“木头” 不同的词法意义

[gztiger]

I want to know for the word "wood", what is the meaning behind it when is used in different sentence. I am not sure if I'm right or not, so I would like you guys to help me take it look at it.

For "我手里有一块木头。", I think is talking about just physically the wood and nothing else behind it.

For "木头都比较容易着火。", I think is talking about the durable of the wood, but what I am not sure is that, is it really just the durable difference in this one? I don't even know if the durable is right or not.

For "木头箱子可以漂在水上。", I think is talking about how the wood can be use in different ways.

For "请你把那块木头劈开。", I think is talking about demanding someone to do something to the wood, where in this sentence, the wood become no state of use. I don't know.

I kept on thinking, but that's all I come up so far. Also, I searched on website as well, but couldn't find an answer. Please help me out here. You don't need to give me a direct answer, but I do want to understand how this word "wood" mean in different sentence. Thank You!:help

我手里有一块木头。 木头都比较容易着火。

木头箱子可以漂在水上。 请你把那块木头劈开。

[anonymoose]

Troll?

木头 means "wood" in all of these sentences, plain and simple.

[gztiger]

Of course the word wood means wood in each sentence, but the use of word wood differently in each sentence got to has it's meaning. I don't think is just the simple explanation of wood is wood.

[chrix]

I also fail to see major semantic differences here, as far as I can see, in each sentence, "wood" is referred to as a material.

[trien27]

In all your sentences, they all mean the same thing: a piece of wood used as a material.

Calling someone “木头” would put you into some trouble: this is in response to “木头” 不同的词法意义. “木头” = a piece of wood can't talk, therefore suggesting a "dummy".

"我手里有一块木头。", I think is talking about just physically the wood and nothing else behind it.

"木头都比较容易着火。", is talking about the chemical properties of the wood, specifically its combustibility.

"木头箱子可以漂在水上。", is talking about the physical properties of the wood, in particular its density in relation to that of water.

"请你把那块木头劈开。", is talking about the internal structure of the wood and its propensity to fracture along a plane.

木头 could mean "logs" or any pieces of wood chopped up into pieces of any size.

我手里有一块木头。= "I have a piece of wood / log in my hand." This is the wood property of the piece of wood / log [according to the five elements*]: Wood does nothing to itself.

木头都比较容易着火。= "Pieces of wood / logs could catch fire and burn easily." This is the fire property of the piece of wood / log [according to the five elements*]: wood burns when it meets fire.

木头箱子可以漂在水上。= "The wooden chest could float on the water" This is the water property of the piece of wood / log [according to the five elements*]: It's floating on water but doesn't sink.

请你把那块木头劈开。= "Please chop up this piece of wood / log" This is the metal property of the piece of wood / log [according to the five elements*]: You need an axe to chop wood [the part of the axe used to do the work is made of metal].

For the earth property, you could say, I've got a plant of some kind and it grew and went up into the sky just like Jack's magic beanstalk.

*Five elements = Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, & Earth

Edited February 20, 2010 at 03:00 PM by trien27
grammar error

[anonymoose]

OK then

"我手里有一块木头。", I think is talking about just physically the wood and nothing else behind it.

"木头都比较容易着火。", is talking about the chemical properties of the wood, specifically its combustibility.

"木头箱子可以漂在水上。", is talking about the physical properties of the wood, in particular its density in relation to that of water.

"请你把那块木头劈开。", is talking about the internal structure of the wood and its propensity to fracture along a plane.

[daofeishi]

"我手里有一块木头。", is a Freudian image, and clearly of phallic origin. It refers to how the speaker has suffered childhood traumas relating to human sexuality.

"木头都比较容易着火。", is an incitement to arson, and refers to the speaker's delinquency and misconduct. This is subtly related to the sentence above.

"木头箱子可以漂在水上。", this sentence relates to the safe disposal of potential judicial evidence. Various translations are possible, and could incorporate phrases and allusions such as "the water is wide" and "sleeping with the fishes".

"请你把那块木头劈开。", a common activity in a state correctional facility.

[Hofmann]

I want to know for the word "wood", what is the meaning behind it when is used in different sentence.

Short answer: "Wood."

Longer answer: No translated meanings are 100% the same. Even if they name the same thing, they may carry different connotations, related words, and they may be tied to different cultures. When used in different contexts, words that mean the same thing might carry different connotations, and its context may lead the audience to think of different things. Such differences are, in my opinion, not worth talking about.

Of course the word wood means wood in each sentence, but the use of word wood differently in each sentence got to has it's meaning. I don't think is just the simple explanation of wood is wood.

以子之矛陷子之盾何如？"木頭" means "wood" in all your examples. Wood is wood. Humans are human. Trolls are trolls.