Chinese
Vocab Builder for commonly used words in Chinese.
家 (jiā)
The Chinese word for home is '家'. It is used in the context of indicating one's dwelling or a place where one lives, similar to how it is interpreted in English. This could refer to an actual physical house, an apartment, a town or city, or even a country. Furthermore, '家' also conveys a sense of warmness and charm because home is a place of comfort for many people. It can be used in various phrases and expressions to depict family, household, or a sense of belonging.
家庭 (jiā tīng)
In Chinese, the word '家庭' means family. It is a term that is used to describe close relations by either blood ties or marriage. It often refers to people living together under the same roof, and it is a central and fundamental concept in Chinese culture.
容易 (róng yì)
The Chinese word '容易' is used to describe things that are not difficult, requiring little trouble or effort. It can be used in a similar context as the English word 'easy'. Example sentence: 这个问题很容易解决 (This problem is easy to solve).
容易地 (róngyì de)
In Chinese, '容易地' is used similarly to 'easily' in English. It's used to describe the ease with which an action is executed. It can be used before a verb to modify or explain the manner in which the action is done. It is often used in sentences when describing activities conducted with ease.
宽的 (kuān de)
In Chinese, '宽的' is used to describe something that has a large distance or extent from side to side. Similar to English, it can be used to describe physical objects like streets or rivers, as well as more abstract concepts like a wide range of knowledge.
密友 (mìyǒu)
'密友' is a level up from a '好友'. This term is used to describe a best friend or someone you're really close to.
Example sentences with 密友 →富有 (Fùyǒu)
In Chinese, 'rich' is translated to '富有' (Fùyǒu). This is generally used to refer to a person who possesses great material wealth. However, it can also be used metaphorically to describe something that is rich or abundant in another sense, like a rich history or a room rich with color.
Example sentences with 富有 →对不起 (duì bù qǐ)
In Chinese, the word 'sorry' is translated as '对不起'. It is used in much the same way as in English, often to express regret or remorse for a mistake or inconvenience caused to others. However, in Chinese culture, this word will generally be used less frequently to convey minor inconveniences, preferring instead to express such sentiments in a somewhat indirect manner.
对待 (duì dài)
The Chinese word '对待' is used as a verb, implying how you handle, deal with or respond to someone or something. It equates to the English word 'treat'. It can be used in a wide range of contexts, including how we treat other humans, animals, the environment, or even ourselves.
对的 (duì de)
In Chinese, '对的' generally means correct. It is often used to agree with a statement or to describe something or someone as being correct. However, its usage can be complex and varied based on the context of the sentence. Like English, Chinese nuances require understanding beyond direct translation for accurate use.
对话 (duìhuà)
The Chinese word '对话' is used just like 'conversation' in English. It can refer to an informal talk involving two people or a small group of people, or the act of talking in general. For example, '我们可以有个对话吗?' means 'Can we have a conversation?'. It's a common word used in daily life.
寻找 (xúnzhǎo)
The Chinese word '寻找' is used just like the English word 'seek'. It refers to the act of looking for someone or something. It can be used in a variety of context such as seeking a solution, seeking help, seeking advice, etc.
导演 (dǎo yǎn)
This term refers to the individual responsible for the creative decisions and control of a film's production, similar to the English term 'director'.
Example sentences with 导演 →将 (jiāng)
In Chinese, '将' (pronounce as 'jiāng') is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts, it is often used as a future tense marker, similar to 'shall' in English. Besides, it can also mean 'to be going to', 'will' or 'to be about to', depending on the sentence it is used in. Please note that direct translations do not always hold the same connotations or cultural nuances as the original language.
Example sentences with 将 →射击 (shè jī)
The Chinese word '射击' is used exactly like its English counterpart 'shoot'. Like in English, it can be used to refer to firing a gun, shooting a ball in sport like basketball or soccer, or in metaphorical context like shooting a movie. It's a versatile term that could be used in different scenarios.
尊重 (zūn zhòng)
The Chinese term '尊重' directly translates to 'respect' in English. This term is widely used in Chinese culture across all aspects, whether family, school, or social relationships. It reflects the value of acknowledging the views, feelings, space, and rights of others. Replacing it in subjects or objects in sentence expresses the act of respect.
Example sentences with 尊重 →小 (xiǎo)
The Chinese word '小' is used to describe the size of an object or a thing, implying it is not large or it is less than average in size. It can be used for physical dimensions as well as metaphorical extension in aspects of age, quantity, degree, etc. It is used similar to how the word 'small' is used in the English language.
小号 (xiǎo hào)
The word '小号' is used to refer to a musical instrument known as the trumpet. It can be used in various contexts such as musical performances and band practice. It might also be used metaphorically, relating its loud sound to a strong voice or call for attention.
小心 (xiǎo xīn)
The Chinese word for 'careful' is '小心'. This term is often used to express caution or to be careful when dealing with things. It can also be used in the same context as in English, for example in sentences such as 'be careful with that glass' or 'be careful when you cross the road'.
Example sentences with 小心 →小提琴 (xiǎo tí qín)
The Chinese word for violin is '小提琴', often used in the context of music and performance. It's one of the primary instruments in a orchestra and is played with a bow.
小时 (xiǎoshí)
The Chinese word '小时' is used in much the same way as the English word 'hour'. It can signify a specific point in time or a duration. For example, it can be used to tell the time, like '3 小时 (three hours)' or it can be used to express the duration of an activity, like '我学习了一个小时 (I studied for an hour)'.
小说 (xiǎoshuō)
The Chinese word for 'novel' is '小说.' This term is commonly used to refer to written works of fiction that are typically longer in length. Unlike short stories, which are '短篇小说', '小说' can encompass a broad range of genres, from romance to science fiction.
小费 (xiǎo fèi)
In Chinese, '小费' is usually given to the service workers such as waiters, bellboys, taxi drivers, etc as a token of appreciation for their good service. This is similar to the culture in the Western countries where it is common to leave a small amount of money, called 'tip', according to the quality of service.
Example sentences with 小费 →少 (shǎo)
The Chinese word '少' has the same meaning as 'few' in English. It is most commonly used in the context of quantity to describe a small number of items or people. In Chinese, it is usually placed before a noun to indicate that there is a small amount of something.
尖锐 (jiān ruì)
In Chinese, '尖锐' connotes both physical sharpness, such as the sharpness of a knife, as well as abstract sharpness, like a sharp mind or sharp criticism. It can be used in various contexts just like in English.
Example sentences with 尖锐 →尝试 (chángshì)
The Chinese word '尝试' translates directly to 'attempt' in English. It is typically used in contexts where one is trying to do or achieve something, often something new or challenging.
Example sentences with 尝试 →就业 (jiù yè)
The Chinese word '就业' is used to describe the act of getting a job or finding work, similar to the English term 'employment'. It is often used in situations related to job seeking, work situations, or labor markets. Like 'employment' in English, it can be used in various contexts including economics, social studies, and everyday conversation.
Example sentences with 就业 →尴尬 (gān gà)
The Chinese word '尴尬' is used to denote the feeling of embarrassment or awkwardness, usually as a result of being in a socially uncomfortable or challenging situation. It can be used in various different contexts, similar to its English equivalent.
Example sentences with 尴尬 →尺寸 (chǐ cùn)
The Chinese word '尺寸' is used to denote the size or dimension of objects. It can refer to both physical dimensions like height, width or length and non-physical ones like the size of a group or team. Just like in English, the word '尺寸' can be used as a noun in most contexts.
尽管 (jǐn guǎn)
The Chinese word '尽管' is used in a sentence to show contrast or contradiction between two statements. It's usually placed at the beginning of a phrase and indicates that the action or event of the second half of the sentence occurs regardless of the situation presented in the first half. Much like how 'despite' is used in English.