Hofmann Posted December 5, 2011 at 07:53 AM Report Posted December 5, 2011 at 07:53 AM Why does 非要 mean 必要? I've never been able to get over it. It makes no sense. It's not in my 1983 辭源. Quote
anonymoose Posted December 5, 2011 at 08:05 AM Report Posted December 5, 2011 at 08:05 AM Why does "I could care less" (US English) mean "I couldn't care less" (proper English)? I've never been able to get over it. Quote
Kenny同志 Posted December 5, 2011 at 08:15 AM Report Posted December 5, 2011 at 08:15 AM The Elements of Style doesn't consider "I could care less" correct. 非要 doesn't mean 必要 in my opinion. 你非要那么做，我也没办法。 I can't do anything if you would insist on doing that. 非要我生气你才舒服是吧？ So you feel bad unless I get angry? 你没必要那么做。 It isn't necessary for you to do that. 1 Quote
anonymoose Posted December 5, 2011 at 08:18 AM Report Posted December 5, 2011 at 08:18 AM Sorry to hijack your thread, Hofmann. For what it's worth, my guess is just that it's part of the 非要...不可 construction, where the 不可 has been dropped. 3 Quote
skylee Posted December 5, 2011 at 10:43 AM Report Posted December 5, 2011 at 10:43 AM I agree with anonymoose. That is exactly what I think. Quote
skylee Posted December 5, 2011 at 11:19 AM Report Posted December 5, 2011 at 11:19 AM See the dictionary entry of 非得 (same meaning, same structure) for reference -> http://dict.revised....&op=f&imgFont=1 (in case of time-out, paste the word in the box) Also in the Lin Yutang Dictionary (Word No. 3; note the pronunciation is not current) -> http://humanum.arts....ory=wholerecord 非得 can also be found in my Xiandai Hanyu Cidian. PS - according to Xiandai Hanyu Cidian, one of the explanations of 非 is 跟“不“呼應，表示必須：要想做出好成績，~下苦功不可。 Quote
Lu Posted December 5, 2011 at 01:22 PM Report Posted December 5, 2011 at 01:22 PM I agree with anonymoose too. That's what I've learned and always thought. For further confusion, one can wonder why 好不容易 means the same as 好容易. Quote
Hofmann Posted December 5, 2011 at 07:39 PM Author Report Posted December 5, 2011 at 07:39 PM I see. So it's 非...不可, with the 不可 dropped. This was the result of my teaching materials giving 非要 alone before giving 非要...不可. Quote
OneEye Posted December 6, 2011 at 11:43 AM Report Posted December 6, 2011 at 11:43 AM And for the record, "I could care less" is not US English, it's stupid people English. "I couldn't care less" is correct in the US too. 3 Quote
Guest realmayo Posted December 6, 2011 at 11:53 AM Report Posted December 6, 2011 at 11:53 AM Out of interest, are there any instances of 非 being used with this meaning of "must" but where a 要 is not present? Quote
skylee Posted December 6, 2011 at 02:56 PM Report Posted December 6, 2011 at 02:56 PM See the example from Xiandai Hanyu Cidian quoted in #6 above - 要想做出好成績，非下苦功不可. Also see those links in the same post. Quote
Guest realmayo Posted December 6, 2011 at 03:59 PM Report Posted December 6, 2011 at 03:59 PM Oh, sorry, I should have added "...and without the 不可" Edit: I mean: 非 on its own. Quote
anonymoose Posted December 6, 2011 at 05:19 PM Report Posted December 6, 2011 at 05:19 PM And for the record, "I could care less" is not US English, it's stupid people English. "I couldn't care less" is correct in the US too. OK, thanks for clearing that up. 非常感谢。 1 Quote
roddy Posted December 7, 2011 at 10:07 AM Report Posted December 7, 2011 at 10:07 AM Split some off-topic posts off elsewhere, as part of futile efforts in this direction. 1 Quote
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