Questions tagged [word-requests]
For seeking a Chinese word or phrase that fits a meaning. Please be specific about the intended use of the word, including context.
198
questions
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2answers
139 views
Is there a word or phrase in Chinese referring to the physical office of Chinese authority?
In other countries, when referring to government offices, they use interesting words:
US: White House, Capitol Hill, Oval Office, Pentagon
UK: No.10 Downing Street. Scotland Yard,Buckingham Palace, ...
1
vote
4answers
48 views
How to say “and” to include two ideas (expressed by two verbs with possibly different subjects) in one sentence?
Is there a Chinese linking word which could be used the same way as English "and" which connects two ideas or actions or introduces one after the other within one sentence? There doesn't ...
0
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4answers
82 views
Is there a Chinese phrase equivalent to “difficult to eat”?
I wonder if there is a Chinese word or phrase equivalent to "difficult to eat" or "hard to eat".
For example, someone said that pomegranates and artichokes are among the 19 most ...
1
vote
3answers
236 views
What is the character missing in 「好吃jing」?
My grandma always referred to me as a "好吃jin(g?)" i.e. a glutton. However I'm not sure which character goes in the third one. This might be regional (Anhui) dialect, I am not sure, because I ...
0
votes
0answers
48 views
How do you use “a” in the chinese language? [duplicate]
For example, If i wanted to say, "A sandwich" or "A car tire" in chinese, How would i say that, and where does the "a" go? At the end of the sentence, or at the beginning ...
0
votes
1answer
222 views
what is the Two-Block Haicut called in Chinese(Mandarin)?
does anyone know what is the Chinese name for the Two-Block Haircut? I heard it can also be called the Dandy Two-Block haircut.
It is the one that is popularized by Korea and is shown in many Korean ...
2
votes
2answers
286 views
How do you say “allowance” in mandarin?
Google Translate says it is 津贴, but my mom says it is 零用钱. Apparently 津贴 doesn't mean allowance, so what does each character mean? My book and google translate say 零用钱 is pocket money. How does that ...
2
votes
1answer
55 views
How to translate “blouse” to Chinese?
I'm researching names for many different clothes in Chinese, and when I reached the word blouse, seems like I've reached a dead end and, consequently, a need of an explanation. Just to make myself ...
4
votes
2answers
863 views
Chinese names for zeptoseconds and yoctoseconds
While compiling a list of names for fractions of seconds which are in the International System of Units, I stumbled upon two curious fractions of seconds whose names I'm unable to locate anywhere, and ...
0
votes
2answers
104 views
How do I use 乱?
For the sentence, 你别乱闹.
I think it means "do not randomly complain," but that doesn't sound right.
I can't pinpoint what 乱 means.
0
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2answers
77 views
How to ask the flight attendant for more airplane meals if there are still leftovers?
Can anyone help me? I want to emphasize the word "leftover" so I do not sound so greedy. I also felt that it would be a waste since most of the meals needed to be thrown away if it is not ...
1
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1answer
75 views
What are other words worth learning that follow this pattern with 象?
Today I realised that:
象 means "elephant" which is the biggest land-dwelling animal,
亻+ 象 = 像 means "statue" which is the biggest person (I mean, a statue is the biggest ...
1
vote
3answers
417 views
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 ...
2
votes
3answers
251 views
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 ...
1
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4answers
353 views
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 ...
3
votes
2answers
347 views
Is there a word for Chinese songs that rhyme like Jay Chou's 迷迭香 and JJ Lin's 伟大的渺小?
Every single line in Jay Chou's song "Rosemary" ends with the "ao" sound:
ni de zui jiao
wei wei shang qiao
xing gan de wu ke jiu yao
xiang xiang bu dao
ru ci xin tiao
ni de ...
0
votes
1answer
100 views
Does the distinction between speak and say have any equivalent in Mandarin?
In English "to speak" and "to say" typically cannot be used interchangeably. You can speak a language but you cannot say a language. Similarly, you can speak with someone but you ...
3
votes
3answers
542 views
How can I say “grade on a curve”?
The Future for Chinese/English Dictionaries mentioned that MDBG doesn't have "grading on a curve", and it seems that it's still rather hard to find a translation for this. A rather literal ...
0
votes
1answer
56 views
Cant find the characters to a phrase I heard growing up, “Gen Men”, used as “totally” or “definitely”
like let's say you're full, you could say
"gen men 没办法吃饭“
I think similarly gen men would be used as 完全
"完全没办法吃饭"
But I can't find the characters for "Gen Men". I think I have ...
0
votes
2answers
157 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'.
3
votes
2answers
88 views
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 &...
0
votes
2answers
100 views
How would I say 'what …' in Mandarin
I think the French ce qui/que says it better. This is what I mean:
I do what I want. (Je fais ce que je veux, in French)
How would the 'what' be translated?
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2answers
118 views
What do you call these cold pickled cucumber skewers in Chinese?
Is it correct or understood if I call these cold and pickled cucumber skewers "冰泡黄瓜"?
1
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5answers
228 views
“How's that sound?” in Mandarin
What would be an appropriate way to end a sentence after making a suggestion/offering an opinion in anticipation of the response? For instance, while talking to a friend, I share something with them ...
1
vote
2answers
100 views
Is there a word to indicate incorrectness?
In English we have the prefix mis- that conveys this. I misread, I misspoke, I made a mistake, etc. A misrepresentation, a mistranslation, a misuse, etc.
1
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2answers
153 views
How do you say weekend in Chinese using the 星期 form?
I know that weekend in Chinese is generally translated as 周末.
Is there a way to say weekend by adding something to 星期 like 星期末? Or the only phrase for weekend is 周末?
0
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1answer
95 views
How do you say “none available”?
How do you say "none available"? As in: "There is none available" (without the "there is". Or not.).
2
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2answers
630 views
Ancient Chinese Saying #437: … 10,000 days for the sword
The English martial arts internet is awash in people reciting
100 days of bare hand, 1,000 days of spear, 10,000 days of sword,
unless it's
It takes 100 days to learn the spear, 1000 days to learn ...
2
votes
3answers
253 views
Is there an expression similar to the English “gut feeling” in Chinese?
Is there a metaphor or idiom that has a similar meaning to "gut feeling", as a metaphor for "intuition" or "instinctive feeling", in Mandarin Chinese?
0
votes
3answers
53 views
How to imply someone is terminally ill?
In English, you can say "My cousin is sick." And that sort of conveys a lot. Your cousin could have cancer and be terminally sick, but could also be crazy ("sick" as in slang for cool), or sick as in ...
0
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1answer
150 views
Different types of rain in Chinese?
Inspired by this question on the Spanish stack exchange
Things like drizzle, mist, or downpour?
3
votes
2answers
132 views
How to express among in chinese?
I've encountered myself quite a few times trying to express the word among in chinese and the meaning that it carries, just like in these two senteces:
He's vey popular among the students.
Quite a ...
1
vote
2answers
174 views
Does Chinese have a gender-neutral term for “homemaker”?
I've looked up homemaker, a generic and gender neutral term for house husband, house wife, or a person who stays at home and looks after the family and does house chores, in the Pleco dictionary, but ...
0
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3answers
712 views
Different way of saying “throw rubbish” in Cantonese?
Looking at the dictionary, I see that "throw rubbish" in Cantonese is "掉垃圾". However, in the past, I remember hearing something different for "throw rubbish": "wang垃圾".
I need some help:
What is ...
1
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1answer
67 views
马耳他屿, 为什么这个岛屿用了这些字？
I have relatives in Malta. I want to know why in Chinese people in Malta are from 马耳他屿. Are they seen as (residing in an island where people would be) having ears like that of horses, perhaps due to ...
6
votes
4answers
893 views
Is there a way to distinguish “vegetarian” from “vegan” in Chinese?
I'd like to know whether there is a way to distinguish vegetarian from vegan in Chinese or is the only word available 素食者？
5
votes
5answers
203 views
How to say “make money”?
I'm trying to say "the Song Dynasty used this invention to make paper money". So far I've got "宋朝用了这个发明做纸钱“。 The "make money" part is messing with me- I know "做钱“ can mean to print counterfeit money, ...
1
vote
1answer
524 views
Chinese phrase for a physician's “residency program”?
I am looking for a phrase in Chinese which means the residency program that physicians go through after graduation from medical school. See here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Residency_(medicine)
0
votes
3answers
63 views
Metaphorical “opening” translation
I'm writing about certain historical leaders of China, and I'd like to say something along the lines of "he opened China to foreign investment" or "he opened China to foreign influence", etc. I can ...
0
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2answers
71 views
衰落：decadence or decline?
I'm trying to describe the plot of the work 红楼梦 using the phrase "the 贾 family's decline". The word for decline, though is confusing me. After putting "decline" through a few online translators, I've ...
4
votes
2answers
86 views
“One” (eg. one must) in Chinese?
I'm trying to write a recipe in Chinese, in which I'd like to be able to say something along the lines of "first, one must..." (I know , since a recipe is more informal, I could probably use "you" and ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
How do you say 头大 in English?
英语太难了，学得我头大。
I just don't want to use "head exploding" which scares me.
4
votes
2answers
367 views
What is the character for romantic love in classical Chinese?
In Mandarin, 愛 means romantic love. However, New Practical Primer of Literary Chinese by Paul Rouzer has this to say about its use in literary Chinese:
This character [愛] usually does not imply "...
2
votes
2answers
762 views
What derogatory terms are there for Chinese people?
What derogatory terms are there for Chinese people in Mandarin?
In particular, I am looking for derogatory terms that apply to any person of Chinese ancestry regardless of birthplace, nationality, ...
2
votes
2answers
110 views
What's the common Chinese term for a chest cold?
I can find 支气管炎 for "bronchitis" but I wonder if that's a bit too technical or medical or whether it's common in day-to-day conversation.
In English "bronchitis" is a bit technical so more often ...
2
votes
2answers
421 views
What words are used in Taiwan for a place or person that mends clothing?
On my last trip to Mainland China I saw a lady in a corner "mini shop" mending clothes with a sewing machine.
She mended my jeans for about $5. I don't think she had any kind of sign.
This trip I'm ...
2
votes
3answers
187 views
How to interpret 肉麻
Dictionaries define 肉麻 as nauseating; sickening; disgusting. But I don't think those are accurate because those words are showing disproval while 肉麻 could show approval depending on how you use it. ...
3
votes
3answers
123 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
323 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 ...
5
votes
7answers
601 views
如何把名词形式的 'Nothing' 翻译成中文 How to translate the English noun form of Nothing into Chinese?
Here are 2 English sentences, both have the word 'Nothing' in it in the noun form. I am wondering if it can be translated into Chinese while preserving as much of its original meaning as possible.
...
