正是 vs 便是? What is the difference? What is the etimology? As far as I know 正 should be regarded as "straight", so 正+是 (straight+true) which can be translated as "straight like" or "exactly as". But 便 should mean something like "handy" or "being handy". By the way you can see "a handle"(top)+ "a hand"(bottom) and "a man"(left) in the character itself. So what does 便是 exactly mean and what is the difference with 正是? 便是 should have some special connotation quiet different from 正是 or at least the were different in the old times. Yes I know the difference should be tiny. Please, refrain from stating that "they are equal". p.s. PLEASE, guys. I'm NOT interested in how 便是 can be changed into some other 即使纵然就是 and so on. I'm interested in WHAT WAY 便是 is DIFFERENT from all other such phrases.Guys thank you for your answers, but still your examples are not enoug. So what I can gather from your posts^ 1)便是 is more formal and used mainly in literature, articles. Not interesting because It does not uncover nature of 便. 2)正是 is 100% sure while 便是 is not 100%. Not interesting because it does not uncover the nature of 便. 3)便 is more like "so" rather than "straingt" or "then" or "just". Now THIS IS interesting.!!! If someone could read the article https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7f68zPex4RieXlKMzZNdV9Ndm8 then maybe we all will have interesting answers for this question. Thanks

就像 vs 好像 ? What is the difference? What is the etimology? As far as I know 就 has something to do with "then".I CAN understand how 就+像 (then+like) meaning could have evolved into "just like". In the case of 好+像(good+like) evolution into 好像 I'm lost.

What is the difference between all of those 论 's (disscussions)? Recently I've fond myself not able to differentiate between different variants of "discussions" in chinese. I have some vauge ideas about their differences and I will add connotation (as I see it) to those words I know. 2. 讨论= to press an opition 4. 评论= to weight, to balance 5. 结论= to tie a knot 6. 争论= fight over the opinion 7. 议论=disscuss=diss+cuss - as in separating a sacred animal 9. 谈论=light talk about opinions 10. 辩论=separate again? what is the difference with 7? 12. 言论=single word = expression of opinion 13. 试论 17. 推论=push an opinion to others 19. 纵论=wrap an opinion? What does it mean? 22. 立论=stand on the ground of an opinion 23. 政论=goverment opinion 25. 绪论 26. 定论=define=axiom 30. 通论=popular opinion 33. 并论=simultaneous disscussion? 90. 终论=final opiniton 120. 讲论=talk about your opinion. explain 126. 成论=to create an opinion, to come to an opinion. 127. 异论 128. 具论 131. 漂论 133. 素论 135. 要论 151. 正论=right opinion 158. 略论 167. 阐论 168. 笃论 169. 大论 171. 策论 180. 泛论 181. 比论 190. 宏论

即 vs 就 vs 便 I know that many natives think there is no difference between 即, 就, 便 but I'm not interested in modern meaning of those characters. I'm seeking a good theory of evolution or etymology of those characters. How they become? What functions they executed in ancient writings? By understanding original nature of 即, 就, 便 I guess I'll be more skillful in their usage. Thanks.