Chinese Language Stack Exchange
Chinese Language Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [usage]

Questions about the use of expressions, parts of speech, words, verbs, etc.

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How do I decide whether to use 可以, 会 or 能?

According to every dictionary I've seen so far, there is a big overlap in these: 可以　= can, may, be able to 会　　= can, be able to, able 能　　= can, may, able, capable How do I properly choose which one to use when I have a sentence with can / may /…
dr Hannibal Lecter
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但是, 可是 and 不过 - how to know which one to use?

According to my dictionary, 但是, 可是 and 不过 all mean "but/however"? However are there any differences between them? Are there some cases, where one can be used but not another?
laurent
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When to use 了 and when to use 过 to express past actions or events

I kind of have an idea when 了 and 过 should be used but it's mostly on a case by case basis, and I don't know the exact rules. So if I want to express something that happened in the past, when should I use 了 and when should I use 过?
laurent
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What is the difference in use between 以及, 和 and 与?

I have a book with the following lesson titles: 中文以及中国 聚会和饮食 交通与环境 Why are these terms connected with 以及 / 和 / 与, why not always use 和 for example? Are there any rules for proper use of these conjunctions? What are the differences?
dr Hannibal Lecter
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Difference between 如果 and 要是?

In the Pimsleur Mandarin course it uses 如果 (rúguǒ) to mean 'if', but the dictionary shows 要是 (yàoshì) to have a similar meaning: 如果: if; in case; in the event that 要是: if Are there any differences between the meanings of the two, and how should…
Cocowalla
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How do I decide whether to use 還是/还是 or 或者

還是/还是 (háishì) and 或者 (huòzhě) seem to have very similar meanings: 還是/还是: or; still; nevertheless 或者: or; possibly; maybe When I want to say 'or', how to I choose which to use, and are there any hard and fast rules about this? Furthermore, are…
Cocowalla
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When is it appropriate to address a lady as 先生？

Chairman Mao addressed Soong Ching-ling as 宋庆龄先生. Yang Jiang was also addressed as 杨绛先生 by the public. My dad used to tell me to address some of his female colleagues as 先生 too. I wonder why a lady can be addressed as 先生. Does this 先生 have the same…
Terry Li
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Addressing women as "小姐" in Northern China

I heard that it is not appropriate to call women or girls "小姐" in northern China. That it is considered rough and has a meaning close to "hooker". So I never address girls or women as "小姐" in the north and even when I am in Shanghai or even further…
Denis Kucherov
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Why 纹 is the wrong character to write for tattoo?

I've only ever known tattoo (wénshēn) to be written as 纹身. I was reading an article from 凤凰财经 yesterday called 猪躺着也能挣：一张纹身猪皮值百万. What struck me, though, were all the comments on the article saying things…
Mou某
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Is 下个星期三 (xiàge xīngqīsān) = "next Wednesday" ambiguous like in English?

In English, we tend to avoid saying "next Wednesday", etc., because it's ambiguous. It humorously arises in a Seinfeld quote: Sid: No, next Wednesday, [the] week after this Wednesday. Jerry: But the Wednesday two days from now is the next…
Becky 李蓓
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Why do Chinese translations of English names sound very inaccurate?

I have noticed that most Chinese translation of English names sounds really inaccurate and weird. For example, the common translation of person's name "Robert Wilson" is "罗伯特·威尔逊", which is not similar to the English pronunciation at all, "若波特·维欧森"…
Howard
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Is Sunday 星期天 or 星期日?

I am using the ChineseSkill app to learn Chinese and I learned that 'Sunday' in Chinese is 星期天 (xīngqītiān). However, sometimes on the internet I see 星期日 (xīngqīrì). Are both correct? Why is there such a variation in usage?
Leonel.L
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Why is 我很要... an invalid statment

Why is it that to say I very much or really want something I have to say 我很想要... and not just 我很要... So if I wanted a cup of coffee I would say 我要一杯咖啡 But if I want to say I really want coffee I have to add 很想 and not just add 很 我很想要一杯咖啡 Why is…
50-3
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Differences: 别的 vs 其他 vs 另外 (other)

Well, the question is in the title... I'd be very thankful for an explanation, but also: Could you give examples of cases where they are and are not interchangeable? Can I use them for "where are the others/is the rest?"? Or "other than that, I'm…
Mark
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What is the difference between yǐqián (以前) and zhīqián (之前)?

I'd like to have some way to differentiate between yǐqián (以前) and zhīqián (之前), in order to help with memorising them both. Referring to Modern Mandarin Grammar (Claudia Ross, Routledge 2006), it seems to suggest that the only point of…
user459
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