aprose1977 Posted January 29, 2011 at 09:00 PM Report Posted January 29, 2011 at 09:00 PM This is a sentance from Chinese in Steps book 4 describing the idiom 井底之蛙. The context is: 一只青蛙住在一口井里。 它高兴时就在井里跳来跳去。 The first sentence is straightforward but I am not sure quite what is going on grammatically with the second sentence. I am especially confused by the last part 跳来跳去. How should I translate this second sentence? My best effort is "It was happy hopping about in the well" but I think I am missing something. Any help much appreciated! Quote
ma3zi1 Posted January 29, 2011 at 09:53 PM Report Posted January 29, 2011 at 09:53 PM Your guess is really pretty close to the meaning, good instincts! 它高兴时就在井里跳来跳去。 "When it was happy, it would hop around and about inside the well." The structure you spoke of is: [verb] 来 [verb] 去 找來找去，可沒找到 = looked all of over, but didn't find (it) 走來走去，尋找出口 = walked to and fro looking for the exit Hopefully, those examples give you the feel for it. Quote
Glenn Posted January 29, 2011 at 10:27 PM Report Posted January 29, 2011 at 10:27 PM I still can't get 走 = "walk" into my head. "Go" is fine as a meaning for me, but "walk" I still can't quite accept. Quote
ma3zi1 Posted January 29, 2011 at 10:44 PM Report Posted January 29, 2011 at 10:44 PM How about 走 as the past tense of "go", namely "went": 走來走去，尋找出口 "went back and forth looking for the exit" Does that make more sense? Quote
Glenn Posted January 29, 2011 at 10:56 PM Report Posted January 29, 2011 at 10:56 PM It made sense the first time. I just have problems thinking of 走 as "walk". That's all. Thanks though. Quote
Glenn Posted January 29, 2011 at 10:56 PM Report Posted January 29, 2011 at 10:56 PM I accidentally hit "post" twice. Move along, nothing to see here... Quote
ma3zi1 Posted January 29, 2011 at 11:28 PM Report Posted January 29, 2011 at 11:28 PM Haha, y'know Glenn, I think keeping your Chinese level set as "Beginner" is a bit deceiving ;) Quote
Glenn Posted January 30, 2011 at 01:47 AM Report Posted January 30, 2011 at 01:47 AM Ha, well, it doesn't feel much better than that, but then again, I don't really know how to judge it. Maybe I should put "lower intermediate". Quote
creamyhorror Posted January 30, 2011 at 02:15 AM Report Posted January 30, 2011 at 02:15 AM 它高兴时就在井里跳来跳去。"When it was happy, it would hop around and about inside the well." To add on to ma3zi1's explanation, this sentence breaks down to: [它] [高兴时] [就] [在井里] [跳来跳去]。 [subject] [time descriptor] [就] [location] [verb phrase] where XX时 means "when XX". So you can put things like 很高兴的时候, 每天早上, 有时, 经常 or 昨天 in that position. (I also think 就 becomes less appropriate depending on the exact choice of time phrase: I wouldn't use it with 经常 or 有时, for example.) I still can't get 走 = "walk" into my head. "Go" is fine as a meaning for me, but "walk" I still can't quite accept Is there some background to this? Quote
Glenn Posted January 30, 2011 at 04:35 AM Report Posted January 30, 2011 at 04:35 AM Yeah, to me it's always meant "run". And even though 跑 = "run" wasn't a problem, getting "run" to equal "walk" has proven to be quite a problem. I know I just need to focus on it more (after all, now I'm comfortable with the "go" meaning, probably from heavy exposure to 慢走 and 我們走吧, etc.). Quote
creamyhorror Posted January 30, 2011 at 07:28 AM Report Posted January 30, 2011 at 07:28 AM Yeah, to me it's always meant "run". Oh, from Japanese? When I went from Chinese to Japanese the "walk" didn't interfere much for me. The languages are pretty separate in my mind, since the usages of the same words and characters are pretty different. Quote
Glenn Posted January 30, 2011 at 08:33 PM Report Posted January 30, 2011 at 08:33 PM Yeah. Well, that and after thinking about it, I can't say I've come across it in the "walk" sense all that much at all. I tend to think of it as meaning "go" before anything in Chinese. I guess it is just exposure. Quote
ma3zi1 Posted January 30, 2011 at 11:01 PM Report Posted January 30, 2011 at 11:01 PM Here's some examples to add to your exposure : 走了很长一段路后感到很热，喝杯冷饮可惬意了。 “After walking down the road a long time and feeling hot, drinking a cold beverage can be quite satisfying." 婴儿先能爬, 然後才会走. "Infants only are able to walk after they learn to crawl." A：我们走回家吧？ "How about we walk home, eh?" B：绝对不行，太远了！ "No way, it's way too far!" 午饭后歇一歇，晚饭后走一走。 "Rest a little after lunch, walk a little after dinner." Quote
Glenn Posted January 30, 2011 at 11:22 PM Report Posted January 30, 2011 at 11:22 PM Nice, thanks! Also, that's the first time I've seen 愜. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and select your username and password later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.