List of useful things

[heifeng]

So I was thinking we could just list random things we don't know how to say but seem to pop up from time to time...

For example one post mentioned paperclips, which I see a box here that says 回形针, and 2 people here confirmed that's how they say it. (y/n?)

Now here is more, how do you say a 2 prong, 3 prong electrical plug?

[roddy]

Interesting. A poke around Alibaba.cn (great for finding what almost anything you can mass produce in a factory and then sell is called) turns up both 三脚插头 and 三芯插头, along with 二 versions of course.

[heifeng]

Yeah, I have found a few things on that site too. Sometimes I wonder if that is indeed how a native speaker would say it ....ok so I just asked. They said:

三脚,三眼,三极插头 都可以...(of course there will be regional differences)

HEY Roddy, you didn't write another different useful one--don't break the chain!

[roddy]

There's a chain? Erm . . . draught excluder tape, like this

[heifeng]

I'm relaunching this thread. Not only b/c I created it (hence it is wonderful) but also b/c we need more fun learning up here IMHO.

So, there are a number of words ('useful' is sort of relative) that pop up at times and although a bit of circumlocution is fine, I like to know the exact term---IF there is one. There may be some crossovers into 'same thing different names thread' territory, but I hope we can list things which you would know how to say in your native language but may draw a blank for a bit on the Chinese equivalent。

So here are a few under the tailoring/apparel category that were on my mind:

Patent leather 漆皮革, 漆皮,漆革

Belt Loop 腰带袢，裤带袢，[粤]裤耳，耳仔

hanger loop: 吊袢

(Chinese) Frog (knot) button/fastener 盘花扣

....and now you are able to wear an awesome outfit that won't fall off....

[heifeng]

So, many of these so called 'useful' things I do not put into the random word thread, b/c they pop up in English...and sometimes on shopping lists. So, here's another one or two:

Witch Hazel= 金缕梅 (jin1lv3mei2) & brief description shown below

金缕梅，是一种装饰性灌木，株高可达6至30英尺（1.8至9米）。英语单词金缕梅中的“Witch”是由古英语单词“wych”中演变来的，用于形容树枝容易弯曲的植物；“hazel”是指暗黄色或金黄色的花。有些品种花的颜色是橙红色或红色的。根据不同的品种，开花的季节也由秋天、冬天或早春不等；它们尤其能够抵抗寒冷的气候。叶片椭圆形，边缘锯齿状.

金缕梅共有六个品种，包括北美洲东部的美洲金缕梅（common witch hazel）以及中国金缕梅（Chinese witch hazel）。金缕梅叶片，树枝和树皮的萃取液可用于缓解疼痛以及面部化妆水.

金缕梅属于金缕梅科（Hamamelidaceae）。美洲金缕梅的拉丁学名为Hamamelis virginiana；中国金缕梅的拉丁学名为H.mollis.

Jojoba Oil: 荷荷巴油 （he2he2ba1you2) or 霍霍巴油 (huo4huo4ba1you2)

[daofeishi]

Into traditional wet shaving, heifeng?

I'll add alum to the list: 明矾.