/s

This is from hellochinese, the mandarin learning app.

  • TiredTiger@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    1 day ago

    Does it have different words for the number of objects in a group like Japanese does, or just different types of groups of objects?

    • Dessalines@lemmy.mlOP
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      22 hours ago

      Numbers stay the same, but the words for “collection/group” change depending on the object. It goes [number] [measure word] [noun]

      I’m not familiar with Japanese so I can’t say.

      • TiredTiger@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        19 hours ago

        If I remember correctly, the “group” names in Japanese are based on shape but aren’t always intuitive, and sometimes a certain number of them will have its own special name or way of counting - the sort of thing that requires a lot of rote memorization.

    • go_go_gadget@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      23 hours ago

      Generally no. One minor example I can think of is 两 and 二 which both mean two and it can be difficult remembering when to use one or the other. But to my knowledge it’s based on the way the number is being used not the item being counted.

      • thecatprincx@pawb.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        22 hours ago

        I like to think of 兩 being “a couple (of)” and 二 being “two” like a numeral. Like 我有兩個電話 “I have (two) a couple phones” or 我在這裡住兩年 “ive lived here for (two) a couple years”.

        二 is like maths, numbereng something like 2nd is 第二 or floor 2 is 二樓

        • psivchaz@reddthat.com
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          21 hours ago

          One of the fun things about learning Japanese is that on rare occasions I can read a little Chinese. I’d pronounce the words wrong, since it’s different spoken, but the English translation would be correct and the meaning would be understood, like numerals.