Phrase examples · Sino-Mini (小语)

These expressions illustrate how to describe things with the existing vocabulary. They are not additional words and have no special whole-phrase meanings or readings. A familiar phrase can be useful without becoming a dictionary entry.

The intended meaning shows what each expression can describe in context; the literal meaning shows how its words combine. Some expressions are broader than their intended use.

Expression & reading	Intended meaning	Literal meaning	Precision & use
飞机 fēi jī	airplane	flying machine	Broader than airplane; specify wings and mode of flight when required.
塑气球 sù qì qiú	balloon	plastic gas ball	Describes a plastic balloon. Name a different material when relevant.
火箭 huǒ jiàn	rocket	fire-associated projectile	Only a contextual description; specify propulsion for an exact rocket.
病因 bìng yīn	virus	cause of illness	Broader than virus. A virus requires its biological mechanism/type to be specified.
神代 shén dài	angel	divine messenger	A role description; does not inherit every theological meaning of angel.
钱店 qián diàn	bank	money shop	A financial establishment in context; state deposits/lending and institutional functions for a bank.
长椅 cháng yǐ	bench	long bench or stool	Ordinary length modification.
二轮 èr lún	bicycle	two wheels	A bicycle in context; other vehicles can also have two wheels.
道物 dào wù	concrete; asphalt	road material	Road material in context. Specify the mixture or binder when distinguishing concrete from asphalt.
焦油 jiāo yóu	tar	oil associated with charring	Contextual material description; specify origin/process for tar, and do not equate it with bitumen.
食化 shí huà	digestion; digest	food transformation	Broad process description; name bodily digestion or another mechanism explicitly.
古兽 gǔ shòu	dinosaur	ancient animal	Broader than dinosaur; exact biological classification must be described or identified externally.
动学 dòng xué	physics	study of motion	A contextual description of physics through motion; more specifically, it suggests mechanics.
电话 diàn huà	telephone; phone call	electrical speech	Name the device or remote conversation explicitly; not an automatic telephone noun.
糖食 táng shí	chocolate	sweet food	Broader than chocolate; specify cocoa/material composition if exact identification matters.
合物 hé wù	chemical compound	joined material	Not every mixture is a chemical compound; chemical bonding/composition needs explanation.
思法 sī fǎ	logic	thought law	Rules or principles of thought; used for logic in context.
理思 lǐ sī	reasoning; inference; deduce	principled thought	Reasoning in context; does not by itself assert deduction or validity.
工室 gōng shì	office; business premises	work room	Broader than office; state the administrative purpose when needed.
书桌 shū zhuō	desk	table associated with books	A descriptive noun phrase; may identify a desk in context.
法式 fǎ shì	formal; official	form according to a rule	Formal/procedural in context; authorization is a separate claim.
医院 yī yuàn	hospital	medical establishment	Specify inpatient care or institution type for a hospital.
旅馆 lǚ guǎn	hotel	travel-related service establishment	Specify lodging for a hotel; it is not a guaranteed whole-phrase meaning.
政法 zhèng fǎ	republicanism; republican government	rules of government	Broader than republicanism; describe the political institutions.
声节 shēng jié	syllable	segment of sound	Broader than syllable; specify spoken rhythmic/phonological division if needed.
香草 xiāng cǎo	vanilla flavor; aromatic herb	aromatic herb	Literal description only; not specifically vanilla.
香兰 xiāng lán	vanilla plant; Vanilla planifolia	fragrant orchid	Broader than vanilla; species identification remains a technical description or proper taxonomic name.
骨架 gǔ jià	skeleton; framework	bone framework	An ordinary anatomical description; non-bone supporting frames are 架 with a material qualifier.
书馆 shū guǎn	library	book service establishment	Broader than library; specify shared access or borrowing if needed.
餐馆 cān guǎn	restaurant	meal service establishment	Literal description of the service, with context identifying a restaurant.
电器 diàn qì	electrical appliance	electrical device	Ordinary power/type modifier.
武器 wǔ qì	weapon; arms	martial device	A purpose-qualified device; specify weapon function if necessary.
医学 yī xué	medicine; medical science	medical study	Ordinary domain modification.
数学 shù xué	mathematics	study of numbers	Narrower than all mathematics; identify the mathematical domain in technical use.
电机 diàn jī	electric motor	electrical machine	Broader than motor; specify production of motion when relevant.
教室 jiāo shì	classroom	teaching room	Ordinary purpose modification; 教 keeps its word reading jiāo.
食品 shí pǐn	food products; foodstuffs	food product	Ordinary type modification.
算机 suàn jī	computer	calculating machine	Computer in a suitable context; programmable general computation must be specified when relevant.
音艺 yīn yì	music	art involving pitched sounds	Music in a suitable context, not a new exact dictionary headword.
赛道 sài dào	racecourse; course used for a race	competition path	Ordinary purpose modifier; a racecourse in a racing context.
终点 zhōng diǎn	endpoint; race finish; destination terminus	final point	Ordinary modifier; does not mean a mental goal without further context.
诱因 yòu yīn	incentive; circumstance making an action attractive	cause of enticement	An ordinary relation; specify who is attracted toward what event. No new noun-specific clause frame.
合工 hé gōng	join forces; cooperate through concerted effort	joint work	Ordinary description of cooperation; describe any technical coordination separately.
减敬 jiǎn jìng	look down on; despise; scorn	reduced respect	Ordinary degree description; the degree and attitude meant by scorn must be stated.
文社 wén shè	civilization	cultural society	A description only; not an exact word for civilization or a moral ranking.
活物 huó wù	organism; living thing; life form	living thing	Ordinary description of a thing with life.
效率 xiào lǜ	efficiency	effect ratio	State output, input, and units for an efficiency measure. The ratio is not determined by the phrase alone.
用物 yòng wù	resource; usable means; resources	use-related things	A broad ordinary description. Name the actual goods, funds, time, capabilities, or other means; usefulness to an actor must be stated where material.
车库 chē kù	garage	vehicle storehouse	An ordinary description of a place for storing vehicles, including a garage. Not a separate word.
美国 Měi guó	America; United States	beautiful country	The familiar Chinese proper name for the United States.