Reference:Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary

Yale has compiled a list of many similar words that learners of Chinese can often confuse: the Chinese Usage Dictionary. Some of them are grammar-related, which we will link to here. Others are more related to vocabulary, and those won't be covered here.

Grammar Points

1. 帮/帮忙/帮助
2. 比/跟
   • See also:Basic comparisons with "bi", Basic comparisons with "meiyou", and Comparing
3. 遍/趟
4. 变成/变得
5. 表示/表现
6. 别的/另外
   • See also: "In addition" as "lingwai"
7. 病/疾病/生病/得病
8. 采访/访问
9. 采取/采用
10. 参加/参与
11. 差别/差距
12. 创造/造成
13. 从来/一直/总是
    • See also:"Always" with "conglai", "Never" with "conglai", "Always" with "zongshi", and "All along" with "yizhi"
14. 从事/做
15. 达到/到达
16. 担任/当/做
17. 到处/处处
18. 对于/关于
    • See also: Comparing "guanyu" and "duiyu"
19. 而/而且
    • See also: "er" used to explain contrasting ideas and "Because" with "er" indicating effect
20. 方法/方式/办法
21. 发展/发达
22. 附近/旁边
23. 负责/责任
24. 改变/改善
25. 跟/和/于
    • See also: Expressing "with" with "gen" and Expressing "and" with "he"
26. 根据/据
27. 怪不得
28. 还是/或者
    • See also: Comparing "haishi" and "huozhe"
29. 后来/以后
    • See also: Comparing "yihou" and "houlai"
30. 花费/消费
31. 换/改变
32. 互相/相互/共同
33. 家/家庭/家人/房子
34. 建立/成立
35. 基本/基础
36. 结果/所以
37. 结婚/婚姻/娶/嫁
38. 激烈/强烈
39. 进步/提高
40. 经验/体验/经历
41. 竞争/比赛
42. 考/考试/考上
43. 恐怕/怕
44. 口味/味道/尝/吃起来
45. 恋爱/爱
46. 了解/理解
47. 满意/满足
48. 明明/显然/明显
49. 批评/批判
50. 抢/抢着
51. 前面/面前
52. 千万/万万/一定
53. 全面/彻底
54. 趋势/倾向
55. 商量/讨论
56. 稍微
57. 社交/交往
58. 时间/时候
59. 时间/时期
60. 水平/程度
61. 特点/特色
62. 提倡/主张
63. 同意/答应
64. 推广/推行
65. 推荐/建议
66. 为/为了
    • See also: Expressing purpose with "weile"
67. 维特/保特/坚特
68. 位置/位子/职位
69. 问/请/让
70. 闻名/有名/著名
71. 想
    • See also: "Would like to" with "xiang"
72. 饮食/食品
73. 因为/由于
    • See also: Explaining causes with "yinwei" and "Due to…" with "youyu"
74. 又/再
    • See also: Again in the future with "zai", Again in the past with "you", and Comparing "zai" and "you"
75. 原来/本来
    • See also: "All along" with "yuanlai"
76. 愿望/希望/盼望
77. 增加/增长
78. 增长/成长
79. 找/寻找
80. 只/只有
    • See also: "Only if" with "zhiyou"
81. 只要/只有
    • See also: "Only if" with "zhiyou" and "As long as" with "zhiyao"
82. 职业/工作
83. 重视/重要
84. 重要/严重
85. 总是/一直
    • See also: "Always" with "zongshi" and "All along" with "yizhi"