{"id":3129,"date":"2019-11-03T15:43:46","date_gmt":"2019-11-03T15:43:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chinesemoment.com\/chinese-grammar\/chinese-grammarthe-difference-between-xiang-jue-de-in-chinese\/"},"modified":"2019-11-03T15:43:46","modified_gmt":"2019-11-03T15:43:46","slug":"chinese-grammarthe-difference-between-xiang-jue-de-in-chinese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chinesemoment.com\/de\/chinese-grammarthe-difference-between-xiang-jue-de-in-chinese\/","title":{"rendered":"Chinese grammar\uff1aThe difference between \u60f3 & \u89c9\u5f97 in Chinese"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Like “I know“, “I think” is one of the very first phrases learned when studying a foreign language. In Chinese, there are two phrases with much overlap that can both be translated as “I think”- \u6211\u60f3 and \u6211\u89c9\u5f97.<\/p>\n

This is an especially difficult distinction to spell out, as each has meanings beyond simply “I think”. We’ll explain each, give simple example sentences, and finish with im<\/em>portant takeaways.<\/p>\n

1. \u6211\u60f3 (w\u01d2 xi\u01ceng) Definition: I think, I reckon, I hope, I miss<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are many meanings of this one humble phrase. First, at it’s core, \u6211\u60f3 means simply “I think”. More precisely, It correspo<\/em>nds more to “I reckon”, “I imagine”, or “I suppose”. It usually is used to indicate you believe or speculate something to be true, but haven’t verified with evidence.<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n

ràng w\u01d2 xi\u01ceng y\u012bxi
\u8ba9\u6211\u60f3\u4e00\u4e0b<\/div>\n
Let me think for a moment<\/div>\n
w\u01d2 xi\u01ceng míng ti\u0101n k\u011b néng huì xià y\u01d4
\u6211\u60f3\u660e\u5929\u53ef\u80fd\u4f1a\u4e0b\u96e8<\/div>\n
I suppose it might rain tomorrow<\/div>\n
zhè b\u01d0 w\u01d2 xi\u01ceng de gèng h\u01ceo
\u8fd9\u6bd4\u6211\u60f3\u7684\u66f4\u597d\uff01<\/div>\n
This is better than I imagined!<\/div>\n

Second, \u6211\u60f3 can also mean “I want” or “I would like to”. Similar to, but not completely syno<\/em>nymous with \u6211\u8981 (a future post?), \u6211\u60f3 can show your wish or hope for something to occur.<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n

w\u01d2 xi\u01ceng f\u0113nsh\u01d2u
\u6211\u60f3\u5206\u624b<\/div>\n
I want to break up<\/div>\n
N\u01d0 xi\u01ceng ch\u012b jiù ch\u012b ba
\u4f60\u60f3\u5403\u5c31\u5403\u5427\uff01<\/div>\n


<\/p>\n

If you want to eat, just eat!<\/div>\n

Finally, the third major use of \u6211\u60f3 is to show you miss, yearn, or long for something.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/p>\n

w\u01d2 zài guó wài tè bié xi\u01ceng jià rén
\u6211\u5728\u56fd\u5916\u7279\u522b\u60f3\u5bb6\u4eba<\/div>\n
I really miss my family when I’m abroad<\/div>\n

2. \u6211\u89c9\u5f97 (w\u01d2 jué de) Definition: I think, I feel<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first use of \u6211\u89c9\u5f97 indicates you are expressing a falsifiable opinion or assertion. You have mulled over a set of facts and have settled on a conclusion. It is your opinion or judgement, and it is settled in your mind.<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n

w\u01d2 jué de zh\u014dn gwén h\u011bn nán xué
\u6211\u89c9\u5f97\u4e2d\u6587\u5f88\u96be\u5b66<\/div>\n
I think studying Chinese is hard<\/div>\n
w\u01d2 jué de zhè tiáo qún zi h\u011bn h\u01ceo kàn
\u6211\u89c9\u5f97\u8fd9\u6761\u88d9\u5b50\u5f88\u597d\u770b<\/div>\n
I think this skirt is really nice<\/div>\n
w\u01d2 jué de zhè ji\u0101 c\u0101n t\u012bng h\u011bn hào ch\u012b, n\u01d0 jué de ne
\u6211\u89c9\u5f97\u8fd9\u5bb6\u9910\u5385\u5f88\u597d\u5403\uff0c \u4f60\u89c9\u5f97\u5462?<\/div>\n
I think this restaurant is great, what do you think?<\/div>\n

Second, \u6211\u89c9\u5f97 can also be used to express a feeling, sensation, or perception. Whether you feel hungry, tired, scared, or excited, let the world know using \u6211\u89c9\u5f97.<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n

w\u01d2 jué de y\u01d2u di\u01cen l\u011bng
\u6211\u89c9\u5f97\u6709\u70b9\u51b7<\/div>\n
I feel a bit cold<\/div>\n
z\u01ceo c\u0101n méi y\u01d2u ch\u012b, xiàn zài w\u01d2 jué de h\u01ceo è a
\u65e9\u9910\u6ca1\u6709\u5403\uff0c\u73b0\u5728\u6211\u89c9\u5f97\u597d\u997f\u554a\uff01<\/div>\n
I didn’t eat breakfast, now I feel so hungry!<\/div>\n
w\u01d2 yuè xi\u01ceng zhè jiàn shì qíng, yuè jué de sh\u0101ng x\u012bn
\u6211\u8d8a\u60f3\u8fd9\u4ef6\u4e8b\u60c5, \u8d8a\u89c9\u5f97\u4f24\u5fc3<\/div>\n
The more I think a<\/em>bout this, the more hurt I feel.<\/div>\n

So…Remember this!<\/p>\n

1) Simplistically, think of \u6211\u60f3 as a hybrid of the English “I believe” and “I would like”. Similarly, think of \u6211\u89c9\u5f97 as a mix of “I think” and “I feel”. As a rule of thumb, in the co<\/em>ntext of “I think”, \u6211\u60f3 is your “gut feeling”, wher \u6211\u89c9\u5f97 is more your reaso<\/em>ned judgement.<\/p>\n

2) Both have other meanings beyond “I think”. You are sure to encounter the different meanings of each word in beginner texts.<\/p>\n

In addition to “I think”…
\u6211\u60f3 means “I would like” or “I miss”
\u6211\u89c9\u5f97 means “I feel”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n