Questions tagged [meaning]
Questions concerned comprehension and understanding the finer aspects of individual words or phrases, with or without a context in which they are expressed.
1,027
questions
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1answer
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What does 一起 imply about a romantic relationship?
In stories I see 一起 used to describe a romantic couple being "together", but I would like to understand what it implies.
For example: “……要是我能和她在一起该多好啊！” in this context the boy has just seen a very ...
2
votes
3answers
82 views
Difference between 目的 and 目标
I don’t manage to grasp the difference between the two words 目的 or 目标.
I have seen some explanations stating that 目的 means purpose and 目标 objective but I don’t know if it is a cultural issue or not ...
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1answer
49 views
Difference between 发愁，着急，担心，关心，操心，烦恼
In addition to this post: Is there a difference between 担心 (dānxīn) and 着急 (zháojí)?
HSK contains a lot of words which relate to being worried:
发愁，着急，担心，关心，操心，烦恼
- am trying to distinguish ...
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2answers
170 views
Meaning of 火冒三丈
What is the meaning and literal translation of this phrase or idiom? I have not has a clear understand of this base on dictionary searches and web searches.
Example sentence would be helpful.
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1answer
21 views
What is the meaning of “对着／对上／对不上” in this pattern “Subj. + 对着／对上／对不上”？
I read this. I do not understand the meaning of "对着／对上／对不上" in this structure. Can you guys make it clear?
Moreover, this pattern
Subj. + 对着／对上／对不上
may lack of predicate. So, what types of ...
0
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1answer
38 views
你老竇個仔, is it a minced oath in this case? If so what would be the original meaning?
I'm talking specifically about this scene. I'm trying to translate this to english but as of now I don't know where to start.
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0answers
32 views
Meaning of 才把 in 花了很久才把那个核桃仁拿出来 [duplicate]
Can someone help me understand what does 才把 mean in the following sentence ?
花了很久才把那个核桃仁拿出来
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1answer
51 views
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1answer
67 views
Can anyone explain what this symbol means? [duplicate]
Please translate this Chinese character symbol found on Chinese food bowl.
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3answers
57 views
What does 才 mean in 什么样的人才能做以下职业? [duplicate]
什 么 样 的人 才 能 做 以 下 职 业 ？
What is the meaning of 才 in this sentence. Or is the word 人才 or is the word 才能? I think I understand the meaning of the sentence:
What type of person can do this job?
...
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3answers
103 views
Does the chinese letter mean the number, one?
As I browsing around on the internet, I was looking at what a sentence meant in English. But the issue is that I was not sure if this is the Chinese letter for "1" or does it have a different ...
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5answers
305 views
What is the meaning of 能者多劳?
I've seen this word 能者多劳 being used in multiple senses on the Internet:
One can interpret 劳 as a verb that means working, as in 劳动. Then it gives us able people (should) do more work, or loosely ...
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1answer
40 views
What's the correct word division of this sentence?
I don't understand how I should understand this sentence word by word: 农夫过去一看. Without "guo4" everything is clear for me, since "qu4 yi2 kan4" means "to take a look".
But with "guo4" I don't know if ...
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3answers
147 views
Is '老鸽' a slang?
I've seen some cases (in stories, on the internet) where people call each other '老鸽'. As the literal meaning 'old pigeon' doesn't make much sense, I think it's a slang but I haven't been able to find ...
3
votes
1answer
63 views
What's the meaning of 道郡?
I encountered this word '道郡' while reading a story set an China's ancient times. I tried Baidu and got some names such as '怀道郡' and '狄道郡', so I think '道郡' may be an ancient counterpart to the modern ...
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2answers
98 views
What does 严防境外输入 mean?
What does this mean? 严防境外输入
Seems it is common in social media at the moment.
Does it mean "avoid foreign influence" or "avoid foreigners immigrating or visiting"?
2
votes
3answers
176 views
Translating “很快就有人去了.” ? Confusing word order
Can anyone help me translate this sentence properly?
很快就有人去了.
My attempt is “Very quickly and soon, some people left.” However I don’t really understand the 很快就 part. Like i thought if these were ...
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0answers
68 views
Looking to find out what this symbol means (Character identified: 涙) [duplicate]
A friend of mine has this tattooed on her back, she once told me what it meant, but I forget now.
Trying to figure out what my friends tattoo means
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3answers
74 views
The meaning of 东瞧西瞅?
In Mandarin translation of Little Red Riding Hood that can be found around (Grimm Stories, BaiDuBaiKe), mother warns Little Red Riding Hood: "外婆家的时候，别忘了说‘早上好’，也不要一进屋就东瞧西瞅。" How would you translate ...
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3answers
339 views
How can I distinguish 地 in different words
I am learning the use of the word 地 recently，How can I distinguish 地 in different words，like
小心地滑 and 慢慢地走 。
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2answers
82 views
What does “格” mean in “爾國臨格”?
Matthew 6:10 of the Bible is translated as the following in the Delegates Version:
爾國臨格、爾旨得成、在地若天、
The context was Jesus was teaching how to pray and gave an example of a prayer.
I fail to ...
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2answers
44 views
What does 背着 mean in the novel 活着 (pp.10-12), e.g., …让她背着我回家…?
I encountered 背着 thrice in quick succession in the novel 活着 (pages 10 through 12):
我年轻时吃喝嫖赌，什么浪荡的事都干过。我常去的那家妓院是单名，叫青楼。里面有个胖胖的妓女很招我喜爱，她走路时两片大屁股就像挂在楼前的两只灯笼，晃来晃去。她躺到床上一动一动时，压在上面的我就像睡在船上，在河水里摇呀摇呀。...
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1answer
60 views
what do 形 and 便 mean and how can they combine to make the meaning “situation”?
The Chinese word of 형편 (situation) in Korean is 形便.
Can anyone explain what 形 and 便 mean and how can they combine to make the meaning "situation"?
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2answers
49 views
What does 必死的决心 mean? Must-die determination?
我以必死的决心发誓，从此绝对不会手淫src
I, by a must-die determination pledge, from now on absolutely won't masturbate.
抱着必死的决心去奋斗，不论前方有多大的困难src
Carrying a must-die determination go [and] struggle, regardless ...
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3answers
135 views
Does 一个 mean *exactly* one? Or can it mean *at least* one?
If someone (truthfully) says "I have a car" then they have at least one car. If someone says "I have one car" then they have exactly one car.
How does this idea work for "我有一辆汽车" ?
Could someone say ...
3
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3answers
177 views
What is the difference, if any, between 开心 and 快乐
Dictionaries will give "Happy" for both.
A Mandarin song has the title 你开心所以我快乐
https://youtu.be/Sb1ojccxvyw
Question therefore is whether there is any signifying difference in usage?
That is, ...
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4answers
75 views
How would I translate “与君知”
Google translate his been giving me straight pinyin as a translation, and pleco doesn't have what I'm looking for. I got the definitions of each individual character, but I'm not sure how to put them ...
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3answers
85 views
“他们之间不再会有什么友谊”：在这个句子里"会“贡献什么意思？
我的问题就对于这个句子：
他们之间不再会有什么友谊。
我的英语翻译是：
There can no longer be any friendship between them.
为了了解“会”的贡献，我就试试删除它，后来翻译一下：
他们之间不再有什么友谊。
我的英文翻译成为：
There is no longer any friendship between them....
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votes
4answers
70 views
Happen to (in questions)
I'm aware that you can use 正好 or 碰巧 to express low probability in statements, equivalent to English "happen to" .
我正好是有你要的那种啤酒。
我发现他碰巧就是我的一个远亲。
How can you use this same idea in a question?
"Do ...
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3answers
66 views
Which day is 周末
I and my friends disagree on what 周末 means. And to summarize all opinions, is it
周五, 周末 was used to describe 周六 when 周六 is workday (last workday in a week). And since 周六 is no longer a workday, we ...
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1answer
90 views
Unknown meaning of a carving on the back of a Buddha statue (Character identified: 朱)
I hope someone could help me understand if this is something. Its on a Budddha statue I purchased.
2
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2answers
70 views
Is 当做 and 看做 a synonym or not a synonym?
Is 当做 and 看做 a synonym? I looked at a few sample sentences on bkrs dictionary. They seem to be used in similar situations. But just to be sure, what do you guys think? Do they have any difference in ...
3
votes
3answers
179 views
What sickness was 瘦?
“Skinny” (瘦) is clearly written with a sickness radical (病字旁): 疒.
Outlier, also, writes the following in its definition:
FORM
瘦 shòu is composed of 叟 sǒu and 疒 “to be sick, not well,” pointing ...
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3answers
34 views
Are both 我家 and 我的 okay in 下班以后我去你家或者你来[我家/我的]，都可以?
In the this sentence,
下班以后我去你家或者你来我家，都可以。
Can I change it to;
下班以后我去你家或者你来我的，都可以。
Can I do this every time? If the context is clear then can I just say (sth.) 的？
Also does the second ...
4
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3answers
122 views
Understanding “話之”
CantoDict: 話之
regardless of; no matter what; "I don't care" | Std. Chin.: 不管; 無論 | Syn.: 唔理 | Usu. in the form of 話之你; 話之佢 etc.
~
粵典: 話之 / 話知
(yue) 唔理唔顧；無視
(eng) to ignore; to ...
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6answers
2k views
What does “你舒服吗” mean in a relationship context?
I was practicing speaking Chinese with a native-speaking learning partner and used the phrase “你舒服吗” while referring to whether one is stressed out or relaxed.
The partner told me that it's unusual ...
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votes
2answers
61 views
Meaning of 点 in 你现在好点了吗？
In the following sentence, what is the meaning of 点?
你现在好点了吗？
Are you a bit better now?
I've only seen 点 used to note the hour. If I had to translate from the English, I would probably have guessed ...
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vote
2answers
101 views
Why does 往前走 have a repetitive meaning?
往前 means "to move forward" and 走 means "to walk", "to go". Also, the former and latter characters have their own meanings related to a movement of "go".
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2answers
96 views
What is the hidden meaning of 来打我呀?
I saw a lot of people using "来打我呀" online, for example in video comments or WeChat stickers.
I was wondering what is the hidden meaning of this sentence (if there is one)? I guess it does not only ...
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0answers
72 views
Needing To Know Chinese Artists Full Name Translation Along With His Red Seal Stamp
This Artist I am Researching may be from the Ming Dynasty. I Possibly own a Painting by Him and need to more understand the meaning of his Full Name. His Full Name is: "SHIQUAN HE LIAN" and His "Red ...
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2answers
48 views
What is the significance or meaning of 筹 in 略胜一筹？
This text is talking about pearls.
另外，相比于淡水珍珠，海水珍珠多为有核珍珠，尺寸较大，表面更平滑，外观上更胜一筹。
更胜一筹， 略胜一筹：slightly better, a cut above.
Maybe, this comes from an ancient drinking game:
壶矢。古代投壶用的签子，形如箭笴[arrow]
You ...
3
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3answers
309 views
Breaking down meaning of 几句话
I came across this sentence:
我想对你说几句话。
Wǒ xiǎng duì nǐ shuō jǐ jù huà.
I'd like to say a few words to you.
My understanding is that 句 means sentence, and 话 means "words" in general (ie 我听不懂她说的话 or "...
2
votes
1answer
65 views
What is the difference between 需 and 須? [duplicate]
I am wondering what the difference between 需 and 須 is. They seem close enough while 需 slightly hints to me that it is an "optional" kind of want, while 須 is a "demanding" want. Is this correct and is ...
1
vote
2answers
66 views
原来你什么都不想要. Why 不想要, and not just 不要?
Title from a popular Mandarin song, 原来你什么都不想要
So, why 不想要 rather than 不要? What is the difference?
What is the 想 doing there?
I would like to hear from people here?
3
votes
1answer
189 views
What “斗” refers to in “正斗”
The Cantonese term "正斗" means "great" or "of high quality"
正斗
an exclamation that sth is "great!"
~
正斗
好，美，正牌，正規，地道，純正，漂亮，質量好
I can understand why 正(authentic) is used in "正斗" which ...
2
votes
3answers
256 views
What does 十天半月 (or 十天半个月) mean?
From the novel 活着 (p.8):
我长大以后喜欢往城里跑，常常是十天半月不回家。
I got no real idea what 十天半月 means. Baidu suggests 十天半个月 is more common. Literally it says "10 days; fortnight". The closest to an answer I ...
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1answer
63 views
What does the lettering mean? [closed]
Thanks for your help <3
The sweatshirt has underneath the letters a weapon and underneath that "Paris" written so I´m a little concerned and confused on what it could mean... ^^´
2
votes
1answer
95 views
What is the difference between 词 and 汉字?
Does 汉字 refer to the actual written character while 词 refers to the meaning conveyed by that character? Or can they be used interchangeably?
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4answers
99 views
What is the difference between 能 vs. 会? [duplicate]
What is the difference between 能 and 会？
Don’t they both mean “could”? What is the difference between them?
4
votes
1answer
77 views
Are there Escher sentences in Chinese? [kinda technical]
I'm a linguist with an extremely superficial knowledge of Chinese, so I'd like to query some native speakers about a grammatical phenomenon I've been thinking about for some time.
In Indoeuropean ...
