Questions tagged [word-requests]
This tag is for questions seeking a Chinese word or phrase that fits a meaning. Please be specific about the intended use of the word, including context.
2
votes
3answers
81 views
How to say “martlet” in Chinese?
A martlet is:
... a heraldic charge depicting a stylized bird similar to a swift or
a house martin, with stylized feet.
"Martlet" is not present in my Chinese dictionary, and Google Translate ...
2
votes
2answers
145 views
How to say “oink!” in Mandarin in a family situation?
This may not be on-topic for the next 4383 days, but hopefully today someone will help me out.
Last year was the year of the dog, and a common way to write (in English) the Chinese version of what ...
2
votes
7answers
137 views
成语 or expression that one is speaking about a topic he knows nothing about
I am giving a presentation about topics in philosophy for my Chinese class, and unlike many of the students there, I have no formal education in the topic I am presenting. I feel it would be ...
2
votes
1answer
288 views
How to say “where else”, “who else”, or “what else” in Chinese?
I have looked for some references regarding how to say "where else", "who else", and "what else" but I still can't find one that's dependable enough. Furthermore, it seems like there are quite a lot ...
1
vote
1answer
177 views
Requesting something to be done for me in cantonese
How do you request something to be done for myself in cantonese?
For example: can you ask him (to get playing cards) for me?
4
votes
7answers
919 views
What do you call your father's twin brother?
I'm a mid-level Chinese student. I have two younger brothers, who are twins. One brother is married to a Chinese woman, and they have a young son.
The son calls me 姑姑 and my husband 姑丈. My sister-...
0
votes
2answers
95 views
How to say: “screwed it up”
How can I express that someone "screwed [something] up?" For example:
"They really screwed up the code with the last changes they made"
"I gave him one little task and he still managed to screw it ...
4
votes
6answers
2k views
Obscene: translate 下流 or 輕佻?
I want to describe people wearing clothing as totally indecent and obscene, for instance because the clothing doesn’t remotely cover the buttocks. I am not talking about ordinary mini skirts or hot ...
1
vote
1answer
68 views
Descriptors for moody teenagers?
There are few common ways to describe moody teenagers, albeit not overly precise:
(很)叛逆(期)
or
青春(期)
I'm wondering if there is anything more colorful to describe these cranky kids?
2
votes
2answers
62 views
What is the meaning of 妖星?
I'm trying to make sense of the word 妖星 ("demon star") which I have encountered in a Japanese phrase. This word does not appear in any Japanese or Chinese (English) dictionaries I've run across, but ...
5
votes
1answer
113 views
What's the English equivalent of “闺蜜”
闺蜜 in Chinese means two girls have very good relationship, and much closer than normal good friends but they are not lesbians.
The best I can get is the term intimate relationship, but it could be ...
4
votes
5answers
103 views
How to express “Now, …” in Chinese (the usage of “now” to draw attention to a particular statement)?
In the following example sentence in English:
Suppose that you buy the product in $10 in the store A. The store A is located in 3 miles away.
Now, you found out that the store B sells the same ...
1
vote
2answers
83 views
“Perverse” for movies and scenes
What word can we use to say a movie or scene is perverse? I am thinking of sadistic and violent scenes as this:
perverse scene from game of thrones
I found 邪僻, but it seems it may only describe ...
1
vote
1answer
84 views
Word for banana blossoms in Chinese
This Web Page shows that banana blossoms correspond to what a Chinese friend of mine from Beijing used to call "tall skinny Chinese person" or "long skinny Chinese person". Upon stumbling upon this ...
1
vote
1answer
41 views
What is “skate ramp” in Chinese?
What is "skate ramp" in Chinese? I can't seem to find this in any dictionaries, and most skate parks in Taiwan are called "Extreme Sports Training Park" or simply "Sports Park", so I don't really know ...
3
votes
3answers
130 views
Courtesy name or?
My middle name that everyone has always called me by, is Wesley. Since my parents said I was named for that English preacher, I looked up how he is normally called in Chinese. But a Chinese friend (...
4
votes
4answers
338 views
How do I write “One can …” / “You can …” (general personal pronoun) in Chinese?
Which personal pronouns can I use in an instruction in Chinese to replace the English "one" or "you" when used as meaning "you, we or anyone else":
Examples in English:
"One can always be sure to ...
3
votes
2answers
259 views
Gender and age neutral word for partner (not married) in Mandarin?
I'm looking for a gender neutral word for a person that you are in a romantic relationship with, but not married to. Similar to "partner" in English.
I also want it to be fairly neutral regarding age ...
0
votes
2answers
43 views
Conjunction to express extension (of area) “In Moscow and also in the whole Russia there are…”
What conjunction could be used to express extension (of area):
In Moscow and also in the whole Russia there are lots of folk festivals being held.
So I need construction for: "In A and also in the ...
3
votes
4answers
106 views
What is the antonym of 不如?
What is the antonym of 不如? E.g.:
今年我旅游很少, 不如去年 (situation is worse than last year)
And I need a word for the reverse situation:
今年我旅游很多, ???去年 (situation is better than last year)
不如 has a ...
0
votes
1answer
78 views
Why can't I use 我的 in Classical Chinese?
almost all words are stand alone in classical texts. Only modern Chinese tend to use multi characters to form a word. Your examples would be 明身/明体， 明心. But 明我的心 is not a traditional way.
Why can't ...
-1
votes
1answer
41 views
If a word is used in 成语, does it mean the word could stand alone in Classical times?
明 as in 明火执仗, in Modern Mandarine, I can't use 明 alone (e.g. not 明我的身， 明我的心), but could it stand alone in Classical Chinese?
0
votes
3answers
179 views
“If you can't beat them, join them” 成语 or 俗语
There is an English expression, "If you can't beat them, join them."
For example,
After competing with Microsoft for so many years, he finally accepted the lucrative offer and joined as their ...
1
vote
2answers
82 views
Hand and Fist gesture of gratitude
What is the gesture called where you put a fist in a flat hand and slightly shake it to show gratitude? Here is an example: https://youtu.be/cB59VmnK52I?t=15m47s
Do you have any other examples where ...
0
votes
1answer
52 views
Where should I put a neutral tone in 雪白雪白?
雪白雪白
(1) xuě-bai-xuě-bái (such as 漂漂亮亮)
(2) xuě-bái-xuě-bai
If ABB and AAB adjectives also have neutral tones, please let me know where tones should be.
0
votes
1answer
38 views
Is it true that a word that consists of two adjective words has a neutral tone on the second word?
Do the words, such as 冰凉冰凉, 雪白雪白, and 通红通红, each have a netural tone on the second word?
e.g. 漂漂亮亮 [piào piao lìang lìang]
2
votes
1answer
140 views
Hakka equivalent of 把
I was wondering if there is any Hakka word that functions the same as Mandarin 把, that is, marks the direct object when it is placed before a verb. For example:
我把我的电脑放在桌子上了。
Hakka:
...
0
votes
2answers
41 views
How are postal notifications called in Chinese?
When the postal worker arrives at your doorstep, but can't deliver your package - usually because you are not home and it is too big for your mailbox - you receive a notification asking you to ...
2
votes
2answers
63 views
Translations of “to try”
Can someone please help me clarifying all the possible ways to say "try" in Chinese. As in "try sth" or "try to do sth". I can come up with many translations but it's very hard for me to use them in ...
3
votes
3answers
196 views
How to say “backup (option)”?
In day to day conversation, I frequently use the word "backup" to refer to a dependable but perhaps slightly less desirable option. For example,
When applying to college, you should apply to 10 ...
2
votes
3answers
5k views
What is the equivalent in Chinese for the English word “horny”?
As Mr. Confucius said, 食色性也, food and sex play important roles in one's life, when you wants to eat, there is a word in Chinese 饿 to illustrate this state, but there seems no such a word in Chinese to ...
1
vote
1answer
70 views
Could you please explain what these words mean and transcribe them in Chinese script? [closed]
I need to insert the "typed-in" version of these words into my Word document (at work), but I know nothing about the Chinese language, and cannot type in Chinese.
What do these words mean? Please ...
2
votes
3answers
567 views
“Whatever you can do today, don't postpone it to tomorrow”
I just learned a German proverb:
"Was du heute kannst besorgen, das verschiebe nicht auf morgen,"
which can be translated as:
"Whatever you can do today, don't postpone it to tomorrow"
Is ...
2
votes
2answers
104 views
成语 for expressing that a couple was meant for eachother
I seem to recall there being a 成语 to the effect of, "Heaven brought them together," or something like that. It expresses that the couple was truly meant for one another. Do you know which 成语 I am ...
1
vote
4answers
226 views
Is the sentence "我知道它，但是我忘了“ unnatural?
Would the sentence "我知道它，但是我忘了“ sound unnatural?
As in, 'I know it, but I've forgotten it' (I learnt it sometime ago, but have now forgotten it)
2
votes
1answer
103 views
Can one use 过 in conjunction with 知道?
I am investigating the use of 知道 in the past tense. As "知道了“ does not clearly mean "knew" but could be more closely translated as "now I know!", a change of state from not knowing to knowing.
How ...
2
votes
4answers
455 views
Is there a generic way to say “weekday” without the concept of “work/business/school day”?
The most common translation of weekday is: 工作日
Google Translate suggests 工作日 and 平常日 for weekday.
Is 平常日 commonly used?
How would a native speaker normally say weekday?
Would it be odd for a ...
0
votes
3answers
1k views
How do you say “cupcake”?
What is the pinyin and simplified Chinese characters used for the word cupcake?
When looking it up there is no reliable answer. Some people seem to just call it by the chinese words for "cake" but ...
2
votes
1answer
81 views
Use of 还 in reference to “on top of that, also”
I'm just wondering whether I'm allowed to use 还 to mean, "on top of that, also". Here's the context:
在经济方面，新思维能提高生产力,而且还能产生创新和发明。As in, "in the economic sense, new ideas can increase productivity, ...
1
vote
1answer
47 views
Polite noun to refer to a colleague who is departing a company?
What is a polite noun to refer to a colleague who is departing a company?
For example, in English I might simply refer to them as a "leaver". (So someone who is leaving.) This is simple and non-...
1
vote
3answers
136 views
How to use / translate “as well as” in next sentences?
How to use "as well as" in these cases:
We go to play football today as well as every sunday morning.
I can see the road every bit as well as you can.
The moon as well as the stars were ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
How to name these cones to mark a field for sport activities?
How to name these cones to mark a field for sport activities?
E.g.:
Run to the cones and then go back.
2.5 kilometers turn is marked with cones.
2
votes
2answers
72 views
phrase request: complexity of interpersonal relationships
This has been harder to find than I imagined.
I'm looking for any sort of phrase or quote that talks about how, very, complex interpersonal relationships are.
The best I've found so far is something ...
0
votes
1answer
184 views
How is this commode style toilet seat called in Chinese?
As I am disabled, I thought, in case my Appartment doesn't have a western style toilet, I might want to buy one of these:
So I wonder what they are called and where one could hope to buy them. If the ...
3
votes
2answers
281 views
What are a few alternative ways to say “to expect”?
There are many situations I'd like to say the following in Chinese:
"That phone call was unexpected"
"I did not expect that meeting to be so difficult"
The only approach I know of is:
"我没想到那个电话“
”...
1
vote
1answer
489 views
Expressing 'about' in Chinese
Please use simplified characters.
In English we sometimes say:
'My teacher taught us about Chinese'
‘My friend was telling me about Chinese'
'You're not intelligent enough to talk about ...
-1
votes
1answer
112 views
1
vote
2answers
240 views
How to say 衬托 in English?
The dictionary says is 'set off' or 'serve as a foil'.
But what I mean is the 写作手法 '衬托'， is there such word in English?
Thank you!
1
vote
2answers
525 views
How do you say “immersion” as in “full immersion language program”?
How do you say "immersion" as in "full immersion language program" or "I am moving to China so I can get some immersion in the language"?
0
votes
3answers
354 views
Help me identify this Chinese word?
I was in Shanghai on a business trip several weeks ago. One evening, while my coworker and I were walking down Nanjing Road on the way back to our hotel, we were accosted my many ladies of the night ...
