Questions tagged [meaning-in-context]
Questions about understanding words or phrases within a given context.
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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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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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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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What does 朱幂 and 黄幂 mean in this ancient illustration of the Pythagorean Theorem?
The above is an illustration of the Pythagorean Theorem from the work 周髀算经. On the left it says:
勾股幂合以成弦幂
Which I think is a 8-character statement of the Pythagorean Theorem, as follows:
勾 ("...
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How do you understand sentences like 你相信圣诞老人吗？ Do they mean "do you believe Santa Claus?" or "do you believe *in* Santa Claus?"
CC-CEDICT: 相信 (xiāngxìn): to be convinced (that sth is true); to believe; to accept sth as true
Recently I encountered the sentence
你相信鬼吗？
which surprised me because it translated to "do you ...
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To Be - 变成 vs 当
In the song 学猫叫 (Xue Mao Jiao) are two lines that seem to have similar English translations:
我想要当你的小猫猫 - "I want to be your cat"
想要变成你的猫 - "I want to be your cat"
Do 当 and 变成 ...
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What exactly is supplied (供) in 供游人休息并欣赏黄浦江两岸的美景?
This is from an article about The Bund 外滩 in Shanghai in the textbook 新实用汉语课本5, page 79 (photo of original):
“情人墙”建在黄浦江边，全长约1700米。观光台的地面是彩色的，有32个半圆形的观景阳台，还有很多方灯、花坛、方亭、六角亭和绿化带，供游人休息并欣赏黄浦江两岸的美景。
I don'...
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How does one express "truthfully", like at the beginning of a sentence in chinese?
In english I would use "actually", 其实，but the particular thing I am trying to convey is that previously, I gave information that was incorrect, but now I am correcting that information.
“I ...
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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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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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What is the meaning of 萝图荟萃?
《萝图荟萃》 is the title of the catalogue of the imperial map collection from 1760.
However, according to various dictionaries, 萝 means "radish" which makes no sense in this context.
Some ...
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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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100番PET Label Thickness Standard
What does 番 mean in the context of PET Label thickness? Is it 100 micron?
Sentence: 标签面料厚度是100番PET。
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What is the meaning of 挥发 here?
Chemistry is not my thing. I like to make 拉面 at home, although I am not very good at it.
Reading the advice for the use of 拉面剂 I saw this:
拉面剂加到面粉里后会挥发，所以用量有浮动。
I usually add the 拉面剂 directly to the ...
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Paying directly to Alipay
Because of certain reason, I can't pay the seller through the marketplace platform. Is it appropriate to use:
我可以直接转你们的支付宝上吗？
to ask to pay them directly to their Alipay account?
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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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Can someone help my identity this silk painting please
Hello I inherited 4 silk Chinese paintings and would love to know who made them and what the red stamps mean?
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Could 三间房子 mean "a house with three rooms" rather than "three houses"?
I've seen this sentence in the book I'm reading (talking about a postman, so not a very rich person):
他在镇里盖了三间房子，还安了wifi……
So, since it would seem strange that a postman could have three houses ...
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Why does 老舍 in《猫城记》 use the phrase 不是没有 in 因为不是没有阳光?
远处有些小山，也是灰色的，比天空更深一些；因为不是没有阳光，小山上是灰里带着些淡红，好像野鸽脖子上的彩闪。
猫城记，老舍, p.7 (photo; alt)
I'd translate this to:
In the distance there are some small mountains, which are also gray, darker than the sky; ...
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Use of 空降兵 in net language
This particular word has been a sore spot for me.
空降兵
I know it literally translates as Paratroopers. like Air raiders or smth.
but I heard its also an internet slang.
Id love to know what it means.
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What is the meaning of 闻义不能徙?
I read this excerpt, but I can't understand the meaning in 闻义不能徙.
In fact it's all a bit hazy, could some kind person give me a breakdown or a modern Chinese interpretation?
德之不修，学之不讲，闻义不能徙，不善不能改，是吾忧也。...
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Confused about 生气/着急/担心
This is from a random hsk 5 practice exam I found online. Confused about the answer to 51 being 生气 here. I chose 着急. My thinking is that 着急 is most similar to anxious in English, which is why the wife ...
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What is the meaning of 货色 in this sentence?
货色 either means just goods or kinds and quality of goods, I believe.
货 is 货物 I think.
色 is either 颜色 or 特色
这是一座文化超级市场，新奇货色的不时出现对在寻求知识的顾客带有强烈诱惑。
新奇货色：goods of novel type and appearance or just novel ...
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Why 今 and 今天 both mean “today”?
They can both mean the same thing, but is there a specific case why you would use 今 instead of 今天?
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What’s with “一题问题”?
Duolingo keeps drilling me on this sentence:
我不懂这一题问题
My question is, why “一题问题”? It looks to me as though 一题, coming as it does after 这, were being used as a classifier for 问题. But according to ...
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In these phrases what is the 量词 个 doing?
I got these examples from the book I am struggling to read, 《名词和动词》沈家煊
My brain is blocked! I have been trying to understand arcsine(x) since yesterday, but I can't do maths!
It is said 个 is a count ...
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What does 抢高 mean?
Example: 在求过于供下，自然抢高租金，一有放盘就会大排长龙。
Obviously it involves raising the price.
Who is the subject here? Is it the landlords who rob (抢) the tenants by raising (高) the price, or the renters who rush and ...
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Difference between 必须得 and 一定要 in context
For example, if I want to say, "for this class you gotta have a cup of coffee (to stay awake)", should I say 你一定要有咖啡 or 你必须的有咖啡? Note that in this context, I am not demanding that the person ...
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What about the meaning "actually" for 所 mentioned in many dictionaries?
Many online dictionaries (dictionary.writtenchinese.com, yellowbridge.com, chine.in/mandarin/dictionnaire/, app.ninchanese.com/search, etc...) mention the meaning "actually" ("en ...
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How do I understand ChatGPT's joke: 为什么音乐家总是迟到？因为他们总是在调音！?
I asked ChatGPT (3.5 turbo) for some examples of 双关语 = "puns". Among its examples is:
为什么音乐家总是迟到？因为他们总是在调音！
Why are musicians always late? Because they're always tuning. [my translation]
...
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If 为, meaning 'for...', takes the reading [wèi] why, in the following examples, is [wéi] being used?
I had learned that 为 'for the purpose/sake of' took the reading 'wèi'. However, I have seen several instances of 'wéi' being used to mean the same thing. Are these readings interchangeable or is 'wéi' ...
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Is this sentence correct? 我把梦想献给李白的诗
I know it's a very easy sentence, but I'm afraid it could sound strange to the natives.
Could you confirm me that you would say "I dedicate my dreams to Li Bai's poem" in this way?
...
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What does 欩 [chāo] mean?
Google translates 爷爷上山去欩柴。as, 'Grandad went up the mountain to get firewood.'.
Both Wiktionary and Chinesetools.com include this character, but give no meaning for it. I wondered if it were a rarely ...
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Nuance of 知道了 versus 明白了
In the WeTV version of Three Body Problem (ep. 12, minute 12:31) Wang Miao tells detective Shi Qiang not to smoke in front of Wang Miao's daughter. While the detective hates being told not to smoke, ...
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In 凡是长毛的，都不容易养育, is 长 pronounced chánɡ or zhǎnɡ?
This is from the story 《猫经》 in the May edition of 《意林》:
像人一样，猫也有猫相。凡是长毛的，都不容易养育，毛掉得一家都是，怎么清理也不干净。而且这些猫种常患病，命也短。要养的话，最重要的是要选头大的，大头猫永远是比较可爱的。 (photo of original text; digital version)
I'm not sure if ...
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What does "绝地" mean?
I am reading a novel and I have encountered this word "绝地", I thought the author made a mistake at first and meant "觉得" but I have been seeing "绝地" pop up more and more ...
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What exactly is a 祝版, and how is it used in ceremonies?
In the chengyu story behind 入木三分 (rù mù sān fēn), the emperor has a 祝版 created for a ceremony in which he makes sacrifices to his ancestors. I did some initial searches and found that a 祝版 is wooden ...
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Can ''Algeria'' name in Chinese be changed?
I had this idea for a while in my mind.
It is known that Algeria in Chinese language is 阿尔及利亚, which is a direct translation from it's English equivalent.
In Arabic, Algeria is called الجزائر (Al-Jaza'...
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What is a meaning of 一口 in 他会说一口标准的英语?
他会说一口标准的英语
He can speak standard English.
So I think that 一口 can be omitted and still the sentence can make sense.
How actually 一口 work in this sentence?
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What role does 一种 have in 一种似曾相识的感觉?
In 一种似曾相识的感觉, 一种 does not mean “one type of”. Removing 一种 does not seem to change anything. Comparing the following, I can’t tell any difference.
这是我第一次来苏州，却有一种似曾相识的感觉。
这是我第一次来苏州，却有似曾相识的感觉。
So what ...
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What does 悶 mean in the context of cookery?
I've seen 悶 being used in more than one recipe, and Google typically translates it as "stuffy", which doesn't really make sense given the context. Looking at alternative translations, "...
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Why does "每天我都得吃药 Měitiān wǒ dū dé chī yào" include "dū"?
From my understanding 每天我都得吃药 (Měitiān wǒ dū dé chī yào)
都 = All, both, entirely etc.
So my understanding of the English translation would be "Everyday I have to take medicine"
Also I know &...
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