<p>Many Chinese words contain multiple meanings, in certain context, two different words that share an overlap meaning can be used interchangeably</p>
<p>Example:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>正確 : <strong>accurate</strong>; correct</p>
</li>
<li><p>凖確 : <strong>accurate</strong>; exact; precise; spot on</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Interchangeable case:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>正確答案 = correct answer; <strong>accurate answer</strong></p>
<p>凖確答案 = <strong>accurate answer</strong></p>
<p>(both mean the same)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>non-interchangeable case:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>凖確射擊 = accurate shooting (accurately hit the target)</p>
<p>正確射擊 = correct shooting (shooting in a correct form)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>More example:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>教 : 1. (v) <strong>teach</strong>; instruct; educate; 2.(v) [colloquial] cause; make</p>
</li>
<li><p>授 : 1. (v) confer; award; give; grant; 2. (v) <strong>teach</strong>; instruct; lecture</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Interchangeable case:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>教</strong>他武功 = <strong>teach</strong> him martial art</p>
<p><strong>授</strong>他武功 = <strong>teach</strong> him martial art</p>
<p>(both mean the same)</p>
<p>Although they are interchangeable when meaning 'teach' , 教 is more colloquial, 授 is more literary</p>
</blockquote>
<p>non-interchangeable case:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>教人難受 = cause people to feel bad (cannot be changed to 授人難受)</p>
<p>授以重任 = give important task (cannot be changed to 教以重任)</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-15T11:19:28.360Z
Thanks so much!
mime
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-15T11:30:16.980Z
Since 教 and 授 share the meaning of  'to teach', the compound word '教授' was coined to be a more specific term for  'to teach' -- It is also a noun for 'professor'
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-15T11:13:36.907Z
2020-06-15T11:13:36.907Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Tang Ho
<p>There are a lot of Non-Noun words that are literary identical and interchangeable for sure, such as:</p>
<p>需要 / 须要 = need</p>
<p>常常 / 经常 / 时常 = always</p>
<p>高兴 / 开心 / 快乐 = happy</p>
<p>for your example, 表扬 is more on recognition and 称赞 is like praising so they are practically different in most of the usage.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-18T12:55:48.643Z
2020-06-18T12:55:48.643Z
Tsubasa
<p>I have been studying Chinese for a while, and what I find interesting is that no 2 words have exactly the same definitions.</p>

<p>For example, 表扬 and 称赞 have almost the same meaning, but there will always be some subtle differences in meaning, which means they cannot be used interchangeably.</p>

<p>Are there any two chinese words <strong>Non-Nouns</strong> with exactly the same meaning, such that they can be used interchangeably?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-15T10:40:02.227Z
Many Chinese words contain multiple meanings, in certain context, two different words that share an overlap meaning can be used  interchangeably
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-15T10:40:55.163Z
Could you give me an example or two? I understand that the different contexts matter.
mime
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-15T10:48:42.163Z
Many nouns obviously can be used interchangeably: 马铃薯, 土豆 or 方便面, 泡面. But I’m not sure that’s what you’re looking for.
Mou某
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-15T10:53:09.300Z
Definitely. Actually I was about to clarify - to change it to non-Nouns. I think that was what I'm looking for.
mime
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-15T11:14:12.140Z
Just made an answer with examples
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-15T11:20:59.020Z
Would 啥 and 什么 count?  Or 小孩 and 小孩儿?  Or 甭 and 不用?  Or 不得已 and 不得不?  I've also encountered idioms which have variants with identical meanings.
Becky 李蓓
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-15T17:01:24.663Z
The answer is the same as for English or any other language. Yes, there are words that are almost identical in all situations, but there are always slight nuances that depend on context and even individual speakers.
Lionel Rowe
<meaning><simplified-characters>
Are there any two chinese words which can be used interchangeably?
# Are there any two chinese words which can be used interchangeably?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-06-15)

I have been studying Chinese for a while, and what I find interesting is that no 2 words have exactly the same definitions.

For example, 表扬 and 称赞 have almost the same meaning, but there will always be some subtle differences in meaning, which means they cannot be used interchangeably.

Are there any two chinese words **Non-Nouns** with exactly the same meaning, such that they can be used interchangeably?

**Tags:** meaning, simplified-characters

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Many Chinese words contain multiple meanings, in certain context, two different words that share an overlap meaning can be used  interchangeably  
> **username_0**: Could you give me an example or two? I understand that the different contexts matter.  
> **username_2**: Many nouns obviously can be used interchangeably: 马铃薯, 土豆 or 方便面, 泡面. But I’m not sure that’s what you’re looking for.  
> **username_0**: Definitely. Actually I was about to clarify - to change it to non-Nouns. I think that was what I'm looking for.  
> **username_1**: Just made an answer with examples  
> **username_3**: Would 啥 and 什么 count?  Or 小孩 and 小孩儿?  Or 甭 and 不用?  Or 不得已 and 不得不?  I've also encountered idioms which have variants with identical meanings.  
> **username_4**: The answer is the same as for English or any other language. Yes, there are words that are almost identical in all situations, but there are always slight nuances that depend on context and even individual speakers.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-06-15. Score: 0 | Accepted answer

Many Chinese words contain multiple meanings, in certain context, two different words that share an overlap meaning can be used interchangeably

Example:

* 正確 : **accurate**; correct
* 凖確 : **accurate**; exact; precise; spot on

Interchangeable case:

> 正確答案 = correct answer; **accurate answer**
>
> 凖確答案 = **accurate answer**
>
> (both mean the same)

non-interchangeable case:

> 凖確射擊 = accurate shooting (accurately hit the target)
>
> 正確射擊 = correct shooting (shooting in a correct form)

More example:

* 教 : 1. (v) **teach**; instruct; educate; 2.(v) [colloquial] cause; make
* 授 : 1. (v) confer; award; give; grant; 2. (v) **teach**; instruct; lecture

Interchangeable case:

> **教**他武功 = **teach** him martial art
>
> **授**他武功 = **teach** him martial art
>
> (both mean the same)
>
> Although they are interchangeable when meaning 'teach' , 教 is more colloquial, 授 is more literary

non-interchangeable case:

> 教人難受 = cause people to feel bad (cannot be changed to 授人難受)
>
> 授以重任 = give important task (cannot be changed to 教以重任)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks so much!  
> **username_1**: Since 教 and 授 share the meaning of  'to teach', the compound word '教授' was coined to be a more specific term for  'to teach' -- It is also a noun for 'professor'  

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### Answer by username_5 on 2020-06-18. Score: 0

There are a lot of Non-Noun words that are literary identical and interchangeable for sure, such as:

需要 / 须要 = need

常常 / 经常 / 时常 = always

高兴 / 开心 / 快乐 = happy

for your example, 表扬 is more on recognition and 称赞 is like praising so they are practically different in most of the usage.


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