166 Answered Questions for the topic Chinese

Chinese Grammar

03/26/19

How to use "whether" in Chinese - do you need to say 如果？
I've always had a bit of difficulty with statements with the term "whether" in Chinese. In this sentence I would like to say "I asked him whether or not he had met Mark." - I translated this in my... more
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Chinese Grammar

03/26/19

present perfect with stative verbs?
你们好！ I've been trying to work out how to form an equivalent of the English present perfect with a stative verb. I'd like to say something along the lines of: "I have known her since we were both... more
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Chinese Grammar

03/26/19

该 - How do you know when to use it? Nothing to do with 应该?
In the sentence below, why do you need 该公司? Chinese is contextual, right? 公司 talked about previously is 苹果. Instead of 该公司, why not use 它? Or 这个公司? 也有一些分析师和投资者为苹果辩护，他们说，***该公司***... more
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Chinese Grammar

03/26/19

How do I say "Have you spoken to A about B yet?"?
Quick question, how would I say "Have you spoken with your parents about me staying at your house yet?" Could it simply be 我问一下，关于我在你们家住几天， 你跟你的家庭说了没 ？ or does 关于 sound too formal？
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Chinese Grammar

03/25/19

How do you say "to do" When asking a kid what he wants to do when he grows up?
The classic question (at least when speaking english) is to ask a child what he wants "to do" when he grows up. Now this "to do" is very vague - and, in a lot of instances, doesn't actually mean... more
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Chinese Art History Religion

03/24/19

What is an artwork from China that expresses a clear connection to Daoism or Confucianism and explain how the philosophy/religion is represented in the artwork?
What is an artwork from China that expresses a clear connection to Daoism or Confucianism and explain how the philosophy/religion is represented in the artwork?
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Chinese Grammar

03/24/19

我最近没打过羽毛球 "I haven't played badminton recently" - is the 过 necessary in this sentence?
Just wondering if the 过 in this sentence can be omitted? Or does the sentence have a slightly different meaning if I remove it? Thanks in advance.
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Chinese Grammar

03/24/19

When to use "一下儿"?
I know the phrase "一下儿" can be appended to a verb to indicate the action takes short time or less effort, for example "看一下儿". However, some verbs cannot be appended by "一下儿", since the sentence... more
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Chinese Grammar

03/24/19

What is the grammatical analysis of 信得过?
信 = to believe. 得过 = ??? Is this construction a sentence, a phrase, a verbalphrase or maybe sth. different?
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Chinese Grammar

03/23/19

Use of 不太 and when is it necessary?
I suspect that 太 has a similar function in negatives as 很 does in negative sentences. Some Chinese speakers have corrected some of my negative sentences in include a 太. e.g.: 他不高兴 was corrected... more
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Chinese Grammar

03/23/19

Is there a difference between 教训 and 论点 ？
I'm taking a history class in Chinese and my teacher brought up 四五运动的两个教训 。 Then later on he talked about 启蒙的两个论点 。 I know that roughly 教训 is translated as "lessons" and 论点 is a bit more like... more
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Chinese Grammar

03/23/19

What does 了mean in this sentence?
Could someone please explain this sentence structure? > 衣服也落在了房间内. What does the 了 mean here? Is it pronounce le or liao?
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Chinese Grammar

03/23/19

Why is it incorrect to say (Someone) 想要了一 (Something)?
Basically whole question in the title. I was told that saying 我想要了一杯茶 or anything along those lines is incorrect. Why?
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Chinese Grammar

03/21/19

What do these 将 and 为 mean?
警方将小印度一带规划为受管制区，不许任何人在管制区内公共场所喝酒。 Not sure how these 将 and 为 are used grammar-wise. If I were to break it down: (警方)（将）（小印度一带）（规划）（为）（受管制区） （police）（towards/把？）(little india) (plans) (???) (area... more
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Chinese Grammar

03/21/19

How do Chinese judge the right sound quality (softness, awkwardness, respectfulness (面子), negativity)?
In a number of questions asked here on CLSE, I have noticed answers that include responses about how something just doesn't "sound right" in Chinese. Here is an example from a recent answer... more
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Chinese Grammar

03/21/19

How to say "A Person's Strength"?
Is there a good translation for "strengths" in Chinese? I am trying to say strengths as in 'We should try to improve our strengths, not our weaknesses'. I know that 强项 is one phrase that has a... more
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Chinese Grammar

03/19/19

Can you say “回去 ____" （A location？）?
Quick question: Can you 回去 a location? or can you only say 回去 by itself? ex. “回去 我家乡”
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Chinese Grammar

03/19/19

Would you say 当动词 or 是动词?
I am back to the classic 当 vs。 是。 I've heard some people say “这个词也可以是动词” however could I also say "这个词 也可以当动词“ － if so, which sounds more common/colloquial?
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Chinese Grammar

03/19/19

Definite and indefinite noun after 找?
What's the proper translation for 1. "I'm looking for a phone charger" (any charger, I just need to charge my phone) 2. "I'm looking for the phone charger" (the specific charger, I seem to have... more
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Chinese Grammar

03/19/19

Can any noun be duplicated like 人人 and 天天?
I'm familiar with duplication of nouns to mean "all" or "every", such as > 打扫卫生人人有责。 > Everyone is responsible for cleaning up. > > 好好学习天天向上。 > If you study well you will... more
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Chinese Grammar

03/19/19

What's the grammatical structure for "<subject> <verbs> like a <noun>" style simile in Chinese?
I am fond of the simile structure "I eat like a wolf" or "The light flickered like a candle" in English. I never know how to express these thoughts in Chinese though, even if I know the underlying... more
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Chinese Grammar

03/19/19

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 +... more
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Chinese Grammar

03/19/19

也 When expressing a series does 也 need to be before each object or just the last object?
When expressing a series of object does 也 occur prior to each object or only prior to the last object to express the list Example: - **我没有房子没有工作没有车也没有朋友。** - **我没有房子也没有工作也没有车也没有朋友。**
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Chinese Grammar

03/19/19

Difference between 看作 and 看成?
Recently， I've been listening to a chinese podcast and in the podcast I heard someone say "中国人常常把谦虚看作一种美德“。 I have also heard the term “叫作” within the podcast - I'm wondering, is there a clear... more
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Chinese Grammar

03/19/19

How to say "Next time" in the past tense?
I'm a bit confused on how to use the expression "The next time" in chinese. I originally wrote (after going to Kigali for the first he realized there were no ethiopian restaurants) 于是， 他下次回基加利时，... more
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