短语 — meaning in English: phrase

duǎnyǔ · Learn this word with quizzes, examples and more on Maspeak.

Guess the translation for phrase

短语

duǎnyǔ

教学

jiàoxué

联赛

liánsài

小山

xiǎoshān

房东

fángdōng

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neutral common

Usage

Native speakers often use the word 短语 (duǎnyǔ) in both spoken and written Mandarin to refer to phrases in everyday conversation or academic settings. For example, a teacher might ask students to construct sentences using specific 短语 during a language lesson, or a friend might casually discuss their favorite idioms, referring to them as 短语.

Synonyms & nuances

While 短语 refers specifically to phrases, the word 词组 (cí zǔ) can also mean 'phrase' but is more often used in technical or grammatical contexts. Choose 短语 when discussing everyday language or conversation, but use 词组 when focusing on linguistic structures or composition.

Culture

The term 短语 is derived from two characters: '短' meaning 'short' and '语' meaning 'language' or 'speech.' It reflects the linguistic appreciation in Chinese culture for brevity and clarity. Interestingly, the concept of phrases plays a significant role in Chinese poetry, where the beauty of language often lies in concise expressions.

FAQ

Q.What does 短语 mean in English?

短语 (duǎnyǔ) translates to 'phrase' in English, which refers to a group of words that convey a specific meaning.

Q.How do I use 短语 in a sentence?

You can use 短语 in a sentence like this: '我在学习新的短语来提高我的中文水平。' ('I am learning new phrases to improve my Chinese proficiency.')

Q.What are common mistakes when using 短语?

A common mistake is confusing 短语 with 句子 (jùzi), which means 'sentence.' Remember that 短语 is a part of a sentence and does not express a complete thought on its own.

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