Category: Chinese Grammar

Chinese phrase translation: 面子 (miànzi) face

面子 (miànzi) face Usage: “面子”原本指物体的表面,后来发展出两个意思:一是表面的虚荣;二是情面。中国人向来重视“面子”问题,有时与自尊联系在一起。“面子” means the face or surface of an object. It then developed two meanings: one is superficial vanity; the other is to save face. Chinese people pay close attention to questions regarding face, which sometimes relates to self-esteem.

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Chinese grammar: When to use a 把 sentence

The conditions for using a 把 sentence were briefly mentioned above. These are: The object is known. (It's already been mentioned or discussed previously.)
The sentence describes what happened to the object in some detail (it's not just a "bare" verb; there's "more stuff" after the verb).

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Chinese phrase translation: 打酱油 (dǎ jiàngyóu) to buy some sauce, to be a bystander

打酱油 (dǎ jiàngyóu) to buy some sauce, to be a bystander Usage: “打酱油”原指孩子大了可以帮家长做一些家务事。网络语境中,表示某人对话题漠不关心,或者在一项活动中没有起到任何作用。“打酱油” originally referred to how kids, when they grow up, can help their parents with housework. When used on the internet, it means that someone is indifferent to a topic or can change nothing during an event.

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Chinese phrase translation: 抬举 (táijǔ) to praise or promote someone to show favor

抬举 (táijǔ) to praise or promote someone to show favor Usage: “抬举”的本义是抬高、举高。引申义为看重一个人,称赞或者培养提拔他。当批评一个人不懂得欣赏他人对自己的称赞时,口语中常说:“某人不识抬举”,说这句话时,通常带有不满的情绪。“抬举” originally means to lift. It extendedly means to praise or promote someone to show favor. When criticizing someone who is unappreciative of others’ praise, orally we say: “someone’s ungrateful or unappreciative” with dissatisfactions.

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