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文法a
| １）每年都有很多國家的商界代表來香港開會。 |
Every year commercial representatives from many nations come to Hong Kong to attend meetings.
Note 1: The base pattern for this sentence is given by Ａ都有Ｂ來ＣＤ where Ｄis something that Ｂalways does at time Ａ when Ｂ comes to Ｃ.
In this case the travel destination is Hong Kong 香港, and those who travel are business representatives 商界代表 from many different nations 很多國家的. Their purpose for coming to Hong Kong 來香港 is to attend meetings 開會. It is something they do every year 每年.
Note 2: The word 都 placed between the adverbial modifer of time 每年 and the verb 有 (indicating the presence of something) is used for emphasis and suggests that the representatives return every year with no exception.
Note 3: 商界 is probably preferred to 商業 in this context, because it emphasizes the social aspect of commercial activity. 代表 means representative or agent.
Note 4: The word 開會 literally means "open a meeting", but it is an idea that is not easily translated into English in this context.
Source: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1399188
Source: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1399202
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| ２）來收租的老李說：「對不起，我忘記帶收條來，明天來給你，好嗎？」 |
Mr. Li came to collect the rent and said, "I'm sorry, but I forgot to bring the receipt. I'll bring it by tomorrow, O.K.?"
Note 1: The base pattern for this sentence is given by Ａ說：「Ｂ，Ｃ，好嗎？」where Ａ is quoted by the speaker as asking, if Ｃ would be alright given that Ｂ has occurred.
Note 2: The verb tense of the introductory sentence part Ａ說 is difficult to ascertain in the absence of context.
For example, if the speaker were translating on behalf of the listener, and Mr. Li were present, one might render the phrase 來收租的老李說 as "Mr. Li has come to collect the rent and says, . . .".
On the other hand, if Mr. Li has already come and gone, and the speaker is simply relaying a message, then translating the sentence, as I have done above, would be a more reasonable rendering.
Whichever verb tense one chooses, the base pattern of the introduction is simply that of a modified subject and its verb. The subject is 老李 and the modifier is the relative clause 夾收租的, meaning "who has come for the rent", or "who has come to collect the rent". The relative pronoun is, of course, understood and refers to Mr. Li.
Note 3: In the citation Mr. Li begins with a standard phrase of apology -- namely, 對不起. In Part Ｂ he gives the reason for his apology, and in Part C he offers a solution for the problem created by his having not performed Ｂ. He then seeks approval for his solution with the question 好嗎？
His mistake is that he (as the cited person 我） has forgotten 忘記 to bring 帶．．來 the payment receipt 收條. His solution is that he come 來 on the following day (tomorrow 明天) and give 給 the receipt to whomever it (was/is) that he (was/is) speaking 你, when he (made/makes) the quoted statement.
Note 4: The character 老 before Mr. Li's name in the phrase 老李 is a Chinese address form. Literally, the phrase 老李 means "Old Li". It is a form of respect used among older people of similar age who are familiar with one another. As no such equivalent is available in English, and a first name is neither available nor appropriate, the phrase 老李 is probably best rendered as Mr. Li -- well, at least, in the absence of a developed literary context.
Source: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1436872
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| ３）那些表都很好看，定價也不算太貴，明天我一定會去買一個。 |
Those watches really looked good. The price also seems quite reasonable. I am planning to go and buy one tomorrow.
Note 1: The base pattern for this sentence is Ａ，也Ｂ，一定會Ｃ, where Ａand Ｂare two observations made by the speaker about the same thing that cause him to decide to perform Ｃ.
In this particular case the speaker has seen some good-looking 很好看 watches 表 whose price 定價 he finds reasonable 不算太貴. As a result of his discovery he decides 一定會 to go and buy 去買 one 一個 on the following day (tomorrow 明天).
Note 2: The base pattern of part Ａ is given by a modified subject and its predicate adjective. The modified subject is 那些表 and the predicate adjective is 很好看.
The adverb 都 placed between the modified subject and the predicate adjective indicates that all of the watches seen by the speaker are beautiful in his mind.
The character 那 in the phrase 那些表 apparently refers to watches that cannot be seen in the moment in which the speaker refers to them. This suggests that the speaker has already seen them, and that the past tense is appropriate.
Note 3: Despite the presence of 也 the syntax of Part Ｂis not grammatically consistent with the syntax of Part Ａ. The base pattern of Part Ｂis Ｄ也不算ＥwhereＥdescribes how the understood subject (the speaker) feels about Ｄ. In effect, this is passive voice construction in which Ｄ(the accusative object of 不算) is employed as the subject of the sentence part Ｄ也不算Ｅ.
Compare this construction with the following English patterns:
Ｄis considered (by Ｆ) to be Ｅ
Ｄ appears to be Ｅ (according to Ｆ)
Now consider the passive and active voice construction of the Chinese sentence part:
Passive Voice: 定價不算太貴
Active voice: （Ｆ）不算定價太貴
Note 4: The adverb 也 in this context signals that both Parts Ａand Ｂrefer to the same thing -- namely, the several watches 那些表.
Note 5 (Return to Sentence 6, Note 3 and Sentence 8, Note 4): Part Ｃ of this sentence forms a part of the more general base pattern ＨＧ一定會Ｃ, where Ｃis some action that Ｇdecides to do at sometime Ｈ in the future.
In this case, the speaker 我 decides to 一定會 go and purchase 去買 one 一個 of the watches that he had seen. He will take this action on the following day -- i.e., tomorrow 明天.
Note 6 (Return to Sentence 6, Note 3 and Sentence 8, Note 4): In order to better understand the use of 會 in the phrase 明天我一定會去買一個 consider the following several sentences and their possible translations:
i) a) 他會參加會議。
He might attend the meeting.
ii) a) 明天我會去買一個。
I could go and buy one tomorrow.
iii) a) 我會寫信。
I am thinking about writing (a letter).
i) b) 他一定會參加會議。
I am planning to attend the meeting.
ii) b) 明天我一定會去買一個。
I intend to go and buy one tomorrow.
iii) b) 我一定會寫信。
I will definitely write (a letter).
In effect, the character 會 implies the possibility of a future action, and the phrase 一定會 makes that possibility more certain, if not definite.
Source: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1438872
Source: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1438880
Source: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1438884
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| ４）他昨天晚上請客，客人不少，吃飯以後，他對客他說：「謝謝你們來，再見！」 |
Yesterday evening he played host. There were many people, and after dinner he said, "Thank you for coming everyone. I hope to see you again!"
Note 1: The base pattern to this sentence can be given simply by Ｂ，Ｃ以後，Ａ說「Ｄ」where Ｄis something that was said by Ａ after Ｃthat was the result of Ｂ.
Note 2: The base pattern of Part B is that of two conceptually related clauses unconnected by a conjunction -- namely, 他昨天晚上請客 and 客人不少.
Part ＢThe first clause includes the pronoun subject 他 and the verb 請客; the second includes the subject 客人 and the predicate adjective 不少.
The adverbial phrase 昨天晚上 occurs in its usual place just before the verb, but after the subject. It also follows the customary pattern of citing the large time frame 昨天 (yesterday) before the smaller 晚上 (evening).
Note 3: The phrasing Ｃ以後，Ａ說「Ｄ」hangs together as a single conceptual and grammatical unit, as Ａ說「Ｄ」is something that occurs after Ｃ. In this case Ａtells his guests Ｄafter they have completed Ｃ.
The phrase 不少吃飯 can be thought of as a more general pattern -- namely, 不少Ｅ, which means Ｅwas performed to no small extent.
Note 4: The absence of a comma after 謝謝 is curious, as one is left wondering, whether 謝謝 is not playing the role of a verb whose accusative object is 你們來.
Note 5: The phrase 再見！is a common parting phrase after people have met on whatever occasion. Literally it means "See you again!", but it can be translated as simply "Good bye!"
Source: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1440954
Source: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1440974
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| ５）黃先生說：「世界上每個國家的風俗都不一樣！」你說對不對？ |
Mr. Wong says,"The customs of every nation are not the same!" Do you agree with him?
Note 1: The base pattern for this sentence is Ａ說：「Ｂ！」你說對不對？where Ｂis something that is said by Ａ, and the speaker wants to know, if the listener agrees with what Ａ says.
Note 2: The base pattern of Part Ｂis 每Ｄ的Ｃ都不一樣 where Ｃis something which every Ｄhas, but is not the same for each.
In particular, the customs 風俗 of every nation 每個國家 of the world 世界上 are not the same 不一樣.
Note 3: The phrase 世界上 that can be translated in a variety of ways was purposely omitted, as it is unnecessary information. What nations are there that are not of the world?
Note 4: The appearance of the adverb 都 before the predicate adjective apparently changes the meaning of 每 from each to every.
Consisder the following several examples.
每個人都很熱情。
Everyone was very friendly.
每家院子都很漂亮。
Every yard was very attractive.
每項運動都有不少人參加。
Every (sports) event was well attended.
每逢周末我都去影院。
I go to the movies every weekend.
Note 5: The phrase 你說對不對？is apparently common and expresses a desire on the part of the speaker to obtain confirmation or disconfirmation from the listener with regard to something that has been, or is being said.
Source: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1442904
Source: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1442906
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| ６）這個外國人不但會說國語，還會說很多中國的俗語呢！
| This foreign resident not only speaks Mandarin, but he also knows a lot of Chinese slang.
Note 1: The base pattern of this sentence isＡ不但Ｂ，還Ｃ where Ｂ and Ｃ are two things that Ａ can, somewhat surprizingly, both perform.
In this case a clearly identified 這個 foreigner 外國人 can speak 會說 Mandarin (Putonghua) 國語（普通話）and a lot of 很多 Chinese 中國 slang 俗語, as well.
Note 2: An English equivalent of the construction 不但Ｂ，還Ｃis "not only Ｂ, but also Ｃ".
The repetition of the verb phrase 會說 in this construction is apparently necessary in order to insure that the pattern Ａ不但Ｂ，還Ｃis clearly understood. Thus, it may be more correct to write the base pattern as Ａ不但ＢＣ，還ＢＤ, where Ｂis some element (probably a verb or modal) that is repeated and Ｃand Ｄare different objects or verbs.
Note 3: The meaning of 會 in this context is that of the English modal "can" indicating the ability to perform. The meaning is distinctly different from that previously observed in Sentence 3 (See notes 5 and 6 above).
Note 4: The term 國語 refers to the common language of a country. For example, in Japan, the 國語 is Japanese, in the US it is English, and in China it is Mandarin.
In countries where there is more than one major language the precise meaning of 國語 is unlikely to be very clear. As everyone is taught, at least in principle, to read and write Mandarin, the notion of 國語 is likely to be fairly uniform in China -- this despite, a large variety of different major spoken Chinese languages.
In Hong Kong, for example, few Hong Kongers speak Mandarin (Putonghua) well, but everyone appears to claim Mandarin (Putonghua) as their 國語. Thus, in Hong Kong the term 國語 appears to mean the "official language" of China -- not a language that everyone speaks, but the language that everyone wishing to speak with the Chinese national government must learn.
By way of further example, the 國語 of Taiwan 台灣 appears to be 台灣語 a language that resembles the official language of the Chinese Mainland in much the same way that Portuguese（葡萄牙語）and Spanish （西班牙語）resemble one another -- sufficiently different to be only partially comprehensible between speakers of each language.
In any case, one does not normally use the term 國語 to refer to the language of another person's country; rather, one uses it in reference to the language of one's own nation.
Note 5: The term 俗語 can refer to the slang of any language; thus, the 俗語 of Hong Kongers, the 俗語 of people from Shanghai, and the 俗語 of people from Beijing are likely to be very different.
Thus, whereas the term 中國的俗語 could include any or all of the above forms of slang, the term 國語的俗語 refers only to the slang of 普通話 (Putonghua -- i.e. Mandarin)
Source: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1443966
Source: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1443968
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| ７）飛機起飛的時候，飛機裏的人，有的很高興，有的很緊張。 |
Depending on context there are different ways to interpret this sentence. For example, if one is speaking about plane travel in general, one might write:
1) During take-off some of the passengers of a plane are very happy; others are very nervous.
If one is speaking, on the other hand, about a specific plane flight in the past, one could write:
ii) When the plane was taking off the passengers were both happy and nervous.
Note 1: The base pattern of this sentence isＢ的時候，Ａ，有的Ｃ，有的Ｄ where Ｃand Ｄ are something that Ａ are at time Ｂ.
In this case, the people inside the plane 飛機裏的人 are/were both very happy 高興 and very nervous 緊張 when （Ｂ的）時候 the plane 飛機 takes/took off 起飛.
Note 2: The pattern Ａ有的Ｃ，有的Ｄis not clear, as one does not know, whether some people were happy and others very nervous, or that happiness and nervousness were merely two different sentiments that could be found among the passengers during take-off.
Note 3: Although I have interpreted the phrase 飛機裏的人 as passengers, it could also refer to members of the crew, as the phrase means "people inside the plane"
Source: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1445906
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| ８）包先生說：「我到了英國以後一定會利用機會把英文學好。」 |
Mr. Bau said, "After arriving in England I will make use of the opportunity to improve my English".
Note 1: The base pattern of this sentence is Ａ說：「Ｂ。」where Ｂis a statement made by Ａ.
Note 2: The base pattern of the statement is ＣＤ以後一定會Ｅwhere Ｅis something that Ｃ intends to perform after completing Ｄ.
In effect, he intends 會 with some degree of certitude 一定 to make use of 利用 the opportunity 機會 to improve his English 把英文學好 after 以後 he has arrived 到了 in England 英國.
The same subject is used in both clauses: ＣＤ以後 and 一定會Ｅ.
Note 3: The pattern 到Ａ and its past tense equivalent 到了Ａ are not new and simply mean to arrive at a particular destination -- in this case, Great Britain 英國.
Note 4: The syntax Ｃ一定會Ｅis also not new (See Notes 5 and 6 of Sentence 3).
Note 5: The syntax 利用機會Ｆappears to be an accepted pattern meaning "make use of the opportunity to perform Ｆ" where Ｆis some activity from which one can profit in some way.
Note 6: In this instance the base pattern of Ｆ is 把ＧＨ好 where Ｇ is the accusative object of the verb Ｈ. This pattern means to accomplish something with regard to Ｇ in some manner described by Ｈ. Some examples of further uses of this phrase are:
i) 把作業做好
finish one's work/assignment
ii) 把身体養好
take good care of one's physical needs
iii) 把病養好
nourish back to health
iv) 把孩子教好
educate one's children well
Source: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1447744
Source: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1447746
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| ９）我用三萬塊錢買了他一個舊的計算機，一把計算尺，我中計了！ |
There are at least two ways to interpret the meaning of this sentence. This ambiguity arises out of the confusing nature of the purchase. In particular, it is unusual that someone would purchase both a computer and a slide rule.
Putting this conceptual confusion aside, the grammatically sound translation of this sentence is:
1) I spent HK$30,000 to buy his old computer and a slide rule. I've been had!
The second interpretation takes into account the odd nature of the apparent, but unlikely purchase:
2) I spent HK$30,000 to buy his old computer that is no better than a slide rule. I've been had!
Note 1: Ignoring the above ambiguity for the moment the base pattern of this sentence is given by Ａ用ＢＣ了，Ａ中計了！where Ｂis something that Ａuses to perform Ｃ, and is cheated as a result.
In this instance, the speaker 我 expends 用 HK$30,000 三萬塊錢 and either purchases 買 an 一個 old 舊的 computer 計算機 and a 一把 slide rule 計算尺, or purchases an old computer that functions like a slide rule. Whichever is the case, he feels cheated 我中計了！as a result.
Note 2: The confusion arises in Part C -- namely, the verb phrase 買了一個Ａ，一把Ｂ. Taken at their face value Ａand Ｂare two different goods, each counted differently.
Interpretation One suggests that the comma between both goods serves as a simple conjunction.
Interpretation Two suggests that the comma tells an entire untold story of which 一把Ｂ is merely the result. In effect, the speaker believes, when he makes his purchase, that he is buying an old computer, but after some time and use realizes that the computer functions no better than a slide rule, and renames it accordingly. Hence, his belief that he has been deceived.
More formal renderings of these two interpretations might be:
1) 我用三萬塊錢買了他的一個舊的計算機和一把計算尺，我中計了！
2) 我用三萬塊錢買了他的一個舊的計算機、其實只是一把計算尺，我中計了！
Note 3: The base pattern of the phrase 我中計了！is Ａ中計了！where Ａis someone who falls into someone elses trap. In effect, one finds himself in the middle 中 of a plan 計 -- unfortunately, some else's scheme.
Note 4: The counter for slide rules 把 is the same as that for torches and knives -- namely, long slender objects. As we have seen previously, this character is also used to indicate that an accusative object has been placed before a verb. As there is only one verb that could apply here （買了） and both objects appear after it, the character 把 is clearly used as a counter.
Note 5: The word 塊錢 appears to be a sort of universal currency unit that can be used with any currency as its unit indicator. As these sentences are created for an audience living in Hong Kong, 塊錢 must refer to Hong Kong dollars.
The character 萬 clearly refers to the universal counting unit 10,000. Thus, 三萬 indicates 30,000.
Note 6: The character 他 refers to the owner of the computer (interpretations 1 and 2) and the owner of the computer and slide rule (interpretation 1) -- namely, the person whose good(s) was (were) purchased by the speaker.
Once again, we find an example where the normal indicator of a noun modifying another noun -- namely, 的 -- has been omitted, so as to avoid needless repetition.
Source: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1449704
Source: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1449706
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| １０）他定計劃的時候，老喜歡對別人說：「請你們不要大聲說話好嗎？」 |
When formulating a plan he is forever telling others, "Must you talk so loudly?"
Note 1: The base pattern of this sentence is ＡＢ的時候，老喜歡說：「Ｄ」where Ｄ is something thatＡis forever saying when he performs Ｂ.
Note 2: Although the construction Ｄ的時候 should be very familiar by now, the construction ＡＢ的時候 where Ａ is also the subject of the subject-less clause that follows -- namely, 老喜歡對別人說 -- is surely peculiar to the English ear.
Few native speakers would ever put the subject of the main clause in an adjacent subordinate clause and then fail to restate it in the main clause! This suggests that this sentence is very poorly constructed, or that Chinese speakers are not careful to distinguish between subordinate and main clauses.
In any case, the same person 他 who formulates plans 定計劃 also enjoys telling others to be quiet -- namely, 老喜歡對別人說：「請你們不要大聲說話好嗎？」.
Note 3: The similarity of use between Chinese angle brackets and English quotation marks is not clear. For example, do angle brackets in Chinese always represent a direct quotation, or can they also be used to indicate indirect quotations -- direct quotations whose substance has been restated by the speaker?
Certainly it would be unusual for a native English speaker to cite verbatim the information contained in the quoted part of this sentence.
Note 4: The construction Ａ對Ｅ說Ｆwhere Ｆis something that Ａtells Ｅis surely not new. The pattern is different from English insofar as the indirect object preceded by the preposition 對Ｅis placed before the verb rather than after.
Note 5: The character 老 is apparently an abbreviation for the word 老是 and means 經常 (always).
Note 6: The construction 說「Ｄ？」is not new, but it is worth noting how differently a cited question is introduced in English and in Chinese. A Chinese speaker uses the say introductory word no matter if the cited text is a question or a statement. The English speaker changes the word according to context.
In this context, however, the Chinese and English usages appear to match, as the request is like an often repeated, politely worded complaint or command.
Note 7: The base pattern of the question is 請Ａ不要Ｂ好嗎？where Ｂis something the speaker asks Ａnot to do. The speakers politeness is expressed both at the beginning and the end of the sentence with the words 請 and 好嗎.
The phrase 不要Ｂ, or in this sentence 不要大聲說話, expresses the activity that the speaker would like to see come to an end. The word 大聲 means "big voice" and the word 說話 means to "talk", "discuss", or "chat".
Source: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1451566
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