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1500 questions
6
votes
1 answer
Definite and indefinite noun after 找
What's the proper translation for
"I'm looking for a phone charger" (any charger, I just need to charge my phone)
"I'm looking for the phone charger" (the specific charger, I seem to have misplaced it)
Is 我找充電器 likely to be understood as 1) or…
Max
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6
votes
1 answer
When was 华/華 first used as a reference to China?
E.g. as in 中华 or 华语, and other similar words.
imrek
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6
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2 answers
meaning of 傳 in 傳不習乎?
In Analects, chapter 4,
「吾日三省吾身
為人謀而不忠乎？
與朋友交而不信乎？
傳不習乎？」
I would translate it: Master Ceng said: everyday I check three things in myself:
do I plan my behavior without loyalty? do I make friends without confidence/trust (or deserving confidence -…
Zbigniew Adamowicz
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6
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1 answer
Comparison of tools for converting traditional to simplified Chinese
There are many free online tools that can convert Traditional Chinese characters to Simplified Chinese characters. However, most of them don't look at context to provide an accurate translation; they just use a table to convert each character one at…
Samuel Bradshaw
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6
votes
2 answers
Why do some Chinese characters have multiple simplified variants?
According to Unihan database some Chinese characters have multiple simplified variants.
For example the Chinese character 鍾 have 2 simplified variants: 钟 and 锺
How it could happen? What is the origin of such situation?
fullmoon
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6
votes
3 answers
How do I refer to someone's family member who's relative age I am unsure of?
Is there any way to refer to someones family member, lets say brother, who's relative age I am unaware of and consequently am unable to decisively call 弟弟 or 哥哥?
Is there some sort of rule, like assume they are older?
jsj
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6
votes
3 answers
What does 生命诚可贵 爱情价更高 若为自由故 二者皆可抛 mean?
生命诚可贵 爱情价更高 若为自由故 二者皆可抛
I think it means "life is expensive, but love is even more so. However, both are not as good as freedom."
Photons
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6
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3 answers
Where did the word "panda" come from?
If pandas are from China and in Chinese they are called 熊猫 ("bear cat"), where did the word "panda," as seen in most western languages, come from?
Enrico Brasil
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6
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2 answers
Are there large discrepancies between what Chinese consider to be words?
Looking into the Chinese dictionary I have on my phone, I noticed that 我是 (I am) is listed as a word, while I as a non native speaker would consider this to be two separate words. Whether or not 我是 is listed as a word in dictionaries seems to be…
user2493
6
votes
2 answers
Is 同性恋 considered a slur?
Is calling a homosexual person 同性恋 rude, offensive, or a slur? My dictionary translates it simply as "homosexual" but then in the usage examples gives "fairy," which is definitely a slur in English ("reclaiming" aside). Are the usage example…
MissMonicaE
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6
votes
4 answers
What is the polite/proper way to address elderly whom I am not familiar with?
I was wondering what is the polite way to address elderlies I do not know. Take the following context for example. Perhaps I visit a store and there is an elderly woman running the register and I would like to ask for help.
I found this question and…
aug
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Translation/Meaning: 棒棒机
What exactly is a 棒棒机?
I know it's a simple, ordinary kind of cell phone.
Is it the same as the English: burner?
What constitutes a 棒棒机?
What equivalent phrases do we have in English?
Mou某
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6
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4 answers
How does one distinguish between homographs in Chinese?
How does one distinguish between, for example, 便宜 (cheap) and 便宜 (convenient) in written Chinese?
The context may give no help whatsoever, cf.
我的大学很便宜。
(Bad example, please excuse my awful Chinese. Feel free to edit with a better one.)
Is there a…
jsj
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6
votes
2 answers
Zhuyin (bopomofo) vs Pinyin
I have learnt to use both zhuyin and pinyin for spelling out the pronunciation of a character. As far as I know, the two systems serve the same purpose and are interchangeable in terms of syllables.
As such, why would there be two standards? Does…
Thomas Hsieh
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6
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2 answers
Mnemonic or Glyph Origin for 御
I can't fiugure out suitable mnemonic for 御.
Does someone has a good idea?
user137313
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