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Can someone translate this charm? [closed]

We found this charm in a box of buttons, and I'm curious what it means... For all I know it may not be Chinese, but it looks like it. I tried translating it using the Google Translate app... While it ...
eidylon's user avatar
  • 121
-1 votes
2 answers
494 views

Translation: 凉虾 (米凉虾)

Is there an official (bit of a stretch) translation for 凉虾 (米凉虾) in English? Wikipedia only has a chinese page: 凉虾 The only info I could find is, well, awful: 百度知道 宜昌凉虾英文介绍 Yichang is located ...
Mou某's user avatar
  • 36k
1 vote
1 answer
223 views

Is this Chinese? If so can you tell me what it says in english? Thank you [closed]

Is this Chinese? If so can you tell me what it says in english? Thank you
Jim's user avatar
  • 21
2 votes
3 answers
270 views

意饺: English Translation?

I've seen 意饺 translated as ravioli. Obviously 意饺 = 意大利 + 饺子, but does it only refer to ravioli? There's a lot of different kinds of Italian "dumplings", no? Can it refer to other things besides ...
Mou某's user avatar
  • 36k
1 vote
1 answer
3k views

Sample Mandarin Grammar (Sentences)

First, thank you to everyone for taking the time to read this question. I am curious whether knowledgeable native speakers could assist me with the following grammar questions: I am aware of the ...
Tommie C.'s user avatar
  • 2,324
3 votes
5 answers
444 views

What does 一个泡子 mean?

What does 一个泡子 really mean ? my teacher had asked our class to do some assignment about our names in chinese and find the meaning too. I use chinese simplified in google translate to find my name. but ...
user5925's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
510 views

How to say I want to leave colloquially?

How to say I want to leave or I want to go home colloquially in the case of we are visiting someone's place? Let's say I'm visiting my auntie, then when it's the time for me to leave, what should I ...
null's user avatar
  • 570
1 vote
3 answers
3k views

Why Is The Color Red Considered Lucky In Chinese Language and Culture?

A constant feature in all things Chinese is the color (colour, for those yank-challanged among y'all) red. As common knowledge goes, it is because red is considered to be lucky. Why?
Mou某's user avatar
  • 36k
7 votes
3 answers
2k views

How to Say the "something" in the phrase "Do something"

I was trying to explain the meaning of the phrase "hang out" to a Chinese friend, and the first thing that came to mind was 一起做什么了, with me intending 什么了 to mean "something". He seemed to understand ...
Meta's user avatar
  • 217
10 votes
6 answers
1k views

犬子: who's the dog?

犬子 (literally, dog + son) is an archaic, self-depreciatory term to refer to your son (occasionally it's used to insult other people's sons). This answer raises a question though; who is the dog ...
congusbongus's user avatar
  • 8,557
6 votes
3 answers
1k views

Does there exists an English word for 汉化 ?

汉化 means becoming more assimilated to Han culture. (like Anglicise means being more assimilated to English culture) Historically, this has happened many times, e.g. during Khitan Empire, Jurchen ...
Lost1's user avatar
  • 225
8 votes
3 answers
796 views

Why does the radical for water and ice often look so weird

When I see the radical being used in 洗 and 凉 in some books or even sougou. They break it up into a broken radical that looks nothing like it. Is it one of those things that are related only to ...
aury's user avatar
  • 81
2 votes
3 answers
392 views

Dialects/Topolects: Tone Marks?

Mandarin, as everyone probably knows, has four tones: 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th tone. Each tone has its own tone mark that represents that tone: 1st tone = ˉ (macron) 2nd tone = ˊ (acute accent) 3rd ...
Mou某's user avatar
  • 36k
9 votes
11 answers
3k views

What does 非也 mean?

What does 非也 mean? I heard the following: Is this XXX? 非也! It's YYY! Does it mean "Oh my god!" or something others?
ʇolɐǝz ǝɥʇ qoq's user avatar
3 votes
4 answers
1k views

Translations: 'Crack' as in 'Crack Knuckles'

How to translate 'crack'? As in: To crack ones knuckles? To crack ones fingers? and other joints/bones/etc? (Supposedly in 四川话 it's 'pi' - I don't know the character, hopefully @Huang can let us ...
Mou某's user avatar
  • 36k
2 votes
4 answers
790 views

When do I use V for Ü in Pinyin programs

I use a program called Sougou, which is very poopular in China I think. Sometimes I use the Microsoft pinyin language option. Sougou is very good at guessing my characters based on context, but ...
Aurelie's user avatar
  • 23
3 votes
2 answers
489 views

Hong Kong Cantonese variations

I am interested to learn whether the changes in Hong Kong pronunciation of Cantonese came about, was it because the English in Hong Kong had difficulty understanding the Cantonese? For instance, I ...
user5892's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
1k views

Toneless Sinetic Dialects/Topolects

One of Mandarin's biggest characteristics is its tones. Other Sinitic dialects/topolects aren't any different: Cantonese, Hakka, etc. Question: Are there any toneless Sinitic dialects/topolects? (...
Mou某's user avatar
  • 36k
12 votes
3 answers
8k views

When to use 看 and 见?

I know 看 and 见 both mean "to see". But they are used differently in different words. Like 看书 看电影...etc. and 见面 见识...etc. (Or do Chinese people say 见书 见电影 or 看面 看识?) Is there a rules to use them ...
user4457's user avatar
  • 517
1 vote
1 answer
275 views

How to pronounce 翁 in Mainland China and Taiwan?

I ran into a book talking about the difference of pronouncing 翁 in Mainland China and Taiwan differently. But it is still confusing to me. My questions are: What is the difference of pronouncing 翁 in ...
user4457's user avatar
  • 517
6 votes
7 answers
5k views

Accidentally Saying Chinese Swear Words

So I saw a video on youtube about a guys experience in china. He said that people can often accidentally say swear words if they say the tones wrong. Like the word "ma" It can heard as mother but 'ma'...
user5889's user avatar
6 votes
5 answers
851 views

Loanwords with Chinese Equivalents

How many loanwords in Chinese have Chinese equivalents? Example: 三文鱼 is a loanword, borrowed from English, meaning salmon, but Chinese also has the word 鲑鱼 meaning salmon. Are there a lot of these ...
Mou某's user avatar
  • 36k
1 vote
1 answer
263 views

Numbering for mobile verification call to China in Chinese

I am making a chat application , so for number verification I need to make calls (your verification code is 1234) on the number. I want to know if I called to China in Chinese then how the numbers are ...
Govind Singh Nagarkoti's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
312 views

is google correct translate for me? [closed]

i have translated these 5 sentences with help of google translator is these are correct? Hello from XYZ! {0} Your verification code is {1} = 你好从XYZ! {0}您的验证码是 {1}。 This link of ...
Govind Singh Nagarkoti's user avatar
4 votes
4 answers
1k views

What are the different colloquial terms for Chinese mafia positions?

I am creating a Chinese game where you are working with the Triads. I am looking for a list of Chinese equivalent names for the 黑社会 (triads). Like (source: http://mafia.wikia.com/wiki/Ranks,...
user3871's user avatar
  • 3,414
10 votes
7 answers
1k views

Is it correct to say “在手机”?

Would it be correct to use the phrase "在手机”/“在手机上” etc. to express that I am doing something on my phone? For example, could I say 我听音乐在我的手机上。 Or can 在 only be used for my actual physical location?...
silviezcatz's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
324 views

行为艺术:translation?

21 Century Dictionary behavioural art 行为艺术 I don't know what on earth behavioural art is, it sounds like a direct translation from Chinese, if anything. A bing search didn't show up anything ...
Mou某's user avatar
  • 36k
5 votes
6 answers
2k views

Mandarin Equivalent: "duh!"

"duh!" Advanced English Dictionary duh Disdainful indication that something is obvious. "It’s hot in the desert. - Well, duh!" Is there a Mandarin equivalent of 'duh!'?
Mou某's user avatar
  • 36k
2 votes
5 answers
3k views

(Better) Translations of: 稀罕/稀奇?

In Chinese 稀罕 and 稀奇 are often used negatively to express disdain, e.g.: ABC 我不稀罕你的钱。 Wǒ bù xīhan nǐ de qián. I don't care about your money. And 你以为我稀奇你的东西? Dictionaries often translate ...
Mou某's user avatar
  • 36k
9 votes
4 answers
934 views

What is the purpose of the 中 in 在新标签页中打开?

So, I recently started using my android phone in simplified Chinese mode, to help myself internalize Chinese characters. In my browser window, when I press down on a URL, the "在新标签页中打开" button allows ...
I11umin8's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
491 views

What is the difference between 嘱咐 and 吩咐?

Both of them seem to be able to be used to mean instruct. Am I right in saying that you can 嘱咐 and 吩咐 someone to study hard? If so, what is the difference in meaning between these two terms?
user2246's user avatar
  • 646
7 votes
4 answers
4k views

Why does 三明治 mean sandwich when 三 means 3, 明 means bright/clear, and 治 means to rule?

I am a native English speaker who is learning Mandarin Chinese for the AP Chinese test next year. I stumbled on this "anomaly", and I would like your help. Thank you.
user5844's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
252 views

What is the meaning of 多米 in the music service?

My friend often sends me links from the Duomi music service. Where does the name come from? 多米 seems to mean "a lot of rice" if I translate it directly.
pg-robban's user avatar
  • 595
2 votes
3 answers
4k views

What is the difference between 看到 and 看过?

I've learned them in Chinese class, but still a bit confused, 看 means see, but what is the difference between 看到 and 看过?
user4457's user avatar
  • 517
9 votes
1 answer
4k views

Pinyin "h" sound, pronunciation

I notice that the pinyin "h" is in many books just the same as in English. But when I listen to people, some people stress the "h" and there is a tiny gggg, and some gurgling ...
Kiyori's user avatar
  • 91
13 votes
2 answers
12k views

Equivalent phrase to "Bon Appetit"/"Enjoy (your food)"

In European languages there's a phrase you can say when you or a waiter serves food. For example, - bon appetit (French/English) - buen provecho (Spanish) Does Chinese have a similar phrase?
Cristian's user avatar
  • 461
1 vote
1 answer
120 views

How to translate character [closed]

How to translate character on image below?
user92888's user avatar
4 votes
4 answers
565 views

香皂 vs. 肥皂: What's the difference?

香皂 scented soap, toilet soap 肥皂 soap What's difference though?
Mou某's user avatar
  • 36k
2 votes
3 answers
1k views

Chinese: Old Wives Tales

A long time ago I heard someone say: "玩火会尿床" Which I instantly recognized is very similar to some 'old wives tales' in English. In English there are things like: from Wikipedia: Cracking ...
Mou某's user avatar
  • 36k
12 votes
5 answers
8k views

Chinese equivalent of: 'ew'?

When disgusted by something people will usually say, 'ew, yuck!' or 'ew, gross.' Is there an equivalent of 'ew' in Mandarin? The only things I was able to find about it (here) - just explain what '...
Mou某's user avatar
  • 36k
5 votes
2 answers
393 views

What are these "riddle jokes"?

In Chinese there are these jokes which are delivered as a small riddle followed by the answer. They are often used humorously, with the answer used as an insult. Here are some examples: 哑巴吃黄莲/有苦说不出 ...
congusbongus's user avatar
  • 8,557
7 votes
4 answers
3k views

What is the difference between 参观 and 游览

What is the difference between 参观 and 游览. I know they have a similar meaning but are distinct in some ways (i.e. you can 参观 some places and 游览 others)?
Samuel Parsonage's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
3k views

角/毛 (10 cents) for money: why?

from: List of historical Chinese currency terms 角 (litterally a corner / a horn of an animal) = 毛 (litterally "a feather of a bird") = 1/10 the main unit. Why use 角 and 毛 for, what we might call ...
Mou某's user avatar
  • 36k
4 votes
1 answer
135 views

What is equivalent of "分润"?

In many trading system I can offen find a concept call "分润". Is that a word in english equivalent to "分润" ?
JasonMing's user avatar
  • 143
8 votes
6 answers
2k views

Can 知道 be used in the sense of "to know someone"?

While watching a video with Chinese subtitles on a Chinese website, I came across this dialogue: Approximate English gloss (leaving out unnecessary details): A: You're XXX, right? B: So you ...
user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
910 views

Is this book in simplified or traditional Chinese?

To learn Chinese, I'm going to read the Chinese edition of a book I've already read in English. This is it: www.amazon.cn/阿特拉斯耸耸肩-安·兰德/dp/B00DA281J2 Can someone please go into the "See Inside" ...
user5780's user avatar
-3 votes
2 answers
247 views

Can someone translate sentance from english to chinese? [closed]

If there was a price for my love, you could never afford it.
Mia's user avatar
  • 13
3 votes
4 answers
444 views

Finding the "second character"?

A lot of words in Chinese have been shortened into single-syllable, and thus single-character, words. Often times though these single syllable words are not 'clear' enough in speech, in writing though ...
Mou某's user avatar
  • 36k
4 votes
1 answer
161 views

verb. "to shoot" (weapon): difference between 射击,开枪, 击中, 射中

The verb shoot appears often in Chinese international news. But I am unclear about the different words for it. 射击 and 开枪 seem to be the firing of a gun and 击中,射中 hitting with a weapon, but could ...
user5763's user avatar
12 votes
5 answers
754 views

Radicals: inescapable?

I've started to learn independently some Chinese (on printed material mainly) but a friend who has studied the language at University level suggested I learn the radicals as a necessary start. A ...
navegante's user avatar
  • 121

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