Questions tagged [usage]
Questions that concern the use of expressions, parts of speech, words, verbs, etc.
619
questions
1
vote
5answers
139 views
Where is the verb in reduplication of adjectives “Noun + Adj + Adj + 的”?
I understand the 的 from the structure:
Adj + 的
Example: 高的。
as attaching the Adj to an omitted Noun. This omitted Noun can either be a general noun such as "one/s" (高的 can mean the tall ...
1
vote
4answers
167 views
What's the difference between 是不是 and 对不对？
Can you use both of these interchangeably? Is one more common than the other? I also haven't seen this pattern used with other verbs. Are there other verbs where this is commonly used as well?
2
votes
2answers
370 views
What is 要 doing in 每天她要慢跑?
In an exercise, I came across this sentence with the translation:
每天早上她都要慢跑一个小时。
Měi tiān zǎoshɑnɡ tā dōu yào màn pǎo yí ɡè xiǎoshí.
She goes to jog every morning for an hour.
What is the meaning of ...
3
votes
4answers
77 views
Can you still use “Number + MW + 多” when the Number can be more than one MW larger?
I have a doubt related to these questions: Does 多 always come after the measure word？, How to correctly use "多" to say "more than"?
In the answers, they explain you can give an ...
2
votes
2answers
82 views
To make friends: 交朋友 vs 认识朋友?
I have come across some sentences where both 认识朋友 and 交朋友 were translated as to make friends (even though typically 认识 is translated in English as to know). Is there a difference between them?
...
2
votes
2answers
159 views
Is 各式各样 Taiwanese version of 各种各样?
I know that 各式各样 = 各种各样, but is one Taiwanese version of the other one? What I mean is: is one more frequently used in China and the other is more frequently in Taiwan?
-3
votes
2answers
64 views
I wanna get a tattoo in chinese, how would it look to native chinese? [closed]
處世若無毫末善 死將何物答冥候
it's from a poem. how does it sound and look? what would you think if you see a foreign guy tattooed with that?
3
votes
3answers
92 views
Why is 很早 after the verb in 我起床很早?
I came across the following sentence:
今天我起床很早。
Jīntiān wǒ qǐchuáng hěn zǎo.
Today I wake up very early.
I am confused about 很早 appearing after the verb. I think here 很早 (very early) indicates the ...
6
votes
3answers
882 views
What is 吗 doing in 你有什么事吗？
In a Chinese lesson, I came across these sentences:
你有什么事吗？
Nǐ yǒu shénme shì mɑ?
你有什么事？
Nǐ yǒu shénme shì?
And both were translated as:
What's the matter?
I don't understand 1. Without 吗, I ...
4
votes
3answers
549 views
Can an adverb modify another adverb in Chinese?
I was wondering if an adverb in Chinese can be used to modify another adverb. I looked some resources but I could not find it. For example, in Adverb in resources.allsetlearning, they just say "...
1
vote
7answers
187 views
How to translate “something separates me from other people” in Chinese?
I'm trying to translate a song lyric that reads "something separates me from other people".
My translation is " 我从别人点儿什么分开“.
Is this correct? Thanks in advance for your help!
0
votes
2answers
70 views
Difference between 问 and 让 “to ask”
How do 问 and 让 differ in meaning and in what sort of situations would you use either of them?
In chinese.yabla.com there are a lot of different verbs with the meaning 'to ask'.
4
votes
3answers
154 views
Trust/Believe : “信任” vs “相信”
How is the usage of 信任 and 相信 different ？ According to my understanding the scope of 信任 is more than the scope of 相信 . For example if we are talking about a person or a few people , we might say 我相信你 ...
1
vote
1answer
28 views
Placement of duration complement 很长时间 before a negated verb 没看?
I found the following sentence:
我很长时间没看电影了。
Wǒ hěn cháng shíjiān méi kàn diànyǐngle.
I haven't watched a movie in a very long time.
I believe 很长时间 (very long time) is the duration of the action 没看 (...
1
vote
3answers
81 views
Passive object position in 是…的 structure?
I came across the following sentences:
1.
电话是谁打来的?
Diànhuà shì shuí dǎlái de?
Who was calling?
晚饭是妈妈做的。
Wǎnfàn shì māma zuò de.
Mom made dinner.
Which literally is something like:
The phone call ...
1
vote
1answer
56 views
If I go to a store and the cashier asks “有會買嗎?” what does that mean?
For example, if a cashier rings me up and says "這樣一共是五百元, 有會買嗎?" What does the "有會買嗎" mean and how would I respond? Thank you.
2
votes
2answers
59 views
Is it okay to use stative verbs in Topic-Comment?
In the topic-comment structure, I notice that action verbs and adjectival verbs often appear in the comment part. This makes sense because the topic is typically an object: with action-verbs, you can ...
3
votes
4answers
101 views
Why 了 in 走+time+就到了？
I came across the following sentence:
她的家很近，走五分钟就到了。
Tā de jiā hěn jìn, zǒu wǔ fēnzhōnɡ jiù dào le.
Her house is very close, only need to walk for five minutes to arrive.
Question: Why is there a ...
3
votes
3answers
107 views
Meaning of 的 in 真的?
Question:
Is the 的 in 真的 a modal 的 [see resources.allsetlearning.com]?
How does 的 change 真? Does it bring some emphasis?
I guess the purpose of 的 in 真的 is the same as in 好的 or 有的? See Is each 的 in 有的 ...
1
vote
1answer
37 views
可以 altering time words order?
In this site they say time words can only appear in two possible positions in a sentence, either before or after the subject:
Time + Subj. + Verb + Obj.
Subj. + Time + Verb + Obj.
But I came across ...
1
vote
2answers
60 views
How to proceed after forgetting to include time-when/location/adverb phrase before main verb?
In English (and other languages), I commonly do this in conversations: I'll say a short + simple sentence (subject-verb-object), but moments later, I'll want to add a detail to the statement.
...
2
votes
2answers
55 views
播出，廣播，轉播 ：哪裡不一樣？
So I'm studying the translation for broadcasting and three terms (well, excluding one, which I'll mention at the end) are given to me by a textbook. They are 播出, 廣播 and 轉播.
For the life of me I ...
4
votes
3answers
153 views
Which one is more commonly used in Chinese speaking communities: 年轻 or 年青?
One of the elective projects on the study of Chinese culture given in my high school is as follows:
探讨中国传统文化如何助当今年青人走出困局。
I thought this was a typo so I asked our teacher to correct it to 年轻. But ...
1
vote
2answers
57 views
可以 order structure?
I have some confusion about the grammar structure of 可以 Kěyǐ.
I found in this website the basic usage is:
Subj. + 可以 + Verb + Obj.
But then I came across a dialogue where they put it after the verb:
...
2
votes
1answer
69 views
When does an adjective require 的 to describe a noun?
In this post on the omission of the possessive 的，I came across an explanation of the adjective suffix 的 by Tang Ho. An example was:
强大勇敢 (brave + strong) = correct without 的
强大勇敢的人 (brave and ...
2
votes
5answers
108 views
What is the function of 就是
What does 就 是mean and how do we use it I have seen many times people using like in this sentence 就是关于爱情的 so what does 就是really means
0
votes
1answer
63 views
Difference between 那 vs 呢 and when to use it [closed]
What is the difference between 那 vs 呢 and where should I use it?
0
votes
0answers
67 views
Why Chinese add 子 into Monosyllabic words [duplicate]
I notice there are many monosyllabic words that own their meanings already. Then they are added 子 but their meanings are still the same.
For example,
箱 => 箱子 (box)
孙 => 孙子 (grandson)
枣 => 枣子 (...
1
vote
4answers
99 views
How to use 一般 and examples
一般 is both an adjective and adverb that means "same". I haven't found any thorough explanations of its usage. How is it generally used and in what kind of situations?
Thank you so much!
3
votes
5answers
157 views
What does 活宝 mean?
My boss is Chinese and calls a coworker and I this 活宝 . The automated translation services tend to say Living Treasure Two Big Live Treasures or Living Baby. She swears there is more to the definition ...
1
vote
2answers
169 views
Is there a usage for 𦍌 as “rèn”?
Is there a usage for 𦍌 as "rèn" ? I cannot find examples with this pronunciation.
I understand the usages as yáng, jiāng, & qiāng, as explained by dROOOze and others in what-is-the-top-part-of-...
1
vote
3answers
89 views
开 and 给 as Result Complement
My textbook introduces 开 and 给 as Result Complements which are placed after verbs to indicate the result of actions. However, the book doesn’t provide any examples.
Can you guys teach me how to use ...
2
votes
1answer
93 views
What’s the difference between 起来 and 上?
Both 起来 and 上 after a verb should indicate the beginning and continuation of an action or a state. Are there differences in usage? If yes when should I use one instead of the other?
Examples with 上：
...
1
vote
1answer
40 views
What's the difference: 一点 or 一点点?
I feel kind of silly for asking because I doubt it's a huge difference. However, I can't seem to find any answers online. I understand that both mean a little as in 我会说一点缅甸语 or 请说一点慢 。
Is there a ...
1
vote
1answer
64 views
What's the difference between 老公 (lǎo gōng) and 丈夫 (zhàng fu)?
I understand that they both mean "husband" in some capacity; are there any differences in formality or connotation between the two? Thanks!
2
votes
1answer
51 views
How to ask a native speaker's preferred input system (pinyin, bpmf, etc)
What is an appropriate verb for asking native speakers which writing system(s) they are familiar with?
I have presented the following questions to natives before, all without issues pertaining to ...
1
vote
2answers
54 views
How do you ask “Will you see your child next Sunday” in Chinese using verb not verb structure?
What will be the difference between 你下个星期天会不会见你的孩子 and 你下个星期天会见不见你的孩子 ?
I am learning these sentences on Duolingo :) and was given the meaning of 你下个星期天会不会见你的孩子 as "Will you see your child next ...
1
vote
1answer
61 views
What does 为 do in 鸦片战争后，天津开放为通商口岸?
鸦片战争后，天津开放为通商口岸。
Jukuu
I'm confused about 为 in this example sentence from Jukuu. I think the sentence means:
After the Opium Wars, Tianjin opened "treaty ports".
I understand these refer to ...
0
votes
2answers
110 views
How do you ask “Who is your dad” in Chinese? [duplicate]
I am learning Chinese on Duolingo and recently saw a translation of "Who is your dad?" as 谁是你的爸爸.
When I used Google translate I got a similar answer.
I have learnt (in the basics) that we put the ...
0
votes
1answer
43 views
Which movies or dramas have good/abundant examples of professional/business and email language (Mainland Mandarin Chinese)?
As the title says really.
Currently I use the Pleco app to look up examples of sentences of certain words. However, this is way off from what I need.
These days it's very useful to know how the ...
0
votes
1answer
75 views
Can anyone explain what this symbol means? [duplicate]
Please translate this Chinese character symbol found on Chinese food bowl.
3
votes
6answers
198 views
Is「天佑美國」the correct translation for “God Bless America”?
Look at this mural from Chinatown, San Francisco:
Attribution: American flag in Chinatown San Francisco by Pedro Lozano. License: CC BY 2.0
It says「天佑美國」, but is that correct? Shouldn't it be「天祐美國」...
1
vote
6answers
179 views
Which of 法国, 法兰西, and 法兰斯 is the most common word for France?
I saw these 3 and now I'm confused. Which one is more common? Where are and what for are they used?
法国
法兰西
法兰斯
1
vote
2answers
50 views
What's the meaning of this sentences with 丛, 纷纷扬扬 and 飘来飘去?
I'd like to understand this sentence well: 这天，农夫又来到田边巡视庄稼， 发现芦苇丛中的芦花纷纷扬扬，在空中飘来飘去.
这天，农夫又来到田边巡视庄稼 - I understand this part, no need to explain.
芦花 - it is probably reed's flower?
芦苇丛中 - what's the ...
3
votes
3answers
59 views
Is a reduplicated verb necessary after “ba3”?
In my textbook there's an exercise in which I must decide if a sentence is correct. There's this: 请把这些汉字练. In the answers they say it's incorrect because "lian4" should be reduplicated. Is it really a ...
0
votes
4answers
37 views
Why is 跟 in 陈叶可以直接拿跟胡灵阳的钥匙?
I wrote this:
...陈叶可以直接借她的钥匙。
I intend for it to mean "Chen Ye can directly borrow her [Hu Lingyang's] keys", as in, he doesn't need to ask---the keys were on the table, and he just took them and ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
Why is 在 in 就这样在孔琳犹豫不决地跟着朋友进了酒吧?
I'm revising my notes, and a while ago I wrote:
这样孔琳犹豫地跟着朋友进去。
It means something like "In this way, Kong Lin reluctantly followed her friends in", and in the context of the story she entered a ...
3
votes
2answers
151 views
How did three characters for _de_ emerge?
I understand that there are three characters for de depending on the usage:
跑得快
快地跑
快的车
Would anyone know how it evolved into different characters when the purpose and pronunciation are similar?
1
vote
2answers
48 views
When using 尽管 (jǐnguǎn) as “feel free to” in e.g. 你想看电影就尽管看吧, do we need the 你, 就, and/or 吧?
When using 尽管 as "feel free to", do I always need to use it with 你? Can I omit 就? Can I omit 吧?
For example
你想看电影就尽管看吧。
0
votes
1answer
102 views
Do people make puns out of the Earthly Branches in Chinese culture?
For example, the earthly branches represent divisions of time and also directions.
Are these multiple meanings used in puns?
The individual branches can also have separate meanings from the branch ...
