Questions tagged [word-choice]
Questions about what word fits better in a certain context or situation.
889
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What's the difference between 学 and 学习?
I know both mean "to study" and I also know that while 学 (xué) is transitive, 学习 (xué xí) can be both intransitive and transitive, for example:
我学中文。 (I study «what?» Chinese) = transitive;
我在大学学习。 (...
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28
votes
6
answers
3k
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How polite is too polite?
I've noticed in China that people don't tend to use as many 'polite' words as we do in western languages, like 'please' or 'thank you'. I want to make it clear that I'm not complaining about this; I ...
- 3,435
24
votes
1
answer
3k
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What is the difference in use between 以及, 和 and 与?
I have a book with the following lesson titles:
中文以及中国
聚会和饮食
交通与环境
Why are these terms connected with 以及 / 和 / 与, why not always use 和 for example?
Are there any rules for proper use of these ...
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23
votes
5
answers
1k
views
How to differentiate between "On Top" and "Above"
If I wanted to translate the prepositional phrase "on the bed" to Chinese, I know to say "床上", but I don't know what the translation would be for saying "above/over the bed".
From what I can gather, ...
- 461
22
votes
8
answers
14k
views
Difference between 如果 and 要是?
In the Pimsleur Mandarin course it uses 如果 (rúguǒ) to mean 'if', but the dictionary shows 要是 (yàoshì) to have a similar meaning:
如果: if; in case; in the event that
要是: if
Are there any ...
- 3,435
21
votes
4
answers
14k
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Difference between 与，和 and 跟?
Do the following three sentences mean the same thing, that is, can they be used interchangeably?
她的父母就来我们家与我的家人见面了。
她的父母就来我们家和我的家人见面了。
她的父母就来我们家跟我的家人见面了。
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votes
5
answers
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Confusion about bian 邊 and miàn 面
I'm having a little trouble with learning directions and positions. It seems that most often the word bian is being used to indicate a position: front side 前邊, back side 後邊, etc.
But then I see stuff ...
- 495
21
votes
3
answers
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高兴 vs 快乐 vs 愉快 vs 幸福: what's the difference?
So, I'm a bit confused. All the time.
高兴 eg 我很高兴
It seems 高兴 has a connotation of impermanence .. you could be happy right now but unhappy later on. It appears to be the most common, most general ...
- 1,789
20
votes
5
answers
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How widespread is the use of 妳?
When addressing a female, do I have to use 妳 instead of 你?
How common is the usage of 妳?
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20
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How do I decide whether to use 還是/还是 or 或者
還是/还是 (háishì) and 或者 (huòzhě) seem to have very similar meanings:
還是/还是: or; still; nevertheless
或者: or; possibly; maybe
When I want to say 'or', how to I choose which to use, and are there any ...
- 3,435
18
votes
12
answers
3k
views
Is there a difference between 愿意 and 肯?
Is there a difference between 愿意 and 肯 in the following sentence?
"Are you willing to go to China for work?" being translated to one of the two?
你愿不愿意去中国工作？
你肯不肯去中国工作？
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18
votes
8
answers
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Why is 两 used for quantities of two rather than 二?
I understand that 两 is used instead of 二 when dealing with quantities of two. However, my question is - why? What are the historical reasons behind this?
I looked at Wikitionary but it only had ...
- 271
17
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Difference between 许多 and 很多
What's the difference between 许多 and 很多?
For example, in this sentence I found on Jukuu both terms are used:
After years of teaching, I have many memories to dwell on in idle moments.
过了许多年的教学生涯，...
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16
votes
4
answers
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What does "老" in "老虎" and "老鼠" mean
As I remember, 虎 and 鼠 are standalone nouns, meaning tiger and mouse, respectively. However, it seems that 老虎 and 老鼠 are more commonly used.
Why is 老 used as a prefix for 虎 and 鼠? Why do we use 獅子 ...
- 3,297
16
votes
4
answers
1k
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What's the difference between 帐户 and 账户?
To my understanding, both mean "account", as in a bank account or online account. 账户 also appears to be the more common (100M search results) compared to 帐户 (about 50M results). What is the difference,...
- 1,445
16
votes
3
answers
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views
What is the formal/polite way to begin and end an email in Chinese?
In English, formal emails, e.g. emails to a professor, often start with "Hi", "Hello", "Dear" followed by the receiver's name (and title, if applicable). The ending is ...
- 3,297
16
votes
6
answers
2k
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When not to use 厕所 when asking for the toilet?
I've noticed sometimes in polite company or in the company of strangers some people will saying they are going to wash their hands 去洗手 (qù xǐshǒu) instead of going to the toilet 去上厕所 (qù shàng cèsuǒ).
...
- 10.2k
16
votes
5
answers
10k
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What is the difference between yǐqián (以前) and zhīqián (之前)?
I'd like to have some way to differentiate between yǐqián (以前) and zhīqián (之前), in order to help with memorising them both. Referring to Modern Mandarin Grammar (Claudia Ross, Routledge 2006), it ...
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4
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Difference between 想 and 要?
I know both of them mean "want to" but have usage in different contexts. When should I use each one?
For example:
我要去上海市 and 我想去上海市
What's the difference in the meaning between them?
Also, I've ...
- 385
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votes
4
answers
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views
Differences: 别的 vs 其他 vs 另外 (other)
Well, the question is in the title... I'd be very thankful for an explanation, but also:
Could you give examples of cases where they are and are not interchangeable?
Can I use them for "where are ...
- 263
15
votes
5
answers
5k
views
When should you use 尽管 (jǐnguǎn) instead of 虽然 (suīrán)?
虽然 and 尽管 can both be translated as "despite" and "although". I've been familiar with 虽然 for a longer time already but I recently came across 尽管 for the first time. Is 尽管 a more formal or poetic term? ...
- 1,386
15
votes
3
answers
7k
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了解 vs 明白 vs 知道 - what is the difference, and when should I use each one?
了解, 明白, and 知道 seem to be fairly synonymous in Mandarin, but there does seem to be some subtle differences between them.
What exactly is the difference? When should I use each one? Could you give me ...
- 4,596
14
votes
7
answers
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views
What is the difference between using 光 vs using 只?
What is the gramatical difference between 光 and 只?
光剩下2毛钱 does not have the same meaning/context as 只剩下2毛钱
It seems there is more emphasis to the part that comes after 光. When is the right time to ...
- 2,180
14
votes
3
answers
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views
What is the difference between 必须, 得, 必需, and 需要?
I know that all of them mean "to have to" in some form or another, but are they interchangeable?
14
votes
7
answers
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What is the status of 什么来的 and 什么来着 in standard and colloquial Mandarin Chinese?
When I first moved to the south of China, I was surprised to hear the phrase "什么来的" used to mean "what," as in
这是什么来的？: "What is this?"
As far as I could tell, in many cases there was no ...
- 3,223
14
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Difference between 对 and 双
For a pair of rabbits there is:
一对兔 yī duì tù
And for a pair of shoes there is:
一双鞋 yī shuāng xié
And for twins there is:
双胞胎 shuāngbāotāi
How can I be sure when to use 对 and when to use 双?...
- 10.2k
14
votes
5
answers
5k
views
How to say "giving someone the benefit of the doubt" in Chinese?
This expression connotes that one is willing to not insist on accusing someone of a mistake despite most evidence pointing to that someone as being responsible. As in a legal proceeding where the jury ...
- 2,552
13
votes
5
answers
5k
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What's the difference between 江 and 河?
My daily newsletter contained the following sentence:
长江是中国最长的河。
According to the dictionary, 江 and 河 both mean "river", but they seem to be used differently.
Am I right in assuming that 长河是中国最长的江 ...
- 2,425
13
votes
6
answers
6k
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被 (bèi) vs. 叫 (jiào) vs. 让 (ràng): regional difference? formality difference?
I know that with a 被 (bèi) sentence, you are allowed omit the object: S + 被 + (O) + Other elements, e.g. 河里的鱼都被毒死了 (Hé lǐ de yú dōu bèi dú sǐ le) whereas, when using 叫 (jiào) or 让 (ràng,) the object ...
- 1,789
13
votes
5
answers
453
views
Why 又 is used there instead of 再?
In this dialogue:
A: 现在恢复得怎么样了？
B: 没问题了，又可以爬山了。
Why is 又 used there and not 再?
As far as I know (I might be wrong), both 再 and 又 are used for describing recurring actions, but 又 refers to ...
- 2,633
13
votes
3
answers
2k
views
When do I use 确定 vs 决定？
The two words mean approximately the same thing but I find that there is a nuance I'm missing in terms of the appropriate context to use one or the other. How should I think about the difference ...
13
votes
8
answers
7k
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What is the difference between 通常，经常，and 常常？
What is the difference between 通常，经常，and 常常？
I hear them a lot in conversational Chinese, but I can't pick out the difference in meaning. The dictionaries I've checked don't seem to agree on their ...
- 389
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votes
4
answers
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Differences: 干，办，做，搞，弄
What's the difference between all these five words? They mean all "to do", they're driving me crazy!
I write some example sentences with some of them (hoping that's the right one), just to understand ...
- 555
12
votes
7
answers
8k
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What is the Difference Between 方法 and 办法?
Both have comparable definitions of "method", "manner", "means", etc. and describe or define a way of doing something. The phrase 没(有)办法 is often used to deflect responsibility by claiming ...
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votes
7
answers
10k
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What is the difference between 餐馆 and 饭店? Is 饭店 used for restaurant or hotel?
饭店 and 餐馆 can both mean restaurant. My Chinese friend here in Dongguan tells me 饭店 is not commonly used to mean hotel. I want to understand in what contexts both of these words are used. 谢谢.
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5
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Translation for "sorry" as in "I am sorry to hear that"?
In English we can say "sorry" as an abbreviation for "I am sorry to hear that"/"I feel sorry for you" to express sympathy. Is there a Chinese word or phrase that bears the same meaning?
I know one ...
- 303
12
votes
4
answers
4k
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What is the difference between 一只狗 and 一条狗?
I've been told by native speakers that the former refers to little dogs while the latter is for bigger dogs. I also have been told that the latter has a negative connotation. I'm wondering:
how ...
- 311
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votes
5
answers
2k
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What is a polite or neutral way to ask for someone to step out of your way?
In English I would say "excuse me". Some possibilities that come to mind are 请让，对不起，不好意思. I believe I have heard someone say "让!" before. Is that considered impolite?
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votes
2
answers
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What is the difference between 整个 and 全?
The dictionary definitions for 整个 and 全 both use "whole" and "entire". However, 全 additionally has definitions of "all" and "complete".
I have a homework assignment that asks me to distinguish their ...
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votes
2
answers
393
views
Beginning of the week / end of the week
It is possible to say:
三月初 (the beginning of March)
三月底 (the end of March)
Example：
我三月底要回国
You can also refer to:
年初 and 年底
But is there something you can use to convey the beginning or end of ...
- 10.2k
12
votes
2
answers
437
views
Using 一样 instead of 同一 for "the same school"
In my study software, I recently had the following sentence:
我想我们会上一样的学校.
The context (a girl speaking to another girl who had just moved into the neighborhood) made it seem like the correct ...
- 121
11
votes
19
answers
4k
views
Why does 我是长头发 mean "I have long hair" and not "I am long hair"?
I was just chatting with a teacher here at LTL Mandarin, and she said:
我是长头发。
I have long hair. (Not: I am long hair.)
This is perplexing for me, since it's inconsistent with e.g.
我是人。
I am human. ...
- 15.9k
11
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Using 老头 / 老头子 when speaking to others
I'm trying to get some clarification on whether or not it is impolite to use 老头 / 老头子 when speaking outside a group of friends when referring to a third party.
From my understanding 老头 is quite ...
- 10.2k
11
votes
4
answers
7k
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What's the difference between 舅舅 and 叔叔?
My favorite short story in modern Mandarin, 2015 by 王小波, is basically a long, humorous digression about the author's 舅舅:
我舅舅是个无照画家，和别人不同的是，他总在忙些正事。有时他在作画；有时他卖画，并且因此蹲在派出所里。他作画时把房门锁上，再戴上个防震耳罩，...
- 1,207
11
votes
4
answers
8k
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Difference between 合适 and 适合
Both 合适 and 适合 mean to fit/to suit.
I know the grammatical form needed for each one is different:
在这个情况下，你在穿的衣服就不合适。
我在找一个适合我的女孩子。
Aside of that, I have been told they cannot be used ...
- 462
11
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How to use 也好. Not meaning 'also good'
My non-Mandarin colleagues have been using
英文也好，中文也好
lately and I assumed from their context they meant both languages are equal in whatever comparison they were making.
When I looked it up I ...
- 2,552
11
votes
5
answers
425
views
What are some ways that I can be self-deprecating about my Chinese speaking ability?
I live in an area where there are many Chinese so I get plenty of opportunity to use my language skills including shopping, eating at restaurants and meeting new people.
The Chinese people I meet are ...
- 10.2k
11
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What is the difference between 有名，著名 and 闻名?
We know 名 means name or famous, but what is the subtle difference between 有名，著名 and 闻名?
11
votes
3
answers
971
views
Two-character homonyms with same meaning
This is question about synonymous homonyms in Chinese, in particular, two-character words with same sound, tone. Edit: to keep the question simple and broad, I am using the word "homonym" in a non-...
- 400
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votes
5
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Why do both 太 (too) and 过于 (excessively) occur in 外国人有时候太过于开放 (foreigners are sometimes too excessively open)?
A Mandarin Corner YouTube video describes "3 Things Chinese Like about Foreigners". One sentence from this dialogue is the following:
首先我觉得外国人有时候太过于开放。
Shǒuxiān wǒ juédé wàiguórén yǒu shíhòu tài ...
- 15.9k