Questions tagged [usage]
Questions that concern the use of expressions, parts of speech, words, verbs, etc.
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2answers
44 views
When did 方便面 become 泡面 and why?
I've noticed people avoid the word 方便面 these days, instead opting for the word 泡面. I'm not sure exactly when this switchover occurred but it does seem very pervasive at the moment.
KEY does define ...
0
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5answers
60 views
躲 vs 藏 usage in terms of objects and timing
I just want to confirm if my research on the usage is correct or not for these two words. So based on my research so far, 躲 means hide (people) while 藏 means hide (objects). The thing I'm not sure ...
3
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7answers
128 views
敌人 vs 冤家 difference
All the time, I've only heard of 敌人 = enemy, in TV shows and dramas. Yesterday I saw the word 冤家 in a folk song which apparently also means enemy in the dictionary. So I was wondering what's the ...
3
votes
1answer
189 views
What is the difference between 元 (圓), 幣, and 金?
In currency exchange booths, and in conversation, I've noticed this:
US dollar = 美元, 美金.
Hong Kong dollar = 港幣
Japanese Yen = 日元
Singapore dollar = 新幣
Euro = 歐元
There's also 英磅 for the pound ...
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4answers
106 views
Chinese numerals or Arabic numerals?
In formal writting in Chinese, should we write
事情已经过去了一万二千三百四十五天。
or
事情已经过去了12345天。
or
事情已经过去了12,345天。
Which one is considered more standard?
3
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8answers
255 views
Do Chinese people not use “和”?
I'm currently taking a Chinese class with native speakers, and one criticism I've gotten a lot on my writing is that I use “和” way too much. I understand that Americans say "and" more than would be ...
0
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1answer
43 views
Translation for “what a coincidence”
What's the right way to say "what a coincidence" when I see a friend? Like for example if I see a friend at a shopping mall by coincidence do I say "真巧呀" or "真巧合呀"? Or is there any better way to ...
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3answers
93 views
Usage of 理由 vs 原因
What is the difference in the usage of 理由 vs 原因? Both seem to translate to "reason."
According to my understanding, 理由 is more like the rationale behind a decision, behind a move, etc. and 原因 is more ...
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2answers
59 views
Error in Book? Need help
I was reading Assimil Chinese with Ease and came across this.
你见过他？
Since this is a question, is 吗 necessary for the question? Perhaps an error? Or can you omit 吗？
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1answer
46 views
Usage of 长短 vs 长度
Based in the dictionary, 长短 = length and 长度 = length. What is the usage or difference between the two words?
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1answer
48 views
How to formally say : “I am yyy calling from xxx company, how can I help you ?”
From a customer service standpoint , how to formally say : "I am yyy calling from xxx company, how can I help you ?".
1：“我是客服 yyy，从 xxx 公司 打过来的。请问有什么可以帮助您 ？”
2： “我叫 yyy , 从 xxx 公司给您打电话了。请问怎么能帮助您 ？”
...
3
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4answers
564 views
Thank You : 谢谢 vs 感谢 vs 跪谢 vs 多谢
While expressing gratitude in spoken Mandarin , I believe people use 谢谢 and 感谢. For example 谢谢你的时间 OR 谢谢你带我来这里 .
Does 感谢你的时间 OR 感谢你带我来这里 imply a higher level of gratitude ? Is there a difference in ...
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1answer
58 views
How to say “If you would like to know any updates , you can always call or message me”
According to my understanding, “update” is translated to “更新” . But this seems to be in the context of Software。 Eg. Software update, OS update ,etc.
But how would you convey update in the following ...
3
votes
1answer
65 views
Benefeciary ： 受益者 vs 获得者
What is the accurate word for Beneficiary (Eg. A beneficiary of a bank account) in Mandarin Chinese ? What is the difference in usage of 受益者 and 获得者 ?
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2answers
48 views
Usage of 就 in these two examples
I'm taking an intermediate Chinese course and ran across a character whose usage I can't quite wrap my head around: 就.
I believe the meaning of the character itself are "then, right away, etc." ...
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3answers
77 views
停止 vs. 停住 usage/difference?
I am quite confused with the usage of both words as the some of the meaning is overlapping based in English translations. The dictionary shows that 停止 = stop, cease, halt while for 停住 = stop, halt. So ...
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3answers
65 views
Which is used more often, 日没 and 日落
Both 日没 and 日落 express sunset but which one is often more widely used?
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1answer
160 views
“Sheng” as a male given name
Apparently there are quite a lot of characters that are pronounced as "sheng". (According to Pleco: 生、声、省、升、胜、圣、剩，盛、牲、绳、笙、甥、嵊、眚、乘、昇、晟、渑、㗂，呏，曻、泩、陞、鼪)
Which of these could plausibly be used as a (...
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1answer
57 views
也许 vs 或许 vs 可能 usage
I checked the meaning for all 3 words and it appears that:
也许 = maybe, perhaps, probably /
或许 = maybe, perhaps, probably"/
可能 = possibly, possible, maybe, perhaps.
It seems to me that 也许 and 或许 have ...
1
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2answers
67 views
演唱会 vs 音乐会 difference
Based on the dictionary, it seems that both 演唱会 & 音乐会 means concert. I did further research and read somewhere that 演唱会 = concert (outdoor & indoor) with many ppl and lots of shouting and ...
0
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2answers
113 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?
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3answers
46 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?
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0answers
39 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?
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2answers
83 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
88 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
68 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
220 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
105 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?
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2answers
283 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 ...
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4answers
70 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
78 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!
1
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2answers
131 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 ...
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2answers
184 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
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4answers
735 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 ...
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2answers
217 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
226 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 ...
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2answers
65 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
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3answers
134 views
Difference between 必 and 一定
Both words kinda mean “must, necessarily, certainly”. Can someone explain the differences between the two?
2
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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
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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. ...
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votes
2answers
100 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 ...
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1answer
318 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 ...
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1answer
84 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
61 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
156 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
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2answers
105 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 ...
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4answers
132 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 ...
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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
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1answer
62 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
444 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?
