learning Chinese becomes more difficult when it comes to tell the differences of the synonyms that similar not only in the meanings but also the appearances. To solve this problem, several groups of words will be illustrated to help students learn Chinese in China in the following contents.

The first group of words is the differences between “比” and “比较”, which is often used when you study in China. When “比” functioned as a verb, it has three different meanings. One means to compare like “比学习” and “比成绩”. Another means “be able to compare”, for instance, “这里的气候不比我们那里”. Last but not least, it can be used in the comparison of the scores between two racing sides such as “三比二”.

What’s more, the function of being a preposition is an important point for students to learn Mandarin. It carries the same meaning with “than” in English. For example, “今天比昨天热”.

However, “比较” is used to compare the similarities or differences of several things of the same type. We can say “把原文和译文对比一下”. When “比较” act as an adverb, it expresses some certain degree, but can be followed only by the adjectives. For instance, “他说得比较清楚”.

Students may feel it is easier to learn Chinese language when they tell apart the words “参与” and “参加”, both of which used as verb and mean to take part in something. The differences lie in the thing of participating. “参与” is to join in the plan or discussion of certain arrangements. So we say “参与政策的制订”. And the word “参加” is to take part in some activities like “参加活动” and “参加演出”. Seen from this view, the later one has wider scope.

Most Chinese language learners think it is a wise choice to attend Chinese language school to learn Chinese and they are right. At school, the analysis of the words “常常” and “常” is inevitable. “常常” is to indicate the behavior and action are very frequently, emphasizing there are many times. “常” is similar with “often” to show more than one time.

Both of them are used as the adverb, and have the same usage. Here are some examples: “我们常一起吃饭”, “他常常工作到深夜”. But when it comes to the negative form, we say “不常” instead of “不常常”. For instance, we say “他不常来” rather than “他不常常来”. That’s how teachers teach Mandarin language at school.

Another important and commonly used group of similar words is “成功” and “胜利”. The differences of the two words are seen as the same with the differences of “success” and “victory” in English by teachers inMandarin learning courses. Both of them mean to gain and obtain and has the same antonym “failure”.

Let’s tell some tiny differences between them to help students study Chinese. When functioned as a noun, “成功” means the success of the business or career while “胜利” means achievement of the goal. We say “巨大的成功” and “获得了最后的胜利”. As a verb, “成功” is to express “succeed in doing something” while “胜利” is to beat the opposite side. We say “祝你成功” and “战争胜利了”.

“从来” and “一直” is another pair of important synonym explained in detail in Mandarin language courses in China. Both of them are adverb meaning “haven’t changed from the past to now”. “从来” means the behavior, action or condition remains the same since before. We often put a negative word after it like “他从来不吸烟”.

However, “一直” has more than one meaning. The first one is “the action remains along the same direction” such as “一直朝前走就到了”. The second meaning is “always”, for example, “他的成绩一直很好”. The bestplace to learn Chinese is the language school because teachers will tell you more techniques to help youlearn Chinese.

If students can practice more about those groups of similar words above, it will be more smoothly for them to have conversation with others in daily life.