Homophone in Chinese

By Sujanti Djuanda – LingoLearn Chinese Teacher

Chinese has different characters with same pronunciation but different meaning, called同音字(tóng​yīn​zì​=homophonic characters​).

Example 1:

公(gōng) public

工(gōng​) work

I go to work by public bus every day.

我(wǒ)每天(měi​tiān)坐(zuò)公交车(gōng​jiāo​chē)去(qù)工作(gōng​zuò)。

Example 2:

咸(xián) salty

闲(xián) leisure

I like to cook salted vegetable duck soup in my free time.

闲空(xián​kòng)时(shí)，我(wǒ)喜欢(xǐ​huan)做(zuò​)咸菜(xián​cài)鸭(yā​)汤(tāng)。

Example 3:

雨(yǔ) rain

语(yǔ) language

Do you know how to say “太阳(tài​yang)雨(yǔ)” in English?

你(nǐ)知道(zhī​dào)”太阳(tài​yang)雨(yǔ)”英语(Yīng​yǔ)怎么(zěn​me)说(shuō)？

Example 4:

甜(tián) sweet

田(tián) field

Watermelons I planted in my field are very sweet.

我(wǒ)田(tián)里(lǐ)种(zhòng​)的(de)西瓜(xī​guā)很(hěn)甜(tián)。

Example 5:

市(shì) city

是(shì) to be

My hometown is Guangzhou city.

我的(wǒde)家乡(jiā​xiāng)是(shì)广州市(Guǎng​zhōu​shì)。

Example 6:

时(shí​) time

十(shí) ten

When I was 10 years old, I carelessly smashed a bowl once.

我(wǒ)十(shí)岁(suì)的(de)时候(shí​hou​)，有一次(yǒu​yī​cì)不(bù)小心(xiǎo​xīn)把(bǎ)碗(wǎn)打破(dǎ​pò)了(le)。

Example 7

元(yuán) Yuan

员(yuán) person, employee, member

Waiter, I give you 100 Yuan.

服务员(fú​wù​yuán),给(gěi)你(nǐ)100元(yuán)。

Example 8

完(wán) to finish

玩(wán) to play

After I finished my homework then I may go out and play.

我(wǒ)做完(zuò​wán)了(le)作业(zuò​yè​)就(jiù)可以(kě​yǐ)出去(chū​qù)玩(wán)了(le)。

Example 9

间(jiān) room

煎(jiān) to pan fry

If a waiter discovers a guest fried and boiled food, he must directly inform the boss.

服务员(fúwùyuán)发现(fā​xiàn)客人(kè​rén​)在(zài)房间(fángjiān)煎(jiān)煮(zhǔ)食物(shí​wù)要(yào)及时(jí​shí)报告(bào​gào)上司(shàng​si)。

Example 10

动(dòng) to act

冻(dòng)  to freeze

The weather is too cold.  He is unable to walk anymore. His feet are already frostbitten.

天气(tiān​qì)太(tài)冷(lěng)了(le)。他(tā​)走(zǒu)不动(bù​dòng)了(le)，脚(jiǎo)已经(yǐ​jīng)冻伤(dòng​shāng)了(le)。

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