Reference:Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary

Yale has compiled a list of many similar words that learners of Chinese can often confuse. Some of them are grammar related, which we will ink to here. Others are more related to vocab, and those will be linked to the Vocab Wiki coming soon.

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"