Commonly Misused Words Analysis

Author: Yan Longwen
Compiler/Country:
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features:
Kuā/Kuā - Similar in sound and appearance, easily confused. Kuā means to collapse, fall down. For example: collapse, bring down. Kuā means to exaggerate, praise. For example: boast, exaggerate, flatter, hyperbole, fantastical.
Là/Là - Similar in sound and appearance, easily confused. Là means the twelfth month of the lunar calendar, dried or smoked fish and meat. Làbāzhōu (Laba porridge), làcháng (lard sausage), làméi (laquats) are often confused with "là" instead of "là". Là means certain oils produced by animals, plants, or minerals, candles. For example: wax tablet, wax white, wax plate, wax pencil, wax paper, wax yellow, wax printing.
Lán/Lán - Similar in sound and appearance, easily confused. Lán means the color of the clear sky, indigo. For example: blue sky, blueprint, blue, indigo, "blue" in "the sky is the limit" is often confused with "lán". Lán means a basket, the iron ring and net on a basketball stand for shooting. For example: basketball game, hitting the nail on the head.
Lán/Làn - Similar in sound, easily confused. "Lán" in "shameless slander" is often confused with "làn". Lán means to accuse falsely, to deny.
Làn/Luàn/Làn - Similar in sound, easily confused. Làn means to overflow, excessive. For example: "better to be without than with excess," "to mix in with the crowd," "cliché," "abuse power." Luàn means random, casual, arbitrary, disordered. For example: "in a mess," "to force a match," "chaotic," "in a frenzy," "out of control." Làn means rotten, disorganized. For example: "bad debt," "mud," "filth," "drunk as a lord."
Lèng/Lèng - Similar in sound and appearance, easily confused. Lèng means dazed, not considering the consequences when speaking or acting. Lèngtóulèngnǎo (clumsy), lèngzhèng (stunned) are often confused with "lèng" instead of "lèng." Lèng means the same as "léng," ridges on an object. For example: "lengzi" (brain), "léngyuán" (ridge), "léngjiǎo" (corner), "léngkǎn" (ledge).
Lì/Lì - Similar in sound and appearance, easily confused. Lì means strict, serious, also means "lì" (to sharpen). For example: "scold loudly," "strict," "act with lightning speed," "powerful," "keep pushing forward," "train troops and prepare horses." Lì means a whetstone, to sharpen. For example: "to temper," "to sharpen," "whetstone." Lì means to encourage. For example: "to govern with diligence," "to encourage," "to encourage."
Sù/Sù - Similar in appearance, easily confused. Sù means a deciduous tree with sweet nuts, also means to tremble. For example: "to take the bullet for someone," "chestnut," "shivering," "to shiver with cold." Sù means millet. For example: "millet," "chestnut," "a drop in the ocean."
Lián/Lián - Similar in sound, easily confused. Lián means to connect, in a chain, continuous. For example: "together with," "together with," "continuous," "chain reaction," "to be linked," "to connect." Lián means to unite, emphasizing horizontal connection. For example: "singing together," "co-signing," "contact," "joint defense."
Jīng/Liàn - Similar in sound and appearance, easily confused. Liàn means to train, proficient. For example: "practice," "train troops," "practice kung fu," "experienced," "proficient." Liàn means to purify or harden a substance by heating, to melt, to refine. For example: "smelt iron," "smelt iron," "refine oil," "gold fears no fire," "refine sentences," "refine elixirs." Note: "concise" can also be written as "refined."
Liáng/Liáng - Similar in sound and appearance, easily confused. Liáng means a horizontal long beam, usually also refers to purlins, the central long raised part of an object. For example: "pillars," "bridge," "mountain ridge," "liángqiū jūnzǐ" (gentleman of the mountain). Liáng means a general term for high-quality grain varieties, fine staple food. For example: "glossy," "liángròu" (glossy meat), "sorghum," "yellow" (a dream of a yellow).
Liáo/Qīng - Similar in appearance, easily confused. Liáo means temporarily, slightly, dependent, idle talk. For example: "boring," "chat," "boredom," "to console oneself," "better than nothing," "to express one's thoughts." Qīng means an ancient official, the term for a ruler to call a subject, or a term of endearment between lovers. For example: "qīngxiàng" (official), "qīngqīng wǒwǒ" (lovebirds).
Liáo/Liào - Similar in sound and appearance, easily confused. Liáo means sparse, quiet, empty. For example: "desolate," "vast," "few," "lonely," "rare as morning stars," "desolate." Liào is a surname.
Zhuāng/Luán - Similar in sound and appearance, easily confused. Luán means curled and unable to straighten. "Luán" in "spasm" and "contract" is often confused with "luán." Luán means twins. For example: "twins."
Màn/Màn - Similar in sound and appearance, easily confused. Màn means graceful, slender. For example: "graceful," "light singing and dancing," "singing softly." Màn means slow speed, taking a long time to walk or do things. For example: "slow train," "slow lane," "slowly," "wait."
Màn/Màn - Similar in sound and appearance, easily confused. Màn means everywhere, vast, unrestrained. For example: "casual," "long," "long night," "boundless," "mountains and fields," "roam." Màn is not "màn."
Máng/Máng - Similar in sound and appearance, easily confused. Máng means vast, unclear, unknowing. For example: "vast sea," "confused," "confused," "hopeless." Máng is a perennial herbaceous plant. For example: "mangrove," "mangrove," "mango."
Mí/Mí - Similar in sound and appearance, easily confused. Mí means rotten porridge. For example: "ruined," "meat porridge." Mí means to fall down, nothing. For example: "fashionable," "unconquered," "do everything," "think every day," "soft music."
Mián/Mián - Similar in sound and appearance, easily confused. Mián means silk cotton, continuous, weak. For example: "long," "silk satin," "continuous," "continuous," "continuous," "needle in a haystack," "thin." Mián means cotton, cotton-like fluff. For example: "cotton cloth," "cotton quilt," "cotton thread," "cotton yarn," "cotton spinning," "cotton coat," "cotton fabric."
Miǎo/Miǎo - Similar in sound and appearance, easily confused. Miǎo means vague, small. For example: "smoke and mist," "desolate," "silent," "news is vague," "far." Miǎo only appears in the compound word "piāomiǎo." Note: "piāomiǎo" can also be written as "piāomiǎo."
Miè/Miè - Similar in sound and appearance, easily confused. Miè means to despise, to insult. For example: "despise," "defame," "defame," "insult." Miè means thin bamboo strips, used to weave mats, baskets, etc. For example: "wicker craftsman," "wicker," "wicker strips," "wicker."
Míng/Míng - Similar in sound and appearance, easily confused, and "míngméng" is the same as "míngméng," "míngmáng" is the same as "míngmáng," so they are easily confused. Míng means dark, profound, confused, in the afterlife according to superstition. For example: "dark," "deep thought," "stubborn," "death clothes." Míng means sea. For example: "north sea," "east sea."
Míng/Míng - Similar in sound, easily confused. Míng means sunset, dark, dusk. For example: "clouds return and rocks are dark," "day is dark," "it's dark." Míng means to close one's eyes. For example: "die without peace."
Mó/Mó - Similar in sound and appearance, and often confused in words like "mófǎng" (copy), "mófǎng" (imitate), "mónǐ" (simulate), "mónǐ" (simulate), "móxiě" (trace), "móxiě" (trace). Mó means to trace, to draw according to a model, especially to write or draw on thin paper placed over original characters or paintings. For example: "engraving," "imitating," "seal," "description." Mó means a pattern. For example: "model," "pattern," "module," "model."
Mò/Mò - Similar in sound and appearance, easily confused. Mò means indifferent, careless. For example: "indifferent," "indifferent," "indifferent," "despise." Mò means no one, not, don't. For example: "mysterious," "undecided," "unpredictable," "unmeasurable."
Móu/Móu - Similar in sound, easily confused. "Móu" in "seeking profit" is often confused with "móu" because of a lack of understanding of the word's meaning. Móu means to strive to obtain, to aim to obtain. Móu means to plot, to seek. For example: "to plot," "to rebel," "to consider," "to seek profit," "to seek private gain with power."
Nà/Nài - Similar in sound, easily confused. Nà means "what can be done." Especially "nà" in "especially helpless," "helpless," "in vain" is not "nài." Nài means to endure. For example: "endure hardship," "durable," "patient," "thought-provoking."
Náo/Rào - Similar in appearance, can both be verbs, so easily confused. Náo means to gently scratch with fingers, to hinder others' plans, to bend. For example: "to scratch one's head and scratch one's nose," "to scratch," "to hinder," "unyielding," "unyielding." Rào means to wind, to turn around, to go around the side instead of the front. For example: "to wind thread," "to take a detour," "to twist," "to go around."
Nǎo/Nǎo - Similar in sound and appearance, easily confused. Nǎo means from the heart, angry, annoyed. For example: "angry," "annoyed," "troubled," "regretful," "angry," "angry," "annoyed." Nǎo means brain marrow, also refers to the head, brain. For example: "to poke one's head," "head," "mental labor," "brain," "forehead," "brain hemorrhage."
Ní/Ní - Similar in sound and appearance, easily confused. Ní in "nuns" is often confused with "ní" because the following character "gu" is from "nǚ," and nuns are women. Ní in dialect means a girl.