to describe

go_manly
July 12, 2010, 06:27 AM posted in General Discussion

What is the difference (in meaning and usage) between  形容  (xíngróng)  and  描述  (miáoshù) in the sense of 'to describe' ?

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go_manly
July 14, 2010, 09:13 AM

bump

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connie
July 15, 2010, 02:49 AM

"描述"一般是用真实的语言说出一个场景或者一个人的长相等等。

---请你描述一下这件事的经过。

---你能描述一下她的长相吗?

---她有一双大大的眼睛,脸圆圆的...

 

"形容"一般是用夸张或者比喻的语言。

我们用"人山人海"来形容人很多,很热闹。

沉鱼落雁:形容女子的美貌。

 

 

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go_manly

Connie, I get a vague idea of what you are talking about by using Perakun, but I was kind of hoping for an explanation in English. I think I get what you're saying about 描述,, especially with your examples but I really don't get your description of 形容.

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John

描述 (miáoshù): specific, real language to objectively describe a scene, persona's appearance, etc.

形容 (xíngróng): often exaggerated or metaphorical (more literary/subjective) language

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go_manly

Thanks for that. I've heard Jenny use 形容 many times in the podcasts, so I guess I mistakenly thought that it was the more common word.