Lots of questions about words and grammar

[jmido8]

So the other day I was sitting in one of my classes and decided to compile a list of a bunch of things I don't really understand the differences between or am not too certain about in Chinese. I'm sure the list could go on forever, but the most difficult ones for me off the top of my head are the following:

 

1。一定，肯定，确定

2。 解释，形容，说明

3。 理解，了解，明白

4。 回答，答复

5。 知道， 认识

6。 觉得，认为

7。 高兴，快乐，娱乐，开心

8。 怎样，怎么样, 什么样

9。 常常，经常，时常

10。 平时，平常

11。 原来，本来，原先

12。 起初，始而，起首

13。 而，而且

 

14。 动词+到， 动词+上, 动词+着

 

 

I know it's a lot, but any of them that you could give clarity on, i'd be really thankful.

 

Also, I think I kinda know the different between the following, but I want to check:

 

-忽然，突然  - turan is sudden and unexpected, while huran is sudden but not so much an unexpected event

 

-竟然，居然 - jingran and juran are both surprisingly, or unexpectedly but jingran is to a stronger degree

[imron]

1。一定，肯定，确定

The correct order for these is 確定、一定以及肯定

 

(see here for reference)

[jmido8]

the correct order? like the order of their certainty? queding is when you're most certain, then yiding and kending is certain but more of a guessing certain?

[imron]

Sorry, it was a joke.  It's an oft-repeated phrase from a TV show. 

[roddy]

This would be an excellent time to look at usage resources - see here, for example. 

[PaulSav]

Chinese Grammar Wiki has a couple of these exact comparisons:

 

肯定 vs 确定 vs 一定

平时 vs 平常

[Hofmann]

Another thing to think about is what part of these can be. e.g. 一定 can't be a verb, while 肯定 and 確定 can.

 

Edit: I didn't read the link. Blah.

[Yorin]

Chinese Grammar Wiki has a couple of these exact comparisons:

 

平时 vs 平常

 

 

The descriptions on that page referring to "平时 as a noun" and "平常 as a noun" are misleading.

In the given examples, both are used as adverbs.

[lingo-ling]

肯定 can be a noun: affirmation, "thumbs up"