Exploring the Colorful World of Chinese Vocabulary

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

When we are learning some Chinese vocabulary, we often find ourselves dizzy with some mischievous words, but this is very normal, as it is a process that language learners must go through. Make progress little by little every day, and believe that you will surely overcome these challenges! This article will share with you a few words that often confuse their meanings, which will surely be helpful for you after reading!

What does "意思" (yì sī) mean?

If you are reading a storybook and come across a sentence like”I don't quite understand the meaning of this sentence.  “ "我不太明白这句话的意思" (wǒ bù tài míng bái zhè jù huà de yì sī), here "意思" refers to the content and meaning conveyed by the words, indicating the need to understand what the sentence is about.

However, in real life, if a small misunderstanding occurs between you and a friend, and you ask them, ”What do you mean by doing this?  “"你这么做是什么意思呀" (nǐ zhè me zuò shì shén me yì sī ya), the "意思" at this moment is no longer a simple meaning, but rather refers to the intention and motive behind why your friend did something.

For example, after watching a fascinating magic show, you might excitedly exclaim, ”This magic show is so interesting!  “"这场魔术表演可太有意思了" (zhè chǎng mó shù biǎo yǎn kě tài yǒu yì sī le), where "意思" now becomes connected with the sense of amusement and fun, expressing how enjoyable the performance was for you.

意思 (yì sī), noun, intention

Examples:

  1. What's the meaning of this word?
    这个词的意思是什么？
    zhè gè cí de yì sī shì shén me ？
  2. I can't understand his intention.
    我不明白他的意思。
    wǒ bù míng bái tā de yì sī 。 

How to comprehend "方便" (fāng biàn)?

Next, let's look at the magical word "方便". If you live in a neighborhood near a shopping mall and a subway station, you can say, ”The place where I live is very convenient.  “"我住的地方很方便" (wǒ zhù de dì fang hěn fāng biàn), where "方便" denotes convenient living facilities that make your daily life easy and simple.

When arranging a work discussion with a colleague, you might ask,”When will it be convenient for you? Let's talk about this project.  “ "你什么时候方便，咱们聊聊这个项目" (nǐ shén me shí hou fāng biàn，zán men liáo liáo zhè gè xiàng mù), the term "方便" in this context inquires about a suitable time for the other party, indicating the availability of a suitable occasion for the task.

If a friend asks to borrow money, but you are currently facing financial difficulties, you could say, ”I'm not convenient recently and can't help you.  “"我最近不太方便，没办法帮你了" (wǒ zuì jìn bù tài fāng biàn，méi bàn fǎ bāng nǐ le), where "方便" expresses the condition of your finances or personal circumstances, presenting a tactful way to decline the request.

方便 (fāng biàn), adjective, convenient

Examples:

  1. This way is very convenient.
    这种方式很方便。
    zhè zhǒng fāng shì hěn fāng biàn 。
  2. It's convenient for you to come here.
    你来这里很方便。
    nǐ lái zhè lǐ hěn fāng biàn 。 

Different uses of "打" (dǎ)

Lastly, let's discuss the character "打". On a sports field, if someone says, “They are playing basketball.”："他们正在打篮球" (tā men zhèng zài dǎ lán qiú), it is evident that "打" here means engaging in the activity of playing basketball, inclusive of actions like shooting, passing, and dribbling.

If a skilled craftsman is creating an exquisite wooden carving, we would say,“ He is creating a wood carving work.”  ："他在打造一个木雕作品" (tā zài dǎ zào yī gè mù diāo zuò pǐn), where "打" carries the meaning of manufacturing and creating, transforming raw materials into an artistic piece through various techniques and craftsmanship.

In the cold winter, if a mother sits on the sofa ”knitting a sweater“："打毛衣" (dǎ máo yī), the term "打" specifically denotes the action of knitting, meticulously weaving warm clothes stitch by stitch using yarn. When you are waiting by the roadside for a taxi, you might say,“I'm hailing a taxi.  ” "我在打车" (wǒ zài dǎ chē), where "打" indicates the act of taking or renting a transport vehicle.

See how these words in Chinese seem to possess magical qualities, with varying meanings in different scenarios? This is the wonder of the Chinese language. I hope that through the sharing in this article, learning Chinese will become more interesting and fulfilling for you. Keep going, as every step of progress will surely bring you closer to the wonderful world of Chinese!

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