All Questions
10,817
questions
36
votes
10
answers
6k
views
How do we choose the correct characters for a Western name?
Since there are many characters that share a common pronunciation and sometimes also the same tone, how do we properly choose which character best represents our name? Is it totally arbitrary or are ...
- 6,425
11
votes
13
answers
4k
views
How to translate "你给我滚" properly?
In a sentence like:
“你给我拿一杯水” You would translate it something like: Get me a glass of water.
How is the "给我" in the sentence “你给我滚” supposed to be translated?
Should it just be "Get lost / Piss ...
- 10.2k
5
votes
4
answers
337
views
Differences between 蝉 and 知了?
What are the main differences between 蝉 (chán) and 知了 (zhīliǎo) both meaning cicada.
Do they both refer to the same species?
Will either saying be understood by the majority of native speakers?
Is ...
- 10.2k
16
votes
6
answers
1k
views
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
4
votes
3
answers
355
views
What is the Mandarin equivalent for the Shanghai term for dirty?
In the Shanghai dialect dirty is pronounced something like "o co" with the o pronounced like the "o" in cot and the "c" pronounced like the usual c in pinyin (kinda like an 'ts' sound).
Which ...
- 10.2k
14
votes
3
answers
3k
views
How to practice reading for beginners? [closed]
Are there any good magazines (or perhaps books) that can be used to practice reading for beginners? I feel that my Chinese level is good enough to read simple sentences but it's still impossible to ...
- 2,116
8
votes
1
answer
278
views
General guidelines for learning stroke order
A friend asked me for a brief description of the general guidelines for writing Chinese characters. What are the simplest ways to describe those "rules" that apply across most characters?
- 3,357
8
votes
2
answers
296
views
What is the part without the radical called?
For example, these characters have different radicals:
根 跟 恨 狠
But the part of the characters minus the radical is the same.
Does that part (艮 in this case) have a name?
- 1,831
28
votes
5
answers
9k
views
How can one determine the radical for a given character?
Many times, when reading Mandarin, I will happen across a character that I don't know. Usually, the radical along with some context will clue me into the meaning, but if I can't determine the radical, ...
- 499
7
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Equivalent expression to: "I don't give a f***"
Is there something in Mandarin like "I don't give a f***", something that expresses the same sense of "I don't care" but with more force.
- 3,435
13
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How to say "fail" in Mandarin? (as in "epic fail" in internet memes)
The term fail is pretty popular on the internet these days, and one I'm quite fond of.
Looking in my Chinese dictionary I can't find a great equivalent - is there a good way to say this? What would be ...
- 4,586
11
votes
3
answers
296
views
Which regions use 计算机 for computer?
Where is 计算机 used for "computer", and where does it mean "calculator". In regions where it means "calculator" what is the word for "supercomputer" (assuming that 超级计算机 is not used there)?
- 3,435
9
votes
3
answers
417
views
"Actually" as a sentence-starter of speech filler
When casually speaking English I use the word "actually" a lot at the beginning of a sentance, or as part of the flow of my speech. e.g.
Actually, next semester doesn't start for a month.
...
- 3,435
12
votes
2
answers
150
views
Authoritative source for translators
For translators, is there an authoritative source they go to where they can check translations are accurate?
For example say there was a political conference and someone wasn't sure if the word ...
- 10.2k
20
votes
5
answers
7k
views
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?
- 2,633
12
votes
4
answers
606
views
Etymology of 汉语
I knew a Chinese woman who taught me a lot about Chinese languages. One of them was about 汉语's etymology.
I was told that all parts of these characters had a meaning connected to the History of ...
- 385
6
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Why do Chinese "extend" the last word when speaking?
I've hear on many occasions that Chinese prolong the last word in a sentence, for example:
ni hao ma ?
becomes
ni hao maaaaa ?
(I'm not sure that's clear enough but can't think of a better way ...
- 2,415
11
votes
2
answers
350
views
Why is it possible to replace 都 with 也 in 什么都没有?
I know 也 only as "also", but I see it now and then used in ways difficult to understand, especially in some negative statements. Why is this so? Does 也 also have some meaning not mentioned in ...
- 2,415
4
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Etymology of 奴隶 (Slave)
I vaguely remember hearing somebody make observations about the word 奴隶 (slave). I would like to verify the impressions of the person who was speaking as being factual or just his impressions.
What is ...
- 243
38
votes
7
answers
8k
views
Can native Chinese speakers distinguish tones in songs?
I already have a hard time distinguishing tones in normal speech. This gets significantly worse when I listen to Chinese songs, since the melody masks tones even further.
Yes, I understand that ...
- 1,831
5
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Written Cantonese input?
Although traditionally Cantonese speakers just use standard Chinese (mostly Traditional in my experience) for writing and reading, written Cantonese does exist as you can read about in this Wikipedia ...
- 739
16
votes
4
answers
11k
views
How do I say "damn!" or "bloody hell" in Chinese?
The phrase 他妈的 has been explained in this question. Since I'm a no-expletives guy, I don't feel comfortable so close to the f-word. :) I was wondering what would be the correct way to use some of the ...
- 2,415
35
votes
11
answers
88k
views
Is it easier to learn Chinese after learning Japanese or vice versa?
For those who speak both Chinese and Japanese, would first learning Chinese make it easier to learn Japanese?
Knowing that Japanese Kanji are derived from Chinese characters, how hard is it to do the ...
- 523
18
votes
4
answers
541
views
Is this an exception in the use of 的?
I know that, when expressing possessives, we add 的 to the usual personal pronouns, such as 我的.
However, in a question in my grammar textbook I saw:
你爸爸忙吗? = Is your father busy?
Why not "你的爸爸忙吗？"?...
- 6,425
26
votes
14
answers
50k
views
How offensive is 他妈的?
How offensive is the expression 他妈的? What is an English expression with a similar degree of offensiveness? In what situations is this expression appropriate / not appropriate?
- 3,435
12
votes
1
answer
992
views
Rules for saying numbers
I just wondered what are the rules of saying numbers...
For example:
10 = 十
19 = 十九
100 = 一百
1,000 = 一千
10,000 = 一萬
but
119 = 一百一十九
then
110 = 一百一
1,100 = 一千一
11,000 = 一萬一
and then
10,110 = ...
- 1,341
12
votes
1
answer
168
views
Chinese for "vote-up", "vote-down" and "vote to close"
What are the correct Chinese words to use for the following:
Vote-up
Vote-down
Vote to close
I assume these will have been included in certain social platforms in China.
- 10.2k
3
votes
2
answers
307
views
What are the most difficult things to learn for a westerner? [closed]
What aspects of the Chinese language are the most difficult to learn for a westerner? In particular I'm interested in thoughts on:
What do you find are the main difficulties?
Are there any aspects of ...
- 3,425
16
votes
4
answers
426
views
How to Find Characters in a Dictionary?
In English we would look words based on their alphabetical order.
But how are Chinese dictionaries ordered to allow you to find what you are looking for - is it based on the radicals, number of ...
- 3,425
15
votes
2
answers
406
views
Is the usage of European punctuation acceptable in Chinese writing?
Chinese punctuation is a little bit different from European punctuation, for example:
The full stop (period) is "。" instead of "."
The ellipsis are six vertically centered dots (… …) instead of just ...
- 1,831
16
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Do all schools in China teach in Standard Chinese (普通话)?
When I went to China, it was apparent that many (sometimes most) people still spoke their local dialects instead of Standard Chinese/Putonghua (also known as "Mandarin" in English). I was told that ...
- 1,831
15
votes
4
answers
7k
views
Useful resources for learning Taiwanese?
My girlfriend is from Fujian and speaks 闽南语, so I am trying to learn so I can communicate with her family better.
The struggle is finding any useful resources (even in Chinese), so I'm wondering if ...
19
votes
13
answers
8k
views
Are there word games in Chinese?
Do Chinese characters make it a lot harder to create or play word games in Chinese than it is in English? I have seen a few Chinese crosswords, but it seems like they aren't as densely cross-linked as ...
- 3,357
33
votes
13
answers
15k
views
What is a good technique for remembering tones?
I find it a great struggle to try and remember tones for all the new vocab I learn, and aside from gradually picking up tones by listening and talking with native speakers, I can't really remember ...
- 4,586
18
votes
6
answers
1k
views
Learning how to use measure / count words properly
Chinese has measure (or count) words like “个” (一个人), “部” (三部车), etc.
These always get me confused, and there way too many of them. Are there any general rules that can help me memorize them?
Also, ...
- 1,831
23
votes
12
answers
35k
views
How is the "r" sound pronounced?
One of the most trickiest sounds to pronounce correctly in Mandarin seems to be the "r" sound, as in 日本 (rì běn). It's not uncommon to hear people pronounce that like "urban."
I have been told it's ...
- 1,831
24
votes
2
answers
1k
views
When to use 了 and when to use 过 to express past actions or events
I kind of have an idea when 了 and 过 should be used but it's mostly on a case by case basis, and I don't know the exact rules.
So if I want to express something that happened in the past, when should ...
- 2,116
12
votes
3
answers
9k
views
Is there an equivalent for the Cantonese phrase "M Goi"
The Cantonese phrase "M Goi" has many meanings:
"Excuse me"
"Thanks" (casual)
"Hey"
Does it have a 普通话 equivalent? And how can I write it in pinyin? Is it even possible?
- 2,091
8
votes
3
answers
579
views
Is there an authoritative reference for the stroke order of simplifed characters?
It seems various people often have various ways to write the same characters. For instance, I have seen the radical "忄" being written in three different ways (left, middle, right; left, right, middle; ...
- 2,116
26
votes
17
answers
5k
views
Techniques for learning and retaining characters
For many of us, memorizing characters is a difficult thing. In Chinese, just because you can speak the word doesn't mean you can read it. Just because you can read it doesn't mean you can write it. At ...
- 1,023
54
votes
13
answers
53k
views
的, 地, 得, when do you use which?
So the age old question of 的, 地, 得, when do you use which? When spoken, it all sounds the same, but on paper it depends on if it's a verb, noun, adjective. But I don't quite remember if that is all ...
- 1,023
2
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Learning resources for ZhengMa input method?
I've been for some time learning chinese characters along with the Zheng Ma input method. I found it convenient for coming with Windows and being able to easily convert to my Dvorak touch-typing, as ...
- 123
12
votes
6
answers
3k
views
"小王" 和 "老王" how to determine which to use?
This is something I still haven't mastered and still just go with the flow.
If I wanted to call someone a nickname, say for Mr. Wang, which one should I choose? What defines whether I should call him ...
- 10.2k
8
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Where is the correct place to use 您 when addressing others?
Almost every foreign text book I've seen mentions 您 as a polite or formal address to others, however I rarely hear it said and rarely see it written except when addressing customers and occasionally ...
- 10.2k
15
votes
8
answers
6k
views
What is the best way to teach a child Mandarin?
My son is almost 8 weeks old. I don't speak Mandarin (yet, currently in progress) and am looking for ways to start him on learning Mandarin early, maybe at about 1 year of age. What is the best way ...
- 255
11
votes
1
answer
536
views
Geopolitical History of Simplified Chinese
I've always been fascinated about the etymology of languages and believe that we are seeing a significant series of changes within chinese.
There are some fairly good technical references for the ...
- 291
6
votes
2
answers
210
views
Which ma belongs in the phrase 我 "ma" 好的
This may be a SE dialect thing, but plenty of my friends say 我 "ma" 好的 to mean 我很好 or "ma" 好的 to mean good or I agree with you.
Can someone tell me which character (if there is one) is supposed to be ...
- 10.2k
17
votes
8
answers
2k
views
Sheep or goat? 一只羊跑过来
In the sentence:
一只羊跑过来
Would a Chinese person typically assume this is a goat or a sheep?
- 10.2k
13
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Classical Chinese Literature - What languages could be written with it? And why?
I understand that classical Chinese (see Wikipedia) was very different from spoken Chinese (at least in the last centuries of its usage). Nevertheless, despite or maybe even because of this, it was ...
- 395
15
votes
4
answers
398
views
Character Pronunciation Clues
Is there any way to know what a character's pronunciation or tone is, based on the strokes or radicals that make up the characters?
- 3,425