[xohprecious]

The two families have three students: 兩個家庭有三個學生.
How many sisters do you have: 你有幾個姐妹？
There are three students：有三個學生.

Mandarin form Chinese.

Ahh I apologize! I forgot to mention that we are learning simplified characters. Haha I'm sorry. I think I can figure it out from what you typed though. Thank you so much

I am confused though about measure words. I'm not sure when I need to use them, and when I don't.

For example, these are the answers that I put down for my homework:
How many daughters does he have? --> 他有几个女儿？
He has three boys. --> 他有三个男孩子。
I also have an older sister. --> 我也是姐姐。

I feel like that last sentence needs 个, but I'm not sure. Can somebody explain when I should use them, and when not to?

[sikkony]

Ahh I apologize! I forgot to mention that we are learning simplified characters. Haha I'm sorry. I think I can figure it out from what you typed though. Thank you so much

I am confused though about measure words. I'm not sure when I need to use them, and when I don't.

For example, these are the answers that I put down for my homework:
How many daughters does he have? --> 他有几个女儿？
He has three boys. --> 他有三个男孩子。
I also have an older sister. --> 我也是姐姐。

I feel like that last sentence needs 个, but I'm not sure. Can somebody explain when I should use them, and when not to?

Yup the last sentence can also do with a 个:
So I also have an older sister should read: 我也有一个姐姐

Let see. I'll try my best to explain, those who have a better explaination, please help her/him out or correct me if I'm wrong. A measure word is used behind a numerical unit, but infront of the word itself, such as 3 cars 三辆车 where 辆 is the measure word. So it reads something like this: <NUMBER> <MEASURE WORD> <WORD/noun>. What makes it more tacky is, there are different measure words for different items, but 个 generally tends to fit to almost everything. So even if you get it wrong, 三个车, people will still understand that you said 3 cars. Sometimes, you can't think of the right measure word on the spot when talking, so just use 个.

Sorry about the traditional characters. This computer keeps defaulting to traditional after every sentence I input. So annoying to flick it back to simplified, only for it to flick it back to traditional for the next sentence.

[hello kitty]

can someone please translate this lyrics
it's a song by dave wong, thank you so much! =]

王傑 - 封鎖我一生

自我封锁半生 只为爱上我的你
爱一次 痛一次 又再深
共你不应结识 或会改写这半生
怎意料 偏偏偶遇 爱极深
人遇上怎么要分 太多生死热爱与恨
没法一心两分委屈过一生
愿以不死的信心 紧守心中那点放任
若你终不再返 封锁我一生
（一生也追问）
（继续等）

是我甘心去等 只为我最爱的爱
情路难容别人 全情地继续等

现也辗转等至今 我的痴心永不过份
没法将心再分 偷泣过一生
愿以不死的信心 紧守心中那点放任
若你终不再返 封锁我一生
（一生也追问）
（继续等）

[chaegyeong]

Gong gong and po po are maternal and ye ye nai nai paternal.

Thanks amanda. so gong gong and popo are the same as wai gong and wai po, yes? another question, how would u call an elderly person if the're not actually related to us? eg friend's grandparents.

[mintcracker]

^ yeye nai nai
just like you'll call other adults ayi shu shu.

[yani*]

Can someone tell me what " I didn't mean to do it" or, "it was an accident" is in mandarin chinese? like when you accidently hit someone in the wrong place

[loisir]

Can someone tell me what " I didn't mean to do it" or, "it was an accident" is in mandarin chinese? like when you accidently hit someone in the wrong place

I didn't mean to do it: 我不是故意的。(wo bu shi gu yi de)
It was an accident: 这是个意外。(zhe shi ge yi wai)

You might want to add a 对不起 in front.

[joogrlpekaun]

Would someone please explain 但是 vs. 不過 (不过) vs. 可是? Any differences in usage?

[loisir]

Would someone please explain 但是 vs. 不過 (不过) vs. 可是? Any differences in usage?

Not the best person to explain this, haha, but I'm trying. 8D

但是is often paired with 虽然, like:
虽然...,但是...
In my opinion, it's similar to:
Although/Even though...,(but)... (I know 'but' should not be there - grammar thing right.)
不过 and 可是 can be paired with 虽然 as well, but the tone of the whole sentence will be milder/less harsh.

Hmmm, I checked my Chinese dictionary (LOL), and it said that they're basically the same, but 不过 and 可是 are normally used in 口语(speeches) while 但是 is usually used in both 书面(written works) and 口语(speeches). Actually, there is also 然而, which is used in 书面(written works) most of the time.

[soymilk]

Can someone help me.. from left to right ..what it say? ^^;

[loisir]

Can someone help me.. from left to right ..what it say? ^^;

1. Korean popularity queen(female artiste who is popular)'s No. 1 album
2. Exclusive recording of Sammi's 眉飞色舞(song) and 独一无二(song) original soundtrack, this year's most high/highest electronic dance album
3. Popularity queen from Korea

[koreanballads]

Anyone want to tell me how to pronounce 也噢年货运摩?

And its meaning? Thanks.

[joogrlpekaun]

Not the best person to explain this, haha, but I'm trying. 8D

但是is often paired with 虽然, like:
虽然...,但是...
In my opinion, it's similar to:
Although/Even though...,(but)... (I know 'but' should not be there - grammar thing right.)
不过 and 可是 can be paired with 虽然 as well, but the tone of the whole sentence will be milder/less harsh.

Hmmm, I checked my Chinese dictionary (LOL), and it said that they're basically the same, but 不过 and 可是 are normally used in 口语(speeches) while 但是 is usually used in both 书面(written works) and 口语(speeches). Actually, there is also 然而, which is used in 书面(written works) most of the time.

Thank you ^^ Any help is appreciated even if you don't think the explanation is perfect.

[tiffanyaya]

can anyone translate this to chinese~ cantonese ? ><

"no, everyday is a bad day"

thankyooo~

[kaoani]

Hey does anyone know how to write "I'll be looking forward to reading the next chapters of your story!" My friend sent me an excerpt of a novel he is composing and if someone could help me out by translating this that would be great!

[Jasarn]

I'm trying to find the Chinese equivalent of "anyway" as in, "Anyway, what do you think?". According to MDGB, "不过" has a definition for anyway (get back to previous topic), which is what I'm looking for, but according to some native Chinese speakers this is incorrect and it just seems to mean "but" or "however".

Is there anyway to say anyway?

Also the difference between 只是 and 只有?

Thanks

[loisir]

can anyone translate this to chinese~ cantonese ? ><

"no, everyday is a bad day"

thankyooo~

不，每一天都不好。
In Chinese (direct translation): No, everyday is not good.
I'm thinking it's rather similar... Lol.

Hey does anyone know how to write "I'll be looking forward to reading the next chapters of your story!" My friend sent me an excerpt of a novel he is composing and if someone could help me out by translating this that would be great!

我将期待故事后来的发展! (jiang looks funny here, and I don't know how to correct it. >_<)
In Chinese (direct translation): I'll looking forward to the future development of the story.

I'm trying to find the Chinese equivalent of "anyway" as in, "Anyway, what do you think?". According to MDGB, "不过" has a definition for anyway (get back to previous topic), which is what I'm looking for, but according to some native Chinese speakers this is incorrect and it just seems to mean "but" or "however".

Is there anyway to say anyway?

Also the difference between 只是 and 只有?

Thanks

那，你有什么看法呢? (So, what are your views?)
I can't exactly think of any Chinese equivalent of 'anyway', but I think 那 could be one word you could consider. And yes, I believe 不过 just means but/however. Or if you want to get back to the main topic(instead of the previous topic), you would say 回归正题, but this phrasing rather formal & a little bossy (in my opinion).

The difference between 只是 and 只有 is the way you use it, lol. I don't really know how to phrase it aptly, it's like the grammar(?) of Chinese. You could do with some 语感, haha. 只有 is often used with nouns, 只是 is often used with verbs, if I'm not wrong. 只有 is used with verbs as well. Directly translating 只有 would mean 'only has' and 只是 would be 'only is', kind of.

我只是想帮你。 (I'm only trying to help you.)
我只有五角钱。 (I only have 50 cents.)
只有尽力而为，才能把事办好。 ( [You] Can only do well if [you] try your best.)

I hope this is of some help!

[Jasarn]

^

oo I'll try 那 out.

Yeah I've basically been relying on 语感 when I use 只是 and 只有, but it's good to know some sort of rule to using them.

Few more questions if you don't mind heh, I see a lot of Chinese using 就 but I'm not quite sure how to use it and its place in the sentence. I looked up the definition and it means a ton of things. Also what you said reminds me, I'm not sure how/when to use 呢.

Thanks a lot, you're very helpful!

[loisir]

^

oo I'll try 那 out.

Yeah I've basically been relying on 语感 when I use 只是 and 只有, but it's good to know some sort of rule to using them.

Few more questions if you don't mind heh, I see a lot of Chinese using 就 but I'm not quite sure how to use it and its place in the sentence. I looked up the definition and it means a ton of things. Also what you said reminds me, I'm not sure how/when to use 呢.

Thanks a lot, you're very helpful!

I checked my dictionary as well, haha, I didn't realize it can be used in so many ways. I think 就 is often placed right after/near the noun.

Hmmm, I think 就 often means 'just'.
就这么做吧！ (Let's just do it this way!)
我买一个就好。 (I'll just buy one.)

It brings out the element of time(often shows the short time frame)..? I don't know to phrase it.
她的心情很快就变了。 (Her mood changes quickly.)
她五岁时就会拉小提琴了。(She knew how to play the violin since the age of five.)

就 can mean 'only' as well.
就[只]剩下这一个了。 (This is the only one left.)

Since you already know it has numerous usages, I shall stop here. Haha, I think 就 is often used to emphasize something.

As for 呢, it is often just added to a question to show that it is really a question, lol. Like that previous sentence, it would be perfectly fine without the 呢. However, without the 呢, it's more like a statement (which demands an answer). If I ask,"那，你有什么看法?", the tone is actually more harsh. Just know that you can't use 呢 in questions that only require a yes/no answer.

[pentagram]

Are there any websites which can give both the cantonese and mandarin pronounciation of chinese characters?