他最近正在学呢。。。exact translation?

[xiexieniii]

First, is this a correct sentence (I wrote it for homework)?

Second, does this sentence mean "these days, she has been studying" or "recently she was studying"?

I need a precise translation so that I can get a better idea of how "正在" and "最近" should be used.

[muyongshi]

Yeah, it's right but it would sound better if you said it 学习. Also in just a typical conversation saying 最近在学习, sounds normal. The 正在 would be emphasizes a difference for what he would normally being doing. Or that he is studying something new. Basically it adds the emphasis.

[xiexieniii]

Okay so, the translation for "他最近(正)在学习" is "he now is currently studying (after having spent some time playing video games earlier in the day)"?

[renzhe]

I don't know, it sounds strange to me. Like "recently, she is studying right now". 正在 refers to something happening right now, and 最近 to a period of time leading up to right now. But I could also be wrong.

Also, I think that the difference between 学 and 学习 is that the first one needs an object and the second one can be used alone.

[stonelee]

I need a precise translation so that I can get a better idea of how "正在" and "最近" should be used.

正在：right now 现在正在播放那部电影。

最近：recently 最近有什么新的电影么？

他最近正在学习呢 is most correct.

You also can say 他最近正在学呢 in spoken language,when last sentence told about what is learned. And can say 他最近正学呢 in spoken language, too.

[muyongshi]

When the object is clear from context you don't need to say 学习 you can just say 学 but if it is not clear you NEED to have 学习. Basically if all you say he's studying recently you need 学习 but if it's something like 电脑技术 and this is clear from context you can just say 学.

Here's the thing about the 正在 and 学习 is that it can only be used in clear ways. For example, your boss wants you to learn some computer things but that's it. He doesn't say when or for how long or anything like that. He doesn't even tell you by the end of the month, year, etc. He one day happens to ask your friend if you've been studying, he could reply 他最近正在学呢. Indicating that he is 1] doing it, since it is not a single act but one that takes place over a bit of time; ie recently 2] that he is JUST in the process of doing it 正在 emphasizing that he is doing it NOW.

Hope that makes sense.

[xiexieniii]

I think I understand.

In the textbook I am using, the sentence structure is:

"她最近在找工作呢." The book then shows us a picture of a girl reading a book with the word "学" beneath it. And it wants us to replace the underlined words with words inferred from the photo. So I rewrote the sentence to say: "她最近正在学."

I understand "正在" to mean "what one is in the process of doing". So I often say "我正在做作业" and no one has corrected me yet. But It's the 最近＋在 that confuses me. Should I be saying, "我最近在做作业呢"?

[xiexieniii]

Stonelee, you say that in spoken language the 正在＋呢 is most correct. What about in written texts, and journals? How one one say, "I am currently studying" or "I am currently looking for work"?

[muyongshi]

Well in that example it would once again be a very specific situation. If a friend asked you where you've been for the last three days and you were catching up on homework yeah you could say that. But the reason that it is interesting is the 最近 because it puts it in a wider time frame.

You saying 正在做 is okay and has no issue just know that it emphasizes the fact that you are doing it RIGHT NOW. Saying 在做作业 also means right now, this one just emphasizes it more. Make sense?

[muyongshi]

Stonelee, you say that in spoken language the 正在＋呢 is most correct.

Reread stonelee's post. It has nothing to do with the 呢.

[xiexieniii]

"她最近在找工作呢." = She is JUST NOW looking for work, although not really just now because she has been looking for a few weeks now. Is that correct?

[muyongshi]

"她最近在找工作呢." = She is JUST NOW looking for work, although not really just now because she has been looking for a few weeks now. Is that correct?

In the one you just wrote here there is no 正在 only a 在 so it would not have the emphasis. This one would be "she's recently in the process of finding a job". If you changed it to 正在 it would be have the emphasis and be more "she's recently IN THE PROCESS of find a job".

The just now is correct it just sounds funny in English so that is why I think describing it as it as "in the process" combines the recently and the 在，正在

[HashiriKata]

If you translate "她最近在找工作呢.as "She has been recently/ in the last few days looking for work", I think it should be fine.

[xiexieniii]

Got it. Thanks a lot. This book from Beijing University Press is annoying the hell out of me with its poor explanations of word/situation usage...

[stonelee]

Stonelee, you say that in spoken language the 正在＋呢 is most correct. What about in written texts, and journals? How one one say, "I am currently studying" or "I am currently looking for work"?

呢 is just a modal particle.It don't contact directly with 正在.

[stonelee]

"她最近在找工作呢." = She is JUST NOW looking for work, although not really just now because she has been looking for a few weeks now. Is that correct?

她最近在找工作呢 and 她最近正在找工作呢 both of them are correct. As muyongshi say:

If you changed it to 正在 it would be have the emphasis and be more "she's recently IN THE PROCESS of find a job".

[xiexieniii]

Thanks!