Chinese is a really, really old language, and it's not especially flexible since it uses a (relatively) fixed number of characters. Some words from a long while ago are still in use, while other stuff has been chopped and changed over time. A small sample:
马上: soon | literally, (as soon as I get) on a horse
熊猫: panda | literally, bear-cat
电脑: computer | literally, electronic brain
上网: log-on (to the internet) | literally, to get up onto a web
大转: left turn (slang) | literally, big turn (works if you're in a car)
小转: right turn (slang) | literally, right turn
北京: Beijing | literally, "Northern Capital"
南京: Nanjing | literally, "Eastern Capital"
上海: Shanghai | literally, "On the Sea"
I just learned a good Tibetan word in Sichuan too: tashi dele, which literally means congratulations. But people use as hello, goodbye, thanks, you're welcome, whatever.
Will post on my trip in the next few days.
4 years ago
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