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What does `只` mean in `他有四本书，可是我只有三本`?
In Simplified Chinese, 只 is polyphonic. In the sentence, 只 means only, pronounced zhǐ. The meaning you cited corresponds to another pronunciation, zhī, of the character.
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How to use correctly 只要?
Yes, it is acceptable.
For example,
只要有人在说话，就不要插嘴。
As long as someone is talking, do not intervene.
只要下雨，我们就不去了。
As long as it rains, we will not go.
只要客户不满意，我们就不会停止服务。
If customers are not ...
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What is the difference between 准时 and 按时?
准 = accurate; precise
准时 = on time/ on schedule (event or action take place at a precisely scheduled/ appointed time)
~
按 = according to; base on
按时 = on schedule/ on time (event or action take ...
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6
votes
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What does the last `点` mean in `玩得开心点`?
点 or 一点 means some or a bit.
Just like we often use 很 (very) before adjectives and 些 (some) before nouns, we often need 点 just to make the sentence grammatical.
If you omit 点 saying 玩得开心, it sounds ...
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How does 也 work in 宁愿冻死也不穿?
In this sentence 也 should not be understood individually.In Chinese 宁愿...也... is a coordinating conjunction. It means a choose relationship. You choose the option behind 宁愿 and you give up the option ...
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votes
Can an adverb modify another adverb in Chinese?
we don't say 你太快说
你说得太快
means you speak too fast
你快说
expresses that I want you to speak faster, it's like a request.
你快说 can be used on informal occasions (with your friends or your family). We ...
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Can you use "非常非常‘ to emphasize how much you think of something?
Sure. You can even repeat it more times (非常非常非常) if you want...
Like the English usage ("really, really") it isn't something you'd put in formal writings, but its certainly common enough in dialogue ...
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Usage of 一边 (doing things simultaneously)?
“一边。。。一边。。。” is a very useful structure. It can also be simplified as “边。。。边。。。”
For example, 他一边吃饭一边看书。她边走边唱。
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Does 好 + adjective with negative connotation reinforce the negative connotation or mitigate it?
For your question, 好无聊 is almost the same intention as 很无聊。
However, they are sightly different in expressing emotions.
好无聊 is a slight complaint with a potential effort of trying to make the ...
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Function of 开了 in 我开车开了半天了
Basic SVO form: "我开车" (I drive) = [我(s)+ 开(v) + 车(o)] or [我(s)+开车(v)]
Add description of the duration : [我开(半天)车] = [I drive (half a day)]
Add verb particle '了' to indicate the verb is completed : [我开(...
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Function of 开了 in 我开车开了半天了
grammar topic:complements of duration with object, raised at this site several times (still searching locations),anyhow here is an excerpt from Yufa! A Practical Guide to Mandarin Chinese Grammar 13 ...
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How does 十分/不十分 work？
Good question.
不满 is a single word. It means unhappy or unsatisfied. It cannot be separated into 不 + 十分 + 满. It's like you can't say "un-very-happy".
不满意 is a phrase, 不 + 满意 = not satisfied. It can ...
- 1,268
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Is it OK to use 只 (only) when it already uses 只 as a measure word?
"只有20-30万只蜜蜂" is a valid sentence in simplified Chinese. You just have to read the two 只 differently, because they have different meanings.
The first "只" in the sentence means "only" in both ...
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4
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When should I use 地 with an adjective and when should I not use it with an adverb (and why do some adverbs require 地)?
一个劲儿地 is not a standard adverb, It is an adverbial phrase
一个劲儿 (constant effort) is a noun. Adding 地 make it an adverbial phrase 一个劲儿地 (with constant effort)
刻苦 is not only an adjective, it can also ...
- 68.8k
4
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Can an adverb modify another adverb in Chinese?
太快 in 你说得太快 is a degree complement for action verb
Structure: [V +得+ degree complement]
Example: [她 做得 很好。](She worked very well.); [你 说得 太快] (You speak too fast)
~
快 in 你快说 short for 快些 or 快點. It ...
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Can an adverb modify another adverb in Chinese?
In my opinion, 你太快说 or 你太快说放弃了 is ungrammatical although the latter is fine to use colloquially (because we have more tolerance in spoken). A correct way to express this can be 你说放弃说得太快了 or 你放弃说得太快了....
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Adj. + 到 to express an extent
Your understanding is mostly right
“A 到 B 了” means "become so A that have got into the condition of B"
A: adj, but used as a verb, which means "become A"
B: a condition
"...
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Should words like 一般 or 平时 be put before or after the time reference?
Tl;dr: There is inherent adverbial order in Chinese (point 2.). Sentences with the same adverbs ordered differently can have different meanings (points 3. to 6.).
The correct order is 你平時/一般什麼時候做作業？.
...
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Common use of character 大 as adverb
Besides being a common adjective, 大 is also a common adverb. It is mostly used with single character verb or adjective (more literary than colloquial)
Example:
駡 (to scold) --> 大駡 (to scold ...
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What is the difference between 好多 vs. 很多?
好 may be used with the meaning of 很. The difference is that it's more colloquial.
Source: myself =P
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What is the difference between 电视 and 电视上?
Well, as a native speaker, I would say there is no rigid rule for the usage under consideration. Both sentences precisely express what you would like to express.
So yes, they are identical in meaning....
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这就是台湾，这才是台湾. Cracking the 就 again
A lot of people are trying to explain 就 vs 才 with english equivalent terms, but that makes it very confusing when it can be explained with simple logic statements, and it is crucial to understand the ...
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Use of 真的 as adverb: are 我真要走了 and 我真的要走了 equally correct?
"我真要走了" and "我真的要走了" are both good expressions. They are in fact no different at all. "真" and "真的" are both adverbs here.
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Can all adjectives be transformed into adverbs with 地?
Check out these dictionary entries for 地[de5]:
ABC
(adv.-forming, like English -ly)
很快地
hěn kuài de
very quickly
Oxford
AUXILIARY
[used with an adverb or adverbial phrase]
合理地安排和使用劳动力
dispose of ...
Mou某♦
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How can I use 有点 or 一点 to add "a little" to a verb?
If asked
你会说汉语吗？
On the positive side, you can say:
会一点。
or
我会一点。
or
我会说一点。
or
我会说一点汉语。
They are the same meaning.
On the negative side, you can say:
(我)一点也不会。
These mean you ...
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When should I use 地 with an adjective and when should I not use it with an adverb (and why do some adverbs require 地)?
Many Chinese grammar books imitate those grammar books on Western languages. That does not fit well in Chinese grammar. The details I am not going to discuss here.
While Western languages transform a ...
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How to express "Now, ..." in Chinese (the usage of "now" to draw attention to a particular statement)?
Now, you found out that the store B sells the same item in $8. But it is located in 8 miles away.
I am not a native English speaker, but I don't quite agree that now here means draw attention to a ...
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In 你多吃点 and 多给他点时间吧, is 多 an adjective or an adverb?
"多" here functions just like "more" in English. It can be an adjective or adverb
In "多吃点", '多' (more) is an adverb for the verb '吃'(verb). In English, "多吃点水果" means "eat fruit more"
~
In "吃多点"...
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Difference in word order of these two adverbs: 再 又
I am trying to give two differences between 再 and 又 for you.
Originally, 再 means 'second time', 又 means 'second time', or 'third time', or even more. But now, 再 sometimes also means repeatedly. In ...
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Using 得 with past particle 了
You could say
"他把卫生间打扫干净了" The man have cleaned the bathroom.
"他把卫生间打扫得很干净" The man cleaned the bathroom cleanly.
「得」字的用法：
1.覺得。feel.
2.介詞。preposition. After verb or adj. to express the result ...
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