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1500 questions
11
votes
1 answer
Determine radicals for simplifed characters that lost their traditional form completely
Having read this question: How can one determine the radical for a given character?,
it gave me another question.
Since many simplified characters lost their original form (compared to traditional ones), how do I actually look up their radicals? A…
Georgeee
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11
votes
2 answers
Who exactly is a 干妈
This dictionary translates 干妈 as "Godmother", and my pocket dictionary also gives "nominal mother".
In English, "Godmother" and "Godfather" are very specific titles - Your Godparents are the people who sponsored your baptism (if you had one). Non…
jsj
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11
votes
4 answers
Apple Watch has a built in response of "一个字。非常棒！". Is this correct?
When you respond to a text message on Apple Watch, there are a number of autoreply options. One of them:
一个字。非常棒！
I translate this to English as "One word. Excellent! ". This makes a lot of sense in this translation. However, can the entire phrase…
Wesley
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11
votes
2 answers
Is the measure word optional in 这件毛衣?
I've heard the sentence 这毛衣, (so without measure word), but my chinese manual always use a measure word after 这:
这件毛衣
这件苹果
Is the measure word optionnal in after 这 ?
BAK
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11
votes
5 answers
Why does the word 萌 mean "cute"?
A friend of mine said in a photo of me, my eyes looked very 萌(meng2).
你的眼睛很萌
My dictionary defines 萌 as;
萌 méng （动）
sprout;
bud;
germinate
But apparently in this context it means "cute", "kawaii".
How is this so?
Matthew Rudy 马泰
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11
votes
4 answers
Pronounce ellipsis 《●●● ●●●》 in Mandarin
When I'm reading ellipses in English out loud I usually say et cetera or and so on. What should I say in Mandarin? 等等?
rxmnnxfpvg
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11
votes
3 answers
When do I use 着 to indicate action in progress?
It seems like for some verbs (正)在 is used to indicate action in progress, but I have also encountered 着 for some, like 穿着. When should it be used, is there a rule to follow?
dr Hannibal Lecter
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11
votes
4 answers
Difference between 合适 and 适合
Both 合适 and 适合 mean to fit/to suit.
I know the grammatical form needed for each one is different:
在这个情况下，你在穿的衣服就不合适。
我在找一个适合我的女孩子。
Aside of that, I have been told they cannot be used interchangeably but depending on the context either only one or…
noe
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11
votes
6 answers
How is the pinyin 'iu' pronounced?
How does one pronounce the 'iu' sound (as in liu4 = six)?
I have always said it and heard it to end in an [joʊ] sound, as in 'low', 'go', and 'sew'.
But once I was told that it should actually be a 'u' sound, perhaps something like [iu:] as in…
cyanos
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11
votes
2 answers
Why one-to-many mapping between IPA and Pinyin?
I am referring to the Origin of zhuyin symbols table on Wikipedia. Under Rhymes and Medials the following 3 entries confuse me:
Zhuyin
IPA
Pinyin
ㄧ
i
i/y
ㄨ
u
u/w
ㄩ
y
ü/yu/u
Why are there multiple Pinyin symbols for the same IPA…
user13107
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11
votes
1 answer
Why 福 is often used upside down?
On Chinese houses, people often place scriptures for luck, health, wealth, etc.
Often, they use the word 福 [fú] turned upside down, like this:
What is the reason for it?
Be Brave Be Like Ukraine
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11
votes
13 answers
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 off" and just ignore the "给我" part?
going
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11
votes
5 answers
What are some ways that I can be self-deprecating about my Chinese speaking ability?
I live in an area where there are many Chinese so I get plenty of opportunity to use my language skills including shopping, eating at restaurants and meeting new people.
The Chinese people I meet are always complimentary about my language skill…
going
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11
votes
4 answers
Pinyin of 車 in idioms
In Cantonese, 車 has two pronunciations: [ce1] and [geoi1].
In Mandarin, 車 also has two different pinyin: [che1] and [ju1].
[ce1] corresponds to [che1].
[geoi1] corresponds to [ju1].
In most idioms, 車 is pronounced as [geoi1] in Cantonese. For…
Tang Ho
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11
votes
5 answers
What is the correct meaning of "孩子帶財"?
Many people interpret the Chinese proverb, 孩子帶財 as that children can bring the wealth to the family and improve the family economy. Therefore, many people do not agree with it. Because, the economy might not get better, and the parents still have to…
user-487
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