养马的觉悟。
你是想在劳资头上养马吗！？
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1answer
53 views
What does 乐助 (yuè zhù) mean?
I think we've got some music biz jargon here:
【我们恋爱吧 第二季】EP12 @ ～20:09
The sentence:
我们的那个乐助说了
The person speaking often speaks of his band, so it is likely that 乐 is short for: 乐队. Of course, less ...
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2answers
100 views
The difference in meaning between 俺 and 我
I stumble upon the word '俺' when my mom was talking to someone from a different region of China but the dialect was still the same. 俺 and 我 both mean the same thing right?
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180 views
What does 早待不住了 mean in 要在往常，我一定早待不住了……?
要在往常，我一定早待不住了，惦记着某某侦探的案件是不是有了突破，……
Google Translate: As usual, I must have been unable to stay any longer, wondering if there was a breakthrough in the case of Detective XX,...
标准教程HSK6上，87页
I don't ...
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1answer
64 views
Background guy in tik toks
Often in chinese tik tok compilations, there is a guy in the background who says something sounding like "ayodema" or something like that... I'd like to ask you what he is actual saying and ...
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1answer
45 views
What could these characters i found on a robe mean?
I guess the first character is 福 meaning good fortune
And the second character is 得 meaning to gain but i have no clue what the third character should represent.
I not even remotely sure about my ...
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2answers
155 views
How can I use 笨/蠢/傻/呆/痴 properly?
笨/蠢/傻/呆/痴 what are the differences and how are they properly used in a sentence? thnk U
What is the difference between all of these?↓
这个人真笨。 这个人真傻。 这个人真呆。 这个人真蠢。这个人真痴。
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237 views
What is the purpose of 赴 (“to visit”) within 全力以赴 (“to make an all-out effort”)?
全力以赴 (quánlìyǐfù)
CC-CEDICT: to do at all costs / to make an all-out effort
Breaking apart this chengyu, we find:
全力: "with all one's strength / full strength / all-out (effort) / fully (...
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2answers
85 views
Expressing knowledge or skill: 认识 vs 会 vs 知道
I came across several verbs meaning knowledge or skill about something.
I guess that 会 (simplified) / 會 (traditional) is used specifically to imply a skill, as in "他会说中文" - He can speak ...
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2answers
108 views
What suffix of location is more natural in Standard Mandarin : 头, 面 or 边?
when I use 上 /下 /东/ 南 /里 etc. how do I know If I have to use 边 /面 /头？
I normally use 面, as in 书在桌子上面, but I want to be sure I'm right.
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103 views
The difference between 左右 and 大概
房子大概九十平方米。
房子九十平方米左右。
I believe, 大概，左右 both mean: roughly, approximately.
Why should/must 大概 precede and 左右 follow?
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41 views
Counterproductive - 起到反作用 - how to parse?
I learned that in Chinese counterproductive is 起到反作用 or 起反作用
I'm trying to figure out what the characters or words mean in this phrase.
I know 作用 means result or effect here, 反 means opposite. How ...
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2answers
299 views
Understanding the glyph origin of 占
I have the following etymology from Outlier Dictionary of Chinese Characters:
占 depicts cracks (卜) in a turtle shell and a hole (口) drilled into the shell during the divination process. Its original ...
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1answer
33 views
Meaning of 有步骤地
I stumbled upon this text extolling the work of the Communist Party. It states:
此后，党在各个方面深入总结历史经验，制定了一系列正确的方针政策，有步骤地解决了许多历史遗留问题和实际生活中出现的新问题，推动着以经济建设为中心的各项事业沿着正确轨道健康发
My gut feeling is that 有步骤地 ...
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1answer
71 views
Glyph origin or any mnemonic for 蕴?
I failed to remember the meaning for the word 蕴含 yùnhán. Is any mnemonic or story or etymological hints to remember 蕴?
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1answer
78 views
Is there any mnemonic to remember 支 and 技?
I am using Flashcards to remember vocabulary, but could not remember the meanings for these 2 words. If you have any easy mnemonic, image or story, please advise. thanks
支 zhī disperse, pay, support,...
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2answers
65 views
How are 连A带B and A着B different
他连说带笑 / 他笑着说
他连唱带跳 / 他唱着跳
Do these sentences have the same meaning？
and if I change the position between the two verbs, do they still have the same meaning?
他连说带笑 / 他连笑带说
他笑着说 / 他说着笑
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395 views
Why has zuò//láo // in between?
I am going through the word 坐牢 using the Pleco dictionary. Generally they will not keep // in between two characters. But I can see // for this.
zuò//láo
What does // mean? Can zuò and láo be used ...
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107 views
不自量力 can this be used to under estimate one’s capabilities also?
I understand the meaning of 量 is measure, estimate. But how the capacity also was the meaning? any background, etymology?
量 liàng measure, estimate, capacity, quantity
不自量力 bùzìliànglì not have a ...
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393 views
In “一网打尽” what does 尽 mean?
一网打尽 yīwǎngdǎjìn lit. to catch everything in the one net.
In this sentence what does 尽 means? how to easily remember the meaning by seeing the character without wild guess and imagining etymological ...
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348 views
就: what are the top 3 meanings by usage
就 is one of the most widely used word. From secondary school english student point of view/ general usage/ HSK exam point of view what are the 3 most meanings that covers by usage?
dictionary has 20+ ...
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1answer
123 views
Etymology of 于 and transformation to in, on, at, go to
Two possibilities for the object of representation 于 are:
Pictogram (象形). An ancient wind instrument; early form of 竽 (OC *ɢʷa). This view is supported by mainstream palaeography.
Exhaled air; early ...
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2answers
67 views
What does 按部就班 mean?
I have checked the dictionary, the following are the meanings for Idiom and its components. could not get how ‘keep conventional ways’ was the meaning derived. can share more light on this? thanks
...
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49 views
question about the usage of 返 (Cantonese)
In the sentence 我已經做咗好多日，而家想放返幾日假, I would like to ask about 返. What is the difference between just saying 放幾日假 and 放返幾日假. What is the function of 返?
Thanks
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1answer
50 views
Ranking of Likelihood/Probability Words
There are several words in Chinese that express various degrees of probability/possibility/likelihood, such as 也许，说不定，可能，确定，etc.
Many of these words have overlapping definitions, but this may or may ...
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211 views
Mnemonic or technique to remember 咅 ,部, 陪
I want to remember 咅 pǒu and all the dependent words on 咅. Could you please let me know what is the correct way/ think process? What technique are you using to remember the meaning forever?
This is my ...
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1answer
61 views
What is the meaning of 放 fàng in this idiom?
The meaning of 放 fàng from dictionary is “put, release”.
“Put or place” is an entirely opposite word / antonym of “release, free, liberate”
Then what does 放 mean in the following idiom:
放在心上 ...
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1answer
59 views
台 tái = term of address? Is this address?
The dictionary has a meaning like this:
台 tái = platform, unit, term of address
What does “term of address” mean? Does tái mean address?
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152 views
Any hypothesis to remember 刑?
Any easy way or background why
Well + knife is Punishment? Knife is related punishment, but after killing with knife any history to through them in the well?
wikitionary details about 刑:
Originally ...
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1answer
138 views
Please help identify characters in my seal on a modern brush painting
I am trying to find information on the characters in the red seal in the lower right corner of a painting.It is on paper and seems modern. I suppose it is a signature, Thanks for any information
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44 views
Air quality meter name
I have an air quality detector meter.
It has the name of the manufactures written on the bottom.
What's the english translation?
Does this manufacturer have a web page?
Thanks
EDIT:
In the web page ...
2
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1answer
113 views
Month-on-month and Quarter-on-Quarter
I know that 同比 is “year over year”, while 環比 is “month over month”, but can also mean “quarter over quarter”. In reality, the latter is used to compare two different periods. Therefore, if one says 環比,...
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2answers
214 views
what exact image is the basis for the 圭?
The Hanzi meaning for 圭 guī = (old) jade tablet (a ceremonial badge of rank)
I checked the images, not sure based on what jade tablet 圭 is drawn, can any one point to the correct image? Thanks
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3answers
136 views
比 as synonym for 放？
I recently changed my phone language to Chinese. Someone "loved" a text I wrote, meaning that they put a heart on the message. The phone notification says, "这个人比了个心“， which to me, seems ...
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70 views
What does 课文放大镜 mean?
What exactly does “课文放大镜” mean in English? Can I translate it to 'questions for the lesson'?
Google translates it as 'text magnifying glass'.
After every lesson we have questions for that lesson, and ...
