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1500 questions
7
votes
1 answer
Unknown Traditional Chinese characters on lacquered boards
I'm a East Asian preparing to celebrate the Lunar New Year and have been given these pictures of lacquered boards from my father.
The first picture I suspect contains stylized Seal scripts. I cannot identify any of those 4. The second picture…
Vincent J. Ruan
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7
votes
3 answers
What is the use of 色 in color names?
I thought that the proper way to use the basic color names is generally with 色, i.e.:
这件衣服是蓝色的
But recently I have come across such a sentence:
我不喜欢黄的，我喜欢白的。
Is the 色 optional, or is the difference in use making 色 disappear in the second…
MrVocabulary
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7
votes
5 answers
When do we use "廿", "卅" and "卌"?
I am aware of a related question and I know that
"廿" means 20.
"卅" means 30.
"卌" means 40.
But I am wondering how to use them correctly. When and how do we use "廿", "卅" and "卌"? For example, are the following sentences gramatically…
Zuriel
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7
votes
3 answers
Difference between learning Mandarin Chinese and Taiwanese Hokkien for visiting Taiwan
I'm planning on visiting Taiwan as a tourist for about one week next year. Both Wikipedia and Wikivoyage say that Mandarin Chinese and Taiwanese Hokkien are common languages there.
What advantages and disadvantages do the two languages have? Is one…
Golden Cuy
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7
votes
3 answers
what does triple 有 mean (非汝佛有有有无也明矣)
In Li Zhi's 焚书 there is a following sentence: "既目前无佛，他日又安得有佛也？若他日作佛时，佛方真有，则今日不作佛时，佛又何处去也？或有或无，自是识心分别，妄为有无，非汝佛有有有无也明矣"
I am confused aboout this triple 有 with 无 at the end. Should it be read like 有有，有无 ("there is what is and what is not") or…
McCzajnik
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7
votes
6 answers
Does Chinese have an equivalent to “Person A”?
In English, sometimes we'll refer to a person whose name is unknown or undisclosed as "Person A" particularly in hypothetical scenarios. Does a similar thing exist in Chinese that doesn't make use of English letters?
Andrew Wang
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7
votes
2 answers
How do expressions like "二嫂" work in Mandarin?
From what I've known from watching Chinese dramas, siblings or fellow disciples may refer to each other as:
"big brother/sister" (oldest/first)
"2nd/3rd brother/sister" (in-between)
"little brother/sister" (youngest/last)
But I came across a…
Vun-Hugh Vaw
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7
votes
3 answers
Grammar: verb + 的 + verb
What is the meaning of this form?
Example:
因为商纣王已失尽人心，军队也多不愿为他送命，于是逃的逃、降的降，起义的起义，朝歌很快就被攻克。纣王自杀，商朝就此灭亡。
I found many articles about simple reduplication of verbs in Chinese, like verb + verb or verb + 一 + verb (看看，看一看） but this one looks different…
Danio
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7
votes
1 answer
Difference between 好看、美丽 and 漂亮
All these words are used to describe beauty but which one is used for human, and which is used for things?
user20590
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7
votes
2 answers
What is the proper usage of 而已 in Chinese?
I always hear Chinese people making sentences using 而已 - but I've never quite, 100%, understood how to use this in sentences myself. What is the correct way to apply it, and what is the English equivalent?
Ciaocibai
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7
votes
4 answers
Understanding 了: difference between 她上个月去了北京 and 上个月我去台湾了?
This grammar page tries to explain when to use 了 after a verb and when to use 了 after an object.
It claims when the time is specified, it's acceptable to use 了 after a verb and before the object as in 她上个月去了北京.
However, it provides another example…
Crashalot
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7
votes
2 answers
Why don't all questions have the "ma" 吗 particle at the end?
I've been using this site to get my basic foothold in Mandarin. If you scroll down you'll see a section entitled "WHAT", including some questions like "What's the matter?" and "What did you say?" and "What are you doing?"
shén-me shì
nǐ shuō…
temporary_user_name
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7
votes
1 answer
Why is 挺 used as measure word for machine guns?
I recently noticed that the word 挺 (which I know mainly as an intensifier) also is the measure word for 機槍, machine guns. Now machine guns are a fairly recent invention, so I am wondering: Is it known who chose this measure word for them and why?
Kusma
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7
votes
5 answers
Why do you say 我没有错 instead of 我不错 to say "I'm not wrong"? When should I use 没有?
I'm trying to understand when 没有 should be used instead of 不 when negating a sentence.
Consider the example "I'm not wrong."
Why is it 没有错?
How can I know when to use 没有 when negating a sentence?
谢谢
amorimluc
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7
votes
3 answers
How do you say "there aren't people I can talk to"? 没有对他们可以说话的人？
How do you say "there aren't people I can talk to" ? 没有对他们可以说话的人？or else "the person with whom I had a fight last week is now a friend" and all those sentences that require with/to/etc.?
Daniela
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