Questions tagged [meaning]
Questions about understanding the meaning of words, phrases, etc. For in-context meaning, use [meaning-in-context].
1,255
questions
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1answer
35 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
71 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
45 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
3
votes
3answers
380 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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3answers
105 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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2answers
378 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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3answers
337 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+ ...
2
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1answer
113 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
62 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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1answer
39 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
2
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1answer
48 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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3answers
198 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
52 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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2answers
147 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
131 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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1answer
40 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
votes
1answer
109 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
204 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
3
votes
3answers
132 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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1answer
66 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 ...
3
votes
4answers
164 views
What is the meaning of 有本事？
Context 1: - 看我不打死你 - 你打呀！有本事你就打呀！
Context 2: 傅文佩！你别躲在里面不出声！我知道你在家。你有本事抢男人，怎么没本事开门啊？开门！
Context 3: 怎么着？有本事你再回去你哥哥的公会啊？
Context 4: 有本事你开开呀？你敢开我就敢跳！
The literal meaning is having the ability to do ...
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2answers
124 views
中学生 why not secondary student life?
As 生 means life I thought 中学生 = secondary study life.
But actual meaning of 中学生 is Secondary School Student. xuésheng is student, so I remember it as student.
Why it is student rather study life?
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0answers
66 views
What is the meaning of the seal in the picture? (Character identified: 譜)
My friend is doing a historical research for her uni assignment about the object in the picture attached and would like to know the meaning of the seal. Since neither of us really studies chinese we ...
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1answer
71 views
I am from or I come from in Chinese
What's the difference of these two and are they used only for the place you originated from?
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1answer
74 views
Why 看 is used in 我看得目瞪口呆?
Going through this sentence.
我看得目瞪口呆。I was stunned/dumbfounded.
看 means see, why see in this sentence?
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2answers
96 views
What does 晓敏 means
I understand 晓敏 is girls name. Understood. but what exactly that means?
晓 dawn, to know
敏 quick, clever, smart
Is it quick dawn? Know quickness? Quick ? Clever? Smart Dawn? Smart?
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3answers
81 views
Where can the phrase 给点面子 be used? I was wondering if it has a cultural element that I’m missing
我在抖音上看到一部视频说这段话的意思是“Cut me some slack”但是我觉得有点我尚未不知的文化精神，而英语翻译不完全掌握那个感觉。请说明一下这段话是否有什么特殊！谢谢～
2
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1answer
136 views
What is the meaning of 省 in character breakdown
I went on zdic.net to find out about 乔. It says in the 详细 section,
会意。从夭，从高省，高亦声。夭，象人(大)行走的样子。本义:高
To my understanding, when a character is of the 会意 type, part of the character might be both ...
2
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2answers
91 views
Comparing 到 and 得 to emphasize results
I am trying to understand the usage of 到 and 得 when used to emphasize results. Take, for example, the lyrics from "吻别":
我的世界開始下雪
冷得讓我無法多愛一天
In this adjective + 得 + clause construction, can ...
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2answers
124 views
What does “我牛起来” mean?
I know what each of the characters mean, but I'm confuse on how to put it into a sentence.
我 - I
牛 - ox
起来 - up
4
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1answer
287 views
What does 拼命连比带画 mean?
我根本不会说法语，我当时拼命连比带画，想问画家能否给我再画一张刚才那个女孩的画像，结果他没有听懂。
这世界，缺你不可, p.90.
I translate it to something like:
I fundamentally don't speak French, and at the time I 拼命连比带画 (??), and wanted to ask the painter ...
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2answers
57 views
How do the words 我主張制止不了就放任 piece together?
The phrase is: "我主張制止不了就放任".
Initially I tried to break the sentence and thought the translation would be something like:
(1) "In my viewpoint, if you can't stop it, just let it go&...
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2answers
81 views
Translation a slogan “the perfect boost” to Chinese
I try to translate it to “ 注入新鲜血液，实现品牌升级” or “最完美的品牌升级” but I still have no idea how to translate it suitably.
(a straight translation is not always the best choice for a slogan)
Any suggestion or ...
6
votes
2answers
763 views
Etymology of 太太
I just finished the movie "Raise the Red Lantern" 【大红灯笼高高挂】with my girlfriend, and she asked me about the etymology of "太太” as lady, wife, mistress, etc. Given the rather simple nature ...
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4answers
120 views
How do you translate: she's very fancy
Fancy as she dresses well, fashionable or is good decorating, etc.
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2answers
103 views
How do we reconcile the different definitions for 弊端 in the HSK Standard Course 6上 (“disadvantage” etc.) and CC-CEDICT (“malpractice” etc.)?
The HSK Standard Course 6上 textbook (p.45) definition for 弊端 is inconsistent with the definition from CC-CEDICT:
HSK6上: n. disadvantage, drawback
CC-CEDICT: malpractice / abuse / corrupt practice
...
2
votes
2answers
117 views
多大 or 多少？Which should be used when and where?
多大 or 多少？
Could these two terms be used interchangeably, and if not what is the difference between them? When should they be used?
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1answer
140 views
Does anyone know what this means or the origins of this artwork?
Need help with where the signature stamp came from. Deng Shaoxin has been translated, but I'm not sure where to go from there as this is a very common surname. Translation of the rest seems to be ...
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2answers
60 views
difference between 人缘儿 and 谈得来
What is the difference between these two words, or are they the same?
人缘儿 and 谈得来
Am I supposed to use them at different times?
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2answers
63 views
你认为做什么事的时候时间过得最快: Could some explain the meaning of this sentence
I am a little confused honestly about this whole thing. What do you think is the fastest time, but I doubt this is correct. Really any kind of break down of sentence structure or meaning would be very ...
0
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1answer
96 views
What's the meaning of 娷?
While inputting PinYin's shui, I got the character 娷 among others. Neither automatic translators nor dictionaries gave me an accurate translation of it. I can identify the radicals 女 (female) and 垂 (...
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2answers
77 views
I can't understand this dialogue from my textbook. Can you help?
This character has a $300 allowance. She was asked what would she do if she ran out of allowance money.
Her response: 我父母给了我一张银行卡，在紧急情况下，我可以去拿钱。但是如果没有紧急情况，我用钱用得多了，他们下个月就不给我那么多钱了。比如，
I'm confused ...
2
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2answers
95 views
What is the meaning of 江山入画
Please, can you explain me the exact meaning of 江山入画? It is a name of a novel. However I am not sure of exact meanging. I know that 江山 means country, 画 is painting. Please what it mean all together ?
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2answers
51 views
Is there any different meaning between using 真 and 真的 in a sentence?
I came across some sentences in which 真 or 真的 have been used.
Sentences with 真 only.
你真不知道我是谁
这事真不能怪我
Sentences with 真的 only.
我真的不想去
我真的后悔说过的话
Is there any different meaning between using 真 and 真的 ...
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3answers
107 views
What is the difference between 矮 and 短
What is the difference between 矮 and 短. Both seem to mean "short," so how can they be differentiated?
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1answer
52 views
What does this mean in English, please? [duplicate]
[广州市]【广州国际中心】已出口直封 What does this mean in English? I am expecting a parcel to be delivered.
0
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1answer
49 views
What's the difference between盛名and名副其实
I have the sentences 这个学校名副其实的温暖，这学校对外声称自己是暖心的社团，接触他的人也确实感受到暖暖的爱
名副其实 means"reputation"or"not just in name only，but also in reality"
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1answer
120 views
What is the hidden meaning of “mi mi”, the Chinese word for secret?
The English word is "secret"
The Chinese word is "秘密"
I found 禾 means grain, 必 means must.
The second character has 宀 (mián) roof,必 (bì) must and 山 (shān) mountain.
How does it all ...
1
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1answer
106 views
Why does 身体 mean both “body” and “health”?
I've seen a curious Chinese word 身体. At first, I have discovered that it means 'body' and is a word with a broader meaning in comparison to 身材 or 体格. But I never understood why it means 'body' or, yet ...
