Book 4
Chapter 1
Vocabulary Notes
溫暖 vs 暖和 vs 溫馨
- 溫暖 applies to people/behavior (friendly, caring, or kind) and weather/environment (warm)
- 暖和 means a warm weather or a warm environment
- 溫馨 applies to relationships, meaning something like "sweet"
Additional Vocabulary
Grammar Notes
I. 與其 A…不如…B B rather than A
II. 就 on the contrary
III. A Summary of the Various Usages of 就
IV. 別說A，就是B也… never mind A, even B is the case…
V. 簡直 to put it simply and plainly, it seems as if
VI. 不至於 but the situation would not be so bad as to…
VII. 往往 usually; tend to
VIII. Do Something Just for Fun V著玩
Chapter 2
Vocabulary I
穿著 chuānzhuó apparel, clothing
Pronounced chuānzhuó (note rising tone on zhuó). Meaning is apparel, the clothes one is currently wearing.
避免，免得
演出者
熟
提
咳嗽
水準
Vocabulary II
仔細，細節，細心，粗心，用心
留意，注意
滿足，滿意
中場，終場
Additional Vocabulary
怎麼說呢？
聽眾
讀者
To play a musical instrument: 彈，拉，打
Grammar Notes
I. Verb Complement 成 successful(ly)
II. 萬一 supposing, in the event of something negative
III. 以為
IV. Adverb 可
V. 免得 lest, so as to avoid
VI. 曾經 experience in the past, V'ed before
VII. Enumeration Particle 等 etc…
VIII. Marking a Verb with the Particle 所
Chapter 3
Vocabulary I
划算
Negation: 不划算
落差
Usage: A根B有落差 / 很（大/小）的落差
Comparison of 落差 with 不同 and 差別:
落差 has a "not good enough" connotation and is used to compare good/bad or high/low, whereas 差別 and 不同 are neutral.
Eg. 文化有差別 (there are cultural differences) does not have a negative connotation.
「聽說網路上有的圖片跟實際的商品落差很大……」(I've heard there's sometimes a big difference between the photos online and the actual products) implies the actual products are not as good as the ones in the online photos.
仿冒品
Antonym (genuine product): 正品 or 正貨
May see 「A貨」 in markets in HK or China, meaning highest-grade counterfeit.
資訊
資訊 vs. 資料: 資訊 is organized information/data, 資料 is raw or unorganized information/data.
疑問
Usage: 對X有疑問
後悔
後悔 is both V and Vs.
Usage: 「我怕買了會後悔」 "I am afraid I will regret buying it". 「我很後悔買那輛車」 "I regret buying that car".
後悔 vs. 遺憾:
- 後悔 refers to remediable regrets, eg. missing a concert
- 遺憾 is more serious, is a noun and is used with unfixable situations, eg. feeling responsible and regretful for someone's death. A common phrase is 「留下遺憾」 "to have regrets/remorse".
認證
Good verb usage:「經過認證」: "To undergo certification“
從前
A very long time ago, much longer than 以前. An elderly person may use 從前 to talk about their youth.
通常
Meaning generally, typically. Almost interchangeable with 一般. Weaker than 一向 in most situations.
平常 vs. 通常:
- 平常: habitually, frequently --should have some details, eg. 「我平常早上八點運動」“I typically exercise at 8 am”, not 「我平常運動」(missing detail, implies exercising endlessly).
Vocabulary II
取代
取代 vs. 代替 vs. 替換:
- 取代: To replace (object), long-term or forever. Example： 「現代人用電子郵件取代筆紙寫信」: "modern people use email as a replacement for writing letters with pen and paper"
- 代替: To substitute (temporarily), eg. substitute honey for sugar when cooking
- 替換: To exchange or replace an object (often a broken object; eg. a car's tire) with another
影集
影集 vs. 連續劇:
- 影集 is an episodic TV show (often the same characters every episode but each episode is a self-contained story)
- 連續劇 is a serial TV show, meaning a long single story that progresses across different episodes
取得
Usage: 取得+object
取得 is formal and must be used with "formal" objects or abstract objects.
Examples:
- 取得資格: To obtain a qualification (by taking a course, passing an examination, etc.)
- 取得學位: To be granted an academic degree
- 取得資料: To access information
Negation: 無法取得+object (cannot get object)
查詢
Meaning to look up, query, consult, inquire, or check by asking other people/a search engine.
Incorrect to use 查詢 with eg. looking up a word's definition or other simple activities.
避開
To avoid (by staying away from, taking a different route, using a different method)
Examples:
- 避開路段: Avoid a section of road by going around
- 避開（情況/東西/人）: To avoid something (a situation, an object, a person) by staying away
- 避開問題: To avoid encountering a problem (by doing something else)
若
Same usage and meaning as 如果
例子
Common phrase: 「舉個例子來說……」: "take for example..."
過度
To be overly-something, eg.
- 過度使用：To overuse
- 過度負責：To overcomplicate
- 過度認真：Overly serious
此外
Better translated as "besides this...". 此 means "this".
戶外
Antonym of 室內 (indoors)
人類
As opposed to 動物
沉迷
To be obsessed, to the point of negatively affecting other parts of life.
沉：To sink, opposite of 浮 (to float).
沉浸：to be steeped in, immersed in, an expert at (no negative connotation).
Additional Vocabulary
容量
Storage space, i.e. GB, TB.
宅，宅男/宅女
宅 (Vs) describes somebody or some activity as being oriented around staying at home for entertainment. Examples are 宅 things are playing video games, reading manga, watching TV or movies, etc.
宅男/宅女 (N) is a person who does 宅 things habitually, a homebody.
C/P值
C/P ostensibly stands for Capability to Price ratio. C/P高 means a good value, "more bang for your buck“.
割
割 means to cut
- 割掉: to cut off, sever
解約
To end/terminate a contract
違約金
Penalty for terminating a contract
原單
Unauthorized factory extras, aka midnight shift products
撿起來
To pick up off the ground
追劇
To follow/binge watch a TV series
過癮
To satisfy a craving, enjoy oneself, gratifying, satisfying
刪除
To delete
封鎖
To block (somebody's account)
正本
Original copy
影本
Photocopy (N)
影印
Photocopy (V)
崇拜
To idolize, worship
物資
Goods, materials
筆電
Laptop computer, shortened from 筆記型電腦
家常便飯
Commonplace，ordinary
而言
Speaking of, regarding (same as 來說)
取捨
To accept or reject; to choose
駕照
Driver's license
看不慣
To disapprove, dislike
入睡
To go to sleep
打呼
To snore
回答 vs. 答案
- 回答: (V,N) Answer
- 答案: (N) The solution, correct answer, eg. to a test problem.
正確
Correct, right, proper (Vs)
Antonym of 錯誤.
錯誤
Incorrect, mistake (Vs, N)
Grammar Notes
I. 何必 why must
A rhetorical question, "does one really need to... ?" in response to a statement.
Usage: <reason/excuse> + 何必 + <action from original statement>
Example: 「臺北有捷運，你和必買車呢？」 "Taipei has MRT, do you really need to buy a car?"
