At my current level of Chinese, my biggest struggle is 词不达意 (cíbùdáyì, literally words don't convey meaning). It means poorly expressed or inarticulate. Basically, I know enough to convey my message but am often unable to do so succinctly and articulately.
Today I'm sharing 15 words/expressions that I feel really boost my ability to express myself articulately. I use them all the time and wish I had known them sooner. I hope they will be of use to you too!
(1) 万一 | 萬一 wànyī - just in case / if by any chance / contingency
Ex: 万一我来不了,你就替我出席。
(2) 甚至 shènzhì - even / so much so that
Ex: 他忙得甚至连吃饭时间都没有。
(3) 到底 dàodǐ - finally / in the end / when all is said and done / after all / to the end / to the last
Ex: 他到底想要什么?
Ex: 我们一定要坚持到底,不能半途而废。
(4) 要不 yàobù - otherwise / or else / how about...?
Ex: 快点起床了,要不就会迟到了。
Ex: 要不我们先坐下再想想办法吧。
(5) 而已 éryǐ - that's all / nothing more
Ex: 我开玩笑而已,何必那么认真?
(6) 既然 jìrán - since / as / this being the case
Ex: 你既然不想参加这次聚会,那就别去了。
(7) 除非 chúfēi - only if (..., or otherwise, ...) / only when / only in the case that / unless
Ex: 除非大家都去,否则我不去。
Ex: 除非你去邀请,他才愿意出席。
(8) 处于 | 處於 chǔyú - to be in (some state, position, or condition)
Ex: 病人的状况一直不稳定,还处于危险中。
(9) 通过 | 通過 tōngguò - by means of / through / via
Ex: 很多人都想要通过看中剧提高中文水平。
Ex: 通过爸爸的帮助,我克服了害怕和紧张。
(10) 尤其 yóuqí - especially / particularly
Ex: 为了完成这份工作,大家都很努力,尤其是她。
(11) 其中 qízhōng - among / in / included among these
Ex: 我们班有十个学生,其中女生占百分之六十。
(12) 剩下 shèngxià - to remain / left over
Ex: 放学后,同学都走光了,只剩下他一个人在教室里。
(13) 到…为止 | 到…為止 dào...wéizhǐ - until / up to
Ex: 今天的讨论到此为止。
Ex: 到目前为止,这项活动只有十个人报名参加。
(14) 意味着 | 意味著 yìwèizhe - to mean / to imply
Ex: 树叶开始凋落,意味着冬天的到来。
(15) 隔 gé - after or at an interval of
Ex: 每隔十分钟开出一列火车。
Ex: 我们们每隔一天上一次中文课。
Happy Halloween tomorrow! 🎃👻🐈⬛
See similar posts:
20 measure words (量词) I wish I learned sooner
7 intermediate/advanced Chinese grammar fundamentals
I'm currently working on a comprehensive list of Sun Wukong's magic powers. Here is just a taste from chapters two to four.
Bold black = magic power
Bold red = acquired non-magic skill
Bold green = claimed magic power that is never actually demonstrated
Bold orange = inborn talent?
Ch. 2
Early education #1: human skills - “[H]e began to learn from his [senior immortal] schoolmates the arts of language and etiquette” (與眾師兄學言語禮貌) (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 116).
- Note: We all know that Monkey failed his etiquette classes.
Early education #2: religious skills - “He discussed with them the scriptures and the doctrines; he practiced calligraphy and burned incense” (講經論道、習字焚香; i.e. ritual procedure) (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 116).
Wukong’s knowledge of scripture and philosophy pops up a few times in the novel. For example, he subsequently becomes enraptured by Subodhi's lecture on the Dao and Chan (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 116).
Early education #3: gardening skills - “In more leisurely moments he would be … hoeing the garden, planting flowers or pruning trees” (閑時即...鋤園、養花修樹) (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 116).
Immorality (1st category) [1] - This is achieved via oral formulas (口訣) and breathing exercises (自己調息) at prescribed times (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, pp. 120-121).
- The stipulated Chinese hours are before zi (12:00-14:00) and after wu (12:00-02:00) (i.e. noon to midnight) (子前午後). However, historical real world practice is reversed: after zi and before wu (i.e. midnight to noon).
Adeptness (i.e. quick learning) - “But this Monkey King was someone who, knowing one thing, could understand a hundred!” (這猴王也是他一竅通時百竅通) (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 122).
First learns the “Multitude of Terrestrial Killers” (地煞數; a.k.a. “72 changes,” 七十二般變化) - This requires oral formulas (口訣, a.k.a. “oral spells,” 咒語) (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 122).
- This sometimes requires a magic hand sign and a shake of the body (see below).
First attempt at “Cloud-Soaring” (騰雲) - Subodhi mockingly calls this “Cloud-Climbing” (爬雲) (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 122).
First learns the “cloud somersault” (觔斗雲) - This requires a magic sign, an oral spell, a fist clinch, and a body shake (捻著訣,念動真言,攢緊了拳,將身一抖). It takes him 108,000 li (里) in a single leap (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 123).
- 108,000 li = 33,554 mi or 54,000 km [2]
Multitude of Terrestrial Killers (i.e. 72 changes) - This requires a magic sign (捻著訣) and an oral spell (咒語). He transforms into a pine tree (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 124).
Cloud somersault - He flies from the Western Continent to Flower-Fruit Mountain (i.e. from one side of the world to the other) “in less than an hour” (消一個時辰) (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 125).
First use of the “body beyond body” (身外身法; a.k.a. “magic of body division,” 分身法) (i.e. hair clones) - This requires chewing and a “change!” (變) command. Small clone monkeys are used to overwhelm and beat up a monster who is three zhang (三丈) (31.29 ft / 9.53 m) tall (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 128). [3] A passage explains:
- “For you see, when someone acquires the body of an immortal, he can project his spirit, change his form, and perform all kinds of wonders [出神變化無方]. Since the Monkey King had become accomplished in the Way, every one of the eighty-four thousand hairs on his body could change into whatever shape or substance he desired” (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 128).
- 原來人得仙體,出神變化無方。不知這猴王自從了道之後,身上有八萬四千毛羽,根根能變,應物隨心。
Cloud somersault - He flies 30 or 50 monkeys and property (pots, bowls, utensils, etc.) home from captivity to Flower-Fruit Mountain (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 129).
Ch. 3
Martial arts (武藝) - He “teach[es his monkeys] how to sharpen bamboos for making spears, file wood for making swords, arrange flags and banners, go on patrol, advance or retreat, and pitch camp” (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, pp. 131-132).
- 教小猴砍竹為標,削木為刀,治旗幡,打哨子,一進一退,安營下寨 …
Cloud Somersault - He flies east from Flower-Fruit Mountain over “200 li of water in no time” (霎時間過了二百里水面) to the Eastern Continent (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 131).
Blows a mighty wind (陣風) - This requires a magic sign (捻起訣來), an oral spell (咒語), and taking a deep breath (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, pp. 131-132). A poem states that it puts the world into chaos:
- Thick clouds in vast formation moved o'er the world;
Black fog and dusky vapor darkened the Earth;
Waves churned in seas and rivers, afrighting fishes and crabs; Boughs broke in mountain forests, wolves and tigers taking flight.
Traders and merchants were gone from stores and shops.
No single man was seen at sundry marts and malls.
The king retreated to his chamber from the royal court.
Officials, martial and civil, returned to their homes.
This wind toppled Buddha's throne of a thousand years
And shook to its foundations the Five-Phoenix Tower (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 132).
- 炮雲起處蕩乾坤,黑霧陰霾大地昏。
江海波翻魚蟹怕,山林樹折虎狼奔。
諸般買賣無商旅,各樣生涯不見人。
殿上君王歸內院,階前文武轉衙門。
千秋寶座都吹倒,五鳳高樓幌動根。
Body beyond body (i.e. hair clones) - This requires chewing and a “change!” (變) command. The small clone monkeys carry an armory’s worth of weapons (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 132).
Magic of displacement (攝法) - This is a spell that carries the weapon-laden monkeys on wind (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 132).
Monkey claims to have a number of supernatural powers:
- “I have the ability of seventy-two transformations. The cloud somersault has unlimited power. I am familiar with the magic of body concealment (身遯身, a.k.a. 隱身法) and the magic of displacement. I can find my way to Heaven or I can enter the Earth. I can walk past the sun and the moon without casting a shadow, and I can penetrate stone and metal without hindrance. Water cannot drown me, nor fire burn me” (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 133).
- 我自聞道之後,有七十二般地煞變化之功,觔斗雲有莫大的神通;善能隱身遯身,起法攝法。上天有路,入地有門;步日月無影,入金石無礙;水不能溺,火不能焚。
Magic of water restriction (閉水法) - He travels to the Dragon Kingdom (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 133).
Super strength - He effortlessly toys with a 3,600 catty (斤) (4,682.61 lbs / 2,124 kg) battle fork and a 7,200 catty (9,365.23 lbs / 4,248 kg) halberd (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 134). [4]
Super strength - He lifts the 13,500 catty (斤) (17,559.81 lbs / 7,965 kg) iron pillar in the dragon treasury (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 135).
Opens a waterway (開水道) - He uses the magic of water restriction to return to Flower-Fruit Mountain (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 137).
First use of the “Magic Method of Modeling Heaven on Earth” (法天像地的神通), a 10,000 zhang (萬丈) (104,300 ft / 31,800 m) tall giant form - This requires bending over and screaming “grow!” [長!]. This form has:
- “[A] head like the Tai Mountain and a chest like a rugged peak, eyes like lightning and a mouth like a blood bowl, and teeth like swords and halberds” (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 138).
- 頭如泰山,腰如峻嶺,眼如閃電,口似血盆,牙如劍戟
Immorality (2nd category) - This is achieved by inking out his name from the ledgers of hell [生死簿子] (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 141).
Ch. 4
Cloud somersault - It is much faster than those of ordinary immortals (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 145).
Travel to heaven - Refer back to ch. 3-#6A (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 145).
First use of “three-headed and six-armed” (三頭六臂) war form - This requires a “change!” (變) command (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 155).
Staff multiplication - This is done millions of times over (以一化千千化萬) to face Nezha’s own countless weapons (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 156).
- The multitude of armaments are said to “clash like horned-dragons flying in the air” (cf. Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 156).
Body beyond body (i.e. hair clones) - This requires a “change!” (變) command. Monkey creates an autonomous decoy to distract Nezha while he slips behind him to land a staff blow (Wu & Yu, 2012, vol. 1, p. 156).
Immortality (3rd category) - This is achieved via heavenly imperial wine (御酒, a.k.a. “Immortal wine,” 仙酒 and “juices of jade,” 玉液瓊漿) (Wu & Yu, vol. 1, p. 159, 165, and 167).
I'm currently on chapter 16, so it will take me a while to finish, especially since I'm simultaneously gathering info for several other articles, including mirrored essays for Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing.
Once I've gone through all 100 chapters, I will put each instance of a particular power into its own category (transformation, super strength, hair clones/tools, etc.) and then analyze everything as a whole. The Google Doc containing the list of powers will be attached to the analysis.
This project was partly inspired by a previous effort made by @the-monkey-ruler.
I'm open to feedback.
Notes:
1) In place of using “layer” or “level,” I’m choosing to designate his various immortalities as “categories.” This is because a new layer of divine longevity or durability would surely be added for each immortal peach, elixir pill, or cup/jug of heavenly wine consumed. Hence, eating multiple peaches would be one category, eating multiple elixir pills would be one category, and so on and so forth.
2) It’s important to note that 108,000 li is a metaphor for instant enlightenment (see section III here). Therefore, power-scalers should not use any instance of this as a feat.
3) One zhang (丈) comprises ten chi (尺, a.k.a. "Chinese feet"), and during the Ming Dynasty, one chi was roughly 12.3 in or 31.8 cm. This makes one zhang 10.43 ft or 3.18 m (Jiang, 2005, p. xxxi).
4) During the Ming, one catty (jin, 斤) was 590 grams (Elvin, 2004, p. 491 n. 133).
Source:
Elvin, M. (2004). The Retreat of the Elephants: An Environmental History of China. New Haven (Conn.): Yale University Press.
Wu, C., & Yu, A. C. (2012). The Journey to the West (Vols. 1-4) (Rev. ed.). Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press.
𐚁 notice from jia. hi lovely, welcome to my little safe space bloggie ˃̵ᴗ˂̵ please read these before interacting / following!
── 𝓚𝐙𝐔𝐇𝐀𝐄’𝐒 𝓡𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐒 ; 𝓖𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋
通 ⟩ i change my url and themes a lot!! i get bored easily with my urls, so please don’t be alarmed if you cannot find me!
明 ⟩ kzuhae is a multifan [ currently tokyo revengers centric! changes a lot though ] and (n)sfw + dark content blog! i write mainly fluff but minors are to block the tag #after hours ಇ. or you’ll be blocked. block all triggers needed w/ #tw trigger
明 ⟩ kzuhae is a selfshipper bloggie! idm if you like the same characters as me or talk abt your selfship on my blog, but please be mindful that you’re in MY space and that i am also allowed to talk abt my faves &&. selfships. gatekeepers are blocked.
佑 ⟩ blank blogs are blocked immediately. if you’re a minor and try to interact with my nsfw posts then you’re blocked as well. please be aware that i don’t follow back ageless blogs!
步 ⟩ don’t make drama about aging up characters or writing smut for characters with ambiguous ages, especially when it comes to genshin impact. i see most of them as adults (chongyun, gaming, etc) so i may write smut of them. block if you don’t like.
踏 ⟩ please don’t spam like! more than [5] posts liked in quick succession will get you blocked bcs tumblr will flag me as a bot :<
梅 ⟩ no reposts / promoting my work on other sites outside of tumblr, no translations, plagiarism, edits or feeding my work to ai! the same goes for my themes or my concepts. inspiration is fine when asked, but if i say no please don’t press further.
花 ⟩ i’m not always online. i’m a busy university student so i’m active infrequently, post sporadically and write slowly.
── 𝓚𝐙𝐔𝐇𝐀𝐄’𝐒 𝓡𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐒 ; 𝓘𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍
醒 ⟩ i’m very slow at replying to asks . . . i’m really busy and it’s not on purpose, so please don’t think i’m ignoring you! (T▽T)
靈 ⟩ please don’t vent or trauma dump in my inbox, especially if we’re not mutuals or don’t know each other well!
擂 ⟩ please don’t ask to be mutuals! especially if you’re a minor! i usually follow / mutual people who i want to be friends with or if i am in the same fandoms / like the same content as them! ^_^
震 ⟩ don’t send personal discourse into my inbox, because that is between other individuals &&. doesn’t involve me.
雲 ⟩ if i break a mutual / block you, please don’t ask why. you either broke one of my boundaries, are in my dni, i don’t like your vibes etc. i won’t respond if you ask why. i hard block to break a mutual, if i’m not following you anymore it’s probably a glitch.
裡 ⟩ i use a lot of petnames ++. terms of endearment for my mutuals, &&. if you don’t like that please let me know!
翻 ⟩ i treat you as well as you treat me! please be kind ^_^
山 ⟩ all hate is blocked, especially anon hate!
── 𝓚𝐙𝐔𝐇𝐀𝐄’𝐒 𝓡𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐒 ; 𝓦𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆
吼 ⟩ i don’t accept requests, please don’t send any ૮꒰っ˕‹̥̥̥ ꒱ა you’re free to ramble in my inbox about any thoughts, i might write them!
( 法 ) ⟩ don’t send dark content requests. i am very picky with the dark content i write and consume. please don’t rush or force me to write thirsts or thoughts as well, i will trash it right away.
怖 ⟩ I DON’T WRITE FOR.
male!reader. chara x chara. bodily fluids other than spit &&. cum. rape / noncon. fisting. raceplay. graphic domestic or sexual abuse. suicidal tendencies. self harm. omegaverse. rpf. incest. eating disorders.
( 魔 ) ⟩ list will be updated &&. changed as time goes on. i also might reblog works with some of these tropes depending.
百 ⟩ I DO WRITE FOR.
fem!reader. filipino!coded fics (especially when writing for izana kurokawa). fluff. smut. longfics. multi-series. headcanons ++. thirsts. switch!reader. most characters from my fandoms -> if unsure then js ask ^_^
( 魔 ) ⟩ list will be updated &&. changed as time goes on. i also might reblog works with some of these tropes depending.
俱 ⟩ I MIGHT WRITE FOR.
aged up characters. stepcest. age gaps (depending). professor x uni student. dub-con. cheating. drug use. somnophilia. fear play. sub!chara. dom!reader. yandere (picky). gangbang. monster fucking (depending).
( 馴 ) ⟩ list will be updated &&. changed as time goes on. i also might reblog works with some of these tropes depending.