Chinese has characters with different or multiple pronunciations, called多音字(duōyīnzì=a character with more than one pronunciation).
Example 1:
行(háng) means “row”
行(xíng) means “OK”
A: First row, fill your surname, second row. After finished filling out the form, you may go out to play.
A: 第一(dìyī=first) 行(háng=row)填(tián=to fill out)你的(nǐde=your)姓(xìng=surname)。填(tián=to fill out)好(hǎo= to finish)后(hòu=after),你(nǐ=you)可以(kěyǐ=may)出去(chūqù=to go out)玩(wán=to play)。
B: OK.
B: 行(xíng=OK) 。
Example 2:
长(cháng) means “long”
长(zhǎng) means “to grow”
(Business) always grow, always grow, always grow, (bean sprouts) grow long, grow long, grow long.
长(cháng=always)长(zhǎng=to grow) 长(cháng=always)长(zhǎng=to grow)长长(chángcháng=always)长(zhǎng=to grow),
长(zhǎng=to grow)长(cháng= long) 长(zhǎng=to grow)长(cháng=long)长长(zhǎngzhang=to grow)长(cháng=long)。
Description:
This is the story of the boss of bean sprouts. He wants his business always grow and his bean sprouts will grow long more and more.
Example 3:
了(le) means “already” or “something you have done”
了(liǎo) to understand
I have understood this matter.
我(wǒ=I)了解(liǎojiě=to understand)了(le)这(zhè=this)件(jiàn=a measure word for matters) 事(shì=matter)。
Example 4:
给(jǐ) to provide
给(gěi) by – passive particle (interchangeable with被(bèi=by))
Recently the Toshiba movie that was provided by us was a 55-inch standard product.
最新(zuìxīn=recently)电影(diànyǐng=movie)东芝(Dōngzhī=Toshiba)给(gěi=by – passive particle)我们(wǒmen=we)供给(gōngjǐ=to supply)的(de)是(shì=is)一(yī=a)款(kuǎn= measure word for versions or models (of a product))55寸(cùn=inch)规格(guīgé=standard)的(de)产(chǎn=product)。
Example 5:
还(hái)still
还(huán) to pay back
I just remember, haven’t returned my friend’s motorbike yet.
我(wǒ=I)才(cái=just)记得(jìde=to remember),还(hái=still)没(méi=not)还(huán=to return) 朋友(péngyou=friend)的(de)摩托车(mótuōchē=motorbike)。
Example 6:
只(zhǐ) only
只(zhī) a measure word for bird and certain animals
I only have a cat and two birds.
我(wǒ=I)只(zhǐ=only)有(yǒu=to have)一(yī=a)只(zhī=a measure word for cats)猫(māo=cat)和(hé=and)两(liǎng=two)只(zhī=a measure word for birds)鸟(niǎo=bird)。
Example 7:
会(huì) can
会(kuài) accounting
I can do accounting job.
我(wǒ=I)会(huì=can)做(zuò=to do)会计(kuàijì= accounting)工作(gōngzuò=job)。
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