Questions tagged [word-choice]
Questions about what word fits better in a certain context or situation.
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What is 心血 in English?
What is 心血 in English may I ask? The full Chinese sentence is 我花了许多心血在房间的摆设上。整间房子里面，随处都可以发现我的心血。 I try to think about some alternatives, but haven't find out a perfect translation. One alternative is ...
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Confusions about 虽然 and 即使
I'm a Chinese native, but even though I can't figure out the differences between 虽然 and 即使 clearly.
Here're definitions of these two words in 现代汉语词典 (Modern Chinese Dictionary) (Edition VI).
【虽然】...
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What four directions which are not described by 四处 are described by 八方?
I have a hunch about the difference between 八方 and 四处.
四处 includes north, south, west and east. 八方 includes these four + up, down, forward, backward.
Three questions:
Is my assumption correct?
Do ...
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Difference between 这个 and 本
There are two words in Chinese that are both translated as “This” in English (这个 and 本). What is the difference between them and how to use them correctly ?
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What’s the difference between 二五 and 二十五?
Can I just say 二五 when I’m talking or counting instead of 二十五? Will it make a difference between the two of them? Or is it because 二五 is like everyday speech (informal) and 二十五 (formal) for writing?
I ...
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Help to translate a deep meaning chinese sentence into English
I have a very good Chinese friend who studies design. Yesterday she shared with me one Powerpoint for her presentation that will take place next week.
She explained the following sentences to me, ...
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How to say 孝 in English?
How to say 孝 in English? It is be nice and somewhat comply to parent. But how to say it in English? Former discussion mentions about filial piety, but I am not sure. It looks like a rare and unpopular ...
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How to say 公德心 in English?
How to say 公德心 in English? I am not looking for explanation. I am looking for translation.
Similar words for 没有公德心 is selfish, thoughtless, disregard, and don't care about other people. But none of ...
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difference between 什么也 and 什么都
What is the difference between 什么也 and 什么都 ?
They are very similar. 1, for anything, 2, for all of the things。 1，什么也不喜欢 什么也没意思，2， 什么都要考虑 什么都有意思
BUT! But how do you use them? For example if I want to ...
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Difference among these terms for student clubs: 队、团、俱乐部、社和兴趣小组?
In regards to their meanings as "student clubs" (at school), are there any differences in the following words: 队、团、俱乐部、社和兴趣小组？
For me, I personally find 队 to mean clubs having to do with ...
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In 林业、农业、草原、海洋、资源、环境等行业, what industries does 草原 ("grassland") and 海洋 ("ocean") refer to, and why not use 农业 ("agriculture") and 渔业 ("fishing")?
“一箭九星”包含B站视频星
记者了解到，本次发射的“吉林一号”高分03-1组卫星由长光卫星有限公司自主研发，包括3颗高分03C视频星和6颗高分03B推扫星，视频星中包括将用于科普的哔哩哔哩视频卫星。该组卫星将与在轨的“吉林一号”卫星组网，为林业、农业、草原、海洋、资源、环境等行业用户提供更加丰富的遥感数据和产品服务。
海上飞天！一箭九星！我国首次海上商业化应用发射成功！，2020年09月15日
...
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What is the difference between 还是 and 还?
What is the difference between 还是 and 还? Is 还 the short of 还是 and, consequently, they are interchangeable in every situation, only in some cases or never?
For reference, I will list the different ...
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Difference between 洞 and 口 for holes in things
From what I see, there are examples where both 洞 and 口 can be used to describe holes in things. For example from samples in Pleco:
衣服撕了个口 (A hole was torn in the jacket)
衬衫破了一个洞 (Have a hole in one's ...
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Using 有 vs 是 to describe an object
I created a sentence earlier today stating "他是一点儿严厉," but I was told that it was better if I say "他有一点儿严厉”。They didn't really know why, but just that it made more sense - could someone ...
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Why is 称 used instead of 显示 in 消息称，苹果已经开始……?
From a news article 中国市场不能丢！苹果在华销量暴增225%，iPhone12或支持北斗导航 (10 August 2020), we typically see 显示 meaning "indicate":
有统计数据显示，……
……，苹果中国官网介绍显示，……
7月底苹果公布的第三财季的财报显示，……
In fact, I've become ...
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Etymology of 碼頭
I was just wondering about the Chinese words for 'Ferry Pier' 碼頭.
If we take the word, 馬頭, it means horse's head. 碼頭 has the 石 or rock character in it.
I wanted to confirm, is it possible then that ...
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Why is 或 used in 将在45天后禁止任何美国公司或个人与[ByteDance and WeChat]的相关交易 instead of e.g. 和?
I read the following political article about Trump's executive orders in relation to TikTok and WeChat.
原因是当地时间6日，美国总统特朗普签署行政令，称抖音海外版（TikTok）和微信对美国国家安全构成威胁，...
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Both is correct? 你认为如何 and 如何你认为
你认为如何 - More like a Chinese guy would talk like that.
如何你认为 - Feels like the English sentence. *Like the sentence start with "What", "Which" etc.
So both is correct?
Especially to ...
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I want to understand if I can use 做 instead of 当？
我一毕业就去上海“当”律师
This sentence is given to me in the book.
However, I wonder if I can write it like this instead of using another word:
我一毕业就去上海”做“律师？
I think the meaning is the same, but which is ...
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How to say “tastes bad” for inedibles?
The standard phrase for tastes bad is 难吃. But plenty of stuff tastes bad without being edible. For instance toothpaste. I performed a google search for:
难吃的牙膏
finding no exact and just one near ...
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Difference between 以前 and 前 to indicate past time?
I wanted to express in Mandarin:
Three months ago I started yoga classes.
I thought about whether to use 前 or 以前 to express "ago":
三个月以前我开始了上瑜伽课。
Sān gè yuè yǐqián wǒ kāishǐ le shàng ...
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Why in Chinese Bible (和合本), "you" was translated as "你" instead of "您"?
For example, in 詩 篇 Psalms:
102:1 〔 困 苦 人 發 昏 的 時 候 、 在 耶 和 華 面 前 吐 露 苦 情 的 禱 告 。 〕 耶 和 華 阿 、 求 你 聽 我 的 禱 告 、 容 我 的 呼 求 達 到 你 面 前 。
102:2 我 在 急 難 的 日 子 、 求 你 向 我 側 耳 、 不 要 向 我 掩 面 ． 我 呼 求 ...
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Difference between "believe" 认为 and 相信?
This question is related to:
Is there any difference between 想, 觉得 and 以为?
What are the difference between e.g. 想, 觉得 and 认为 when expressing opinion?
In there, they mentioned both 认为 rènwèi and 相信 ...
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Does the word '县子‘ exist？
I wonder if the word "县子" colloquially exists in the Chinese language.
I’ve probably heard this word before, and I‘m not exactly sure, but I blurrily remember it was from a conversation ...
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Understanding 照相 and 照片
I am having some confusion about 照相 and 照片. In my Chinese lesson they introduced them:
照片
Zhào piàn
(noun) photo
照相
Zhào xiàng
(verb) to take a picture
They also showed this example:
我照了几百张照片。
I ...
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How can I ask "which one is your favorite/do you like more"?
I want to ask "which one is your favorite?", like between A and B, which one do you like more.
Can I say "哪一个你最喜欢?" or "哪个你更喜欢?"? Is there a better way to ask? At this ...
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霹雳与雷霆有什么分别？(What's the difference between 霹雳 and 雷霆?)
except for their other uses, such as 霹雳舞(breakdance) and their respective 成语, are they considered synonyms? they're both translated as
霹雳: thunderbolt
雷霆: thunderbolt
空中雷霆一响，就把孩子吓哭了 = The thunderbolt ...
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Difference between Verb + 不了 and Verb + 不动
My teacher gives me two examples to state the difference between 不了 and 不动 as follows.
（A）我的腿受伤了，所以我走不了。
（B）我累得走不动。
I also read in Chinese Grammar Wiki but I still get confused.
(1) My teacher said ...
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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 ...
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Don't both 關心 and 在意 mean the same thing?
I recently learned a sentence: 大家都和關心也很在意這件事
However, don't both 關心 and 在意 mean the same thing -- to care about? Is there a difference?
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Which is correct:了 or 过 in 我去。。。他家，知道他住在哪里
我去。。。他家，知道他住在哪里.
I do not know what to choose in this sentence: 了 or 过. In my opinion:
(1) 我去了他家，知道他住在哪里. (I had been to his house)
(2) 我去过他家，知道他住在哪里. (I had had the experience of being in his house)
...
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In which dialect of Mandarin can I see or hear 乳酪?
In this website they write "乳酪 ru3 lao4" is a word which is used in Taiwan to describe cheese.
But my Taiwanese friend told me they don't use this word, they use "nai3 lao4" or &...
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What is the difference between 走路, 行走, and 步行?
Are these words perfectly synonymous, or are there rules to distinguish them? Google Ngram shows that they're all used with about the same frequency.
I don't like it when several different words have ...
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Is 进 correct: 他喜欢进我的房间(来)和我聊天儿？
他喜欢进我的房间(来)和我聊天儿。A website gives me another option: 他喜欢到我的房间(来)和我聊天儿.
It changes 进 into 到.
Is 进 correct? Or are both 进 and 到 OK?
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真心 VS 认真 difference
I was trying to say “He made this with all his heart” and then looked for how to say “with all one’s heart” in Chinese. I found a lot of ways to express the sentence but I’m still not sure which one ...
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Percent: 成 vs 百分之
Is there any difference between 成 and 百分之 when it comes to telling about percentage? I've just encountered 成 for the first time and started wondering.
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What does 泉 mean in 道具泉, in the context of a handbill?
At 33:41, the Chinese Univ. HK Philosophy student below asks Dr Samson Kwok Pak-nin (in Cantonese) to hand him Dr Kwok's placard. He calls it 道具泉.
I know 道具 means prop, but how does 泉 - Wiktionary ...
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Why 明 for tomorrow and next year but 下 for next month?
I would like to understand why you can say 明天 and 明年 but not 明月, or why you can't say 下天 and 下年 but you say 下月. From the dictionary, 明 and 下 both seem to mean "next".
Maybe the logic behind is "just ...
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On a HSK6 test, why is 社会稳定，人民生活水平显著提高，这一切都给人留下了深刻的印象 the incorrect sentence?
In a YouTube video a native Chinese speaker answers questions on the HSK-6 test. He gets one wrong: to identify which "has grammatical errors or uses wrong words" below:
A. 每个人都可以有所作为，...
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链接, 连接, 连结, 联接, 联结 - lianjie - is it a joke and if not, what's the difference?
Amongst 链接, 连接, 连结, 联接, 联结 - which one is the most correct to use in which situation? Is one more formal than others? Maybe the meanings are different? Please, write as much as possible about ...
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Why in the multiplication table, different characters such as 如，得，歸，中 are used?
It seems to me that the following rules apply:
When the answer is a one-digit number, the character 如 is used.
When the answer is 10, the character 得 is used.
When the answer is a multiple of 10, ...
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Why is 人口 in this sentence 多, not 大?
中国是世界上人口最多的国家.
Why is 人口 in this sentence 多, not 大? In English way of thinking (or my English way of thinking), a population is something that can be "huge" rather than "much"/ "many". Is Chinese way ...
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形式，样式 and 方式 - appearance, style, form, shape...?
In terms of the appearance of something, there a lot of HSK5 words that are very similar. Here are four and the definitions I've found thus far.
表面 - 1. surface (tangible, 方面 is intangible), 2. ...
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What's the difference between shǐ yòng 使用 and yòng 用？
Both mean to use. However, sometimes you need both and sometimes you can simply say yòng 用.
Examples:
謝謝你使用拼音 , thank you for using pinyin
謝謝你用鉛筆 , thank you for using a pencil
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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」...
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When speaking, how would one say "cannot study"? E.g. 不能学习 or 学习不了 or 无法学习
Recently, I've been turning my Chinese learning towards speaking and listening, rather than reading and writing. Now, I might say "cannot study" in a few ways:
不能学习
学习不了
无法学习
The sentence I have in ...
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Translating “很快就有人去了.” ? Confusing word order
Can anyone help me translate this sentence properly?
很快就有人去了.
My attempt is “Very quickly and soon, some people left.” However I don’t really understand the 很快就 part. Like i thought if these were ...
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What is a suitable Chinese name for a fictional company called "The Unity Group"?
I'm currently writing a novel featuring Chinese characters, with one being among the protagonists.
Some of them are employees of a corporation, and I simply don't trust Google translate enough. The ...
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What would a straight Chinese man say to describe another man as "very gay"?
My current story is about Kong Lin, from her husband's perspective. Kong Lin has a long-term male friend (among other friends).
I want her husband (straight Chinese guy) to describe him by something ...
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What’s the difference between 制定 and 制订?
I see both terms being used quite often, and both seem to mean “to formulate/create/come up (with a plan)”.
People often say 制定计划, but many others say 制订计划 too. Both look sound to me. What is the ...
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