avoid chinglish

English is a wonderful language for several reasons, one of which is, you can make up new words.
“Chinglish” is one such made-up word. What is “Chinglish”?
It refers to the garbled combination of Chinese and English. In defense of Chinglish, let me say, it is a reality and easy to explain how it happens. Also, I’m not “casting stones” at Chinese speakers who struggle with English, although Chinglish is a reality for many of them. As an English-speaking American who has been learning Mandarin since 1989, I certainly have struggled with my own version of Chinglish.
One often sees Chinglish on signs, and this is one of my favorites. The sign-maker wanted to say “Handicapped Restroom,” or better yet, “handicapped-accessible restroom.” However, it came out as “deformed man toilet.””Deformed” means badly twisted or misshapen!

(Reading level: Intermediate)
English is a wonderful language for several reasons, one of which is, you can make up new words. “Chinglish” is one such made-up word.

_____________________________________

Where does Chinglish come from?

Before words can come out of your mouth, the idea has to first form in your brain. So far so good. The problem comes when you try to speak in a foreign language, especially one you are still new at. In those cases, we tend to think up an idea in our mind, in our native language, and then translate it into the foreign language. This is where problems can happen. The normal method is to learn individual words in the new language, and then try to translate them directly. However, between languages, many ideas, words or phrases do not translate directly. Let me explain with some examples. When I was in 9th grade, I had my first real experience with foreign languages, in German I. I had learned that “happy” was “froelich,” and “birthday” was “Geburtstag.” So, quite impressed with my new German, I wished someone “Froelich Geburtstag.” That was the direct translation, yes…but I was wrong. Germans do not say it that way. In German, the actual blessing is “Alles Gute zum Geburtstag.” The German phrasing translates more like, “All the best for your birthday.” Fast forward about ten years, and I was then in Taiwan learning Mandarin Chinese. Same story. I had been there for a few months and had been picking up some words and phrases. A friend’s birthday was approaching, and I knew the word for happy was 快樂 (kuaile) and birthday was 生日 (shengri).  So, quite ready to demonstrate how much Chinese I had learned, I smiled and wished her a hearty 快樂 生日 (kuaile shengri)!  But instead of the smiles I thought I was sure to get for my “good Chinese,” I got wide eyes and looks of shock. “Oh no, you can’t say that! It’s 生日 快樂 (shengri kuaile).”

“Birthday Happy!?” For a split second I mentally protested. “‘Birthday Happy’ doesn’t make any sense!” I thought to myself. Then I realized it. It’s probably best not to argue against 5,000 years of culture and language. If it’s literally Birthday Happy to the 1.4 billion Chinese speakers, then it will have to be Birthday Happy to me, and that was an important moment in my Mandarin language acquisition. Do not think too much in your mother tongue and try to translate directly word for word. Instead, try to learn actual phrases and ideas in the foreign language, and you will pick it up faster. (See the example? “Pick it up” can literally mean “to lift something with your hands,” but it can also mean “to learn something new.”)

How can I stop Chinglish?
In keeping with the mission of DreyerCoaching.com, to try to help as many people as we can, I am beginning this post on “Avoiding Chingish” where I will post some common errors that Chinese speakers may make when learning English. And the more Chinese I learn, the more I can see these mistakes are totally understandable. Plus, as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher, my Mandarin exposure helps me quickly identify and correct these common errors. (If you want help learning American English from native speakers, please click here to learn more and contact me today!)

So, the list begins below. These examples are in no particular order of importance or category. I will simply post them in the order that I think of them or they come up in some of our ESL classes. To encourage you to visit this blog often to see new examples of Chingish, I will post recent examples at the top, right below the stars (*****). For years I have been explaining these points and many more in my ESL classes. Now, here begins a list for all to see and learn from.

Enjoy!

************************************
How many of these do you know?

1. Read/Look/See/Watch/View/Glimpse/Glance — This is another example where there may be one Chinese word (看), but English has several words to express this. These words all involve receiving input and images from the eyes, which then go to the brain. However, these words also involve some differences, which I will try to explain, with sample sentences for each.
 A. Read: This usually means “looking at words or text and getting meaning from it.”
– Read Chapter 25 tonight, about the start of World War II,” Mr. Crawford told his history students.
– Born in 1892, Aunt Lou was amazing: she read her Bible and two newspapers every day, until she passed away at the age of 105! (Note: in this sentence, “read” is in past tense; it is spelled the same, but sounds like “red.”

– Reading  daily is a good life habit.

 B. Look: This usually means to direct your eyes and attention to something new.
– “Look at me, Daddy!” Hannah yelled as she was riding her bike by herself for the first time.
– “Shh! Look at that hummingbird in the feeder!” Mom whispered.
– “Close your eyes and don’t look until I say so,” Grandma said as she carried in the birthday cake.

C. See: to physically perceive and look at with the eyes (Note: this sounds the same as “sea,” a small ocean, and the letter “C.”)

– It’s hard to see in a dark room.
– I could hardly see while driving because it was raining so hard.
– Let’s go see a movie Friday night!
(Note: “See” can also mean to understand or imagine.)
– I’m sorry, but I still don’t see what you mean.
– When you want to show people that you understand what they mean, you can smile, nod, and say “I see.” That may make them feel happy.
– Larry loves to be active and outdoors, so I just can’t see him being happy on a job where he has to stay in a small office all day.

 D. Watch: This is close to “see,” but a little different. “Watch” implies to continually look at something for an extended time. (Note: this is also a noun, the small clock you wear on your wrist.)
– Mom didn’t want me to watch too much TV when I was a kid, so she would make me go outside to play some. (Note: we usually say “watch TV” but “see a movie.”)
– “A watched pot never boils” is an English saying that means, when you pay too much attention waiting for something to happen, it seems to take forever.

– It’s fun to watch birds fly into and out of a bird feeder.
(Note: “watch” can also mean “to take care of or show concern for.)
– The Smiths hired a babysitter to watch their toddler Saturday so they could have a date night out.

E. View: This is similar to “look” or “see.”  It can be a verb, but it can also be a noun. As a verb, it can mean “to look at” or “to have a particular attitude or way of considering something.”

– This overlook is a great place to view the valley below. (to look at)

– You can view the Statue of Liberty from across the harbor.

– Dad viewed his daughter’s new boyfriend with displeasure. (to consider or believe)

As a noun, it can mean a way or attitude of considering or believing something.

– Some people love President Trump’s views, while others detest them.

– What is your view about students having after-school jobs? Do you think that is a good or bad idea?

F. Glimpse/Glance: These are similar to “See,” but have the idea of a QUICK, incomplete look.

-There was a huge crowd at the airport and then I caught a glimpse of my favorite singer!

-Mom only had a moment to glimpse at the cookbook before the phone rang.

– Barry had forgotten to study for the quiz so he glanced at his notes while the teacher passed out the papers.

– “I know you’re busy, but can you glance at my email and check it for errors before I send it out?” Mr. Foster asked his secretary.

2. Color – In Chinese, you add the word “color” after the actual color. So, the Chinese 白色 should be “It is white (correct) NOT It is white color (wrong). Examples:
– I like my new backpack. It is orange color. (Chinglish).              I like my new backpack. It is orange.
– Brian’s dog is black color. (Chinglish)                                           Brian’s dog is black.
– The girls painted their bedroom blue color. (Chinglish)            The girls painted their bedroom blue.

3. Yesterday night / Last night – The Chinese for “yesterday” is 昨天, and you CAN say “yesterday morning” or “yesterday afternoon,” but you cannot say “yesterday night.”
– It rained yesterday morning. (correct)
– Mom went shopping yesterday afternoon. (correct)
– Dad went bowling yesterday night. (Chinglish)
Instead of “yesterday night” for 昨天晚上 we say “last night.“
– We watched TV for two hours last night.
– It rained heavily last night, but it is sunny today.
(Note: this can also be used in another way, as in “final night,” like 最後一夜.
– Tonight is the last night Terry will be with us, because he is driving to Maryland tomorrow.

4. Future times – We use the word “next” much when discussing times or events. In English you can talk about: next week, next month, next semester, even next year. But, we NEVER repeat the word next. So, if this is the first week of October, then the second week is next week, but we call the third week of October 下下個星期 “Two weeks from now” or you can also say “the week after next.” Do NOT say “next next week.” I am writing this post on a Wednesday. So, tomorrow is Thursday. But what do we call Friday? The Chinese call it 後天, but in English we do not have a specific name for it, so we call it “the day after tomorrow” or “two days from now.” How about 大後天? We do not have a specific name for that in English either, so we just call that “three days from now.” Maybe this helps:
– Today is Wednesday.
– Tomorrow is Thursday.
– The day after tomorrow is Friday.
– Three days from now is Saturday.

5. I have ever been there. – We use “ever” in a question, such as:
– Have you ever been to New York?
– Have you ever seen a Blue Jay?
But we do NOT use “ever” in a sentence. Instead, we often add “before” at the end.
– I have ever been to New York. (Chinglish)                I have been to New York before. (right)

– I have ever seen a Blue Jay. (Chinglish)                   I have seen a Blue Jay before. (right)

6. Been to there, been to here – This is a bit tricky. Normally when you say where you have visited, you add a “to” before the place.
– I have been to New York.
– Have you been to Florida?
But, we do NOT use “to” with “here” or “there.” So, common Chinglish sentences are “I have been to there” or “I have come to here before.” Instead, we say:
– I have been there before.
– I have come here before.

7. When to use “to” with a verb…and when NOT to.

Use “to” before an infinitive verb (不定式動詞). That is, use “to” before a verb in its normal form, without -ing, -ed, -es, etc. For example:
– Eden likes to visit coffee shops.
– Deborah loves to play the harp or paint when she has free time.

You can use it in questions too:
– Do you like to swim?
– Do you want to improve your English?

Sometimes, you can use to + infinitive verb + -ing verb:
– Ann likes to go shopping.
– We like to go swimming in the summer.
– We used to enjoy skiing when we lived in Colorado.

Do NOT use “to” directly with an -ing verb.
– Do you like to shopping? (Chinglish).                      Do you like to shop? OR Do you like to go shopping? (correct)
– Do you like to speaking English? (Chinglish)          Do you like speaking English OR Do you like to speak English? (correct)
– We went to shopping. (Chinglish)                           We went shopping. (correct)

8. Live vs. Stay. – This is a common problem, even among people who have been studying English for years. In Chinese, you use the verb “to live” for a place you spend the night, for either a short or long time. In English, we normally use “live” for a place where you have lived for a long time, as your main residence. For example: “I lived in beautiful Roanoke, Virginia until I went away to college.” This implies a place where you have all or most of your clothes, furniture, etc. For a shorter time, from one night up to maybe several weeks or months, in English we use the verb “stay.” For example: “Mom, can I stay at my friend’s house tonight?” “The kids from China stayed with us for four weeks for their summer camp.” This implies your home is somewhere else, but you are living temporarily at another place, like a friend’s house, hotel, etc.

This live/stay issue can cause misunderstandings. For example, on page 2 of the Grade 4 Reading book we use at DreyerCoaching.com, there is a passage about a boy named Cameron who goes to visit his grandfather in the US state of Maine for a short while in the summer. The passage explains how the two walk to the beach and Cameron is excited to see lots of ocean life and tide pools, etc.  After the passage there is a comprehension question: Do you think Cameron lives near a beach? Why or why not? 

This is a higher-level question, even for native speakers of English, because the answer is not in black and white in the passage. The reader has to “connect the dots” to figure out the answer. Since Cameron is excited to see new things at the beach near his grandfather’s house, that implies that Cameron does NOT live near a beach, so the answer should be “no.” However, if you do not understand the live/stay issue, you might think “Cameron lives with his grandfather, and they could walk to the beach, so the answer is ‘yes.'”   Since Cameron is visiting his grandfather for a short time over the summer vacation, Cameron is STAYING at his grandfather’s house in Maine, but he does NOT LIVE in Maine. So in this case, the answer should be “No, Cameron does not live near a beach, because he is excited to see new things at the beach and this shows us that ocean life is new and unfamiliar to him.”

9. Move house. – The literal Chinese is: “They next month will move house.” But in English, we infer that one is changing one’s residence, so we just say, “They will move next month.” Now you might be thinking: isn’t that the same as just “moving around.” We can say: “The wind moved the dry leaves.” “Mom moved the chair across the room.” “The teacher yelled because the students kept moving.” Yes, you are right. It is the same verb. But from the context we can normally figure out that a person or family is moving from one place to live to another.

– The Smiths have been wonderful neighbors, but they are moving next month, so we will really miss them.
Now, for MORE fun. Yes, you CAN actually say, “move house,” but that means to physically dig up the house, put it on a truck, and drive it down the road to a new location.

10. Marry with. – In Chinese, we literally say “He with her got married.” But in English, we normally do not use “with.” So just say, “He married her” or “He will marry his high school sweetheart, Margaret.”
– He will marry with her in June. (Chinglish)                       He will marry her in June. (right)

11. Use the plural noun when you are discussing something in a general sense.
– I like dog.                  I like dogs. (In fact, saying “I like dog.” sounds like you mean to say, “I like eating dog meat.” For example, “I like chicken” means “I like to eat chicken meat.” In contrast, “I like chickens.” means “I like the small barnyard birds that lay eggs.”)
– Cat very independent. (wrong)                Cats are very independent. (right)
– Baby is very small. (wrong)                     Babies are very small. (right)
– I like to read book. (wrong)                      I like to read books. (right)
– Motorcycle is dangerous. (wrong)           Motorcycles are dangerous. (right)

12. Explaining frequency. – Chinese gives the time frame first then the frequency, but English does just the opposite.
Q. How often do you have English class?
A. “Two times one week.” (wrong)                    “Two times a week.”  OR “Twice a week.” (right)
– I one time one week have a piano lesson. (wrong)           I have a piano lesson once a week. (right)

13. English uses “it” a lot, especially in places where Chinese uses the verb have.
– “I like.” (wrong)                   “I like it.” (right)
– “I like here.” (wrong)           “I like it here.” (right)
– “Here very hot.” (wrong)     “It’s hot here.” (right)
– “Have rain.” (wrong)           “It’s raining.” (right)

• in a car,
• on a boat,
• on a plane,
• on a bus,
• in a trailer,
• on a train,
• on the road,
• in the driveway.

• Billy is in a car. (Billy is inside a car, either as a passenger or driver)
• Billy is on the car. (Billy is sitting ON TOP of the car)
• There are lots of cars on the road today. (meaning: traffic is heavy)
• Billy is on the road today, so he won’t be in the office at all. (Meaning: Billy is out traveling)
• Watch out: there’s a dog in the road. (Meaning: the dog is sitting or standing right in the middle of the road)
• Brandon is at school. (Meaning: Brandon is physically in the school building or on campus right now.)
• Brandon is in school. (Meaning: Brandon is a student, as opposed to being in the work force. Using “in” refers to Brandon’s identify, not his exact location right now. So, if Steve asks Greg, “How are the kids?” Greg could answer, Megan works for the Post Office, Vic is in the Navy, and Brandon is still in school.”)

• I’ll meet you at 3:00 at school.
• Jack’s birthday party will be at 7:00.
• We have our Friendly Free Fridays class at 9:00.

• Jack’s birthday is in February.
• Eva was born in 2004.
• The leaves turn color and fall in autumn.

We use ON to tell a day of the week.

• Jackson’s birthday is on February 18.
• We have our Friendly Free Fridays class on Fridays.
• Many people go to church on Sunday mornings.

And sometimes you can use all three in one sentence!

• Marie was born in 1995, on March 15, at 3:10 p.m.
• The cat jumped on the car in the driveway at the end of the day.
• Many kids go Trick-or-Treating at night on Halloween in October.

(For when to use “at” or “in” with a month, see # 23 below.)

• Where’s Bob?  At School.
• “Where are your books?” Mom asked.  “I forgot and left them at school,” Greg replied.
• After a long summer break, most kids like to see their friends at school again.
• I never did well in algebra.
• Lauren usually did better in English than she did in math.
• Ryan works hard and is always near the top in his class.

16. Expect vs. looking forward to. – These can both have the same Chinese meaning (期待),  but in English they are different.

Looking forward to something: This means there is something in the future that you are very excited and pleased about. It implies, you are very confident it will happen. It’s just a matter of time. We also say, “I can’t wait for it.”
– I’m looking forward to going to the beach this summer with my family.

Expect: This also refers to something you believe will happen in the future, but you are not really excited about it. In fact, it could be a bad thing. But whether you like it or not, you believe there is a good chance it will happen.
– I expect it will rain all weekend, because that’s what they said on TV.
– I expect Ben will need to work harder in college than he did in high school, because it’s harder.
– “I’m expecting Christmas.” (wrong)                          “I’m looking forward to Christmas.” (right)

17. Comparisons: With most short adjectives, of one or two syllables, we usually add an -er to show a comparison. Examples: shorter, taller, prettier, uglier, faster, slower, quicker, cheaper. However, “good” is an oddball. The comparison form is “better.”

Generally, for adjectives of three syllables or longer, we add “more.” Examples: more convenient, more understandable, more reliable, more expensive.
But even here, English is a crazy language. Some short adjectives still use “more,” as in: more modern, more bizarre.
“It’s more better.” (wrong)        “It’s better.” (right)

18. cook vs. cooker. This is one of my favorite examples, and it came up in a conversation class today. English is a crazy language. Many jobs in English DO end with -er or -or (teacher, manager, waiter, presenter, builder, lawyer, carpenter, hairdresser, porter, director, doctor, tailor.) However, cooker is not one of them. In English, a cooker is an electric device used to cook things. Most Chinese kitchens have a rice cooker. In contrast, the job where a person cooks is a cook. (You can also call this person a chef.) So, the cooker is the thing, and the cook is the person.
– Mom will bring her casserole to the church potluck in her rice cooker, to keep it warm.
– People who want to learn to be a cook should study culinary arts in high school and college.

Three cooks, NOT three cookers

Some words are used in Chinese more often than in English, Examples include: body, comfortable, and phenomenon. Read more here.

19. Ripe/Mature/Developed: These words are similar in meaning, and in Chinese they are often rendered with the word  Chéngshú 成熟.  However, there are differences with how these words are used in English.

A. Ripe:  This is usually used to describe fruits or vegetables.

• The tomatoes from the garden are not ripe yet, so dad put them in the windowsill for a few days for them to turn red.
• If you grow cherries, blackberries or blueberries, many times the birds come and eat them right before they turn ripe.

B. Mature: This usually describes a person and his or her emotional state.

• For a two-year-old, Hannah seems very mature with how she can express herself.
• “Sophomore” is a funny word. In Greek it literally means “wise fool.” The idea is, a sophomore has a certain level of sophistication and wisdom, but he or she is still not very mature.

C. Developed: This word can be used in a wider variety of meanings than either “ripe” or “mature.” “Developed” can refer to a human body, an economy, military force, technology, building density, etc.

• During and after puberty, a person gradually has a developed, adult body.
• Haiti is the least-developed nation in the Western Hemisphere.
• Coastal areas are usully more developed than interior, mountainous regions.

20. Hear/Listen   This is much like #1 above; there are TWO English words for ONE Chinese word (听).

A. Hear: This is when your ears physically pick up sound waves, but you may or may not pay attention to it.

• I can’t hear you with that dog barking and the TV roaring!
• The phone has a weak signal, so I am having a hard time hearing you.
• She called me but I never heard the phone ring, so I missed her call.

B. Listen: This is when you hear a sound or voice, and actually pay attention to it. You mentally note what the voice is saying. (This often implies listening for a duration of time, not just a moment.)

• Many students have a hard time with the listening sections of the TOEFL or TOEIC exams.
• Do you want to improve your English listening skills? Listen to my Life App Podcast–it’s convenient and free!
• Yesterday I met a Beijing mother and her daughter online, to talk about DreyerCoaching.com. She was having computer problems and typed “I cannot listen to you,” but that is Chinglish. What she meant to say was, “I cannot hear you.”

21. Speak / Say: This is similar to “hear/listen” (#20 above). There is ONE word in Chinese for this: (说 Shuō).

These two words both mean: “words coming out of a mouth.” However, you use them at different times and for slightly different meanings.

(I realized these two words are a problem area when a very bright young lady, a senior in high school in Taipei who has studied with DreyerCoaching for many years, wrote this sentence:
“She is a crazy lady and nobody can understand what she speaks.” This is Chinglish. It should be: “She is a crazy lady and nobody can understand what she says.”)

A. Speak: You use this word for longer, more complicated verbal expressions, as in “speaking a language.”

• I learned to speak Chinese in Taiwan.
• Speak clearly and slowly when you give your presentation to your class.
• “Think before you speak” is a popular English saying.
• Hannah is going to speak with her boss next week about getting a raise.
• At DreyerCoaching.com we are happy to help people speak English more comfortably and confidently.

B. Say:  You use this word for shorter verbal expressions, like single words.

• Do you know how to say “cooperation” in Chinese?
• If you talk too fast, no one can understand what you are saying.
• Dad said “Say Cheese!” right before he took the picture.
• Most Americans say “Gesundheit” or “God bless you” after someone sneezes.
• Can you say “antidisestablishmentarianism”?

22. Write/Do Homework: “Write homework (写功课 )is the literal Chinese. But in English, we say DO homework. Whether it implies writing an essay, doing math problems, reading part of a book, we usually say “Do homework.”

• “Do your homework before you watch TV,” mom always said.
•  “If you have any problems doing your homework, let me know,” Dad told Billy.
• Lots of kids try to do their homework at school, so they don’t have to take their books home.
• I have lots of homework to do tonight: I need to write an essay, do 15 math problems, and learn 10 Spanish verbs.

Exception: You can use “write” if you specifically have to write a paper or essay.

• We need to write a ten-page research paper for English, so I’d better get started early.
• Our history teacher wants us to improve our writing and thinking skills, so she’s making us write lots of essays for homework this year.

23. Early, Middle, or Late part of a MONTH

A. at the beginning of April: this means at the very start of the month, on or about the first day. (note: use “at” and “the”)

• April Fools’ Day is right at the beginning of April, April 1st.
• She starts her new job at the beginning of April. (This means, April 1).

B. in early April: For the first few days of a month, about April 1-10, we usually say “in early April (or June, October etc.) (Note: use “in,” unless you are starting a sentence.)   You can also say “In the first part of April.”

• Early April is usually a beautiful time in Virginia: the state tree, the dogwood, and redbuds are blooming!
• Since US taxes are due on April 15 each year, many people are busy doing their taxes in early April.

C. in the middle of April: the middle part of a month, approximately April 10-20. (Note: use “in” and “the”)  You can also say “in mid-April.”

• Spring Break will be in the middle of April this year.
• Lisa is going back to Taiwan around the middle of April.

D. in late April: the last few days of a month, about April 20-30. (Note: use “in” unless you are starting a sentence.)

• Late April is a great time to have a birthday: spring is here, the weather is getting warmer, and summer break is near!
• The Smiths like to go to the beach in late April because the weather is nice but since schools are still in session, it is not crowded or expensive.

E. at the end of April: this means the very end of the month, on or about April 30. (Note: use “at” and “the”)

• My car sticker says “4,” so I have to get my car inspected before the end of April.
• We will all get paid for the month at the end of April.

24. Middle, Medium, Center, or Central?

Like # 1, 16, 20 and 21 above, these words can have just one meaning in Chinese,  (中Zhōng).

A. Middle: usually refers to the middle of a time, situation, or physical space. (Note: usually use “the”) In Chinese it can also be: (中间 Zhōngjiān)

• This year Easter is in the middle of April.
• Mrs. Jones was teaching when she got sick right in the middle of class.
• I couldn’t find my coat but it was on the floor right in middle of the room!
• “I can’t help you right now because I’m right in the middle of something” mom said when I asked her for help.
• The Middle Ages were between the Ancient and Modern historical periods.
• Most Americans have a middle name, but we seldom use it. Most of our friends do not even know our middle names unless we go by it

B. Medium: usually refers to a physical size, like LARGE or SMALL. (Note: usually do NOT use “the,” unless you want to specify one item, like “Get the medium shirt.”)

• I wanted a Medium t-shirt but they only had L, XL, and S.
• Mom wasn’t very thirsty so she just got a medium drink.
• I couldn’t see that man very well before he ran away, but he was of a medium height.

C. Center: (noun) This means “in the middle of something,” but while “middle” usually refers to a flat area (Kansas is in the middle of the USA), “center” usually refers something in the middle of a round shape. (Note: usually use “the”)

• The center of the earth is very hot.
• These chocolates have delicious creamy centers.

“Center” can also mean a headquarters, meeting place, or activity center.

• We enjoy our membership at the Aquatic Center.
• The Senior Center always has lots of activities for the older people to do.
• A highlight of my teaching career was the eleven years I taught history in the Humanities Center; it was great to team-teach with an English instructor.

D. Central: (adj.)  Describes something in the middle or center of something else

• What the Chinese call 中美洲 Zhōng měizhōu, we call “Central America” in English. We call it that because it is between North and South America.
• Much of Central Africa is rainforest.
• Your central nervous system controls how your body functions.

25. Habit vs. Hobby:

Many English-learners confuse these two words. They look and sound a bit similar, but have very different meanings.

A. Habit: An act or behavior that a person or animal does over and over, without thinking. (Chinese: 习惯 Xíguàn)

• Smoking is an unhealthy, expensive habit.
• Be careful what habits you choose, because they will take you somewhere in life.
• Eating right and exercising daily are good habits.

B. Hobby: a thing you do for fun or recreation when you have free time (Chinese: 爱好 Àihào)

• Reading is one of my favorite hobbies.
• When you meet someone new, a popular question to ask is “What are some of your hobbies?”
• Playing a musical instrument is a popular hobby for a lot of people.

26. Eat food/ Drink wine:

These are direct translations from Chinese. Normally in English, however, “eating” implies food and “drinking” implies alcohol. In other words, the only thing you can eat IS food.

• We will go to the parade first then eat after that.
• Do you want to eat before or after the movie?
• You can save a lot of money by eating at home rather than in restaurants.
• Don’t drink and drive.
• My uncle drinks too much and that has caused a lot of problems.
• My parents don’t drink at all.

Note: “wine” is a specific beverage made from grapes, while “alcohol” includes many drinks, such as wine, beer, whiskey, etc.

To be clear, you can specify what kind of beverage you want to refer to:

• It’s healthy to drink a lot of water each day, especially in hot weather.
• Many people in the American South love to drink sweet tea with their meals.

27. Play: 

This word has many uses.

A. Play a musical instrument (verb): we usually add the word “the” before the instrument name.

• Mom made me play the piano when I was young.
• David learned to play the violin in grade school.
• Many people are amazed to learn that my wife can play the harp.

B. Play a game or sport (verb): this usually does NOT add the word “the.”

• Bryce loved playing basketball.
• Deron and Matthew played baseball one year in high school.
• Do you want to play Monopoly after dinner?

C. A drama or theater piece (noun):

• Our school play this year will be Oklahoma!
• Deanna will try out for the school play this spring.
• Eric was a shy child, so we were all shocked when he wanted to have a role in the community play

D. Playing games or playing outside. Note: this is usually only used to refer to CHILDREN.

• Children needs lots of free time to play and just be children.
• Billy and Megan love playing in the sandbox together.

CHINGLISH: Normally do NOT use “play” to refer to adults having a good time.

• My college friends and I liked to go to the beach to play.
• We will have a company trip to go play in the river this Saturday.
• Let’s go to the art show this weekend and play!

When referring to adults, instead of saying “play” we usually say “have fun,” “have a good time,” “hang out” (slang) or “get together.” For example we can rewrite the above sentences as:

• My college friends and I like to go to the beach to hang out.
• We will have a company trip to have fun at the river this Saturday.
• Let’s get together at the art show this weekend and have some fun.

 28.  Dark v. Black  This is another case where there is one Chinese word, but two in English.

A. Dark (adj.) the state of very little light, or a color that is deep and rich, as opposed to pale.

• In Virginia it gets dark around 5:00 in December but after 9:00 in June!
• Our DreyerCoaching.com webpage uses dark red and dark blue.
• “You got so dark at the beach!” Megan told Grace after her week on vacation in the sun.
• It is hard to see in a dark room, so many people like to use night lights.

B. Black (adj. or n.) an actual color, or a person of African descent

• On a piano, the black key are sharps or flats.
• Most Chinese people have black hair.
• More than 40 million blacks live in the US, which is about 13% of the total population. (source)

29.  Trip v. Tour

A. Trip (n., v.)  a voyage; you can either take it on your own or with a group (n.); the act of something dropping and falling

• “Have a great trip!” Tina told us before we left home.
• The kids have many fond memories of trips to Indiana for family reunions when they were young.
• Don’t trip–the ground is uneven there. (verb)

B. Tour (n. v.) a trip or visit that usually has multiple stops and a tour guide to direct the guests and explain things

• The museum has tours in English at 10:00 and 2:00 daily.
• My parents took a tour of the Middle East.
• We had a great tour guide at Independence Hall.

30. Homework (n.) This is a non-countable noun.

A. I have a lot of homework this weekend.

NOT: I have a lot of homeworks. (Chinglish)

B. If you want to use a countable noun, you can say “homework assignments“

Our new teacher keeps giving us lots of homework assignments. I don’t think I can do it all.

Read this funny news story about Chinglish here.

31. Glass vs. Glasses

• Glass: a clear, see-through material; it is the material windows are made of

I love our sunroom–it’s almost all glass and faces South.

• Glasses:

A. device to help you see better; aka spectacles

Mom, do you know where I put my glasses?

B. plural of GLASS, a cup for holding beverages to drink

Hannah, please bring me two empty glasses. I want to server our guests some iced tea.

32. Quiz vs. Test vs. Exam

•  Quiz (Chinese: 小考): a small diagnostic “check” to see how much students have learned. There is no clear “black and white” difference between a quiz and a test, but a quiz is usually much shorter: it has fewer questions, covers a smaller scope of material, and takes less time to answer. A quiz also usually only has one kind of question format: fill in the blank, True or False, Multiple Choice, etc. In the US, most quizzes have approximately 5-20 questions. Chinglish alert: Do not call a quiz a “small test.”

Mr. Flanagan says we have a quiz on D-Day tomorrow. (Note: D-Day was one day in World War II–less content to be tested on)

A. Test (Chinese: 考试): a larger diagnostic “check” to see how much students have learned. A test is longer, has more questions, covers more material, and takes longer to finish than a quiz. A test may also include a variety of question formats: fill in the blank, short answer, matching, True or False, Essay, etc. Depending on the subject, some tests may be essay only, especially at the college level. A “small test” is literally “a small test”–a short test that does not take too long to complete. However, a “small test” is longer than a quiz.

Mr. Flanagan says we have a test on World War II next week.  (Note: World War II lasted six years–more content to be tested on)

 B. Exam:  This is a large test that covers multiple units of study. Many classes include two exams per semester. A mid-term exam (期中考) (at the middle of the semester) and a final exam (期末考) (at the end of the semester). Depending on the course, many final exams in US high schools weigh 20% of the final grade for that semester. When I took history classes at the College of William and Mary, it was normal for one-third of the grade to be the mid-term exam, one-third was a paper, and one-third was the final exam (sometimes just called “the final.”)

Mr. Flanagan says the final exam will count 20% of our final grade. (Note: this covers material from the whole semester, maybe the whole year)

33. Wink vs. Blink Both words involve a quick closing of the eye lids, but they are used in different ways.

A. Wink: A quick closing and reopening of one eye lid, usually to make a joke, suggestion, or flirting.

“You look just like my third husband,” the elderly lady winked, “and I’ve only been married twice,” she told the musician visiting her nursing home.

B. Blink: A quick and often repeated closing and reopening of both eye lids. It is often caused by dry or irritated eyes.

Most people blink a lot when they come from a dark room out into the sunny outdoors.

34, Floor vs. Ground  These are similar in that they are the places under our feet. In Chinese it is the same word (地 Dì).

A. Floor This is the area under your feet, inside a building, tent, or other structure.

Most Asian families take off their shoes when they come home in order to keep their floors cleaner.

B. Ground  This differs from floor, in that it relates to an area outside a building: it can be covered with grass, dirt, pavement, etc.

“Look! I just found a $5 bill on the ground!” John excitedly blurted out.

35.  Door vs. Gate These two are similar, in that they are openings in a wall to allow people or animals to go in and out. In Chinese it is one word, (门 Mén). However, in English, they are very different.

A. Door     This is an opening in a wall inside a house or other kind of building; it can be an interior wall going from room to room, or an exterior wall, going from the outside to the inside.

“Close the door! You weren’t born in a barn!” is a joking complaint some parents tell their children when they forget to close the door.

B. Gate  This is an opening in an exterior wall. In other words, it is not part of a building.

The Brandenburg Gate is the famous spot in Berlin where President Reagan in 1987 dared the Soviet Union to “Tear down this wall!”

36, South America vs. The American South

A. South America     This is the continent below Central America; it runs from Columbia to Chile and Argentina.

With the exception of Brazil, most of South America speaks Spanish.

B. The American South   This is the geographic and cultural region in the Southeastern part of the United States. It runs roughly from Virginia to Texas, and is more or less the same area that seceded that caused the American Civil War (1861-1865). Note: “The South” does not have clear black and white agreed-upon borders. Several states are “part South.” Examples include: Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

The American South is a very distinct cultural region in the USA.

37. Blank vs. Empty vs. Hollow These words are similar in that they have a void or empty place inside or on them. The Chinese translations all include the character (空 Kōng), which means “empty.”

A. Blank    This normally refers to a piece of paper that has no writing, or a tape or CD that has no music or information on it. We often think of a flat surface as being blank. It can also be a gun cartridge that makes noise when fired but it harmless because it has no bullet. A “blank stare” has no expression.

Billy was so disengaged from school, he just turned in a blank piece of paper after every test.

B. Empty   This refers to an item that has no contents or occupants inside. It normally refers to a room or some kind of container that is designed to hold some volume. 

Mom and dad had the habit of taking an empty bag on their daily walks with them, so they could pick up empty bottles and cans that thoughtless people had thrown out their car windows.

C. Hollow   Having a space, cavity, or void within. Whereas “empty” usually refers to a man-made item (can, bottle, room), “hollow” often refers to a natural item.

Wild animals like racoons, opossums and foxes like to reside in hollow logs.

(Cool language fact: The word “racoon” entered the English language shortly after English settlers at Jamestown, Virginia, met the native Powhatan people and got this word from those early Virginians!)

38. Commercial vs. Advertisement (Ad) These two are similar in that they are paid messages intending to change consumer behavior. In Chinese they can be the same, (广告 Guǎnggào). Although they can sometimes be used interchangeably in English, ads are usually in print.

A. Commercial  a paid message to the masses, usually on TV or radio.

In the weeks before election day in the US, the radio and TV waves are filled with commercials touting this candidate or attacking another.

B. Advertisement (aka “ads”)   a paid message in print; usually in the newspaper, magazines, or online.

Most websites are “free” because the site owners sell advertising to make a profit.

39. Shade vs. Shadow Read here.

40, Elevator vs. Lift vs. Escalator  These are similar in that they are electric devices to move crowds higher or lower in buildings. In Chinese they are all translated as (电梯 Diàntī).

A. Elevator This is a closet-shaped box that goes vertically up and down an elevator shaft. (American English)

Whenever my dad enters an elevator, he likes to be friendly and speak to the people there.

B. Lift   This is the same thing as an Elevator, but in British English.

C, Escalator    These are moving stairs that go up or down at about a 45-degree angle. Unlike an elevator, it is an open space and does not stop moving.

Most subway systems around the world use escalators to move large crowds between the ground level and the train platforms.

41. Altitude vs. Elevation

Both include height, especially above sea level, and can be translated the same in Chinese. However, they are used differently in English.

A. Altitude: height above sea level or the surface of the earth; this is usually used for an airplane, hot air balloon, or some other manned craft.

The tragic story of Eastern Airlines Flight 401 is a real-life lesson: “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” While the entire flight crew fiddled with a malfunctioning light in the cockpit, no one noticed that the plane was gradually losing altitude. Eventually, the plane flew into the ground, killing 101 people–including all the staff who had been preoccupied with a broken light.

Motivational speaker Zig Ziglar liked to say, “Attitude more than Aptitude determines your Altitude.”

B. Elevation: height above sea level, usually to describe land, a mountaintop, or tall building. It can also refer to a promotion or rise in position.

Mount Rogers, the tallest mountain in Virginia, has a summit elevation of  5,729 feet (1,746 m).

Considering her smarts and work ethic, no one was surprised by Sandra’s quick elevation to company vice president.

42. Last name

In western culture, the given name comes first, and the family name comes last. (i.e. John Smith)

However, since in Chinese the family name comes first, this can easily lead to misunderstandings.

Therefore, a girl named Wang Ya-fan in Chinese would render her name in English as Ya-fan Wang.

If a person or form asks you for your last name, give your family name.

43.   Notice vs. Notify   Read here.

44. Ape vs. Gorilla vs. Monkey   Read here.

45. Heritage vs. Inheritance vs. Tradition   Read here.

46.  Sledding vs. Skiing vs. Sleighing  Read here.

47. Carpet vs. Rug vs. Mat vs. Pad  Read here.

48. Oil vs. Gas  Read here.

Take the “Chinglish Challenge” now:
Take this little quiz to check your understanding. Read each sentence carefully. On your own paper, write the numbers and then “E” if the sentence uses standard English or “C” if it is Chinglish. If you think the sentence has Chinglish, rewrite it in proper English (there might be more than one correct English way to rewrite it.) Answers are below.

1. It rained yesterday morning.
2. Do you like it here?
3. Yes, I like here.
4. I really expect Christmas. It will be nice to have a long break from school.
5. We named our cat “snowball,” because she is white color.
6. We watched a movie yesterday night.
7. This is the last night I can watch this movie, because I will return it to the library tomorrow.
8. I am going back to China next next week.
9. I am going to the gas station now.
10. I am going to there now.
11. Have you ever been to LA before?
12. Yes, I have ever been to there before.
13. When I went to LA, I lived in a nice hotel for three nights.
14. Do you want to shopping this weekend?
15. Do you like to speaking English?
16. Dad was born in January.
17. The Smiths have been our neighbors for many years, but they will move house next next week.
18. Our son one week two times have piano lessons.
19. Learning English from DreyerCoaching.com is more better than going to a cram school, because you can learn at home and your teachers speak American English.
20. Her birthday is on October.
21. Hurry up! Mom is already on the car and she wants to leave now.
22. We are tired because we were in the train for more than five hours.
23. After three days on the road for business, dad was glad to be home.
24. Do you want to go out tonight or just stay home and see some TV?
25. Read something in English every day and your skills will get better!