Answer to Do “牛奶(niúnǎi)” and “奶牛(nǎiniú)” mean the Same Thing?

Answer: B
In option A, “蜜蜂(mìfēng)” means “bee” and “蜂蜜(fēngmì)” means “honey.” In B, “苹果(píngguǒ)” is “apple” but the character combination “果苹(guǒpíng)” doesn’t hold any meaning in Chinese. In option C, “国王(guówáng)” refers to “a king” and “王国(wángguó)” is his “kingdom.” Finally, in D, “白雪(báixuě)” means “snow” in English and “雪白(xuěbái)” refers to the color of snow, which is “snow-white.” So, the correct answer is B, because it is the only one whose character order cannot be changed.
Answers A, C and D are all similar in that the meanings of their characters in reverse order are still related to their original meanings. For example, “王国(wángguó)” is what a “国王(guówáng)” rules and “雪白(xuěbái)” is the color of “白雪(báixuě).” Other similar examples include “球拍(qiúpāi) racket” and “拍球(pāiqiú) to hit the ball,” “名著(míngzhù) masterpiece” and “著名(zhùmíng) famous,” “黄金(huángjīn) gold” and “金黄(jīnhuáng) golden,” “书写(shūxiě) to write” and “写书(xiěshū) to write a book,” “菜油(càiyóu) rapeseed oil” and “油菜(yóucài) Chinese cabbage,” “罪犯(zuìfàn) criminal” and “犯罪(fànzuì) to commit a crime,” “画图(huàtú) to draw a picture” and “图画(túhuà) picture,” etc..
However, there are also other examples in which two characters in one order mean one thing, and when switched they mean something completely unrelated. For example, “子女(zǐnǚ) sons and daughters” vs. “女子(nǚzǐ) woman,” “故事(gùshi) story” vs. “事故(shìgù) accident,” “带领(dàilǐng) to guide” vs. “领带(lǐngdài) a tie (noun),” “人名(rénmíng) one’s name” vs. “名人(míngrén) celebrity,” “上马(shàngmǎ) to mount a horse” vs. “马上(mǎshàng) at once,” “现实(xiànshí) reality” vs. “实现(shíxiàn) to realize,” etc..
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0 thoughts on “Answer to Do “牛奶(niúnǎi)” and “奶牛(nǎiniú)” mean the Same Thing?”

  1. The lesson is excellent. I can understand what different meaning between two words combined each other.
    think you very much and I will send me what is my way to learn chinese with you

  2. This is a very good way of teaching new word combinations, and puts into my mind many other different ways of saying things…….its how young kids learn from their mother I think!

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