Lost in translation of some Chinese words that sound too similar?
Not sure which word to choose in a certain context?
Looking for ways to improve your Chinese speaking and listening skills?
Start learning with Jorge and Mr. Li!
Jorge is a Chinese student who still has a lot to learn, and he makes mistakes and surprises his teacher Mr. Li every day. But as the saying goes, “Through hardships to the stars”!
1. 问 vs. 吻
Be careful when you want to ask someone a question – especially strangers!
Always pay attention to your tones.
问 (wèn) is a verb “to ask”.
You can 问路 (wèn lù), “ask the way” or 问一个问题 (wèn yī gè wèntí), “ask a question”.
吻 (wěn) means “to kiss” or “a kiss”, and it can be used both as a verb and as a noun. For example, 甜蜜的吻 (tiánmì de wěn) is a “sweet kiss”, and 吻掉眼泪 (wěndiào yǎnlèi) means to “kiss away someone’s tears”.
2. 你没事吧？
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvGwMCiXUIE
How many meanings does the phrase 没事 (méishì) have in Chinese?
You never know…
- 我没事 (wǒ méishì) / I’m all right ⠀
- 没事 (méishì) / No problem
- 我没事 (wǒ méishì) / I’m not busy
- 没事! (méishì) / No worries
- 你没事吧？(nǐ méishì ba?) / Are you crazy?
Make sure to try out these phrases with your Chinese friends!
3. 加油！
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt2Zw3QCpFw
Next time your car runs out of gas…you know what to do!
加油 (jiāyóu) means “to gas up”, and a gas station is 加油站 (jiāyóuzhàn).
他的飞机在日内瓦停降加油。(Tā de fēijī zài Rìnèiwǎ tíng jiàng jiāyóu.) / His plane stopped for refueling in Geneva.
加油 (jiāyóu) is also a phrase that’s commonly used to cheer for someone, meaning “You can do it!” or “Come on!”
FINAL THOUGHTS
Many Chinese words can look and sound confusing at first, but it’s a matter of practice. You can master them by practicing frequently – ideally, by chatting with native speakers online or in person. You can use the words from the videos in your daily life – this helps you remember the differences quickly.
Constant practice is the key to success!
