Chinese is funny. Each character written never mutates in its form (else it becomes an entirely different word) but having different words put beside it can change the way it is said and ultimately its meaning.<br><br>我很长 and 我长饭<br>The first character is simply 'me' or 'I'. That part isn't modified. However, the third character in the first phrase and the second in the second phrase are identical in form...but they have very different sounds. The first one is 'chang' with an 'upward' sound. The second one is 'zhang' with a 'v' shaped sound.<br>They describe different events or things; the first phrase says that "I am very tall" the second one says "I grow food".