Chinese False Friends

Words that look similar to English but have different meanings. Avoid common mistakes!

False friends can be tricky! These words look similar between languages but have different meanings. Study them carefully to avoid common mistakes.

30 false friends found

沙发

Chinese

sofa, couch

sofa

English

sofa, couch

Example

坐在沙发上 | Sit on the sofa

巴士

Chinese

bus

bus

English

bus

Example

坐巴士去 | Go by bus

卡片

Chinese

card (credit card, ID card)

card

English

card (any card)

Example

信用卡片 | Credit card

马达

Chinese

motor, engine

motor

English

motor, engine

Example

马达坏了 | The motor is broken

幽默

Chinese

humorous, funny

humor

English

humor

Example

他很幽默。 | He has a good sense of humor

逻辑

Chinese

logic

logic

English

logic

Example

这没有逻辑。 | This has no logic

咖啡

Chinese

coffee

coffee

English

coffee

Example

喝咖啡 | Drink coffee

浪漫

Chinese

romantic

romantic

English

romantic

Example

很浪漫的晚餐 | A romantic dinner

模特

Chinese

fashion model

model

English

model (fashion, example, prototype)

Example

她是模特。 | She is a model

T恤

Chinese

T-shirt

T-shirt

English

T-shirt

Example

穿T恤 | Wear a T-shirt

可乐

Chinese

cola, Coca-Cola

cola

English

cola

Example

喝可乐 | Drink cola

芭蕾

Chinese

ballet

ballet

English

ballet

Example

跳芭蕾 | Dance ballet

吉他

Chinese

guitar

guitar

English

guitar

Example

弹吉他 | Play guitar

引擎

Chinese

engine

engine

English

engine

Example

搜索引擎 | Search engine

披萨

Chinese

pizza

pizza

English

pizza

Example

吃披萨 | Eat pizza

汉堡

Chinese

hamburger

hamburger

English

hamburger

Example

吃汉堡 | Eat a hamburger

雷达

Chinese

radar

radar

English

radar

Example

雷达系统 | Radar system

克隆

Chinese

clone

clone

English

clone

Example

克隆技术 | Cloning technology

维他命

Chinese

vitamin

vitamin

English

vitamin

Example

维他命C | Vitamin C

激光

Chinese

laser

laser

English

laser

Example

激光手术 | Laser surgery

黑客

Chinese

hacker (computer)

hacker

English

hacker

Example

电脑黑客 | Computer hacker

粉丝

Chinese

fans (admirers), also rice noodles

fans

English

fans (supporters)

Example

他的粉丝很多。 | He has many fans

博客

Chinese

blog

blog

English

blog

Example

写博客 | Write a blog

Chinese

cool (fashionable, awesome)

cool

English

cool

Example

太酷了! | So cool!

OK

Chinese

okay, fine

OK

English

okay

Example

OK,没问题。 | OK, no problem

Chinese

show (performance), show off

show

English

show

Example

时装秀 | Fashion show

巧克力

Chinese

chocolate

chocolate

English

chocolate

Example

吃巧克力 | Eat chocolate

三明治

Chinese

sandwich

sandwich

English

sandwich

Example

吃三明治 | Eat a sandwich

麦克风

Chinese

microphone

microphone

English

microphone

Example

用麦克风 | Use a microphone

网吧

Chinese

internet cafe

internet cafe (cyber bar)

English

internet cafe

Example

去网吧上网 | Go to internet cafe