As we all know, we often confused by the synonyms distinguishing when we just started to study Chinese in our primary school time. We Chinese people find it difficult to tell apart some differences even it is our mother tongue, speak nothing of the foreigners who regarding Chinese as a foreign language. This essay will illustrate several similar words as a help for foreign learners.

First f all, let’s take a close look at the confusing pair of word “神情” and “表情”. “神情” is the noun to describe the expression that reflects people’s emotional inner life. Foreign students who learn Mandarin should notice that the expression is mostly expressed naturally. We often hear people say “神情大变”, “露出失望的神情”.

The word “表情” is also ,means the expression. However, it often used to describe that of expressing thoughts or feelings by the facial expressions or gestures. When you learn Chinese in China, you should know that it has wider application range than the former one. Besides, it can be done both naturally and intentionally. For instance, “他的表情很丰富，喜欢模仿别人的语言和动作”.

Let’s move our attention to the group of words “并列” and “并排”, both of which carry the meaning of “arranging in a same line”. We can say “两辆汽车并列/并排行驶”. When you study in Chinese school in China, teachers will tell you the tiny differences between them. “并排” emphasizes the specific things are in parallel line. We can say “两个人并排走过来”, “他们并排站着”.

On the contrary, learners in qualified Mandarin program may know that “并列” is not limited in the specific things. It can also used to describe the abstract thing arranged vertically without considering the high or the low as well as the primary or the secondary. Here are some examples: “并列在一起”, “这次比赛两个队并列第一”.

Here are two adverbials often explained when you learn Chinese language in China, “何必” and “不必”. “何必” carries the meaning of “not necessary” with the tone of rhetorical question. We can say “何必客气”, “何必去那么早?”. It is also used together with “呢” as well as add “又(是)” like “这又是何必呢?”. However, “不必” is in the declarative sentence, for instance, “你不必买，把这个拿走吧”.

Another two similar words you should know when you study in China are “不必” and “未必”. We have just learned “不必”, which is to express the subject meaning and contrary to “必须(must)”. So we just need to learn “未必”, which is to indicate the objective conjecture with the meaning of “uncertainly”. Here are some examples to explain. “他的话未必可靠”, “他明天未必去”.

Last but not least, we will learn the differences among “未免”, “难免” and “不免”, which is often make students confused during their process of learning Mandarin Chinese. Firstly, “难免” is an adjective indicates “not easy to avoid”. We often say “生活中遇到挫折和困难是难免的”, “人难免犯错”.

“未免” is an adverb with two levels of meanings. The first one is to express disapproval of some certain things. For example, “你的发言未免长了些”. Another carries the meaning of “unavoidable” such as “初次见面，未免有些紧张”. Those who learn Mandarin in China should know that this word often used to negate some overdone things, emphasizing the speaker’s subjective evaluation.

Similar with “难免”, “不免” also means “unavoidable”. Both of them imply some certain results caused by some natural reasons. When students learn to speak Chinese, they should know that “难免” emphasizes the objective things and “不免” has a lighter degree in meaning. The example is “这段公路太窄，往来车辆不免放慢车速”.

During the process of differentiating two similar words, the most important thing learners should do is to feel the differences in meaning, usage, part of speech by means of simple sentences.