diannao Posted February 9, 2011 at 06:28 PM Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 at 06:28 PM Hi all, I'd like to know what 王有金 (wángyǒujīn) means in Mandarin. Is it true that it's a name, "Wang Jin"? Thanks in advance for your answer! Take care, diannao Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquatarkus Posted February 9, 2011 at 09:58 PM Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 at 09:58 PM Quite possible; though literally it means "the king with money (or gold)", but at least here you can see the following: 王有金原是沂水县都头, that is Wang Youjin (王有金) originally was (原是) a head (头) in the capital (都) of Yishui county (沂水县). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creamyhorror Posted February 10, 2011 at 02:03 AM Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 at 02:03 AM Yes, it's the name "Wang Youjin". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diannao Posted February 10, 2011 at 01:25 PM Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 at 01:25 PM Thanks your your replies. It means "the king with money (or gold)" only in Classical Chinese, right? If I'm not mistaken, "the king with money (or gold)" would be said in another way in Mandarin. What happens if you say Wang Youjin to a native Mandarin speaker? Will he understand "the king with money (or gold)" or will he hear a name? And what does "a head (头) in the capital" mean? Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbradfor Posted February 10, 2011 at 03:45 PM Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 at 03:45 PM And what does "a head (头) in the capital" mean? 都頭 is a word, means leader or expert, or it's an official position in dynastic China. Source: http://dict.revised....&op=f&imgFont=1 It's in neither nciku nor MDBG, however, so it can't be that common. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquatarkus Posted February 10, 2011 at 04:06 PM Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 at 04:06 PM The "capital" is the main city in a state or county. A "head" is the main man in the capital ;) Ps. As to the possibility of hearing "king with gold" instead of a name I think a native speaker will have the last word here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creamyhorror Posted February 10, 2011 at 05:02 PM Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 at 05:02 PM 都頭 is a word, means leader or expert, or it's an official position in dynastic China. I think the latter is more likely since it's prefixed with the name of an administrative area: 沂水县都头 = the chief of Yishui count (where Yishui probably was/contained a major metropolis). If I'm not mistaken, "the king with money (or gold)" would be said in another way in Mandarin. What happens if you say Wang Youjin to a native Mandarin speaker? Will he understand "the king with money (or gold)" or will he hear a name? 王有金, taken as a name, would be like "Richie Wang" if the characters were made clear. If taken as a phrase, it would mean "king has money", and wouldn't mean much without additional context. "The king with money" would be 有金之王 in Mandarin. I'm not sure about classical Chinese, but it's probably similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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.