There are many synonyms in Chinese language, which not only similar in meaning, but also in the appearance. That makes it difficult for students learn Chinese in China to tell apart the similar words.

However, the good news is that there are many methods are taught when you attend to Chinese language school to learn Chinese. In this article, ten methods will be introduced to help the foreign students according to the principle of finding differences in similarities.

First of all, some differences of the synonyms displayed in the weight of the words meaning. For example, “在西藏高原的雪山中也有变速这风光，也长着香蕉和菠萝，这实在是一件令人啧啧（称奇 称道）的事”. The following explanation will help students to learn Mandarin. “称道” is to state and praise while “称奇” is to praise wonderful. Here “称奇” is proper because heavier meaning.

Another way for learners study in China to differentiate the similar words is the different coverage extension. In the sentence “‘保卫钓鱼岛’网站遭受黑客袭击，（目前 日前）仍在修复当中”, “目前” means the time when talking while “日前” is several days ago. So “目前” should be filled in the blank.

For some similar words, the meanings expressed are the same, but the objects of application are different. “今年1月1日，中国26年来粮食接受联合国（馈赠 捐赠）的历史画上了句号”. Here “馈赠” means to give “presents” while “捐赠” is to donate things to “nation” or “community”.

A helpful approach teachers often teach in Mandarin learning courses is to distinguish by the stylistic styles. Some similar words are suitable for different places because some reflect solemn while some embody humorous. For the sentence “帕金森病是常见的中老年神经系统疾病，拳王阿里就患有（该 本）病”, “该” is a demonstrative, indicating things or people mentioned above, usually used in official document. But “本” is used orally implies oneself.

The meanings of some similar words have some certain emotional tendency, which is also a basis to learn Chinese language by distinguishing them. Here is an example, “在改革开放的新形势下，我们仍然要从实际情况出发，从中探索出固有的而不是（臆造 编造）的规律”. “臆造” is to make up based on someone’s own idea, which is a pejorative word while”编造” is a neutral word meaning to create and make up.

Finding the different collocation relationship of the similar words is a beneficial ways to teach Mandarin Chinese. in the sentence “中国文物信息网日前公布了已入围2005年度全国考古手大新发现的24个项目名单。适当“新发现”（涵盖 囊括）了石器时代至宋元时期的文化遗銌”, we should use “涵盖”, which means include while “囊括” is to sweep up everything.

A common way taught when you attend to school to study Mandarin is to tell apart according to the various grammatical functions. For instance, “故乡的小溪永远在我的心中静静流淌，轻轻私语，（给予 给以）我精神的抚慰”. Here, both mean to give, but the former one is followed by the things are given while the later one can be followed by someone.

To help students study Chinese better, three more methods will discuss in the following parts. We can distinguish by the different meaning emphasis, the active or the passive, the concept of the whole and individual.

Let’s take some typical examples often used in Mandarin language courses in China to illustrate how to tell them apart respectively. In the example “（淡去 淡忘）火红的时代背景”, “淡去” emphasizes objectivity, meaning fade away while “淡忘” stresses subjectivity meaning to forget gradually. For “就此事件，我新华社（授权 受权）发表声明”, “授权” is passivity while “受权” is initiative. Besides, “风范” is a kind of manner and style while “风尚” is custom or habit formed gradually.

The ten beneficial ways of distinguishing the similar words are enough if Chinese learners can understand them and put them into use to help them to learn Chinese.