Swap-Around of Two-Syllable Chinese Words

By Sujanti Djuanda – LingoLearn Chinese Teacher

Most of Mandarin Chinese words are formed by different characters, but there are also formed by swap-around of two-syllable words that can have different meaning, related meaning or the same meaning with the same/different usage.

1. 多大(duōdà= how old?) and大多(dàduō=mostly)
Example:
你的(nǐde)宝宝(bǎobao)多大(duōdà)了(le)?大多数(dàduōshù)宝宝(bǎobao)都(dōu)是(shì)晚上(wǎnshang)动(dòng)的(de)多(duō)一些(yīxiē)。

2. 蜂蜜 (fēngmì=honey) and蜜蜂(mìfēng=bee)
Example:
蜜蜂(mìfēng)采(cǎi)花蜜(huāmì)蜂蜜(fēngmì)。

3. 儿女(érnǚ=sons and daughters) and女儿 (nǚ’ér=daughter)
Example:
她(tā)是(shì)我(wǒ)朋友(péngyou)的(de)女儿(nǚ’ér),我(wǒ)没(méi)儿女(érnǚ)。

4. 法语(fǎyǔ= French language) and 语法(yǔfǎ=grammar)
Example:
我(wǒ)以为(yǐwéi)法语(fǎyǔ)的(de)语法(yǔfǎ)非常(fēicháng)复杂(fùzá),学(xué)了(de)以后(yǐhòu)才(cái)发现(fāxiàn),它(tā)实在(shízài)是(shì)太(tài)好记(hǎojì)了(le)。

5. 熊猫(xióngmāo=panda) and 猫熊(māoxióng=panda)
Example:
大陆(dàlù)与(yǔ)台湾(Táiwān)用语(yòngyǔ)不同(bùtóng)之处(zhīchù),同样(tóngyàng)东西(dōngxi)不同(bùtóng)名称(míngchēng)。比如(bǐrú)大陆(dàlù)说(shuō)熊猫(xióngmāo),台湾(Táiwān)说(shuō)猫熊(māoxióng)。

6.歌唱 (gēchàng=to sing [more formal]) and唱歌 (chànggē=to sing)
Example:
a. 请问(qǐngwèn),参加(cānjiā)歌唱(gēchàng)比赛(bǐsài)必须(bìxū)要(yào)自己(zìjǐ)作曲(zuòqǔ)吗(ma)?
b. 圣诞节(Shèngdànjié)要(yào)到(dào)了(le),我们(wǒmen)来(lái)唱歌(chànggē)吧(ba)。

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