Questions tagged [usage]
Questions that concern the use of expressions, parts of speech, words, verbs, etc.
-1
votes
2answers
56 views
Difference between 马上，立刻，直接
What's the difference between 马上，立刻 and 直接? How do I use each word and in what situation is each word used?
0
votes
3answers
34 views
Difference between 经常 and 时常?
When do I use 经常 and 时常? Can they be used interchangeably? If there is difference between the two words, what situation do I use each of them?
0
votes
0answers
33 views
Difference between 一共 and 总共 [duplicate]
The English meaning for 一共 and 总共 is "altogether, in total". Is there any difference in usage of both words? If there is difference, what situation must I use 一共 and when do I use 总共?
1
vote
1answer
44 views
Difference between 图画 and 绘画
The dictionary defines both 图画 and 绘画 as drawing & painting. Can both words be used interchangeably? Is there any difference in the words in terms of usage?
2
votes
2answers
75 views
when is the suffix 边/面 required?
I have learnt location words such as 上/下/前/后etc. and understand they can modify a noun such as -桌子上，宿舍前 . I also know the suffix 边 or 面 can be added (doesn't really change the meaning). When do i need ...
2
votes
2answers
64 views
What is the difference between 真确 and 真实?
Is 真确 and 真实 used in different situations? Do provide some examples on their usage if possible. Thanks!
2
votes
1answer
213 views
Which is better, 其他所有 or 所有其他？
其他所有 or 所有其他，which word order is more natural and ”合乎中文的习惯” ？
For example, as in 其他所有内容 or 所有其他内容， 其他所有人 or 所有其他人， etc.
3
votes
3answers
94 views
Difference between 到处 and 处处
Apparently 到处 and 处处 means everywhere in English. May I know if both words can be used interchangeably or there are some differences in usage?
3
votes
2answers
269 views
How do I use 着呢 correctly?
So 着呢, from the book I am currently studying (汉语教程) says it uses it at the end of a sentence to express “very”. However, my teacher said this is incorrect and said 着呢 is used to express something is ...
1
vote
4answers
64 views
How to use the phrase “尝一尝”?
Recently I encountered the phrase "尝一尝" in a sentence. I need some advice on the way to use it and when to use it. And is 尝一尝 similar to 试一试?
2
votes
2answers
65 views
Difference between 思想，心思 and 思维
Is there any difference between the words 思想，心思 and 思维? If possible, pls provide some examples on the usage and situation to use it. Thank you!
0
votes
2answers
125 views
Chinese this and that
In English, we use this to indicate something close to us, or the first one and that to indicate something further off, or the next one. Apparently, early English did not have this distinction.
This ...
3
votes
2answers
164 views
Does 再见 work for “goodbye forever”?
As a learner, when I see 再见 I see the literal "see you again" in the meaning of the characters. French has a similar expression for goodbye, "au revior", which also literally means "until (I) see you ...
3
votes
4answers
587 views
Why is 尊重 considered 不礼貌 in this context?
I asked my proficient friend if this sentence was 病句 or not:
我尊重中国的工程公司。
He replied：
Someone like a President could say this, and it would be OK. Were a normal person (仆人？） to say this, it'd be ...
4
votes
2answers
211 views
What is the difference of use between 没空 and 没(有)时间?
As far as I can tell, they both have the same meaning: have no time, i.e.:
对不起，今天我没空帮你
对不起，今天我没（有）时间帮你
But the first one looks like a quasi-idiomatic expression (have no air?); is there a ...
6
votes
4answers
221 views
Using phrase 打不死
I recently encountered 打不死 as the title of a column in a US Chinese language newspaper. Asking my Chinese language teacher, she gave the literal translation of "beaten but not dead", meaning something ...
1
vote
2answers
63 views
Correct grammar? 她对待客人很友好。
In an Anki deck I downloaded, the Chinese translation of "Her treatment of the guests is very friendly." is given as "她对待客人很友好。" Shouldn't it be "她对待客人得很友好。"?
2
votes
3answers
118 views
Difference between 必 and 一定
Both words kinda mean “must, necessarily, certainly”. Can someone explain the differences between the two?
2
votes
1answer
77 views
How to translate “and” to Chinese
I would like some clarification on translating 'and' into Chinese. I know 和 and 跟 can be used as 'and' with nouns, 也 can be used with verbs, and often 'and' isn't translated but a comma is used. But ...
0
votes
1answer
73 views
Omitting repeated text with 𠚤
I remember when I was studying in China a teacher of mine said you could omit a word under the same word using the character/symbol 𠚤. Coincidentally I bumped into it yesterday and remembered that. ...
4
votes
2answers
92 views
What do the characters I've found on this old gun mean?
On an antique shotgun I was told had Korean origin I found the following (what I presume are Hanja?) characters†. Four out of five I believe I have correctly identified. One character I could not find ...
1
vote
1answer
263 views
What's the difference between 恭喜發財 and 恭禧發財?
Today I visited a house that had Chinese New Year banners all over. On the stairs, one banner reads 「恭禧發財」, and above a door, another banner reads 「恭喜發財」. Both of these are pronounced exactly the same ...
4
votes
1answer
81 views
The difference between : 日 vs 号
I was reading a conversation and came to these sentences :
爸爸 ：双十一是什么？
妈妈 ：就是11月11号的网上购物节，在网上买东西很便宜。
I was wondering why it's 号 instead of 日. I then checked it on the dictionary and found out ...
2
votes
1answer
57 views
Pronunciation and the usage of 啊
So what does the word 啊 actually use for? I have seen it being use for some sentence but don’t really know when to use it
Also my teacher said to me that depending on the word 啊 goes with it will ...
6
votes
2answers
155 views
Function of 吧 in 循环吧代码
In this page for learning loops in JavaScript by Mozilla Developer Network the title "Looping code" is translated as 循环吧代码. What is the meaning/function of 吧 here?
3
votes
2answers
104 views
What does 是是 mean beyond 是? Is it just a typo?
This question relates to the following snippet:
不约而同是一个成语，读音是是bù yuē ér tóng，意思是指事先没有约定而相互一致。
Baidu Baike，不约而同
It introduces the chengyu (idiom) 不约而同, which means something like "doing something ...
1
vote
4answers
99 views
Difference between 持续 and 继续
There is a particular sentence that has raised some questions among my private tutors.
不管你是快乐还是难过，生活总要___下去。
You're asked to determine whether 持续 or 继续 is correct, or that both are correct.
The ...
0
votes
2answers
40 views
Verbal or transitive arguments to 对
Apparently, the argument to 对 may be a verb, which I found surprising.
a) 对听音乐感兴趣
b) 对音乐感兴趣
c) 对听感兴趣
d) 对游泳感兴趣
e) 对泳感兴趣
f) 对游感兴趣
g) 对学汉语感兴趣
h) 对汉语感兴趣
From what I can tell, d) is grammatically ...
1
vote
1answer
59 views
What role does 很 play in A和B很像?
A和B很像。
It sounds natural.
But if we delete 很 in the sentence, it looks like:
A和B像。
Which sounds very unnatural.
So what role does 很 play in the original sentence?
2
votes
2answers
442 views
Is 学长/学兄 gender specific？
So the word 学姐 is gender specific to woman so what about 学长? Is it only use for male? And if so is 学兄 for all gender?
3
votes
2answers
98 views
How do I say “the school was sold to that big company”?
My question is related to the position of 给.
Do I say:
学校被卖给那个公司了。
or
学校给那个公司被卖了。
Thanks!
1
vote
1answer
38 views
Artistic characters?
Came across characters which appear to be written on parchment. Any idea why it’d be framed or the meaning of it? All I can tell is that it seems to be a [poetic] story. (The characters in red are a ...
1
vote
2answers
84 views
History/usage: 耦 vs. 偶?
According to the ABC dictionary 耦 means:
a couple
as a noun and
to couple
as a verb.
Think of words like:
去耦
meaning decouple.
But, 配偶 can also be written: 配耦.
What is the history and ...
2
votes
2answers
48 views
The use of 部 as a classifier in Mandarin
So I’ve read that 部 is used for machines, films and literature. So does that mean I can use 部 for words like 书，词典, etc even though they usually go with 本？
0
votes
1answer
38 views
Differences between 读 and 阅读? [duplicate]
If I am not wrong then both of them means read. So what are the difference between them?
1
vote
2answers
53 views
来 vs 去 usage for the speakers movement towards a place
So I know that 来 is used for actions that is moving towards the speaker and 去 is away from the speaker but I don’t know if I am moving towards a place I would use 来 or 去
For example: I go to Paris ...
2
votes
2answers
82 views
Difference between 可能 and 能
I’ve always wonder what is the difference between the word 可能 and 能. I know it both means can, possible but is there any difference between them?
1
vote
2answers
45 views
才能 vs 能 in this sentence
The page I followed on Instagram uploaded a picture complete with its caption that says :
很多小朋友以为长大了以后才能自由自在。他们不知道，他们才是最自由自在的。
They also provide this translation :
Many children think they can ...
2
votes
2answers
76 views
Can “秀气” be used to describe objects that aren't people?
So there are 3 main translations for 秀气:
Delicate
Elegant
Graceful
Which makes it seem like it could be used to describe really anything--
However I have a friend who is saying that it is ...
1
vote
2answers
66 views
Using a verb as a habitual thing vs Chinese
I have noticed perhaps that in English we could say a sentence like ‘you think I sleep?’ And it could be referring to (in a comical way of course) that fact of me not sleeping in general or at all.
...
2
votes
2answers
112 views
What is the meaning of 要 in these sentences?
While doing exercises on my book I found some sentences with a use of 要 which I've never seen before and I can't figure out the meaning. The sentences are the following:
他很忙，但是他应该要来参加我的生日晚会
...
8
votes
7answers
233 views
Difference between 客气 and 礼貌
On New Practical Chinese Reader 4, workbook, page 7, there's a story about Scott and a Chinese person discussing about manners. The Chinese person says 客气 and 礼貌 are different, and that he/she feels ...
3
votes
1answer
65 views
The position of 已经 in “have been doing something for some times already”
Since 已经 is an adverb I thought I'd always have to put it before the verb like in:
1) 这对老人已经相爱三十多年了
2) 他已经睡四个小时了
But I found a sentence on my book that say:
他们恋爱已经一年多了
It should translate ...
1
vote
2answers
117 views
Is it 在桌子上面 or 在桌子的上面?
A Google search of both exact phrases turns up both:
在桌子上面
在桌子的上面
There are about 10x more without the 的.
Do they mean the same thing?
3
votes
2answers
127 views
What is the difference between 收了 and 收到了?
What is the difference between 收了 and 收到了?
1. We say 我收了他的錢
2. But we don't say 我收了他的信, We say我收到他的信了
When do we use 收了 and 收到了?
4
votes
2answers
198 views
Interesting tongue-twisters like these?
Is there any reduplicate tongue-twister like these?
1.
校長說：「衣服上除了校徽別別別的。」
(The principal said, "Don't(別) pin(別) other(別的) badge except the school badge.)
2.
雨天騎腳踏車，車輪打滑，還好我反應快，一把把把手穩住了！
It's ...
2
votes
3answers
459 views
Encountered usage of 为
接受函数为参数，返回值为函数
I can vaguely translate this as
Gets function as parameter, return value is function.
but that's only due to my domain knowledge. I am confused by the use of 为 here. The only 为 I ...
0
votes
3answers
68 views
Need help completing this sentence using 打折
I want to say a sentence such as:
They discount so much I can't help but buy!
I went as far as 这家商店打折那么多， but need help with finding a Chinese expression that has the same impression as "can't ...
5
votes
9answers
1k views
Why is ７元/并 written instead of ７元/瓶?
A photo from the campus shop:
(large image)
I transcribe and translate this to:
纯享促销 ７元/并
Purejoy promotion: 7 yuan/bottle
(Here, Purejoy (纯享 chúnxiǎng) is a brand of yogurt.)
I'm ...
1
vote
4answers
85 views
What is 那种带有 doing in 我喜欢喝农民那种带有苦味的茶水?
From the third sentence in the book 活着
我喜欢喝农民那种带有苦味的茶水
Wǒ xǐhuān hē nóngmín nàzhǒng dàiyǒu kǔwèi de cháshuǐ
This translates to something like
I [我] like [喜欢] to drink [喝] the farmers' [民那] ...
