I think most foreigners have heard about an idiom in China meaning “a small leak will sink a great ship” when they go to Chinese school in China to learn. When it comes to learning Chinese language, the leak should be the Chinese words. Therefore, learners should spend more time in the words learning.

This essay will list several groups of similar groups by specific examples to show foreigners how to learn Mandarin in the differences telling. Let’s learn the one by one together. The first group will be “发表” and “发行”, both of which means to publish something but have some tiny differences.

When we use “发表”, it probably in two situations. Firstly, it means to publish the articles on newspaper. So we can say “发表文章” and “发表论文”. Another situation is to speak in a public place such as “发表议论” and “发表意见”. However, when students learn Mandarin, they should realize that “发行” is used to “issue new currency or books and magazines” like “发行邮票”. For instance, “《今晚报》是天津发行量最大的报纸”.

After understanding them, let’s move to the next pair “公布” and “发布”. Firstly, students who study Chinese should know that “发布” is used to announce to make the public knows, mostly in announcing the orders, instructions, news or notice by the government, institution or community. They are mainly in the form of written language. We say “发布消息” or “发布新闻”.

However, “公布” indicates to announce in public in order to let everyone know. Most learners who study in China may think it is the same with the former one. But this one has a wider using environment, besides that of the former one, it can be used to announce all kinds things by certain person. Here are some examples: “公布消息”, “将此事向全世界公布”.

After learning the differences between these two words, let’s continue to explain another word has the similar meaning “宣布”. Overseas who learn Chinese in China may be familiar with this word, which implies to tell the public formally or officially. Mostly, it is used to tell the public about the laws, disciplines, lists, crimes or results. We often hear “宣布通知” or “上午九点，主席宣布大会开始”.

What’s more, the group of words “发动” and “带动” are often learned if you learn Chinese language in China. When we use “带动”, it means there is someone leads others move forward or to make things develop. The objects are mostly people or machine. For instance, “带动全国人民奔小康”.

For the word “发动”, it has two levels of meanings. The first one is to make something start to move or operate like “发动战争” and “发动机器”. Another is to make people take actions. It can be used wider than “带动” because it is proper to describe the war, uprising, rebellion, aggression, etc. Here are some examples listed as help for learning Mandarin Chinese. “发动群众”, “发动大家共同参与”, “黎明时分，敌人向我们发动了进攻”.

Last but not least, the differences between the words “发挥” and “发扬” should be learned when you learn Mandarin in China. As a verb, “发挥” has two meanings in two levels. We can use it to express to show someone’s talent such as “发挥聪明才智”. On the other hand, it also means to express the meaning in full degree like “这一理论有待进一步发挥”.

“发扬” is often used when you learn to speak Chinese, which implies to advocate and develop something, emphasizing to expand and strengthen on the basis of former status. The objects are often spirit and tradition. For instance, “发扬优良传统”.

Chinese language is actually not so difficult to learn as long as you can understand and master the words meaning. And the best way to learn is to remember and practice more.