Questions about the rules that govern and structure the language, and the composition of clauses, sentences and expressions.
2
votes
3answers
236 views
Is this sentence ambiguous out of context?
My newsletter says this sentence
我五分钟后就回来。
is translated as "I'll be back in 5 minutes".
I am curious to know whether this sentence could be translated as "I came back 5 minutes ago", or does ...
2
votes
4answers
132 views
How to ask “is it really so that…”?
How do I ask a question like "is it really so that you're just 18?" or "is it really so that the movie was good?", i.e. a surprised question?
My guess is something along the lines of "这是真的，你只有十八岁呢?", ...
2
votes
3answers
120 views
Grammar for counting in Chinese (for non-native speakers of Chinese)
I need to write a program that can insert the count of objects into a text - without knowing virtually anything about the Chinese language. While for English this needs to distinguish between singular ...
2
votes
3answers
81 views
Ways to say “more”
I know a few ways to say "more" or "in addition", and I'm wondering which to use when translating this sentence. I came across the following English sentence and its Chinese translation on ...
2
votes
2answers
149 views
What are the most difficult things to learn for a westerner? [closed]
What aspects of the Chinese language are the most difficult to learn for a westerner? In particular I'm interested in thoughts on:
What do you find are the main difficulties?
Are there any aspects ...
2
votes
1answer
71 views
Usage of 感动 (active/passive?)
According to mdbg.net 感动 means both 'to move (emotionally)' and 'moving'.
But from what I understand from some texts I have '邻居们都很感动' implying a more passive meaning for 感动.
Can someone shed some ...
2
votes
2answers
75 views
Translation of “this much and no more”
I found this sentence and its English translation on tatoeba.org:
我知道的就這麼多了。
Beyond this I know nothing.
Now I'm trying to parse the sentence structure, and I'd like some confirmation or a ...
2
votes
2answers
23 views
How can I express the concept “There's nothing of which I'm absolutely sure” in Chinese?
Scientists and philosophers have at various times been quoted as saying:
"There's nothing of which I'm absolutely sure" or "I'm not absolutely sure of anything". (Richard Feynman, for example.)
How ...
2
votes
2answers
99 views
1
vote
9answers
555 views
Are “我在哪里可以买火车票” and “我哪里可以买火车票” both correct sentences?
Are "我在哪里可以买火车票" and "我哪里可以买火车票" both correct sentences? If one isn't, why?
1
vote
2answers
150 views
Resultative complement 到
Is using the resultative complement 到 generally equivalent to saying "at the time this action was finished"?
Can 你走到车站的时候已经很晚了吗？ be translated as "By the time you reached the station were you ...
1
vote
3answers
228 views
国家 vs. 国, when can 国 be used alone?
In the Chinese book for beginners by Bellassen, it is stated that 国 cannot be used alone: it doesn't have a meaning on its own, and thus the word country/fatherland is 国家 and not 国.
However... I am ...
1
vote
4answers
148 views
很 and 最 - Questions of The Context
很 means very. 最 means truly, really. I was wondering in which context they would be most appropriate.
我最喜欢去组约。- I'd really like to go to New York.
So 最 can be used as a descriptor in this ...
1
vote
2answers
96 views
What is 被 doing in sentence “这种病在三十年前就被根除了”?
I understand that the sentence means something like "This disease was eradicated 30 years ago", but I have no idea what role does 被 have in it?
Is the sentence okay if we remove it? Does it convey ...
1
vote
3answers
113 views
Usage of 了 and 以后
For the sentence 'I watched a movie after I had food', are the following translations equivalent? Additionally, is the 3rd translation incorrect (is the ...了...以后... usage valid)?
我吃了饭看电影。
我吃饭以后看电影。
...
1
vote
3answers
109 views
How to correctly order the words in this sentence?
This is a question from an exercise book that I'm currently working through, to rearrange the given words into the correct order. I believe the format is along the lines of "The person who was [doing ...
1
vote
2answers
169 views
What effective methods exists for visual learners to get Chinese grammar?
I want to learn Chinese grammar (e.g. sentence structure), however, I am a highly visual person and feel a visual learning process would help me the most.
I have already taken a beginner Chinese ...
1
vote
3answers
192 views
Is it possible to use the verb particle 过 for future events?
I know it's possible to the use perfective aspect particle 了 for future events, eg:
你家少爷长大了准能当个二流子。
I have yet to find example of similar occurrences with 过. Is it even possible to use it in ...
0
votes
1answer
87 views
Why is 真都不错 used here instead of 都真不错?
中国的风景都真不错。
A native speaker told me that the above sentence was wrong, so the corrected version should be:
中国的风景真(的)都不错。
Is the first sentence's grammar wrong or it just sounds unnatural? ...
