ta si le- what does it mean?

[Shakti]

Hello everyone. I'm translating a novel written by a Chinese author and I have some problems with a small expression in Chinese. Can you please explain to me what "ta si le" means? Thank you for the future answers.

[Quest]

He died. How do you translate?

[adrianlondon]

You're guessing from the toneless pinyin ;) Maybe the main character was turned into a horse and is now neighing?

I agree with what (I assume) you inferred though - how is the novel being translated if 他死了 is confusing?

[skylee]

I suppose the novel is not in Chinese... otherwise it is confusing that the translator has problems with small expressions like "ta si le".

[Shakti]

No, the novel is in English and it contains some words in Chinese. You're right, it's "she died" I guess because the girls repeat that about their dead mother. Thank you so much!!!!