Word nuances

Question 1

Difference between 想 and 要

Answer 1

我想去美国： “I would like to go to America.”
我要去美国；”I will go to America.”

要 much stronger!
Note that they BOTH imply desire.

Question 2

Difference between 多少 and 几

Answer 2

多少钱 = How much money (does not use measure word)
几块钱 = How much money (uses measure word)

Furthermore, 多少 is for large quantities, while 几 is for quantities of ten or smaller.

Question 3

Pronunciation of 一 when reading 123

Answer 3

Yao, pronounced with the second flat tone

Question 4

Difference between 也 and 还

Answer 4

When talking about two same subjects, both can be used
When talking about two different subjects, only 也 can be used

Question 5

Difference between 低 and 矮

Answer 5

Both mean “short “
低 is more general, you can say that a tree is 低
矮 is only for people’s height, you can only say that a person is 矮

Question 6

Difference between 认识 and 知道 when used for people

Answer 6

You 认识 a person if you both know who the other is
You 知道 a person if you know who they are but not who you are

Question 7

行 pronounciation

Answer 7

Hang when used as a noun, Xing when used as an adjective

Question 8

Difference between 不 and 没有

Answer 8

她不吃肉: she habitually does not eat meat
她没有吃肉: she did not eat meat (though she might in the future)

Question 9

Difference between 会 and 能

Answer 9

“Able to”
会 = “able to” as you learned the skill (“I learned how to drive”)
能 = “able to” as you have a certain ability or obtained a minimum requirement (“but I can’t drive right now because I’m drunk”)

Question 10

分 vs 分钟

Answer 10

分 is “time point’ (it is now 4:35)
分钟 is “time period” (give me five minutes)

This 钟 distinction doesn’t apply for 点

Question 11

Difference between 还是 and 或者

Answer 11

Similar words that mean “or”
You use 还是 when saying a question “你要苹果还是水果？”
You use 或者 when not saying a question “明天会是晴天或者阴天。”

Question 12

Difference between 发给 and 送给

Answer 12

发给 is mailing someone something
送给 is personally delivering them it