This podcast challenges the idea that two words really can have the same meaning. In each episode, we’ll compare two synonyms, and dig deep to find differences in connotation, formality, sense & more.

No Such Thing as a Synonym

Here are five simple expressions to say in Chinese when comforting someone:
1. 别担心 (bié dān xīn) - This phrase means "don't worry." It is a simple and direct way to offer comfort to someone. 
2. 没事的 (méi shì de) - This phrase means "it's okay." It is a way to reassure someone that everything is fine. 
3. 尽管哭吧 (jǐn guǎn kū ba) - This phrase means "go ahead and cry." It is a way to offer comfort and support to someone who is feeling upset or emotional. 
4. 你不是一个人 (nǐ bù shì yī gè rén) - This phrase means "you are not alone." It is a way to reassure someone that they have support and are not alone in their struggles. 
5. 一切都会好起来的 (yī qiè dōu huì hǎo qǐ lai de) - This phrase means "everything will be okay." It is a way to offer hope and comfort to someone who is feeling down. 


Five Ways to Say XXX in Chinese

5 ways to comfort someone in Chinese

Here are five commonly used ways to confess your love in Chinese, along with some simple and easy-to-understand examples:
1. 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ) - This is the most common and direct way to confess your love in Chinese.
Example: 我爱你，我想和你在一起。 (I love you, I want to be with you.)
2. 我喜欢你 (wǒ xǐhuan nǐ) - This phrase means "I like you."
Example: 我喜欢你，我想了解你的生活。 (I like you, I want to know more about your life.)
3. 我对你有感觉 (wǒ duì nǐ yǒu gǎnjué) - This phrase means "I have feelings for you."
Example: 我对你有感觉，我想和你在一起。 (I have feelings for you, I want to be with you.)
4. 我深深爱着你 (wǒ shēnshēn ài zhe nǐ) - This phrase adds emphasis to the love, expressing that it is deep and strong.
Example: 我深深爱着你，我想和你结婚。 (I love you deeply, I want to marry you.)
5. 我真的很喜欢你 (wǒ zhēn de hěn xǐhuan nǐ) - This phrase means "I really like you."
Example: 我真的很喜欢你，我想和你在一起。 (I really like you, I want to be with you.)


5 ways to confess your love in Chinese

Here are five simple expressions to say in Chinese when you feel tired:
1. 我累了 (wǒ lèi le) - This phrase means "I am tired." It is a simple and direct way to express tiredness in Chinese. 
2. 我好累 (wǒ hǎo lèi) - This phrase means "I am so tired." It is a slightly more casual way of expressing tiredness. 
3. 我真的很累 (wǒ zhēn de hěn lèi) - This phrase means "I am really tired." It is a way to emphasize that you are feeling very tired. 
4. 我感到有点累 (wǒ gǎn dào yǒu diǎn lèi) - This phrase means "I feel a little tired." It is a way to express that you are feeling tired, but not extremely tired. 
5. 我现在好累啊 (wǒ xiàn zài hǎo lèi a) - This phrase means "I am so tired now." It is a more casual way of expressing tiredness. 


 5 expressions to say in Chinese when you feel tired

Here are five simple expressions to say "no" in Chinese with simple examples:
1. 不 (bù) - This is a simple and common way to say "no" in Chinese. It can be used in a variety of contexts and is a general negative word.
Example:
A: 你喜欢苹果吗？ (nǐ xǐ huān píng guǒ ma?) (Do you like apples?)
B: 不 (bù) (No)
I normally don’t answer people with just a simple 不 to say no, because it sounds rude. But if you are in a fight with someone, I guess it is a good language tool.
2. 不要 (bù yào) - This phrase means "don't want" or "don't." It can be used to say "no" in a more polite or indirect way.
Example:
A: 吃蛋糕吗？ (chī dàn gāo ma?) (Do you want to eatcake?)
B: 不要，谢谢。 (bù yào, xiè xiè) (No, thank you.)
3. 不行 (bù xíng) - This phrase means "can't" or "not allowed." It can be used to say "no" in a more formal or assertive way.
Example:
A: 你能给我五块钱吗？ (nǐ néng gěi wǒ wǔ kuài qián ma?) (Can you give me five dollars?)
B: 不行，我没有五块钱。 (bù xíng, wǒ méi yǒu wǔ kuài qián) (No, I don't have five dollars.)
5. 不可以 (bù kě yǐ) - This phrase means "cannot" or "not allowed." "不可以" (bù kě yǐ) is often used to indicate that something is not allowed or not permitted. 
Example:
A: 妈妈，我能去朋友家玩吗？ (mā ma, wǒ néng qù péng you jiā wán ma?) (Mom, can I go to my friend's house to play?)
B: 不可以，你还没有完成你的作业。 (bù kě yǐ, nǐ hái méi yǒu wán chéng nǐ de zuò yè) (No, you have not finished your homework yet.)

5 ways to say "no" in Chinese

Here are five simple expressions to cheer someone up in Chinese, along with examples:
1. 加油！ (jiā yóu!) - Keep it up!Example: 加油，你一定能成功！ (jiā yóu, nǐ yí dìng néng chéng gōng!) (Keep it up, you will surely succeed!) 
2. 没关系！ (méi guān xi!) - It's no problem!Example: 别担心，没关系！ (bié dān xīn, méi guān xi!) (Don't worry, it's no problem!) 
3. 不要灰心！ (bú yào huī xīn!) - Don't give up!Example: 只要努力，就一定会成功的，不要灰心！ (zhǐ yào nǔ lì, jiù yí dìng huì chéng gōng de, bú yào huī xīn!) (As long as you work hard, you will surely succeed, don't give up!) 
4. 别担心！ (bié dān xīn!) - Don't worry!Example: 别担心，这不是什么大事！ (bié dān xīn, zhè bú shì shén me dà shì!) (Don't worry, it's not a big deal!)
And here is the fifth example:
5. 我们一起努力！ (wǒ men yī qǐ nǔ lì!) - Let's work hard together!Example: 我们一起努力，一定会成功的！ (wǒ men yī qǐ nǔ lì, yí dìng huì chéng gōng de!) (We will succeed if we work hard together!) 


5 ways to encourage someone in Chinese

Here are five simple expressions to say "I don't understand" in Chinese, 
* 我不知道。 (wǒ bú zhī dào.) (I don't know.)
* 我不明白。 (wǒ bú míng bai.) (I don't understand.)
* 我搞不清楚。 (wǒ gǎo bù qīng chǔ.) (I don't understand.)
* 我不会。 (wǒ bú huì.) (I don't know how.)
* 我不懂。 (wǒ bú dǒng.) (I don't understand.)

Here are examples of them used in a sentence:
1. 我不知道 (wǒ bú zhī dào) - I don't know Example: 我不知道你在说什么。 (wǒ bú zhī dào nǐ zài shuō shén me.) (I don't know what you're saying.) 
2. 我不明白 (wǒ bù míng bai) - I don't understand Example: 我不明白这道题怎么做。 (wǒ bù míng bai zhè dào tí zěn me zuò.) (I don't understand how to do this problem.) 
3. 我搞不清楚 (wǒ gǎo bù qīng chǔ) - I don't understandExample: 我搞不清楚这个词的意思。 (wǒ gǎo bù qīng chǔ zhè gè cí de yì si.) (I don't understand the meaning of this word.) 
4. 我不会 (wǒ bú huì) - I don't know how Example: 我不会用这个软件。 (wǒ bú huì yòng zhè gè ruǎn jiàn.) (I don't know how to use this software.) 
5. 我不懂 (wǒ bú dǒng) - I don't understand Example: 我不懂你在讲什么。 (wǒ bú dǒng nǐ zài jiǎng shén me.) (I don't understand what you're talking about.)
 


5 ways to say "I don't understand" in Chinese

Here are five ways to say "hi" in Chinese, along with examples of how to use them:
1. 你好 (nǐ hǎo) - This is a very common way to greet someone in Chinese, and is similar to saying "hello" in English. Example: "你好，怎么样？" (Nǐ hǎo, zěn me yàng?) - "Hi, how are you?" 
2. 您好 (nín hǎo) - This is a more formal way of greeting someone, and is used when addressing someone older or in a position of authority. Example: "您好，我是来自美国的留学生。" (Nín hǎo, wǒ shì lái zì Měiguó de liúxuéshēng.) - "Hello, I am a student from the United States." 
3. 大家好 (dà jiā hǎo) - This is a way to greet a group of people, and is similar to saying "hello, everyone" or "hello, all" in English. Example: "大家好，我是新来的。" (Dà jiā hǎo, wǒ shì xīn lái de.) - "Hello, everyone, I am new here."
4. 哈喽 (hā lóu) is a casual way of greeting someone in Chinese, similar to saying "hi" or "hey" in English. The word is derived from the English word "hello," and is often used among friends or in informal situations.
Example: "哈喽，你最近过得怎么样？" (Hā lóu, nǐ zuìjìn guò de zěn me yàng?) - "Hi, how have you been lately?"
It is worth noting that 哈喽 is not as commonly used as other greetings such as 你好 (nǐ hǎo) or 您好 (nín hǎo) in Chinese. It is more commonly used among younger people or in casual settings.
5. 嗨 (hāi) - This is a more informal and casual way of greeting someone, and is similar to saying "hi" or "hey" in English. Example: "嗨，最近过得怎么样？" (Hāi, zuìjìn guò de zěn me yàng?) - "Hi, how have you been lately?" 


5 ways to say "hi" in Chinese

here are the five most commonly used ways to say "thank you" in Chinese, along with both the Chinese characters and pinyin for each example sentence,  both when used alone and in sentences:

1. 谢谢 (xièxiè) - This is the most common and general way to say "thank you" in Chinese.
Used alone: 谢谢。 (xièxiè)
Used in a sentence: 谢谢你给我这么好的礼物。 (xièxiè nǐ gěi wǒ zhème hǎo de lǐwù) (Thank you for giving me such a nice gift.)

2. 多谢 (duōxiè) - This phrase means "thank you very much."
Used alone: 多谢。 (duōxiè)
Used in a sentence: 多谢你的帮助，我真的很感激。 (duōxiè nǐ de bāngzhù, wǒ zhēn de hěn gǎnjī) (Thank you very much for your help, I really appreciate it.)

3. 谢谢你 (xièxiè nǐ) - This phrase specifically thanks the person being addressed.
Used alone: 谢谢你。 (xièxiè nǐ)
Used in a sentence: 谢谢你为我做的一切。 (xièxiè nǐ wèi wǒ zuò de yīqiè) (Thank you for everything you have done for me.)

4. 谢谢你的帮助 (xièxiè nǐ de bāngzhù) - This phrase thanks someone for their help.
Used alone: 谢谢你的帮助。 (xièxiè nǐ de bāngzhù)
Used in a sentence: 谢谢你的帮助，我现在学会了。 (xièxiè nǐ de bāngzhù, wǒ xiànzài  xuéhuì le) (Thank you for your help, now I can do it.)

5. 非常感谢 (fēicháng gǎnxiè) - This phrase means "thank you very much."
Used alone: 非常感谢。 (fēicháng gǎnxiè)
Used in a sentence: 非常感谢你给我的那份工作。 (fēicháng gǎnxiè nǐ gěi wǒ de nà fèn gōngzuò) (Thank you very much for the job you gave me.)