Chinese
Vocab Builder for commonly used words in Chinese.
数量 (shù liàng)
In Chinese, '数量' refers to the quantity or measure of something. In context, it could be used to express amount of goods, people, food, etc. It is generally used in written language more than in spoken language.
整个 (Zhěng gè)
In Chinese, '整个' (Zhěng gè) has a similar use as the English word 'whole'. It is used to indicate entirety or completeness of something, typically used together with a noun. Since Chinese is a context heavy language, it can be placed before or after the noun, based on context. For example: '整个冬天'(The whole winter) or '我们整个上午都在移动'(We were moving the whole morning).
整洁 (zhěngjié)
The Chinese word '整洁' means neat, tidy or clean. It is used to describe something that is well-ordered, clean, tidy or in good arrangement, similar to the English use of the word 'neat'. This can be used for objects, place or even abstract things such as ideas or plans.
Example sentences with 整洁 →文件 (wénjiàn)
The Chinese term '文件' translates to 'file' in English. It is used in the same context as in English, representing a container in a system or software where data, information, or documentation is stored. This term is widely employed in contexts involving computer systems, offices, administration, etc.
文化 (wén huà)
In Chinese, the word for culture is '文化' (wén huà). This term is used in a similar way to how 'culture' is used in English. It can refer to the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively. It can also refer to the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group.
文学 (wén xué)
The word '文学' in Chinese is used to describe the writing of established value, typically prose or poetry, which offers insights and reflections into human experiences. It also encompasses different genres such as drama, epic, novel, etc.
文明 (wénmíng)
The Chinese word '文明' means 'civil' in English. It is often used to describe things pertaining to citizens, their rights, or general civilized behavior. It may also refer to the culture and living characteristics of a region or a country, just like how it is used in English.
Example sentences with 文明 →文本 (wénběn)
The Chinese word '文本' is used similar to how we use 'text' in English. It refers to the main body of a written work and it can also be used in the context of digital communication, such as in a text message or a line of code in a program.
Example sentences with 文本 →文章 (wén zhāng)
The Chinese word '文章' is a noun used to refer to an article, essay, or any form of written work. It could refer to news articles, blog posts, and academic papers, much like in English. However, it could also refer to literature or works of writing in a broader sense.
斑点 (bān diǎn)
The Chinese word '斑点' literally means 'spot'. In Chinese language, we can use this word in various contexts, such as when we are talking about a physical spot or mark on an object or surface; or when referring to a particular place or location; or even in phrases where we use 'spot' metaphorically like in English.
新 (xīn)
The Chinese word for 'new' is '新'. It is used pervasively, just like the English word 'new'. It can be used to describe something that has recently come into existence or use, a recent event or condition, just beginning or starting to take shape, or not old or used in the past. It could also refer to something refreshed or additional. In Chinese, it can be used to form compound words, like '新年' (New Year), '新鲜' (fresh), or '新闻' (news).
Example sentences with 新 →新闻 (xīnwén)
In Chinese, 'news' is translated as '新闻' (xīnwén). This word is often used in the same way as in English -- to refer to reports about recent events or information. It's a commonly used word in daily life, especially in media and communication contexts.
新鲜 (xīn xiān)
The word '新鲜' translates to 'fresh' in English. It's widely used in daily Chinese conversation, especially when discussing food. It's important to note that freshness is universally respected in Chinese culture - therefore, the term is used quite frequently.
方向 (fāngxiàng)
In Chinese, the word '方向' translates to 'direction'. It is used in a similar context as in English. It could mean the path that must be followed to reach a specific location or to indicate a course that someone or something is moving, or the path along which something is pointing. It can also imply a line of development or a trend.
方式 (fāngshì)
The Chinese word '方式' is similar in usage to the English word 'way'. It can be used to refer to the means or method of doing something, or the manner in which something is done. For example, for expressing 'the way to do something', 'the way of doing something' or 'in a certain way'. It's a very common word in conversation and written Chinese language.
方形 (fāng xíng)
The Chinese term '方形' is used to describe the geometric shape that we know as a square in English. It's used in the same way as it is in English and can refer to the actual shape or anything that bears a resemblance to that shape in terms of its physical dimensions (i.e. length and width being equal).
Example sentences with 方形 →方案 (fāng àn)
The Chinese word '方案' is usually used to describe a plan or program designed to achieve a particular goal, similar to the English word 'scheme'. Contextually, it can be used in various situations such as a business scheme (商业方案), study scheme (学习方案), or even in a technological context like a design scheme (设计方案).
Example sentences with 方案 →方法 (fāngfǎ)
The Chinese word '方法' is used similarly to the English word 'method.' It refers to a particular procedure for accomplishing or approaching something. This is commonly used in various contexts, especially when discussing ways to solve problems or complete tasks.
方面 (fāng miàn)
The Chinese word '方面' is used similarly to the English word 'aspect,' often referring to a particular part or feature of something. It can be used in various contexts. For example, 在这个问题的各个方面 (In all aspects of this issue).
Example sentences with 方面 →旅游 (lǚ yóu)
In Chinese, the word for tour is '旅游'. It is typically used the same way it would be in English, to refer to a planned trip, especially for sightseeing and exploration. The usage of this word doesn't differ significantly between the two languages.
旅行 (lǚxíng)
The Chinese word '旅行' represents the concept of travel, journey or trip. It's often used in the context of going on a journey or trip. Similar to English, it can be used both as a noun and a verb. It can stand alone as a simple term for 'travel', or it can be combined with other words to form phrases.
旋律 (xuán lǜ)
In Chinese, '旋律' is used to denote a sequence of musical tones forming a distinctive sequence. It is often used in the context of music and song, similar to how 'melody' is used in English.
无所谓 (wú suǒ wèi)
The Chinese word '无所谓' (wúsuǒwèi) is commonly used in conversation similar to 'whatever'. It implies a certain level of indifference or lack of preference. For instance, in making decisions, if someone says '无所谓', they mean that they don't have a strong preference and are fine with any option.
无聊 (wú liáo)
The Chinese word '无聊' is equivalent to 'boring' in English. It is used quite similarly to describe a person, situation, or task that is dull and uninteresting. Due to its strong negative connotations, making a point to avoid calling someone or something '无聊' unless you are prepared for the resulting consequence. The term is applicable in a range of settings, from informal to fairly formal, and in writing or speech.
Example sentences with 无聊 →无论何时 (wú lùn hé shí)
'无论何时' is a time phrase in Chinese that directly translates to 'whenever' in English. It is often used at the beginning of a clause to suggest a certain action or event can happen at any time, similar to how 'whenever' is used in English. It can also be used mid-sentence to convey the same meaning. It is frequently used in informal contexts.
无论如何 (wúlùnrúhé)
The Chinese word '无论如何' corresponds to 'anyway' in English, and can be used in a similar sense to proceed with a statement or discuss options or possibilities. Just like in English, '无论如何' can act as a transition word when changing subjects, or when one wants to get directly to the main point.
日历 (rì lì)
The Chinese word for 'calendar' is '日历'. It is a system to organize time by days, weeks, and months, for purposes such as keeping track of events, appointments, and special dates. In China, there are two main systems: the traditional Chinese lunar calendar and the Western (Gregorian) calendar.
Example sentences with 日历 →日志 (rì zhì)
In Chinese, '日志' refers to a log in the sense of a record of events, activities, or observations over a period of time. It can be used in various contexts, such as computer logs, or personal diary logs.
Example sentences with 日志 →日期 (rì qí)
In Chinese, '日期' refers to date in terms of calendar. It is used in a similar context as in English to indicate a particular day, month and year. For example, '今天是什么日期?' means 'What is the date today?'. It can also refer to an appointment or engagement at a particular time.
日程 (rì chéng)
In Chinese, '日程' is used to describe an arranged plan or timetable for work or activities. Similar to English, this word can be used in various contexts including personal, educational, or professional.
Example sentences with 日程 →