When learning Chinese language, many foreign learners may find that they are often confused by some similar words in both meanings and appearance. For example, the group of words 描绘、描述and描写are really confusing if they do not pay much attention. The meaning of 描绘 is to portray or to depict, emphasizing to displace a specific thing just like painting like 描绘生动. It carries the analogical coloring to show the expression of characters or to make somebody to imagine the brightness of the future. For instance, 这部小说如实地描绘出当代的农村生活.

描述is relatively easy to understand because it is similar with the meaning of “describe” or “narrate” like 用语言描述一下事情的经过. It usually means to describe with words and language to certain things. Foreign students in online Chinese Lessons may be told that 描写is also means to describe or express person and thing with language and words like 描写人物and描写环境. But it emphasizes to write down the expression, development process and details of certain things. It can be applied to show the introduction, explanation and analysis to phenomenon with words.

The words 渺小and微小 are also frequently seen in learning process, both of which are used to describe something is really small. The difference is that 渺小is used to indicate the abstract thing like spirit, thought and power with strong tone while 微小is applied to describe the specific things like the shapes and numbers. But the latter one can be also used to describe the influence, value and effect. Here are two example, 个人的力量是渺小的and事情发生了微小的变化.

The last but not least group of words that the students need to master when they learn Mandarin Chineseare 蔑视and轻视. The former one emphasizes to look upon down on something like 脸上流露出蔑视的表情. But 轻视stresses do not emphasize something or do not treat something seriously. For example, 他轻视教学方面的研究.