Speak Chinese Flashcards
节省
jié2 shěng3 — “economise / save on”
Idea: cut unnecessary use → avoid waste, raise efficiency
Pattern: 节省+thing you want to use less of
- 节省不必要的开支 (cut unnecessary expenses)
- 节省篇幅 (save space in text)
- 节省人力物力 (use manpower & materials sparingly)
- 节省原材料 (economise raw materials)
省 - same as above but shorter (Seems more unprofessional, and for daily things)
省 + STH (that you want to not be wasted, and reduce its the amount used)
省掉不少麻烦 → save a lot of trouble;
省时间 → save time;
我步行上班，可以省车钱 → I save on fares by walking to work.
省着(点)用 → use sparingly;
真理是我们最宝贵的东西，让我们省着用Truth is the most valuable thing we have let us economize it.
存
存 / 储蓄cún — “to deposit / put aside (money)”
Real act of saving money, not cutting expenses
Patterns:
把钱/工资/收入+存入+place (银行 etc.)
存钱 / 存工资
Examples:
他总是把一半薪金存入银行 (He always deposits half his salary in the bank.)
我们存了足够的钱，能一次付清款项买下这所房子 (We saved enough to pay for the house outright.)
结构
结构jiégòu — “structure / composition / framework”
Noun. Refers to how the parts of something are arranged and connected.
Physical: buildings, machinery, atoms.
Abstract: essays, arguments, organizations.
Typical collocations & examples
主体结构 (main structure)
一块镶板已从主体结构上脱落。
One of the panels had detached from the main structure.
原子结构 (atomic structure)
文章结构清晰。
The article’s structure is clear.
不要紧
不要紧bu4yào4jǐn3 — “it doesn’t matter / not serious / no hindrance”
1|Reassuring: “no problem, nothing serious”
Used to comfort or downplay an issue.
Example (CN) Translation (EN)
有点伤风，不要紧。 It’s just a slight cold—nothing serious.
刚摔了一跤？不要紧，擦擦就好。 Took a fall? Never mind, just brush it off.
别介意是谁告诉我的，那不要紧。 Never mind who told me—that’s not important.
“怎么啦？”—“没事，不要紧。” “What’s wrong?” — “Nothing, don’t worry about it.”
2|Surface‑OK (twist to follow)
Placed after an apparent condition to imply “looks fine but…”.
Pattern Example
A+不要紧，(可是/不过)… 这台机器看着不要紧，可是一开就漏水。
The machine looks all right, but it leaks as soon as it’s turned on.
表面+不要紧，(其实)… 他的伤口表面不要紧，其实很深。
The wound doesn’t look bad on the surface, but it’s actually deep.
Key idea: “不要紧” first reassures, then the speaker adds the hidden problem.
Quick cues
Tone: informal, conversational.
Synonyms (reassurance): 没关系, 不碍事, 无妨.
紧急
紧急jǐnjí — “urgent / emergency” (adj.)
緊急 (traditional)
Meaning: Requires immediate action; delay is unacceptable.
Typical collocations:
紧急情况(emergency situation)
紧急消息(urgent message)
紧急措施(emergency measures)
紧急出口(emergency exit)
Usage patterns
紧急+N
紧急情况、紧急通知、紧急任务
在紧急情况下…
在紧急情况下请迅速撤离。
情况/事务 + 很/十分紧急
这件事十分紧急，必须马上处理。
Examples
她向他们说明了紧急情况下应采取的行动。
She explained to them what to do in an emergency.
他不顾一切地试图说明情况是多么紧急。
He tried desperately to convey how urgent the situation was.
她为突然闯入道歉，但说她有紧急消息。
She apologized for the intrusion but said she had an urgent message.
我们得到紧急消息说你父亲病了。
We’ve received an urgent message saying your father is ill.
确保 / 確保
确保 / 確保 (què bǎo) — “to ensure; to guarantee”
Meaning
to ensure; to guarantee; to make sure something happens or stays true.
Typical agents
individuals * teams * organizations * systems / processes
Typical domains and collocations
Business / QA
确保任务完成 ensure task completion
确保产品质量 ensure product quality
Customer service
确保客户满意 ensure customer satisfaction
Safety / health
确保安全 ensure safety
确保健康 ensure good health
Technology / IT
确保数据安全 ensure data security
确保系统稳定 ensure system stability
Grammar patterns
确保 + noun / noun‑phrase
公司确保产品质量
“The company ensures product quality.”
确保 + clause (“make sure that …”)
我们必须确保所有数据都准确无误
“We must ensure that all data are accurate.”
确保 … 以便 / 从而 … (“ensure … so that …”)
确保备份完整，以便出现故障时能迅速恢复
“Ensure backups are complete so that recovery is quick if a failure occurs.”
Example sentences
我确保所有数据都准确无误
“I ensure that all data are accurate.”
公司确保每位客户都得到优质的服务
“The company guarantees that every customer receives quality service.”
系统确保数据安全
“The system ensures data security.”
Alternatives in daily life:
保证 bǎozhèng promise / guarantee
* 我保证明天还你钱 - I promise I’ll repay you tomorrow.
一定要 / 得 yídìngyào / děi be sure to, must
* 出门前一定要关灯 - Be sure to turn off the lights before you leave.
务必 wùbì make certain to (polite but common)
* 路上务必小心 - Make sure you’re careful on the road.
紧迫
紧迫(jǐn pò)
pressing; urgent — no time buffer
pattern很紧迫
examples这个任务很紧迫。
他的要求很紧迫。
迫切
迫切(pò qiè)
urgent; pressing (emotion/desire felt strongly)
pattern迫切 + V / 迫切需要…
examples
* 迫切需要合格教师。
* 他迫切要求展开全面调查。
* 她企图自杀实际上表明她迫切需要帮助。
迫不及待
迫不及待(pò bù jí dài)[idom]
can’t wait; itching to do; impatient to start
pattern迫不及待地 + V
examples
* 我都有点迫不及待地想看了。
* 她迫不及待地要告诉我这个消息。
* 你为什么如此迫不及待地要卖出？
迫害
迫害(pò hài)
to persecute; persecution (esp. political/religious)
pattern遭受 / 进行 + 迫害 | 政治迫害
examples
* 哥白尼因其学说遭到严重迫害。
* 许多人在极权时代遭受政治迫害。
角色
jué sè
- a role / part played by an actor
- metaphorically, a role / function that someone or something assumes in real life
Sense1 — acting
- 这是她所扮演过的最重要的角色之一
“It is one of the greatest roles she has played.” - 扮演这个角色将是他演艺生涯中最大的挑战
“Playing this role will be the biggest challenge of his acting career.”
Sense2 — real‑life role / function
- 文化因素常常对性别的角色有着重要影响
“Gender roles are often conditioned by cultural factors.” - 金钱在他的生活中扮演了重要的角色
“Money played an important role in his life.”
Usage patterns
角色 + noun phrase (演员的角色actor’s role)
扮演 + 角色 (to play / assume a role)
重要的角色
绝不
絕不(traditional)
Pinyin: jué bù
Meaning
“absolutely not; never; under no circumstances.”
A strong adverb placed before a verb or adjective to express total refusal, denial, or prohibition.
Usage pattern
绝不+verb / verbal phrase
绝不+adj. (rare)
→ conveys a firm, categorical stance.
Typical contexts
* Formal pledges or policies(政府绝不妥协)
* Personal vows or promises(我绝不撒谎)
* Business / legal disclaimers(本公司绝不泄露客户信息)
* Moral statements(他绝不出卖朋友)
Examples
她清楚她绝不可以被他迷住。
“She knew she must never fall for his charm.”
说照相机绝不骗人，这是谬见。
“It’s a fallacy to say that the camera never lies.”
我绝不骗别人，也绝不同意你的想法。
“I never deceive people, and I absolutely disagree with your view.”
到我这把年纪，视力绝不会变好。
“At my age, eyesight certainly doesn’t get better.”
我绝不告诉他们——除非你允许。
“I won’t tell them—unless you say I can.”
反映
Pinyin: fǎn yìng
Traditional: 反映
Simplified: 反映
Meaning
To reflect / to mirror / to show indirectly
→ Used when one thing reveals or suggests the presence, truth, or change in something else — not by stating it directly, but through its outcome or appearance.
Core idea
An external phenomenon reveals or shows some inner condition, truth, problem, or quality.
Similar to “to reflect” in English, but often used where A reflects B = A is a result or sign of B.
Common contexts
Psychology / behavior: Actions reflect inner thoughts
Society / change: Trends reflect deeper forces or attitudes
Reports / feedback: Complaints reflect public opinion
Typical collocations
反映出 (Shows the deeper thing)
* 反映出问题 — reflects a problem
反映 (Shows light)
* 反映现实 — reflects reality
* 反映情况 — report (reflect) the situation
* 客观反映 — objectively reflect
* 如实反映 — reflect truthfully
Examples
人生观的这种转变是否反映了日常生活中的真实遭遇？
Does such a change in worldview reflect real-life experiences?
他的表情反映出内心的挣扎。
His expression reflected his inner struggle.
这部电影反映了当代青年的困惑与追求。
This film reflects the confusion and aspirations of today’s youth.
这次事故反映出管理上的漏洞。
The accident revealed flaws in management.
犹如
Pinyin: yóu rú
Traditional: 猶如
Simplified: 犹如
Meaning
“Just like; as if; similar to” — a literary or elevated way to express comparison.
Similar in tone to “如同” or “宛如”, and more poetic/formal than “像” or “好像”.
Usage
犹如 + noun / noun phrase
Often used in descriptive, poetic, or literary writing.
Example
* 他的双眼深不见底，犹如两湾棕色的深潭。His eyes were like bottomless brown pools.
Other examples:
- 她的笑声犹如银铃一般清脆。
Her laughter was as crisp as silver bells.
夜空犹如一块撒满星星的黑绒布。
The night sky was like a velvet cloth sprinkled with stars.
Summary
犹如 = “just like,” with a graceful, poetic tone.
Used when the writer wants to create a vivid or elegant comparison.
特意
Pinyin: tè yì
Traditional: 特意
Simplified: 特意
Meaning
“Specifically; deliberately; on purpose”
→ Refers to doing something with a clear intention or special effort.
Very close in meaning to 专门, though 特意 often adds a tone of personal care or effort.
Usage
特意 + verb phrase
Emphasizes: “I made a special effort just for this.”
Comparison with 专门
Term Tone Focus Example
特意 Intentional + thoughtful Personal effort or meaning 他特意来接你。(He came just to pick you up.)
专门 Functional, neutral Specific purpose or task 他专门负责市场工作。(He specifically handles marketing.)
Examples
他特意从外地赶回来参加婚礼。
He made a special trip back from out of town just to attend the wedding.
我特意为你准备了你最爱吃的菜。
I specifically made your favorite dish.
她特意起了个大早，为大家做早餐。
She got up early on purpose to make breakfast for everyone.
Summary
特意 = “specifically / on purpose / with special effort,” often with a personal or considerate tone.
Very similar to 专门, but more emotional and intentional in feeling.
提倡
Pinyin: tí chàng
Traditional: 提倡
Simplified: 提倡
Meaning
BE IN FAVOUR (AND DO NOT HIDE THIS OPINION)
To advocate; to promote; to endorse (a good practice or behavior)
→ Used when encouraging others to adopt, practice, or support something beneficial, often in public, cultural, educational, or health contexts.
Core idea
You say publicly or formally that something should be done, followed, or spread — because it is good, healthy, right, or progressive.
Typical contexts
Public campaigns: 提倡环保 (promote environmental protection)
Education / morals: 提倡阅读, 提倡节俭
Health: 提倡健康生活方式
Culture / values: 提倡平等、提倡尊重
Usage
提倡 + noun / verb phrase
Often used by: government, teachers, media, experts
Examples
在中国很多人喜欢喝抽烟喝酒。我个人不提倡这种行为。
医生提倡每天运动半小时。
Doctors recommend exercising 30 minutes a day.
学校提倡学生多读书。
The school promotes reading among students.
他一直提倡简约生活。
He has always advocated for a minimalist lifestyle.
政府提倡绿色出行，比如骑自行车或乘地铁。
The government promotes green transportation, such as biking or taking the subway.
Summary
提倡 = to say something is good and should be adopted.
Synonyms: 倡导 (more formal), 鼓励 (encourage)
Spanish equivalents: promocionar, estar a favor de, recomendar públicamente
促进
促进 (cù jìn) — “to promote / to foster / to boost”
Core idea:
One thing positively helps another thing progress or improve.
Used when big entities (government, policies, economy, innovation) cause development, change, or growth.
Structure:
A → B
(subject promotes the development of object)
Tone:
✅ Positive and neutral in tone — always implies advancement or benefit.
Common collocations:
It is normally seen in habits, treatments, diets that promote health in some way.
促进经济发展 — promote economic growth
促进交流合作 — promote communication and cooperation
促进血液循环 — improve blood circulation
Examples:
经济发展促进社会进步。
Economic development promotes social progress.
锻炼有助于促进身体健康。
Exercise helps promote physical health.
✅ Typical Subjects (What promotes)
Usually abstract forces, entities, or processes — often large-scale, structured, or external in nature:
Organizations / Institutions:
政府 (government)
公司 / 企业 (companies)
联合国等国际组织 (UN or international bodies)
Events / Developments:
科技进步 (technological advancement)
改革 (reform)
投资 (investment)
教育普及 (spread of education)
全球化 (globalization)
人口增长 (population growth)
合作 (cooperation)
Actions / Efforts / Policies:
措施 (measures)
战略 (strategies)
活动 (campaigns)
政策 (policies)
沟通 (communication)
Typical Objects (What gets promoted)
Usually positive outcomes, progress, or development in systems or society:
Social / Economic outcomes:
社会进步 (social progress)
经济发展 (economic development)
城市化 (urbanization)
就业 (employment)
Relationships / cooperation:
国际合作 (international cooperation)
中外交流 (Chinese-foreign exchange)
民族团结 (ethnic unity)
Well-being / performance:
健康 (health)
效率 (efficiency)
公平 (fairness)
生产力 (productivity)
Processes / cycles:
新陈代谢 (metabolism)
血液循环 (blood circulation)
技术转化 (tech transfer)
促使
促使 (cù shǐ) — “to cause / to urge / to bring about”
Core idea:
One thing causes or pushes another person or event to take action or change state.
Usually involves a chain reaction: A causes C, which leads to B.
Structure:
A → causes → C → does B
(subject causes someone/something to take action)
Tone:
➖ Neutral or mixed — the result can be good or bad.
Often describes psychological, political, or social pressure.
Common collocations:
促使某人采取行动 — prompt someone to act
促使社会变革 — trigger social change
促使我们反思 — make us reflect
Examples:
经济危机促使政府采取紧急措施。
The economic crisis prompted the government to take emergency action.
他的成功故事促使我重新思考自己的方向。
His success story made me reflect on my own path.
✅ What typically 促使 (Subjects)
The subject of 促使 is usually a condition, event, influence, or force that indirectly drives or triggers a person or system to take action or change.
Common subjects:
Negative or challenging situations
* 危机 (crisis)
* 矛盾 (conflict)
* 压力 (pressure)
* 不满情绪 (dissatisfaction)
* 社会问题 (social issues)
Positive influences
* 启发 (inspiration)
* 成功经验 (success stories)
* 榜样 (role models)
* 需求增长 (rising demand)
Events / changes
* 技术革新 (technological change)
* 政策调整 (policy changes)
* 市场变化 (market shift)
The object of 促使 is usually:
* A person, group, or organization
* Sometimes an abstract process or behavior that takes action or undergoes change
Examples of objects:
* 我们 (us)
* 政府 (the government)
* 企业 (companies)
* 领导层 (leadership)
* 消费者 (consumers)
人们思考 / 改变 / 采取行动 (people to think/change/act)
Subject | 促使 | Object (to act)
经济衰退 | 促使 | 政府出台新政策
压力和挑战 | 促使 | 团队努力突破难关
科技的发展 | 促使 | 人们重新思考教育方式
他的成功故事 | 促使 | 我重新设定了人生目标
社会的不公现象 | 促使 | 年轻人走上街头表达诉求
房租
Pinyin: fáng zū
Traditional: 房租
Simplified: 房租
Meaning：
- Rent (for housing) — the amount of money paid regularly to live in a house or apartment.
- Refers specifically to residential rent, not commercial or equipment rental.
Usage
- Noun, often used with verbs like 交 (pay), 涨 (increase), 付 (pay), 收 (collect).
Often seen in everyday contexts: housing, budgeting, real estate.
- Common collocations
** 交房租 — pay rent
** 房租太贵了 — rent is too expensive
** 涨房租 — rent increase
** 房租到期 — rent is due
Example sentences
* 这个月的房租你交了吗？Did you pay this month’s rent?
* 他们搬家了，因为那里的房租太贵。
They moved because the rent there was too high.
* 我的工资一半都用来付房租了。
Half of my salary goes to paying rent.
* 在成都房租很便宜
强加
Pinyin: qiáng jiā
Traditional: 強加
Simplified: 强加
Meaning:
To force upon; to impose — applying something (an idea, responsibility, rule, emotion, etc.) on others without their consent.
It has a negative or critical tone, suggesting unfairness or overreach.
Structure
强加 + object + 给 + person
“To forcibly impose [object] on [person]”
- 强加责任给别人 → force responsibility onto others
- 强加自己的意愿 → impose one’s own will
Common contexts
* Morality or beliefs: 强加价值观 (impose values)
* Decisions or emotions: 强加意见 / 情绪
* Responsibility or guilt: 强加责任 / 过错
Examples
不要把你的看法强加给别人。
Don’t impose your views on others.
他试图把失败的责任强加在别人身上。
He tried to shift the blame for failure onto others.
她讨厌别人强加情绪给她。
She hates it when others dump their emotions on her.
Summary
强加 = to impose something on others unwillingly — often used to criticize someone for overstepping personal boundaries.
参考
Pinyin: cān kǎo
Traditional: 參考
Simplified: 参考
Meaning
To refer to; reference; consult — looking at information, data, or examples to help guide a decision, opinion, or action, but not directly copying.
Functions
Can be a verb or a noun depending on context.
Often neutral or positive in tone — used in learning, decision-making, design, etc.
As a verb:
参考 + something = “refer to / consult”
你可以参考这篇文章。
You can refer to this article.
老师让我们参考多个案例来写报告。
The teacher asked us to refer to several case studies for the report.
As a noun:
供参考 = “for reference”
本数据仅供参考。
This data is for reference only.
Common collocations
参考资料 — reference materials
供你参考 — for your reference
仅供参考 — for reference only (not final)
作为参考 — used as reference
Summary
参考 = to refer to or use something as guidance, not as a final or copied answer.
Used in academic, technical, and everyday contexts when support information is consulted.
借鉴
Pinyin: jiè jiàn
Traditional: 借鑒
Simplified: 借鉴
Meaning
To draw lessons from; to learn from; to take as a reference or model — especially from others’ experiences, methods, or practices.
It’s deeper than 参考 (which just means to look at); 借鉴 involves absorbing insights and applying them to your own context.
Tone & Use
Formal and thoughtful
Common in business, education, management, policy, design
Structure
借鉴 + 他人经验 / 做法 / 模式
→ learn from someone else’s experience / method / model
Often used with 可以 / 应该借鉴… (can/should learn from…)
Common collocations
* 借鉴经验 — learn from experience
* 借鉴做法 — draw from others’ methods
* 借鉴国外的管理模式 — adopt foreign management models
* 借鉴成功案例 — take reference from successful cases
Examples
* 我们可以借鉴国外的先进技术 - We can learn from advanced foreign technologies.
* 他善于借鉴他人的优点 - He is good at learning from others’ strengths.
* 新政策在设计上借鉴了多个国家的经验 - The new policy draws on the experience of several countries.
Summary
* 借鉴 = thoughtfully learning from others’ experience to improve your own approach
→ It implies absorption + adaptation, not just looking or copying.
出色
Pinyin: chū sè
Traditional: 出色
Simplified: 出色
Meaning
Outstanding; excellent; exceptional — describes someone or something that performs very well or stands out clearly in quality, skill, or results.
Tone
Always positive
Often used to praise ability, performance, or results
Common collocations
出色的表现 — outstanding performance
出色的工作 — excellent work
出色的能力 — exceptional ability
表现得很出色 — performed very well
Examples
他在比赛中的表现非常出色。
He performed exceptionally well in the competition.
她是一位出色的医生。
She is an outstanding doctor.
你完成得很出色，老板很满意。
You did an excellent job — the boss is very pleased.
概括
Pinyin: gài kuò
Traditional: 概括
Simplified: 概括
Meaning
To summarize; to generalize; to sum up
→ It means to capture the main idea or key points from something complex, such as an article, speech, experience, or situation.
Function
Verb: 概括主要内容 → summarize the main content
Noun: 内容的概括 → the summary of the content
Used in academic, formal, and analytical contexts
Common collocations
概括重点 — summarize key points
概括地说 — generally speaking / to put it briefly
概括内容 — summarize content
简单概括 — brief summary
Examples
请你概括一下这段文字的主要意思。
Please summarize the main idea of this passage.
他把会议内容概括得很清楚。
He summarized the meeting content very clearly.
简单概括，就是三个字：效率。
To sum it up simply: efficiency.
Summary
概括 = to extract and express the core meaning
→ Used when distilling ideas, information, or experience into a clear, concise form.
笼统
Pinyin: lǒng tǒng
Traditional: 籠統
Simplified: 笼统
Meaning
Vague; broad; general; not specific
→ Describes speech or writing that lacks detail, precision, or clarity — it’s too general to be useful or clear.
Tone
Often slightly negative or critical
Implies something should be clearer, more specific, or better explained
Common collocations
说得太笼统 — said too vaguely
笼统的回答 — a vague answer
笼统地讲 — to speak broadly
表述笼统 — expressed too generally
Examples
你的解释太笼统，能不能具体一点？
Your explanation is too vague — can you be more specific?
他只是笼统地提到了问题，没有给出细节。
He only mentioned the problem in general terms, without giving details.
这份报告内容太笼统，不利于决策。
This report is too general and not helpful for decision-making.
Summary
笼统 = vague or overly general
→ Use it to describe ideas, responses, or language that are not detailed enough and lack specificity.
笼统 | Vague, general, not specific | How something is said or written | Lacks detail or precision | Neutral / mildly critical
糊涂 | Confused, muddled, unclear | A person’s mind or judgment | Lacks understanding / clarity | Negative / casual
揭示
Pinyin: jiē shì
Traditional: 揭示
Simplified: 揭示
Meaning
To reveal; to bring to light; to make known clearly
→ Used when something hidden, abstract, or profound is made visible or understood — often in formal, academic, or analytical contexts.
Tone
Neutral to formal
Often used in writing, reports, research, literature, philosophy, or speeches
Common collocations
揭示真相 — reveal the truth
揭示规律 — uncover patterns or laws
揭示内在矛盾 — expose inner contradictions
揭示人生意义 — reveal the meaning of life
揭示问题本质 — bring out the essence of a problem
Examples
这部小说揭示了人性的复杂。
This novel reveals the complexity of human nature.
实验结果揭示了基因变化的规律。
The experiment results uncovered the patterns of genetic variation.
这份报告揭示出公司管理上的漏洞。
This report revealed flaws in the company’s management.
Summary
揭示 = to clearly uncover or expose something deeper
→ Often involves truths, principles, contradictions, or abstract ideas being brought to the surface for understanding.
✅ Typical Subjects of 揭示
Authors / Speakers / Experts
→ They reveal ideas, truths, or insights through writing or speech
小说 / 作家 (novel, writer)
研究者 / 学者 (researcher, scholar)
报告 / 调查 (report, investigation)
Abstract concepts or processes
→ These “reveal” underlying truths through outcomes or patterns
结果 / 数据 (results, data)
历史 / 现象 (history, phenomena)
实验 / 观察 (experiments, observations)
Artistic or academic works
→ Reveal emotions, social truths, contradictions, etc.
电影 / 作品 (film, work of art)
文章 / 演讲 (article, speech)
👉 Think of 揭示 as “expose the deeper meaning,” and 透露 as “reveal a piece of info.”
- 揭示: Truth, rules, contradictions
稿子
稿子 (gǎo zi)
Informal way to say script / draft / speech text
Common in everyday use (e.g., someone reading a speech or filming a video)
🟢 Neutral, widely used
Example:
* 我先写好稿子再录视频 - I’ll write the script first before filming.
Wechat example:
* 我还在背稿子 又困可是又没有背好
* 我用AI写的稿子
* 这是什么？稿子
稿子 is not typically used for the script of a movie or theater show. Use 剧本 (jùběn). 台词 (táicí) for an actor’s spoken lines (not the full script)
稿子 (gǎozi) is best for:
* Speeches, news broadcasts, vlogs, YouTube videos, etc.
* It means a script or draft of something to read or say, not act
芬芳
Fragant/Fragance - fēn fāng
Think of it as a direct tranlation (But a bit more poetic)
芬芳的花香 — floral fragrance
芬芳四溢 — fragrance spreads everywhere
芬芳扑鼻 — fragrance hits the nose (strong pleasant smell)
芬芳的语言 — elegant, beautiful language (figurative)
佳能
Canon (the brand)
Very common due to photography, printers, etc. It’s a brand name.
最佳
最 jia1
The best / optimal - Widely used in awards, reviews, choices (e.g. 最佳影片, 最佳选择)
I want to make you feel like a woman, but also like a kid sometime. 那就是最佳的恋爱体验了。很棒听起来
Use 最好 when speaking casually or giving advice.
Use 最佳 when writing formally, giving awards, or describing top performance.
- Giving advice / soft suggestions | 最好
- Naming awards or best-performing things | 最佳
- Talking casually about preferences | 最好
- Making formal or business statements | 最佳
合租
Pinyin: hé zū
Traditional: 合租
Simplified: 合租
To share a rental (apartment/house) — usually with roommates who split rent and living costs (Literally: 合 = together, 租 = rent)
Verb: 合租一套房 — rent a place together
Noun (sometimes): 找合租 — look for a roommate to share rent
合租房 — shared rental apartment
合租室友 — roommate (in shared rental)
找人合租 — looking for someone to share a rental
跟/和 - 莫个人 - 合租 — rent together with a friend
Examples:
可以和别人合租
我想找人一起合租一套两居室 - I want to find someone to co-rent a two-bedroom apartment.
他现在在北京和三个同事合租房子 - He’s currently sharing a rental with three colleagues in Beijing.
合租房虽然便宜，但隐私性差一点- Shared rentals are cheaper, but offer less privacy.
仔细
仔细(simplified) | 仔細(traditional)
Pinyin: zǐxì
Meaning
careful; meticulous; thorough; attentive (adj.)
— describes DOING SOMETHING with close attention to detail.
Usage notes
* Modifies a verb: 仔细+V (仔细检查carefully check)
* Stands alone after 做事: 做事很仔细 (be very meticulous)
* Can take 得/地: 看得很仔细 / 仔细地看
Typical collocations
仔细观察 carefully observe
仔细检查 thoroughly inspect
仔细阅读 read closely
仔细思考 think carefully
做事仔细 do things with care
Example sentences
请仔细阅读说明书。
“Please read the instructions carefully.”
他做实验时非常仔细，从不疏忽任何细节。
“He is very meticulous when doing experiments and never overlooks any detail.”
经过仔细检查，问题终于找到了。
“After a thorough inspection, the problem was finally located.”
我之所以…是因为…
“The reason why I… is because…”
or
“I do this because…” (with a formal and explanatory tone)
Often used in explanations, essays, or more formal speech.
Expresses intentions, motivations, or justifications.
Sounds more educated or serious than a casual “因为……所以……”
我之所以 + [result/consequence]，是因为 + [cause/reason]
- 之所以 = “the reason why…”
(formal/literary tone of 所以) - 是因为 = “is because…”
我之所以学习中文，是因为我对中国文化很感兴趣。
The reason why I study Chinese is because I’m very interested in Chinese culture.
我之所以拒绝这个工作，是因为它不符合我的职业规划。
The reason I turned down the job is because it doesn’t fit my career plan.
我之所以每天锻炼，是因为我想保持健康。
I work out every day because I want to stay healthy.
运气
Word | Pinyin | Coreidea | Can be good or bad? | Typical role in a sentence
运气 | yùn‧qi | luck itself, the “dice roll” life hands you | Both – it’s neutral until you qualify it (好/差) | Noun > “他的运气真不好”
幸运 | xìngyùn | the state of being lucky, good fortune that has already shown up | Only good | Adjective or abstract noun > “她很幸运” / “这是我的幸运”
淘汰
táotài
(There is not exact translation)
Verb. “To remove or discard through a process of selection—keeping what meets the standard and eliminating what doesn’t.”
Expanded breakdown
A filtering process that keeps the winners / usable items and gets rid of the losers / obsolete ones.
Typical English equivalents: eliminate, knock out, weed out, phase out, obsolete
Who/what gets 淘汰?
1. People in competitions (contestants, sports teams).
2. Products/technologies that can’t keep up.
3. Ideas/practices judged outdated.
How it’s used grammatically
* 主动: 公司淘汰旧设备 – “The company phases out old equipment.”
* 被动: 球队被淘汰 – “The team was eliminated.”
Derived noun
* 淘汰赛 – “knock‑out round” / “elimination match.”
Mini‑examples
市场会淘汰落后的产品 - The market will weed out backward products.
这一轮将淘汰三名选手 - Three contestants will be knocked out this round.
他担心自己会被时代淘汰 - He worries he’ll be left behind by the times.
Scene | What you’d say | Pinyin | Natural English
Old gadget feels useless | 这台老手机早就该淘汰了。 | zhè táilǎo shǒu‑jī zǎojiù gāi táo‑tài le | “This old phone should’ve been retired ages ago.”
Sports knockout | 我们今晚要是再输，就会被淘汰。 | wǒ‑men jīn‑wǎn yào‑shì zài shū, jiù huì bèi táo‑tài | “If we lose again tonight, we’re out of the tournament.”
Reality‑show gossip | 第一轮会淘汰一半选手。 | dì‑yī lún huì táo‑tài yí‑bàn xuǎn‑shǒu | “Half the contestants get cut in round one.”
Tech upgrade talk | USB‑A 接口快被 淘汰 了。 | USB‑A jiē‑kǒu kuài bèi táo‑tài le | “USB‑A ports are about to disappear.”
Job‑market worry | 他怕自己被行业淘汰。 | tā pà zì‑jǐ bèi háng‑yè táo‑tài | “He’s afraid the industry will make him obsolete.”
Difference between 激烈 (jī liè) and 强烈 (qiáng liè)
📌 1. 激烈 (jī liè)
Meaning: Intense, fierce, sharp — often refers to conflict, competition, or action.
Context: Used when something involves clashing, fighting, confrontation, or strong dynamics.
✅ Common with:
争论 (debate): 激烈的争论 → intense debate
竞争 (competition): 激烈的竞争 → fierce competition
战斗 (battle): 激烈的战斗 → fierce battle
对抗 (confrontation): 激烈的对抗 → sharp confrontation
❌ Not used for:
Feelings, emotions, or physical sensations.
📌 2. 强烈 (qiáng liè)
Meaning: Strong, intense — often refers to feelings, desires, reactions, or sensory things.
Context: Used to describe internal emotions, reactions, effects, or sensory input.
✅ Common with:
感情 (emotion): 强烈的感情 → intense emotion
愿望 (desire): 强烈的愿望 → strong desire
反应 (reaction): 强烈的反应 → intense reaction
气味 (smell): 强烈的气味 → strong smell
光线 (light): 强烈的光线 → intense light
❌ Not used for:
Battles, competitions, or debates.
🗣️ Example Sentence Comparison:
❌ 激烈的愿望 (awkward / unnatural)
✅ 强烈的愿望 → a strong desire
✅ 激烈的竞争 → fierce competition
❌ 强烈的竞争 (sounds odd)
幸亏
xìng kuī - “Fortunately” / “Luckily”
It’s used to express that something bad could have happened, but didn’t, thanks to some good luck or timely action.
🔧 Structure:
幸亏 + [good thing that happened]，不然 / 否则 + [bad consequence that was avoided]
🗣️ Examples:
* 幸亏你提醒我，不然我就迟到了。Luckily you reminded me, otherwise I would’ve been late.
* 幸亏带了伞，要不然早就淋湿了。Fortunately I brought an umbrella, or I’d be soaked.
* 幸亏医生发现得早，不然后果不堪设想。Luckily the doctor discovered it early — otherwise the consequences would’ve been unthinkable.
🧠 Context & Use:
* Often used in spoken and written Chinese.
* Very common in everyday situations when something bad was avoided.
* Emotionally relieved or grateful tone.
错过
(cuò guò)
错过 means “to miss” or “to let slip” — usually referring to something that you didn’t catch or didn’t take advantage of.
It’s often used for opportunities, events, appointments, or timely actions.
🔧 Structure:
* 错过 + [something]
* 错过机会 (miss an opportunity)
* 错过时间 (miss the time)
* 错过班车 (miss the bus)
* 错过考试 (miss the exam)
🗣️ Examples:
* 我错过了电影的开始 - I missed the beginning of the movie.
* 他错过了申请的最后期限 - He missed the application deadline.
* 如果你不早点行动，你就会错过这个机会 - If you don’t act early, you’ll miss this opportunity.
🧠 Context & Use:
* 错过 is used in both spoken and written Chinese.
* Often refers to opportunities, timeliness, or missing a chance in general.
It carries a sense of regret or disappointment, since it implies something you can’t get back.
* Can be used in both casual and formal contexts.
📝 Pro Tip:
错过 is almost always used when you regret missing something (whether it’s a chance, event, or action). If you want to avoid regret, think ahead about things you don’t want to 错过!
Let me know if you want me to use it in a short story or more examples!
间隔
- Definition of 间隔 (jiàngé)
- A noun meaning a gap or spacing in time or space.
- E.g., “两次会议之间的间隔是三十分钟” (30-minute gap between meetings).
- Difference between “interval” and 间隔
- English “interval”: a continuous span or range (in time or numeric values).
- Can refer to time spans (e.g., interval between events) or numeric ranges (e.g., interval [0,1]).
- Chinese 间隔: emphasizes a gap or separation between two distinct points, events, or objects.
- Focuses on the break or distance, not the continuous range.
- English “interval”: a continuous span or range (in time or numeric values).
- Confidence Interval vs. 间隔
- “置信区间” (confidence interval) is a continuous range (区间), not a gap (间隔).
- Confidence interval = plausible range for an unknown parameter.
- Gap = separation between two points or events.
- Data Analyst Usage Examples of 间隔
会话间隔 (session interval)
“我们可以计算用户两次启动应用之间的时间间隔，以评估活跃度。”
“We can compute the time interval between a user’s consecutive app launches to gauge engagement.”
订单到货间隔 (order-to-delivery interval)
“分析各地区的订单到货间隔，有助于优化物流策略。”
“Analyzing the order-to-delivery interval by region helps optimize our logistics strategy.”
取样间隔 (sampling interval)
“在时间序列分析中，我们使用 5 分钟的取样间隔来平滑波动。”
“For time-series analysis, we apply a 5-minute sampling interval to smooth out noise.”
直方图分箱间隔 (histogram bin interval)
“价格区间用 10 美元的间隔分箱，查看不同价位的订单分布。”
“We bin order prices into $10-wide intervals to inspect the distribution across price ranges.”
数据刷新间隔 (data refresh interval)
“仪表盘的数据刷新间隔设置为每小时一次，以保持近实时监控。”
“The dashboard’s data refresh interval is set to once per hour to maintain near-real-time monitoring.”
注册与首购间隔 (registration-to-first-purchase interval)
“注册与首购间隔可帮助我们了解新用户的转化速度。”
“The registration-to-first-purchase interval helps us understand new-user conversion speed.”
低俗
(dīsú) – “vulgar,” “lowbrow,” or “lacking refinement.” It’s used to criticize speech, writing, art, or entertainment that feels indecent, crude, or in poor taste.
Pinyin: dīsú
Core sense: something so coarse or tacky that it offends good taste
Common collocations:
低俗文化 – lowbrow culture
低俗趣味 – vulgar tastes
低俗小说 – trashy novel
Usage examples
这部电影桥段太低俗，让人觉得尴尬。
The movie’s scenes are so vulgar that they make people feel uncomfortable.
他总喜欢说些低俗笑话，别人都不愿意听。
He always tells crude jokes—nobody wants to listen.
我更喜欢有内涵的艺术，不喜欢那些低俗节目。
I prefer art with substance; I don’t like those tacky shows.
反馈
(fǎnkuì) - Same as feedback
- 反馈 (noun) → “feedback”
- 反馈 (verb) → “to feedback” or more naturally “to give feedback” / “to provide feedback”
回馈 (回饋)
回馈 (huíkuì) – “to give back/reciprocate”
Meaning: to give something (often tangible: gifts, discounts, rewards) back in return for support or contribution.
Type: value transfer or reward.
Usage:
“为了感谢老客户，我们准备了一些回馈礼品。”
“To thank our loyal customers, we’ve prepared some gifts as a token of appreciation.”
“平台会按月回馈渠道伙伴的业绩返点。”
“The platform gives back performance rebates to our channel partners each month.”
Term Core Idea Typical Context
反馈 Returning information or data Surveys, systems, analytics
回馈 Giving back something of value Promotions, rewards, rebates
In short:
Use 反馈 when you mean “returning information.”
Use 回馈 when you mean “giving back rewards or benefits.”
Yes—in informal or marketing-style language, you’ll sometimes see 回馈 used where you’d normally expect 反馈 to mean “feedback,” but it carries a slightly different flavor:
Marketing or customer-appreciation contexts
“感谢您对我们产品的回馈！”
“Thank you for your feedback on our product!”
Here 回馈 is used more like “thank you for giving back (your thoughts),” emphasizing the act of customers sharing.
Corporate or polite phrasing
“请您提供宝贵的回馈意见。”
“Please provide your valuable feedback.”
Again, it feels a bit more formal and gracious than plain 反馈.
But in pure information-exchange contexts—surveys, bug reports, system responses—反馈 remains the standard word for “feedback.” Using 回馈 outside those appreciative or reward-oriented settings can sound odd or overly flowery.
隔阂 (隔閡)
ge2he2
A case of lack of mutual understanding / missunderstanding / Mindset barrier –> The obstacle of emotional communication between each other; the distance in thought.
Depth:
* 误会 is a surface-level hiccup caused by a specific event.
* 隔阂 is a deeper divide, often built up over time.
Resolution:
* 误会 → clear it up by explaining or apologizing.
* 隔阂 → requires sustained communication and empathy to overcome.
Function in sentences:
* You can “(消除) 误会” (“clear up a misunderstanding”).
* You can “打破隔阂” (“break down a barrier”).
代沟（Parents vs. Teenager）
- 情境：父母用传统方法管教孩子，孩子喜欢用网络流行语、玩在线游戏。
- 隔阂表现：父母觉得孩子不听话、丧失学习动力；孩子觉得父母过于保守、不理解自己。
Parents think their children are disobedient and lose motivation to learn; children think their parents are too conservative and don’t understand them.
文化差异（International Colleagues）
* 情境：一位外国同事习惯直截了当反馈，而本地团队更习惯婉转含蓄。
* 隔阂表现：外籍同事以为大家“拐弯抹角”是拖延；本地团队觉得直白批评太冒犯。
Foreign colleagues think that everyone is procrastinating by beating around the bush; the local team finds direct criticism too offensive.
部门壁垒（Marketing vs. Engineering）
* 情境：市场部急于推出新功能吸引用户，工程部担心时间紧张影响质量。
* 隔阂表现：两边各自抱怨“对方不懂我们难处”，关键决策常常卡在沟通不到位。
Both sides complain that “the other party does not understand our difficulties”, and key decisions are often stuck in poor communication.
亲密关系（Couple Financial Values）
- 情境：一方偏好攒钱做长期规划，另一方更享受即时消费和体验。
- 隔阂表现：多次为同一笔支出争吵，互相指责不尊重对方价值观，渐渐不愿再讨论金钱话题。
Arguing over the same expenditure many times, accusing each other of not respecting each other’s values, and gradually unwilling to discuss money topics.
政治冲突与文化隔阂：杨名时案透视 - Political Conflict and Cultural Estrangement: Perspectives on the Case of Yang Mingshi
你们为什么不消除隔阂，言归于好呢？- Why don’t you settle your differences and be friends again?
听起来好像你和汤姆之间产生了隔阂 - It sounds as if you have grown apart from Tom.
拖拖拉拉
拖拖拉拉 - [tuō tuō lā lā]
- Adverbial phrase or adjective-like.
- Tone & register: Informal, colloquial, slightly onomatopoeic (“drag-drag-pull-pull”).
- Nuance: Emphasizes doing something in a slow, dawdling, half-hearted way. Often criticizes someone for being sluggish or indecisive.
Usage:
他做事总是拖拖拉拉，效率很低 - “He always drags his feet and gets things done so slowly.”
别拖拖拉拉了，赶紧准备出发！Quit dawdling and hurry up!”
拖延
* Part of speech: Verb (can also be used as noun “延迟” in some contexts).
* Tone & register: Neutral to formal.
* Nuance: Stresses postponement or intentional delay—often with an implication of shirking or procrastination. More about “pushing deadlines out.”
Usage:
* 他总是拖延交报告，最后一天才拿出来 - He always delays submitting the report until the last day
* 拖延症（procrastination）是一种很常见的习惯性行为。
他批评政府在纠正过去的错误问题上效率低下，并且拖拖拉拉。
He has criticised the government for inefficiency and delays in correcting past mistakes.
演出拖拖拉拉地进行着，仿佛没完没了。
The play dragged on, and seemed interminable.
保重
防水
嘲笑
嘲笑，笑，讽刺
插销
驱蚊
可况
告辞
牺牲
傻气
透明
相见
住口
含蓄
强求
百依百顺
香槟
洋酒
顺眼
颜值
开朗
产生
