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What is the perceived nuance of the word 友人 in Chinese?

We don't use 友人 in daily conversation in my neck of woods. 友人 is only used in the circumstance where it describes the foreigners in the formal context. E.g. 她是我们中国的友人。or 她是我们中华民族的友人, 不是敌人. Note that ...
dan's user avatar
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Function of 令 in 你日日喺我耳邊唱歌令我好壓抑 (cantonese)

令 has the meaning of "make" 你日日喺我耳邊唱歌[令]我好壓抑 You sing by my ear side everyday [make] me very depress 對 means "to" 你日日喺我耳邊唱歌, [對]我是一种折磨 You sing by my ear side everyday, [to] me ...
Tang Ho's user avatar
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3 votes

What is the perceived nuance of the word 友人 in Chinese?

When I say 那个人是我的友人, does 友人 have the same formal nuance in Chinese? I do see people use the term 友人 instead of 朋友 in some instances. Readers should have no problem understanding it because it is a ...
Tang Ho's user avatar
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3 votes

What is the function of 同 in 我哋使唔使同佢準備個生日蛋糕?

Depend on the context, "同" as a preposition, can mean "with" or "for" "我哋使唔使[同]佢準備個生日蛋糕" -- Do we need to prepare a birthday cake [for] him "我哋使唔使[同]佢(一齊)...
Tang Ho's user avatar
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Not only, but also (in cantonese)

You might be interested in these notes from ABC Cantonese on the word 添: 1 more 畀多我一百蚊𠻹 bei2 do1 ngo5 jat1 baat3 man1 tim1 Give me one hundred dollars more 食多啲𠻹 sik6 do1 di1 ...
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What is the function of 而 and 為咗 in 我哋為咗決定去邊度度蜜月而閙交 in Cantonese?

[為咗 A 而 B] = [ to B for A]. It is a two parts function word for "for " [(為咗) cause (而) verb] = [verb (for) cause] Example : "(為咗)钱(而)工作" = "work (for) money" [我哋(為咗)決定去邊度度蜜月(而)閙交] = [we (...
Tang Ho's user avatar
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Could a translation error lead to squares to not be considered as rectangles? (Cantonese)

If there is a real question here, I think it stems from your idiosyncratic usage of the words "square rectangle" and "oblong rectangle". In more common usage, as you would no doubt find in ...
monalisa's user avatar
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2 votes

Not only, but also (in cantonese)

仲 = also 添 = add / additionally [(仲) ~ (添)] is a set structure for [(in addition, also) ~ ] 仲發燒添 means "in addition, also have fever"
Tang Ho's user avatar
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2 votes

Function of 令 in 你日日喺我耳邊唱歌令我好壓抑 (cantonese)

你日日喺我耳邊唱歌 令我好壓抑。 壓抑 is an adjective, so you can't use 對 here. 令=make 令 is followed by an adjective, eg壓抑 .... makes me depressed 你日日喺我耳邊唱歌 對我 ☓好壓抑 ✓造成好大困擾 對=cause...to 對 is followed by a noun/...
wada's user avatar
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2 votes

inviting someone to dinner (in cantonese)

介意 = 'mind' (v), When you ask someone "你介唔介意 (do you mind) doing something", you are suggesting this something might inconvenience, trouble, or displease him or her. "你介唔介意今晚同我食飯?&...
Tang Ho's user avatar
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2 votes

Not only, but also (in cantonese)

添 can be optional. It's used to exaggerate his expression. You can say 佢唔單只感冒,仲發燒
sylvia's user avatar
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2 votes
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What's the difference between 也 (yě) & 和 (hé)?

也 means "also" whereas 和 means "and."  Adverb vs. conjunction. So for example, to say "I am also a student" you could write 我也是学生。 But you cannot write 我和是学生。 Additionally, 也 cannot function as ...
perspicuousreading's user avatar
2 votes

How does 讽刺 mean both "sarcastic" and "ironic"?

Sometimes, an irony is not intentionally meant to mock or be sacarstic. It just things happen in a contradictory way and it feels like life is mocking you. Maybe 讽刺 is an element in both ironies and ...
user36959's user avatar
1 vote

What Is the Nuance Accompanied By Adding 去/来 to show the purpose of an action

This would be my answer 来(to) emphasize the mean 去(to) emphasize the objective 他试图用花去讨好她 - "去" emphasizes the objective is to 讨好她 他试图用花來讨好她 - "來" emphasizes the mean is 花
Tang Ho's user avatar
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1 vote

How does 讽刺 mean both "sarcastic" and "ironic"?

Both irony and sarcasm have the ingredient of something happening which is the opposite of what is expected, a twist in a plot, if you will. Sarcasm is using irony to mock, or show contempt. They are ...
monalisa's user avatar
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1 vote

How does 讽刺 mean both "sarcastic" and "ironic"?

I should say, they are similar in Chinese. Actually, you can use another a little more accurate idiom 阴阳怪气 to express ironic, and 挖苦 to express sarcastic, although in Chinese, 阴阳怪气 and 挖苦 are all ...
Havier's user avatar
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1 vote

How does 讽刺 mean both "sarcastic" and "ironic"?

"sarcastic" and "ironic" both are expressing ridicule (讽刺/嘲笑) but with different manners. "sarcastic" - Expressing ridicule using sarcasm (a witty language used to convey ...
r13's user avatar
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1 vote

What is the difference between 弯身, 弯腰, 俯身, and 屈身?

弯 (curve; bend) vs. 直 (straight) 弯身 = curve/ bend your body Although bend your body from your waist (弯腰) is the most common way to bend your body, there are other postures that can be called 弯身. For ...
Tang Ho's user avatar
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inviting someone to dinner (in cantonese)

Normally 介唔介意 is used in situations where you expect your action may cause mild displease to the listener. In the context of an invitation, you may cause mild displease to someone unfamiliar if they ...
L Parker's user avatar
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1 vote
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question about the usage of 返 (Cantonese)

番 [5] [粵] [adv] back; again; afresh. 放幾日假 = take a few days off Depend on context 放番幾日假 (1) = take a few days off again Similar example: 一年冇返工,而家返番 = A year without going to work, now I am going (to ...
Tang Ho's user avatar
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What is the difference between 满足 and 满意?

满 = to fulfill; to satisfy 意 = mind; intend; desire; idea 满意 = be satisfied (of a desire); happy with Example: 希望我們的服務能使你感到满意 = Hope our service can make you feel satisfied (happy/ satisfied in your ...
Tang Ho's user avatar
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1 vote

Function of 令 in 你日日喺我耳邊唱歌令我好壓抑 (cantonese)

令人 is a very common phrase. 令人:(used in conjunction with a verb) cause someone to (be, feel, etc) 令人不可思议 令人失望 令人出乎意料 你日日喺我耳邊唱歌[令]我好壓抑。 You singing in my ear every day is making me depressed.
Pedroski's user avatar
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1 vote

Could a translation error lead to squares to not be considered as rectangles? (Mandarin)

i think the question is not good enough. a principle of multiple choices question is: the choices are mutually exclusive, that they do not overlap. though the question is asked about the number of ...
水巷孑蠻's user avatar
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1 vote

Could a translation error lead to squares to not be considered as rectangles? (Mandarin)

I think I've found the confusion. ABC English to Chinese's definition of oblong is 长方形(的) but then their Chinese to English definition of 长方形 is Rectangle Back to what you said: Whenever ...
Mou某's user avatar
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1 vote

Could a translation error lead to squares to not be considered as rectangles? (Mandarin)

Your question does not make it very clear, but since you are posing this question on the Chinese Language site, I am assuming the kindergarten books you are referring to are in Chinese, by American ...
monalisa's user avatar
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1 vote

Could a translation error lead to squares to not be considered as rectangles? (Mandarin)

My guess is it depends if rectangle is translated as: Oblong Quadrilateral Could be the case that the teaching is for young children, where the word / concept of rectangle vs Oblong ...
Alex's user avatar
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1 vote

"Do what you can": Is 做可做的 natural?

做你能做的 or 做你可做的 sometimes means 'Do what you allowed' and 做你力所能及的, Do what you are abled to
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