Just watched 我猜猜猜。Here are some words:
What do you call a face without make-up? ç´ é¢œ
Mascara? - �毛�
Postcard - 明信片
Portrait - 肖� or 画�
Laminate - å¡‘å°�
Silicon - 矽胶
From the 7pm show:
�为人知 - to be kept a secret
�会贯通 - extremely familiar with or well-versed in
泼妇骂街 - to scold like a mad woman in public
深��测 - very hard to guess or fathom (one's thoughts)
Other words:
Multi-level marketing company - ä¼ é”€å…¬å�¸
Went to a game shop today...here's the conversation:
Me: 请问有没有� championship manager?
Salesperson: 哦，没有 leh, å·²ç»�ç»™ football manager replace 了。这两个 game çš„ designer 都是å�Œæ ·çš„人。
Me: 这两个游æˆ�都是å�Œæ ·çš„ concept å�—？
Salesperson: éƒ½ä¸€æ ·çš„ã€‚
I wanted to use the word 构� instead of concept....but I think maybe he don't understand leh haha. Anyway, if you look at local shows, the standard of mandarin is atrocious. How could the producers allow such crap to go on for years?! Just take a look at Buffet Buffet on Ch8 for a start. Terrible mandarin and I'm not just referring to the mixture of English with Chinese but also the wrong words used.
Examples:
这边的 selection 很多
�务生会自动自�地。。。。（what is 自动自�？）
没有那么多较劲。 （ I think he meant 咬劲。较劲 means to compete.）
它的�感 of 那个米粉很好。 （Wtf??）
它的 durian of 那个�感很 creamy。 （Omg?!?）
这边的 atmosphere 很�错。
。。。。especially 在 high tea 的时候。
在这边�没有什么 regret 啦。
~Bump~
In today's Sunday Times, Stef Sun wrote about how she struggled with the chinese language when she first made her foray into taiwan. Jacky Woo said something and she didn't understand some of the words, hence a subsequent unintelligent reply.
Then she went on to say that In places like China and Taiwan, complete sentences in mandarin are the norm because that's the way it has to be. In Singapore, there's a rojak of english, malay, hokkien, cantonese.....so singlish is actually a very convenient language. And many times, she had to construct mandarin sentences in her head before enunciating a proper reply. I totally concur with that because for singaporeans, the language of our thoughts is very rojak. And the resulting chinese sentences that comes out of the mouth can be very incoherent if we do not think beforehand.
No doubt we are singaporeans and singlish is a huge part of lives. Nevertheless, let us not forget to always try our best to speak proper Mandarin, with all terminologies, be it places, things, objects etc etc in proper chinese as much as possible. Cheers!
How do we say that the following commonly used words in Mandarin?
window grille - 窗棂
gross domestic product (gdp) - 国家生产总值
container (those transported on ships) - 集装箱
mussel or mussels - 贻�
a label (maybe on a product or item etc) - æ ‡ç¾
loading (the internet is loading) - �动
And these words in chinese which I have recently come across:
�味 - the meaning (the tone)
�维 - a line of though. Also can be said as �路
ç ´ä¾‹ - make an exception
苦尽干� - to describe having overcome a tough journey
相对�讲 - conversely or to say it in the opposite sense
异曲�工 - different method but the same result
本质 - the orginal quality of someone or something
�幅 - the margin of rise
�幅 - the margin of drop
表决 - to decide by a vote in public
一律 - all the same or uniformly eg: ä¸�符å�ˆå®‰å…¨æ�¡ä»¶çš„车辆一律å�œæ¢ä½¿ç”¨
总结 - to summarise
贴心 - very close to the heart / warm
起� - the ups and downs
æ ¸å¿ƒ - the crux (of an issue)
明朗 - bright and sunny. Can also mean positive eg: 天气明朗 or 未�的�景�明朗
晴空万里 - bright and sunny weather
Rock, i admire your determination in learning the language
Originally posted by winsomeea:Rock, i admire your determination in learning the language
Thank you very much, Sir. It's nothing, really. Cheers :)
Some words I came across watching �诚勿扰， a very popular dating show in China。 You may have seen some of these words before. Nevertheless, still worth a mention imo.
韵味 - a certain appeal or aura of interest about something or someone
衡� - to measure
渊� - a link to an origin / source eg: �人�月饼是跟�代的嫦鹅有一段渊�。
公有 - owned by all. This is where we can avoid using 公�用 or 公�用，which can be incomprehensible to Chinese not from Singapore.
穿� - to insert
心眼 - the heart or conscience. A slang would be �心眼 which means to use a little wit and trickery to gain benefits
略微 - slight. Same as �微
�决 - to make a decision or judgment
回馈 - to reciprocate
�显 - outstanding
忤逆 - to be rebellious. Same as �逆
浅� - a humble opinion eg: 以我的浅��看。。。。。
独到 - original (special)
Saw on news just now....this lady mentioned：”çª�然间，那个announcement 也就没有了。。。。”
How do we say "announcement" in Chinese? Suggestions?
Originally posted by Rock^Star:Saw on news just now....this lady mentioned：”çª�然间，那个announcement 也就没有了。。。。”
How do we say "announcement" in Chinese? Suggestions?
Bao kao = Announcement/Report?
Originally posted by winsomeea:
Bao kao = Announcement/Report?
Since this is a public announcement in the MRT (sorry, forgot to mention), then perhaps 公告 is more appropriate, I believe.
Some more words worthy of mention from �诚勿扰：
质疑 - to suspect
朴实 - down to earth (personality)
�� - winding and uneven (road / path)
悬念 - the mystical effect. 他默默ä¸�说å�ˆæ›´åŠ å¢žåŠ è¿™ä»¶äº‹æƒ…çš„æ‚¬å¿µäº†ã€‚
波动 - fluctuations。 Eg: 股市的波动 or 心情的波动。
异常 - not normal
激� - emotions raging. Eg: 浓浓的自傲一直在心里��地激�。
鼓舞 - to encourage. Same as 鼓励
呵护 - to take care of
憨厚 - han1 hou4. Honest. Same as å¿ åŽš
投缘 - to hit it off well。 Eg: 他跟这�女生很投缘。 Can also say 谈得� as Sgporeans often say.
情节 - the story plot or circumstances
è½¬åŸºå› é£Ÿå“� - genetically modified food. åŸºå› here refers to genes. We can say that some has good genes eg 好基å›
港湾 - bay / port. Same as 港�
å€¦æ€ - juan4 dai4 Means very tired. Same as 疲倦。
Oh btw, this is the link to �诚勿扰。
If you have watched before 金童玉女一线牵 that was shown on Ch 8 in the past and you have liked it, then you will also enjoy this one.
More words from �诚勿扰：
摸索 - to feel around (still in the process of discover) eg: 还在摸索的阶段
é“ºå¼ - extravagrant
鉴定 - to appraise. Eg: 鉴定个人的�就
å·¦å�³ - to obstruct. Eg: 我也ä¸�想左å�³ä½ 。
挑毛病 - to pick on. It's like Sgporeans normally say 找麻烦。挑我毛病；找我麻烦。
虚度人生 - to spend life aimlessly
è¯è¨€çŠ€åˆ© - very incisive words. Can also say è¯è¨€å°–é”�。
æŒ‡æ ‡ - a standard. Like æ ‡å‡†
�定 - constant
信� - signal
�酿 - to be fermented
沉淀 - to settle (like sediments)
低陷 - to settle down. Can refer to dust settling down. 尘埃低陷到地上去。
æ•…éšœ - malfunction. Eg: MRT è¿™å‡ å¤©è¿žè¿žå�‘生故障。
牙� - gap between the teeth
设想 - to think in consideration of / to imagine
抒� - to express (emotion)
娇气 - feminine aura
高��，低�就 - A saying whereby a person will not do something too tough, nor do something ordinary too. Neither here nor there.
微妙 - subtle
æ”¹é€ - to change a structure or form
抵触 - to contradict.
情怀 - mood
高调 - not just simply meaning "high pitch" but also to describe someone as talking big. Eg: 讲的�很高调。
剪接 - to edit ( a film / video)
ç¼ ç»µæ‚±æ�» - extremely saddening
蹂� - rou2 lin4 To bear the brunt of (something which has happened). Eg: 饱�战�的蹂�。
æ �ç›®- segment. Can be in a newspaper or radio. Eg: æ�‚志里时尚潮æµ�çš„æ �目。
How do we say "better to have none than something mediocre"? �缺毋滥 ning4 que1 wu2 lan4
How do we say that someone is a control freak? 这人有超强的掌控欲。
We all know air stewardess is 空� but what about a term for all of them in general? Males and females. 乘务员。
Originally posted by Rock^Star:Just watched 我猜猜猜。Here are some words:
What do you call a face without make-up? ç´ é¢œ
Mascara? - �毛�
Postcard - 明信片
Portrait - 肖� or 画�
Laminate - å¡‘å°�
Silicon - 矽胶
From the 7pm show:
�为人知 - to be kept a secret
�会贯通 - extremely familiar with or well-versed in
泼妇骂街 - to scold like a mad woman in public
深��测 - very hard to guess or fathom (one's thoughts)
Other words:
Multi-level marketing company - ä¼ é”€å…¬å�¸
ç´ é¢œ should be a japanese term if i'm not wrong
Originally posted by The man who was death:ç´ é¢œ should be a japanese term if i'm not wrong
Really? Pls enlighten me....
眼缘 - the sparks when you first set eyes on someone of the opposite gender
心仪 - moves your heart. Eg: 心仪的男生。Same as 心动。
眉飞色舞 - very radiant disposition
投机�巧 - to create an opportunity out of a situation
涟漪 - lian2 yi2 ripples
广�好评 - widely accepted with good reviews
严谨 - strict and careful
ç—´è¿· - to be fanatic (over something)
芳心 - the sentimental heart (of a lady). Eg: 打动她的芳心
æµ�ä¼ - spreading / circulating around. Eg: 在网路上æµ�ä¼ çš„è°£è¨€ã€‚
�迷 - to be captivated by
�其 - extremely. Eg: �其鲜艳的颜色。
é˜»æŒ - zu3 nao2. To obstruct
惊世骇俗 - shocking to the public
促� - to form. Eg: 促�一段婚姻。
打� - to sit and meditate
有助于 - helpful towards....Can also be �以帮助。。。。。
望而å�´æ¥ - To hold one's step and just watch
养尊处优 - to live like a prince
��而安 - Easily adaptable and comfortable with any situation
风å�Žæ£èŒ‚ - the prime of one's life. Can also be 最鼎盛的年龄。
茫然 - flustered
�� - wei3 mi2. Means very exhausted. 精神��。
刻æ�¿ - same as æ»æ�¿
挺拔 - very stount and straight. Eg: å¾ˆæŒºæ‹”çš„ä¸€æ£µæ ‘
鲜为人知 - Not really known to people
Internet speak: How do we say "click" on something? 点击按钮。
Just learned a new proverb today.
Which means do not do evil no matter how trivial, and a good deed not done because it's negligible. This was what 刘备 told his son 刘禅 before he passed on. For those who don't know who 刘备 was, he was one of the three major warlords back in 3rd century feudal China.
How do we say sit up, push up and pull up in mandarin? I can tell you 99.9% of Chinese Singaporeans don't know, me included until last night.
Sit up - 仰�起�
Push up - 俯�撑
Pull up - 拉高
What about botox? 肉毒毒ç´
How do we say "spread out"? (with reference to papers, cards, books etc) 把 （什么什么）摊出�
How do we say "gardener" in mandarin? å›ä¸�ï¼� Or you can also say 打ç�†å…¬å›çš„ to be more easily understood. That's why I say Singapore is not the environment to practise a higher level of mandarin.
打� - do miscellaneous work of sorts
ä¹ ä»¥ä¸ºå¸¸ - doing something as if it's been a habit
�蓄 - very reserved and cultivated
乌克兰 - Ukraine. It sounded like Auckland!
俱佳 - excellent
悟性 - the ability to learn
曲目- same as 曲å�
å¤©é€ åœ°è®¾ - made for each other (referring to couples)
眨巴 - repeated blinking of the eyes
æ»çš®èµ–脸 - thick-skinned
底蕴 - the inside story or background
å¿ å‘Š - same as åŠ�å‘Š
æ„šé’� - dim witted
�目全� - totally different from the initial look
傲慢 - same as 自傲
牵绊 - to bind down (like a burden)
伸冤 - to seek redress for an injustice or wrongdoing
Something I just learned:
人é�žåœ£è´¤ï¼Œ ç†Ÿèƒ½æ— è¿‡
Which means: Humans are no saints, who doesn't commit mistakes?
Another one:
ç¥�ä½ å¹´å¹´æœ‰ä»Šæ—¥ï¼Œå²�å²�有今æœ�。
So instead of simply saying the often heard 生日快�， why not say something more meaningful to the friend.
Some words that I came across in a conversation yesterday:
瘫痪 - tan1 huan4 Paralysed. Eg: 地é“�ä¸Šä¸ªæ˜ŸæœŸå‡ºçŽ°äº†å‡ ä¹Žç˜«ç—ªçš„çŽ°è±¡ã€‚
胶带 - tape.....or what we normally call "scotch tape".
通讯 - communications
Some words are like that, they've been etched somewhere in your brain and when it comes up, you will go "oh ya!"....that kind of thing lol.
More words:
事与愿� - reality is not the same as what one wishes for
航模 - aeroplane or ship models
引申 - same as 引用
飘逸 - soft and wavy. Eg: 飘逸的长�
How do we say advertisement banner in mandarin? �幅 or 横幅。
Some words I encountered today:
倒立 - stand on the hands
凋谢 - diao1 xie4 to wither....like flowers or leaves
�衡 - homogeneous
�味 - lacking excitement
�执己� - each to his own (views)
�害 - vital body parts
憧憬 - a bright future
模棱两� - at a dilemma
心得 - the heart or thought
How do we say the following in mandarin?
metabolism - as mentioned by tmwwd below
heavy metal music - �金属音� as mentioned by tmwwd below
dividend - 红利
pencil lead - as mentioned by tmwwd below
mechanical pencil - 机械铅笔
acid (like for example Seng Han Thong suffered an acid attack in the past) - ç¡«é…¸ is actually sulfuric acid. Normally, é…¸ will suffice. Eg: é�人泼酸。
If you are a student and reading this, how many of your stationery do you actually know how to say in mandarin?
metabolism -新陈代谢
heavy metal - �金属 - one of the few terms you can literally translate and it's correct
pencil lead -笔芯
acid - ç¡«é…¸
Something stumped me today...how many of you can say "cashier" or "cashier counter" in mandarin, without googling...
This may sound weird, understandably of course because it is never ever used in sg but a cashier in mandarin is 出纳员。 Cashier counter is 收款�。
Some words I encountered:
�缩 - to withdraw because of fear
出洋相- to blunder, in other words, make a faux pas
猥� - wretched (appearance)
泰然处之 - calm and composed
矜� - reserved (personality)
滴水之�，当甬泉相报 - A sort of gratifying attitude towards life. One may only receive a little bit of kindness from people around but he or she should always repay back much more.