How should I interpret 喝的是?

[bobneudecker]

Hello. I’m working pretty much on my own learning to read and write. I’m using the New Practical Chinese Reader and am currently studying Lesson 16 in Textbook 2. I have a problem in grammar/sentence structure that I can’t seem to find an explanation for in the textbook. Specifically, how do I interpret the phrase 喝的是 as used in the Reading Comprehension exercise on p. 39. Here is the complete sentence:

广东人常说:他们来喝茶，喝的是茶楼里的热闹喝的是一家人一起吃饭的快乐。

I think a possible translation is: Guangdong people often say they come [to the teahouse] to drink tea, but drinking tea means enjoying the liveliness of the teahouse and the happiness of a whole family eating a meal together.

Can anyone help me find a reference to the pattern I’m puzzled about? Thanks.

[renzhe]

You're missing a comma before the second 喝的.

喝的 means the thing being drunk, beverage, 吃的 means the thing being eaten, food.

They say they come to drink tea, but what they are actually drinking is the atmosphere.

[bobneudecker]

Thanks for your response. It clears up that puzzle for me, and I'm sure will be very helpful in the future. Sorry about the typo.

[murrayjames]

Looks like you are in exactly the same place in NPCR2 as I am

Wow Bob, you weren't kidding. And I had the same problem in this reading too. Onto lesson 17!

[bobneudecker]

As long as I’m at it, I’d like to ask about a couple more problems I have with this same Reading Comprehension exercise on p. 39 of NPCR2.

Here’s the opening sentence:

不少广东老人的每一天都从茶楼开始。

Q1. Why 每一天 and not just 每天?

Q2. How is 的 functioning here? Does it mark a possessive? Does it mark 不少广东老人 as a relative clause modifying 每一天? Neither makes sense to me.

My speculative translation is “For not a few Guangdong elderly folks, every day begins at a teahouse.” Even if this should turn out to be reasonably accurate, it seems to just ignore the issues I raised. Thanks for whatever insights you can provide.

[renzhe]

Q1. Why 每一天 and not just 每天?

"Every single day" vs. "Every day".

Q2. How is 的 functioning here? Does it mark a possessive?

Yes.

我 的天 = my day

我 的每一天 = my every day = every one of my days

不少广东老人的每一天 = every single day of many Guangdong seniors

When translating to English, you need to rephrase it slightly to stay within the "spirit" of the language, so it would become:

For many elderly people in Guangdong, every single day begins (in) a teahouse / with a visit to a teahouse.

[skylee]

我 的天 = my day

Not really.

我的天 = oh my god

[renzhe]

LOL, you got me.

I'll rephrase it:

我的星期 = my week

[muyongshi]

我的天啊！skylee说得太对了！

[leeyah]

Originally Posted by renzhe:

我 的天 = my day

Originally Posted by skylee:

Not really.

我的天 = oh my god

No, not always:

没有你我的天是黑的 Without you my days are dark & dreary

or

(今天)我的天亮了 Today is my day (fig. use of 天亮 = dawning)

今天感觉我的天塌了 Today I feel as if the sky crumbled down upon me or Today I feel as if my world is falling apart

[skylee]

没有你我的天是黑的 Without you my days are dark & dreary

or

(今天)我的天亮了 Today is my day (fig. use of 天亮 = dawning)

今天感觉我的天塌了 Today I feel as if the sky crumbled down upon me or Today I feel as if my world is falling apart

They sound strange to my ears. But maybe it's just me.

[bobneudecker]

Thank you renzhe. Your examples are very clear and I get the picture.

I"m really glad I found you guys. Your replies have already saved me from what I feared would be unending frustration as I try to learn this stuff by myself.

[studentyoung]

没有你我的天是黑的 Without you my days are dark & dreary

or

(今天)我的天亮了 Today is my day (fig. use of 天亮 = dawning)

今天感觉我的天塌了 Today I feel as if the sky crumbled down upon me or Today I feel as if my world is falling apart

Oh, my~ ~! Words above just remind me of Fay Wang’s voice and these....

你眼睛红了，我的天灰了…/ Turn red your eyes, turns grey my sky…

你曾是我的天，让我仰着脸就有一切，…/ You used to be my sky, for me to look up and rely…

Chees!

[HashiriKata]

没有你我的天是黑的 Without you my days are dark & dreary

Let's look at the brighter side:

有你我的天会很美