1. ...and other notes on usage.
Avoiding Chinglish
...and other notes on usage.

2. Please let me know what time you are convenient.
Please let me know what time is convenient for you. OR
Please let me know when you are available. ✗

3. Let’s meet again three days later.
Let’s meet again three days from now. OR
Let’s meet again in three days.

4. “…three days later.” could be correct in some contexts.
“He was supposed to show up at school last Tuesday, but he arrived three days later.”

5. However, if you are comparing a future time with the present time, use “from now” or “in” – or “ago” if you are talking about past time.
“I’d like to start writing my essay no later than two days from now.”
“I should have started writing my essay two days ago.”

6. Where were you? I thought we had planned to meet two days before.
Where were you? I thought we had planned to meet two days ago. OR
Where were you? I thought we had planned to meet the day before yesterday.

7. Even I am busy tomorrow, I can still find the time to meet with you.
Even if I am busy tomorrow, I can still find the time to meet with you. OR
Even though I will be busy tomorrow, I can still find the time to meet with you. ✗

8. Although conjunction in spite of the fact that; even though :
Although the sun was shining it wasn't that warm
Although small, the room has a spacious feel.
• however; but : he says he likes to go bicycle riding, although I've never seen him do it.
Although and though are interchangeable in the senses listed above, the only difference being that use of though tends to be less formal than that of although. In formal writing, although tends to sound better than though as the opening word of a sentence. Some uses of though, however, are not interchangeable with although —e.g., adverbial uses ( : it was nice of him to phone, though) and uses in conjunction with ‘as’ or ‘even’ ( : she doesn't look as though she's listening).

9. May you happy and healthy!
May you be happy and healthy! OR
Wishing you happiness and good health! ✗

10. Happy Everyday!
Wishing you happiness every day!
Note: “Everyday” is an adjective meaning “happening or used every day; daily”.
…everyday chores such as housework and shopping. ✗

11. Last month, I traveled to Hangzhou.
Do you know that city?
Are you familiar with that city? OR
Do you know about that city? ✗

12. During our coming trip to Beijing, we plan to live at the Marriott Hotel.
During our upcoming trip to Beijing, we plan to stay at the Marriott Hotel.

13. Notes on the use of “Coming” vs. “Upcoming”
(adj.) about to happen, imminent
“Coming” can be used as an adjective, noun, or verb.
“Upcoming” is always an adjective.
When “coming” is used as an adjective, it is interchangeable with “upcoming”.
“Coming” apparently is more common in UK-English, while “Upcoming” is more common in USA-English.

14. Notes on the use of “Live” vs. “Stay”
“Live” implies permanence or a very long time.
“Stay” implies a short time. It can be used as a verb or noun.
“I’ve been living in Weihai for more than four years.”
“I live in Weihai.”
“I had a nice vacation. I stayed in Xiamen for one week.”
“Welcome to Beijing. Have a nice stay!”

15. Notes on the use of “Comfortable”
Although “comfortable” and “uncomfortable” can be used to describe physical feelings, they usually are not used to describe the stomach.
My stomach is feeling uncomfortable. I think I’ll skip class.
I have a stomachache… My stomach hurts…
I have an upset stomach… I have a touch of indigestion…
I’m feeling a little bit under the weather…

16. Notes on the use of “Comfortable”
Use for physical feelings:
I had to sleep on a bench at the airport. How uncomfortable!
Use for emotional feelings:
I don’t feel comfortable taking his advice. It doesn’t seem honest.
Mary was talking about me behind my back. That’s a rather uncomfortable feeling.

17. Can you borrow me five dollars?
Can you lend me five dollars? OR
Can I borrow five dollars from you? ✗

18. Notes on the use of “Borrow” and “Lend”
Borrow from . . .
Lend to (You don’t always need to say/write “to”)
“Loan” can be used as a verb, meaning “to lend”.
Traditionally, loan was a noun and lend was a verb. But loan is now widely used as a verb, especially in financial contexts.

19. At last, save the document and print it.
Lastly, save the document and print it. OR
Finally, save the document and print it. ✗

20. Notes on the use of “At Last”
“At last” means after much delay.
You’ve returned home at last.
At last, you’ve done what I told you to do.

21. Notes on the use of “At Last” / “Finally”
“Finally” can also mean after much delay.
You’ve finally returned home.
Finally, you’ve done what I told you to do.

22. Notes on the use of “At Last” vs. “Finally”
“Finally” can mean either:
after much delay
lastly (the last in a list / series of items)
“At last” can only mean after much delay.
It cannot mean lastly.

23. Notes on the use of “At First”
“At first” means at the beginning / in the initial stage(s).
It implies that there will be a change.
At first I tried to be patient, but then I lost my temper.
At first I thought I would need to stay awake all night, so I drank several cups of coffee. It turned out that I finished my homework faster than I had originally planned. Oh well1.
1I’m disappointed, but it’s not that big of a deal.

24. Notes on “Unworthy” vs. “Not worth it”
“Unworthy” is an adjective meaning:
not deserving effort, attention, or respect
It usually involves a value judgment (right vs. wrong, goodness or badness of human character), and is often applied to people.
He is unworthy of my trust.

25. Notes on “Unworthy” vs. “Not worth it”
“Not worth it” is an expression similar in meaning to unworthy.
it’s informal
sometimes can be used for value judgments, but
is more likely used to describe the material value of things (e.g. time, money)
That watermelon is so expensive! It’s just not worth it.1
1It’s just not worth the price they are charging.

26. Notes on “Affect” vs. “Effect”
Affect and Effect are both verbs and nouns.
Only Effect is commonly used as a noun, meaning:
“a change that is the result or consequence of an action.”
My mother’s scolding had little effect on my behavior.
The noun Affect is restricted almost entirely to the field of psychology.

27. Notes on “Affect” vs. “Effect”
As verbs, they are used differently.
Affect most commonly means:
“produce an effect on, influence.”
Smoking during pregnancy can affect the baby’s development.

28. Notes on “Affect” vs. “Effect”
Effect means:
“cause (something) to happen, bring about.”
Negotiators effected an agreement despite many difficulties.

29. Notes on “Impact”
Impact can be used as both a verb and a noun with several meanings.
As a noun (for our purposes), it means:
“the effect or influence of one person, thing, or action, on another.”
Inflation has a significant impact on spending habits.

30. Notes on “Influence”
Influence can be used as both a verb and a noun.
As a noun (for our purposes), it means:
“the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something.”
His friend has a bad influence on him.
His friend is a bad influence on him.