Questions tagged [usage]
Questions that concern the use of expressions, parts of speech, words, verbs, etc.
3
votes
3answers
136 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
56 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。"?
1
vote
3answers
87 views
Difference between 必 and 一定
Both words kinda mean “must, necessarily, certainly”. Can someone explain the differences between the 2?
2
votes
1answer
69 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
69 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
80 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
84 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
74 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
54 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 ...
5
votes
2answers
116 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
95 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
67 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
39 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
58 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
439 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
35 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
79 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
46 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
36 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
52 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
69 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
43 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
74 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
64 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
106 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
208 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
60 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
101 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
107 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
176 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
454 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
64 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] ...
2
votes
4answers
101 views
Under what circumstances can you use 又…又…?
Can you only use 又 with adjectives, or can you also use it with verbs, verb phrases, and nouns？ I want to say, "Summer this year is rainy and cloudy.", so I wrote, “今年夏天是又雨天又云天。” Is this correct, or ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
Why is 把 in 我去洗把脸 (wǒ qù xǐ bǎ liǎn) = I'm going to wash my face?
YouDao has an example of 我去洗把脸:
知道了，妈。我去洗把脸，让自己清醒一些。
Zhīdàole, mā. Wǒ qù xǐ bǎ liǎn, ràng zìjǐ qīngxǐng yīxiē.
I see, Mummy. I'm going to wash my face and wake myself up.
and I just ...
1
vote
2answers
61 views
Are my answers to this question about 不仅 appropriate, and how can I make them more elaborate?
This is an exercise in the book 标准教程HSK4上 about using 不仅 (bùjǐn; "not only") together with 也, 还, or 而且.
I transcribe it below:
练一练 Practice
完成句子 Complete the sentences.
(1) 李老师不仅喜欢看电影，...
1
vote
3answers
101 views
Can 从来 mean since forever?
从来 is usually translated to "always, at all times, all along, from the past till the present". But it's usually used in the negative sense, which makes it more like "never".
I have been searching for ...
0
votes
4answers
77 views
What is the meaning of 磨练?
When researching online, finding an exact definition was hard.
Does it mean to make oneself hard? Or like to harden yourself?
Could you give me a few examples?
0
votes
3answers
112 views
What is the difference between 挣扎 and 奋斗?
When I search both online I get the same definition of
to struggle.
What is the different use of them then if the meaning is the same?
1
vote
3answers
64 views
What are the different uses of 体会?
While trying to understand the complete meaning 体会, the examples I found online had many different uses when translated into English.
体会
to know from experience; to learn through experience; to ...
7
votes
3answers
239 views
How to correctly use “多” to say “more than”?
I know a similar question has already been answered but I still have a lot of doubts.
To my understanding if a number is ≤9, you need to put "多" after the measure word (or after the name if it doesn'...
0
votes
3answers
70 views
还是付了吧，要不忘了。了 is …?
还是付了吧，要不忘了
This sentence probably means
That's exactly I'll pay for it , not to forget to do.
I know 了 has many aspects.
What's difference between "first 了" and "second 了"?
I think "first 了" is ...
1
vote
3answers
242 views
What is the difference between 因为 and 应为?
They are pronounced similarly and are both translated into "because". What is the difference in their meaning? When should I use one over the other?
2
votes
1answer
40 views
给 with inanimate objects
I'd like to ask "Can I take a picture of the menu?" at a small Chinese restaurant. Normally, I've seen "take picture of X" translated as 给X拍照, but I'm reluctant to use this translation in this context ...
3
votes
3answers
161 views
Question words at the end or beginning? Shei (very confusing)
So far, question words in Chinese have always appeared at the end.. but with "shei" I saw sentences like "Shei shi nide baba?" So it can be used at the start or end of a sentence? We could say, "Nide ...
0
votes
1answer
97 views
How do you say “Where is Beijing?”
In Chinese will we say, "Beijing zai nār/nali?". Because I just learned to say, "Lundun zai Ying Guo." Plus, "Where is your home?" is, "Nide jia zai nar?" So using these rules, is it acceptable?
...
1
vote
3answers
69 views
Are they in Britain?
In Chinese it will be "Tamen zai ying guo ma?" But I studied that we use shi to connect nouns, so can we also say: Tamen "shi" zai ying guo ma? Is it also grammatically correct?
It's just easier for ...
1
vote
3answers
70 views
Difference between “游泳” and “游水”
I've been learning with a course, and one of the lessons said: 这个男人在游泳, but the same sentence with a dog was: 这只狗在游水.
I presume that both were doing the same thing: swimming. So, can I use 游泳 with ...
