Please check this beginner's translation!

[Sean93]

Hello!

I've translated this beginning text, but I am unsure of several things. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! I know that Chinese has two types of comma, but I don't know how to type the second kind.

有一天，我去日本东京看一个很有名的作家。

One day, I went to Tokyo, Japan to see a very famous author.

My only question with this sentence is, why is "有" there at the beginning?

那个作家，看样子是西方人。

It seems that that author is a westerner.

Shouldn't it be more like "看样子这作家是西方人"? Also, is "westerner" meant to be like a westerner from America, or someone from western Japan?

他说他们国家是一个王国，在地中海，国王是黑人。

He says that their country is a kingdom on an island, and that their king is a black man.

I'm sure I translated "black man" wrong, but how?

他们国家人口不多，有不少火山。

Their country has not many people and quite a few volcanoes.

男人的想法，作法和女人不一样。

Men's views and practices are different than those of women.

Shouldn't "men" be more like "男人们"?

生日的时候，男的喜欢买酒杯，女的喜欢买茶花。

On birthdays, men like to buy wine and women like to buy camellias.

Shouldn't it say "男人们" instead of "男的"? Or does "男的" refer to "men's practices" from the previous sentence? Also, what's with the birthdays and camellias? Did I get that right?

男的去图书馆看书，女的在家看书。

Men go to the library and read books, while women read books at home.

女人生孩子的时候, 男人去买花生，大人，小孩儿都来喝喜酒。

When women give birth to children, men go buy peanuts, and adults and children all come and drink celebration wine.

Did I get the thing about the peanuts right? I read that 喜酒 is served at weddings, but women don't give birth at weddings...

他们国家天上没有飞机， 地上没有火车， 工人门冬天不工作，老人都想去中国。

Their country's sky has no airplanes, and their earth has no trains, and working people do not work on winter days, and old people all want to go to China.

First of all, it seems like this sentence should actually be several sentences. Also, what's with the 上s in this sentence? And what's with old people wanting to go to China? Did I do something wrong?

他们那儿外国东西不贵，可是人们不喜欢买外国东西，喜欢买 本国的。

There foreign things are not expensive, but people do not like to buy foreign things, they like to buy things from their own country.

Why is "他们" at the beginning of this sentence?

大家都爱国。

Everybody loves the (their?) country.

你想一想，这是哪个国家？

What country is this?

I don't know what to make of "你想一想"

Please be patient with me! I'm am still very new to Chinese! Thanks!

[shivasprogeny]

I can help with some of your questions, check a dictionary where you're just unsure if you translated a word correctly.

My only question with this sentence is, why is "有" there at the beginning?

This is a fixed phrase, saying 一天 means a duration of time so you have to say "there was a day".

Shouldn't it be more like "看样子这作家是西方人"?

Try and not translate directly from English. Chinese often uses the topic-comment structure.

"westerner" meant to be like a westerner from America, or someone from western Japan?

The former.

男人的想法，作法和女人不一样。

Men's views and practices are different than those of women.

Shouldn't "men" be more like "男人们"?

The plural suffix is rarely used outside of pronouns so most of the time you can leave it off.

男的去图书馆看书，女的在家看书。

Men go to the library and read books, while women read books at home.

他们国家天上没有飞机， 地上没有火车， 工人门冬天不工作，老人都想去中国。

Their country's sky has no airplanes, and their earth has no trains, and working people do not work on winter days, and old people all want to go to China.

First of all, it seems like this sentence should actually be several sentences.

Written Chinese sentences are typically longer than those in English, several related ideas are often strung together.

I don't know what to make of "你想一想"

[verb]yi[verb] is a structure that makes it sound more casual or "do this action a little/for a little bit." By saying 想一想 it sounds more think "think it over" or "ponder for a bit".

[Sean93]

Thank you so much for helping me. I hope my questions aren't too stupid.

[fanglu]

So what country is it?

[889]

The term 地中海 Dìzhōng Hǎi means a sea in the middle of land, not land in the middle of a sea. Specifically, it refers to the Mediterranean Sea.

[Sean93]

Ohhh thank you 889.

I'm guessing the country is supposed to be France, since the book I'm using was originally in French.

[skylee]

The term 地中海 Dìzhōng Hǎi means a sea in the middle of land, not land in the middle of a sea. Specifically, it refers to the Mediterranean Sea.

Or, a hair style / condition of men.

Also, 酒杯 is wine glass/cup, not wine.

[fanglu]

Sorry for getting off topic...

I'm guessing the country is supposed to be France, since the book I'm using was originally in French.

France is a monarchy with a black king and has no trains or planes?

[imron]

I know that Chinese has two types of comma, but I don't know how to type the second kind.

Depends on the OS/input method, but it's usually / or

See this thread for further discussion.

[QiYanJie]

(A)那个作家，看样子是西方人。

we also say:(B)看样子这作家是西方人。but a little different:

A:just judge him from his appearance

B:judge him may not only from his appearance,maybe from his language or sth. else(not mentioned)

B can be translated into: He's seemingly a westerner( white people).

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女人生孩子的时候, 男人去买花生，大人，小孩儿都来喝喜酒。

喜酒 is not only served at weddings, but also for new birth.

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他们那儿外国东西不贵，可是人们不喜欢买外国东西，喜欢买 本国的。

"他们" at the beginning of this sentence is not single.

"他们那儿"means :their place,their country or their XXX.(according to the context)

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想一想:think over (equal to 想)

想一想=想一下

form:verb + 一 + verb=verb=verb + 一下

such as:开一下 窗户(open window)

开一开 门(open door)

说一说 (say)

说一下 (say)

there is nothing behind the verb so we use this sort of form for making sentance smooth

[Sean93]

Thank you for all your help!