Similar Chinese Characters with Different Pronunciation and Meanings

By Sujanti Djuanda – LingoLearn Chinese Teacher

Chinese language has similar characters with different pronunciation and meanings. Here the examples:

1a. 谁(shéi) who

b. 难(nán) difficult

Example :

他(tā)每次(měicì)考试(kǎoshì)骄傲(jiāo’ào) 地(de)说(shuō): ”谁(shéi)说(shuō) 考试(kǎoshì)难(nán)? 闭着(bìzhe)眼睛(yǎnjing)都(dōu)能(néng)得到(dédào)满分(mǎnfēn)”, 结果(jiéguǒ)得到(dédào)零(líng)分(fēn)。

2a. 买(mǎi) to buy

b. 实(shí) really

Example :

过(guò)了(le)春节(chūnjié)后(hòu)火车票(huǒchēpiào)实在(shízài)太(tài)难(nàn)买(mǎi)了(le)。

3a. 汤(tāng) soup

b. 烫(tàng) scalding hot

Example:

小心(xiǎoxīn)点(diǎn),这(zhè)碗(wǎn)鸡汤(jītāng)才(cái)炖(dùn)好(hǎo)没(méi)多久(duōjiǔ),很(hěn)烫(tàng)人(rén)。

4a. 煎(jiān) to pan fry

b. 前(qián) before

Example:

煎(jiān)鱼(yú)前(qián)先(xiān)把(bǎ)锅(guō)洗净(xǐjìng),擦干(cāgān)后(hòu)烧(shāo)热(rè),然后(ránhòu)放(fàng)油(yóu)。

5a. 读(dú) to read / to study

b. 卖(mài) to sell

Example:

我(wǒ)以前(yǐqián)读书(dúshū)时候(shíhou),学校(xuéxiào)门口(ménkǒu)的(de)面包(miànbāo)很(hěn)好(hǎo)卖(mài),我(wǒ)也(yě)把(bǎ)家里(jiālǐ)做(zuò)的(de)面包(miànbāo)拿(ná)去(qù)卖(mài)。

6a. 认(rèn) to recognize / to know / to admit

b.人(rén) man / person / people

Example:

我(wǒ)发现(fāxiàn)这些(zhèxiē)人(rén)我(wǒ)都(dōu)不(bù)认识(rènshi)了(le)。

7a.无(wú) not to have,no, not

b.天(tiān) day, sky

今天(jīntiān)天气(tiānqì)很(hěn)好(hǎo),一(yī)群(qún)鸟(niǎo)在(zài)无(wú)云(yún)的(de)天空(tiānkōng)中(zhōng)欢乐(huānlè)的(de)歌唱(gēchàng)。

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