"spoken" Chinese-English Dictionary

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Chinese Pinyin Translation
么 幺 yāo youngest / most junior / tiny / one (unambiguous spoken form when spelling out numbers, esp. on telephone or in military) / one or ace on dice or dominoes / variant of 吆[yao1], to shout syn
话 諙 huà dialect / language / spoken words / speech / talk / words / conversation / what sb said / CL:種|种[zhong3],席[xi2],句[ju4],口[kou3],番[fan1] syn
白 bái adj., adv. white / snowy / pure / bright / empty / blank / plain / clear / to make clear / in vain / gratuitous / free of charge / reactionary / anti-communist / funeral / to stare coldly / to write wrong character / to state / to explain / vernacular / spoken lines in opera syn
咱们 咱們 zán men pron. we or us (including both the speaker and the person(s) spoken to) / (dialect) I or me / (dialect) (in a coaxing or familiar way) you / also pr. [za2 men5] syn
言语 言語 yán yǔ n. words / speech / (spoken) language syn
口语 口語 kǒu yǔ n. colloquial speech / spoken language / vernacular language / slander / gossip / CL:門|门[men2]
闽南话 閩南話 mǐn nán huà Southern Min, a family of Sinitic languages spoken in southern Fujian and surrounding areas / Hokkien, major variety of Southern Min
洞 dòng n. cave / hole / zero (unambiguous spoken form when spelling out numbers) / CL:個|个[ge4] syn
幺 么 yāo youngest / most junior / tiny / one (unambiguous spoken form when spelling out numbers, esp. on telephone or in military) / one or ace on dice or dominoes / variant of 吆[yao1], to shout syn
潮州 cháo zhōu Chaozhou, prefecture-level city in Guangdong Province 廣東省|广东省[Guang3 dong1 Sheng3] / Chaozhou, variant of Minnan dialect 閩南語|闽南语[Min3 nan2 yu3] spoken in east Guangdong / see 潮州市[Chao2zhou1 Shi4] / see 潮州鎮|潮州镇[Chao2zhou1 Zhen4] / Chaozhou, variant of Minnan dialect 閩南語|闽南语[Min3nan2yu3] spoken in east Guangdong
听懂 聽懂 tīng dǒng to understand (on hearing) / to catch (what is spoken)
好话 好話 hǎo huà friendly advice / words spoken on sb's behalf / a good word / kind words / words that sound fine but are not followed up with actions syn
语声 語聲 yǔ shēng spoken language / sound of speaking
叫板 jiào bǎn v. to signal the musicians (in Chinese opera, by prolonging a spoken word before attacking a song) / (coll.) to challenge
白话 白話 bái huà spoken language / vernacular syn
浅显 淺顯 qiǎn xiǎn adj. (of written or spoken material) easy to understand / accessible syn
英语角 英語角 yīng yǔ jiǎo English corner / spoken English practice group
梦话 夢話 mèng huà talking in one's sleep / words spoken during sleep / fig. speech bearing no relation to reality / delusions syn
中国话 中國話 zhōng guó huà (spoken) Chinese language
骨碌碌 gǔ lù lù (onom.) rolling around / spinning / also spoken pr. [gu3 lu1 lu1]
顿挫 頓挫 dùn cuò a transition (stop and change) in spoken sound, music or in brush strokes / a cadence / punctuated by a transition / with syncopated cadence (brush stroke in painting)
潮洲 cháo zhōu Chaozhou or Teochew, a town near Guangdong, with famous cuisine / Chaozhou, variant of Minnan dialect 閩南語|闽南语[Min3 nan2 yu3] spoken in east Guangdong
哑巴亏 啞巴虧 yǎ ba kuī pent-up unspoken grievances / suffering not willingly or possibly spoken of syn
咱 zá I or me / we (including both the speaker and the person spoken to) syn
咱 喒 zán I or me / we (including both the speaker and the person spoken to) syn
硐 dòng cave / hole / zero (unambiguous spoken form when spelling out numbers) / CL:個|个[ge4] / pit / variant of 洞[dong4]
道白 dào bái spoken lines in opera syn
闽南语 閩南語 mǐn nán yǔ Southern Min, a Sinitic language spoken in southern Fujian and surrounding areas / Hokkien, the most widely spoken variety of Southern Min
驷马不追 駟馬不追 sì mǎ bù zhuī (idiom) Once words have been spoken, they cannot be taken back / one must keep one’s word. It has the same meaning as “four horses cannot catch up with spoken words.”
口语字词识别 口語字詞識別 kǒu yǔ zì cí shí bié recognition of spoken word
偺 zán I or me / we (including both the speaker and the person spoken to) / variant of 咱[zan2]
口白 kǒu bái narrator / spoken parts in an opera
吴语 吳語 wú yǔ Wu dialects (spoken primarily in Shanghai and surrounding areas)
四十二章经 四十二章經 sì shí èr zhāng jīng The Sutra in Forty-two Sections Spoken by the Buddha, the first Chinese Buddhist text, translated in 67 AD by Kasyapa-Matanga 迦葉摩騰|迦叶摩腾[Jia1 ye4 Mo2 teng2] and Gobharana 竺法蘭|竺法兰[Zhu2 fa3 lan2] (Dharmaraksha)
小婿 xiǎo xù my son-in-law (humble) / I (spoken to parents-in-law)
徽语 徽語 huī yǔ Huizhou dialect of Gan, spoken in southern parts of Anhui Province
标音法 標音法 biāo yīn fǎ phonetic transcription / system of representing spoken sounds
湘语 湘語 xiāng yǔ Xiang (Hunanese) dialect spoken in Hunan Province
细声细气 細聲細氣 xì shēng xì qì in a fine voice (idiom) / softly spoken syn
注音法 註音法 zhù yīn fǎ phonetic transcription / system of representing spoken sounds
赣语 贛語 gàn yǔ Gan dialect, spoken in Jiangxi Province
酒言酒语 酒言酒語 jiǔ yán jiǔ yǔ words spoken under the influence of alcohol (idiom)
闽语 閩語 mǐn yǔ Min dialects, spoken in Fujian Province, Taiwan etc
科普特语 科普特語 kē pǔ tè yǔ Coptic, Afro-Asiatic language of the Copts 科普特人[Ke1 pu3 te4 ren2], spoken in Egypt until late 17th century
西南官话 西南官話 xī nán guān huà Southwestern Mandarin, dialect group of Mandarin spoken primarily in southwestern China
凭什么 憑什麼 píng shén me (spoken) why? / for which reason?
启海话 啟海話 qǐ hǎi huà Qihai dialect, a Wu dialect spoken in Tongzhou, Haimen, and Qidong districts in southern Jiangsu province, and on Chongming Island in Shanghai
嘴软 嘴軟 zuǐ ruǎn soft-spoken / afraid to speak out
沙地话 沙地話 shā dì huà Qihai dialect, a Wu dialect spoken in Tongzhou, Haimen, and Qidong districts in southern Jiangsu province, and on Chongming Island in Shanghai / see 啟海話|启海话[Qi3 hai3 hua4]
口甜 kǒu tián soft-spoken / affable / full of honeyed words
老夫 lǎo fū I (spoken by an old man)
图样图森破 圖樣圖森破 tú yàng tú sēn pò (Internet slang) to have a simplistic view of sth (transcription of "too young, too simple" – English words spoken by Jiang Zemin 江澤民|江泽民[Jiang1 Ze2 min2] in chastizing Hong Kong reporters in 2000)
宿务语 宿務語 sù wù yǔ Cebuano (aka Bisaya), language spoken in parts of the Philippines
宿雾语 宿霧語 sù wù yǔ Cebuano (aka Bisaya), language spoken in parts of the Philippines (Tw)
台山话 台山話 tái shān huà Taishanese, a language of the Yue language group 粵語|粤语[Yue4 yu3] spoken in Jiangmen 江門|江门[Jiang1 men2] and in the Chinatowns of North America
普通话水平测试 普通話水平測試 pǔ tōng huà shuǐ píng cè shì Putonghua Proficiency Test, an official test of spoken fluency in Standard Chinese for native speakers of Chinese languages, developed in the PRC in 1994
塑料普通话 塑料普通話 sù liào pǔ tōng huà (coll.) Mandarin Chinese spoken with a thick regional accent
步子太大，容易扯着蛋 步子太大，容易扯著蛋 bù zi tài dà , róng yì chě zhe dàn if you take too big a stride, you could easily rip your balls (catchphrase) (line spoken by actor 葛優|葛优[Ge3 You1] in the 2010 action comedy movie 讓子彈飛|让子弹飞[Rang4 Zi3 dan4 Fei1]) / (fig.) take things one step at a time
潮汕话 潮汕話 cháo shàn huà Chaoshan or Teo-Swa, a Southern Min language spoken by the Teochew people of the Chaoshan region 潮汕[Chao2 shan4]
空耳 kōng ěr to intentionally reinterpret a spoken expression as if one had misheard it, for the sake of humor (often, it is a phrase in a foreign language twisted into a similar-sounding phrase in one's native language with a completely different meaning) (orthographic borrowing from Japanese 空耳 "soramimi")
变色之言 變色之言 biàn sè zhī yán (idiom) Words that cause one's expression to change. The term usually refers to angry words spoken impulsively during an argument about right and wrong.
出言成章 chū yán chéng zhāng (idiom) Originally, it meant that every spoken word became a model expression.
唇焦舌敝 chún jiāo shé bì (idiom) With dry lips and a sore tongue, one has spoken excessively and exhausted every argument.
耳听心受 ěr tīng xīn shòu (idiom) To listen with one's ears and retain what one hears. The expression emphasizes paying close attention to spoken words, especially in everyday speech.
驷不及舌 駟不及舌 sì bù jí shé (idiom) Once words have been spoken, they cannot be taken back. It emphasizes the irrevocable nature of what has been said.
中冓之言 zhōng gòu zhī yán (idiom) Private words spoken within the home / it can also refer to scandalous or indecent talk.
一言出口，驷马难追 yī yán chū kǒu，sì mǎ nán zhuī (idiom) Once words have been spoken, they cannot be taken back / one must therefore stand by what one has said.
一言已出，驷马难追 yī yán yǐ chū，sì mǎ nán zhuī (idiom) Once words have been spoken, they cannot be taken back / one must keep one’s word.
一言既出，如白染皂 yī yán jì chū，rú bái rǎn zào (idiom) A spoken word is like white cloth dyed black: it cannot be changed or taken back.
一言既出，金玉不移 yī yán jì chū，jīn yù bù yí (idiom) Once words have been spoken, not even gold and jade can change them. What has been said cannot be taken back and must be honored.
九鼎一言 jiǔ dǐng yī yán (idiom) A word spoken by a person of great authority or prestige / a single statement can be enough to demonstrate that person’s influence and weight.
书不尽言，言不尽意 shū bù jìn yán，yán bù jìn yì (idiom) A letter cannot fully express what one means, and words cannot convey thought with complete precision. It highlights the limits of written and spoken language.
二三君子 èr sān jūn zǐ (idiom) Refers to several worthy men or gentlemen, usually as a form of address to those being spoken to.
先言往行 xiān yán wǎng xíng (idiom) The words spoken and deeds performed by the worthy people of antiquity.
嚼舌头根 嚼舌頭根 jiáo shé tou gēn (idiom) Originally, a curse wishing that someone who has spoken ill would bite off their tongue at the root.
妙喻取譬 miào yù qǔ pì (idiom) To explain an idea through ingenious comparisons. It is used especially of spoken explanations or written compositions.
心腹之言 xīn fù zhī yán (idiom) Sincere words kept deep in one’s heart and not easily spoken.
有嘴没心 有嘴沒心 yǒu zuǐ méi xīn (idiom) Describes words spoken without any real intention to hurt, sometimes thoughtlessly. It is equivalent to speaking without meaning it.
气竭声嘶 氣竭聲嘶 qì jié shēng sī (idiom) To exhaust one’s strength until one’s voice becomes hoarse. It describes someone who has shouted or spoken until completely worn out.
甜语花言 tián yǔ huā yán (idiom) Sweet, flattering words, usually spoken to deceive someone or make them feel pleased.
白圭可磨 bái guī kě mó (idiom) A blemish on white jade can still be polished away, but a misspoken word cannot be undone. It stresses that spoken words cannot be taken back.
盲瞽之言 máng gǔ zhī yán (idiom) Words spoken by someone with limited understanding or lacking a sense of propriety. It is often used self-deprecatingly by the speaker.
瞎灯灭火 瞎燈滅火 xiā dēng miè huǒ (idiom) With the lamp out and the fire extinguished, it describes a night or place in complete darkness. It is mainly used in spoken language.
纶言如汗 綸言如汗 lún yán rú hàn (idiom) It refers to an emperor's words: once spoken, they cannot be taken back, just as sweat cannot be drawn back into the body.
美语甜言 美語甜言 měi yǔ tián yán (idiom) Sweet, seductive words, often spoken to deceive or flatter someone. The expression refers to charming but manipulative talk.
言出祸从 yán chū huò cóng (idiom) As soon as the words are spoken, trouble follows. It stresses the danger of speaking carelessly.
言发祸随 yán fā huò suí (idiom) As soon as the words are spoken, trouble follows. This expression is synonymous with “言出祸从”.
话言话语 huà yán huà yǔ (idiom) Conversation and spoken remarks / words exchanged in conversation.
负薪之言 負薪之言 fù xīn zhī yán (idiom) Words spoken by a person of low social standing. It may also refer to a humble opinion that nevertheless deserves consideration.
追驷不及 追駟不及 zhuī sì bù jǐ (idiom) The chariot drawn by four horses is already beyond pursuit. Figuratively, once words have been spoken, they cannot be taken back.
顿腹之言 頓腹之言 dùn fù zhī yán (idiom) Sincere, heartfelt words spoken from the heart. It has the same meaning as “肺腑之言.”
驷马莫追 駟馬莫追 sì mǎ mò zhuī (idiom) Once words have been spoken, they cannot be taken back / one must keep one’s word and stand by what one has said. It is a variant of 驷马难追.
The four tones The four tones of Mandarin Pitch over time: tone 1 high and level (red), tone 2 rising (orange), tone 3 falling then rising (green), tone 4 falling (blue). tone 1 tone 2 tone 3 tone 4 Time Pitch

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