gougou Posted September 22, 2005 at 06:05 AM Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 at 06:05 AM Sometimes when talking to Chinese via MSN or a comparable means of complicating communication, I find that after simple yes/no questions, they use 么 instead of 吗. What is that? A typo? Slang? Or is there even a difference between the two? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zhwj Posted September 22, 2005 at 07:10 AM Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 at 07:10 AM 1) It's convenience. It takes fewer keypresses to enter 么 me since there are fewer characters that share the same pronunciation. 2) It's a throwback to the early 20th century when 么 and 吗 had not had their usage clearly defined. It's non-standard now, though. Take your pick... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elina Posted September 22, 2005 at 07:52 AM Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 at 07:52 AM Please check New Chinese-English Dictionary of Function Words (新编汉英虚词词典) page 272 http://photo.163.com/openpic.php?user=elinasatter&pid=399665600&_dir=%2F16606203 page 273 http://photo.163.com/openpic.php?user=elinasatter&pid=399665847&_dir=%2F16606203 page 274 http://photo.163.com/openpic.php?user=elinasatter&pid=399666106&_dir=%2F16606203 page 275 http://photo.163.com/openpic.php?user=elinasatter&pid=399666324&_dir=%2F16606203 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gougou Posted September 22, 2005 at 08:18 AM Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 at 08:18 AM Great, Elina, thanks a lot. Very helpful, that book looks like it could frequently help me. So off to Wangfujing again... PS: Of course thanks for answering to you as well, zhwj! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elina Posted September 22, 2005 at 08:39 AM Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 at 08:39 AM Here is the information about the book, which could give you a reference when you go to Wangfujing: New Chinese–English Dictionary of Function Words 新编汉英虚词词典 http://shop.aaawww.net/mod8/detail.php?gid=322309&userid=7912&catid=493986 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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