从以前 and 比较

[daveonhols]

Hello,

I've come across these two phrases in my Doraemon book that I don't really understand. Part of the confusion is that this comic book has both Chinese and English dialog, but the translations are clearly not very literal in many cases.

First sentance is

这道门从以前就很难开

which is translated to

This door has never been easy to open.

Obviously the translation is not literal because the Chinese has "hard to open" and the English has "easy to open". So how to understand 从以前? It's not even in my dictionary as a word in itself, so I guess something like "always been hard to open", so is it similar to 总是 meaning always？

The second sentance is 我劝你不要用比较好. I definately don't have a clue about 比较 in this case? My dictionary says "compare, comparision, comparitavely"??

Oh and I thought of another one. 看一眼? Is it similar to 看一看？

Thanks

David

[skylee]

It's not even in my dictionary as a word in itself, so I guess something like "always been hard to open", so is it similar to 总是 meaning always？

Right.

The second sentance is 我劝你不要用比较好. I definately don't have a clue about 比较 in this case? My dictionary says "compare, comparision, comparitavely"??

Consider 比较好 = 较好 = better.

看一眼? Is it similar to 看一看？

Yes.

[daveonhols]

Thanks for the clarification, so

我劝你不要用比较好

means something like "I advise you, it's better not to use it".

Thanks

[skylee]

Correct.

[helilu.lily]

I'd like to add that 看一眼is a frequant combination in Chinese.Here are some examples for you,and there is a difference in the mode"A 一 B":

看一眼=看一看=看一下 have a look

尝一口=尝一尝 have a taste

吃一口 have a bite(exactily only one bite)

吃一吃 have a eat

A --usually a verb relating to senses.

B --the organ that make the action .

But it's INappropriate to say:

听一耳

闻一鼻

摸一手

It's also APPROPRIATE to say:

听一听 listen

闻一闻 smell

摸一摸 touch

I'm a Chinese language and literature major studing in Sichuan University ,China. If you have any question in learning Chinese ,you can ask them here so that everyone can benefit rather than sending a private emailedit>

Edited June 7, 2009 at 11:40 PM by imron

[williams]

hey David

I'll tell you:

1.what's the difference from the "总是" and "从以前"

2.how to analyse the words:"比较"in "我劝你不要用比较好"

3.what's the difference from the "看一眼" and "看一看"

1st question:

how to analyse "总是" "从以前"

we can image this scene:

there is a door which is locked

and no body can open it.

one day,

David was coming,and he try to open this door.

but he failed.

he leave this door and NEVER COME BACK AGAIN.

another day,

Williams was coming,and he try to open this door too.

certainly he failed either.

but he thought:why I can't open it,I'll try to open it again

so Williams try to open it AGAIN AND AGAIN.

At last,

The god want to open this door.

he failed either.

he ask David:Why I can't open this door?

David said:这道门从以前就很难打开(I lose my confidence,I don't want open it now.)

so he ask Williams:Why I can't open this door?

Williams siad:这道门一直打不开(I always want to open it,but I always fail)

Is the first question clear?

Now:

2rd question:

我劝你不要用比较好

yeah,Your dictionary is right

比较means "compare, comparision, comparitavely"

just you don't know compare what with what.

I'll tell you compare what with what.

In this sentence,I know there are two choice:

1st:use it

2rd:don't use it

so compare 1st with 2rd.

I choose 1st.

The complete sentence is:

我劝你不要用比较用好

Is the second question clear?

At last:

3th question:

what's the difference from the "看一眼" and "看一看"

they are all means take a look,have a look.

The difference is:

看一眼:you needn't stop anything to take a look.

看一看:you must stop something to take a look so that it will not disturb you to take a look.

is the last question clear?