It is true that when the foreign students go to school in Kunming to study Chinese, they may encounter the words with some same elements and similar word root. The words may confuse the students for the words may have similar meanings as well. The word combinations may be like the following word groups such as形式and方式, 行动and 动作, 性情and 性格, 凶恶and 恶劣. The respective word groups all contain the same element such the 形式and方式 contain the word 式, 行动and 动作 contain the word 动, the性情and 性格 contain the word 性 and the凶恶and 恶劣 contain the element 恶. The respective meaning of the words groups is different as well. Let’s see them one by one.

First is the words group of 形式and方式. Both are nouns. The first word 形式 means the shape and the structure of an event. For example, you can make phrase like 一种形式or 形式主义. The word 方式refers to the ways or methods taken to do something. One can make such phrases like 生活方式or 工作方式. 形式 indicates the interior representation, shape and structure of a thing. It can refer to specific thing as well as abstract one. 方式refers to the ways and methods to deal with something or make a speech. One can make such sentence like 工作中不要只讲形式,要重效果. But one can not make sentence like 工作中不要只讲方式，要重效果.

Second group is the行动and 动作. The word 行动can be used as verb and noun. When it is used as a verb, it means movement and the actions taken to achieve some particular goal. One can make phrase like 行动不便or 开始行动.When it is used as a noun, the word refers to the activities held to reach some certain aims. One can make such phrases like 一次行动or 爱国行动. When foreign students are learning free Chinese lessons, they should distinguish the specific word class of the word. 行为means behaviors which are subject to the minds. One can make phrases like 不良行为or 表扬这种行为. The word 行为can not be used as a verb. One can not make sentence like 爷爷岁数大了，行为有些迟缓. The correct form should be the application of the word 行动. Thus, the sentence should be 爷爷岁数大了,行动有些迟缓.

When one learns such word groups, the words should be put together to learn them well. The distinguishing of the words with same elements is difficult at the first place but if the student puts efforts in it, progress will be made.