tooironic Posted May 4, 2015 at 10:29 AM Report Posted May 4, 2015 at 10:29 AM Today I asked my friend to translate the following sentence into Chinese: I've highlighted the parts in the document that need to be rewritten.He translated it as: 我已經把文中需要重新寫過的部分標示出來了。I thought it was interesting that he translated "rewrite" as 重新寫過. I would have just said 重寫. So what is the function of 過 in this context? Obviously it's not to indicate that the verb has already been experienced, right?PS. Originally I was actually interested in whether there was an equivalent for "highlight" in Chinese, but then this question cropped up... Quote
roddy Posted May 4, 2015 at 10:35 AM Report Posted May 4, 2015 at 10:35 AM My first inclination is that it's a typo or an error or something. Quote
Tiana Posted May 4, 2015 at 11:20 AM Report Posted May 4, 2015 at 11:20 AM Would 写作 (instead of 写过) improve it? Quote
Demonic_Duck Posted May 4, 2015 at 01:56 PM Report Posted May 4, 2015 at 01:56 PM Edit: misread. Quote
Tiana Posted May 4, 2015 at 02:08 PM Report Posted May 4, 2015 at 02:08 PM Yes, I think you are 需要重新寫過的部分= "The part the needs rewriting", so the action of rewriting has not yet been carried out, and 过 is therefore not appropriate. For that reason, I suggested 写作 instead of 写过. Quote
Demonic_Duck Posted May 4, 2015 at 02:49 PM Report Posted May 4, 2015 at 02:49 PM Oh yeah. Well, that's weird. Probably a typo, as you suggest. Quote
New Members shm511 Posted May 4, 2015 at 03:29 PM New Members Report Posted May 4, 2015 at 03:29 PM There is not really ab actual use if 過 in this text, yet if your friend is from Guangdong, it is our usual practice to say 過 which means 'do... over again' Hope it helps Quote
tooironic Posted May 4, 2015 at 04:23 PM Author Report Posted May 4, 2015 at 04:23 PM Well, what's even weirder is he now says that he's influenced by his Malaysian friends who apparently speak that way. I'm still confused. Quote
Tiana Posted May 4, 2015 at 04:33 PM Report Posted May 4, 2015 at 04:33 PM Is your friend who translated the sentence a native Chinese speaker? He sounded like he's not even sure if he speaks the language properly. Quote
New Members Will Thi Posted May 4, 2015 at 04:41 PM New Members Report Posted May 4, 2015 at 04:41 PM Hi. This is such an interesting question that it prompts me to register here. The strange thing is that I did not find the sentence wrong even though most of you did. I did a quick search and it seems there are plenty of results with 重新寫過 in Google. An example from the city where I am from: "...表示, 政府如果認為公民提名並不可能， 可以提出原因， 更應該重新寫過一份政改諮詢報告。" RTHK 香港電台 http://rthk.hk/rthk/news/expressnews/20141011/news_20141011_55_1044756.htm I think here 過 does not express that 寫 "has already been experienced" but rather "will have been experienced". In my opinion the sentence is fine. The problem may have arisen because Chinese language does not mark tense, so the aspect particle can work in any time frame. Quote
Vildhjerp Posted May 4, 2015 at 05:36 PM Report Posted May 4, 2015 at 05:36 PM I'm still curious about the "highlight" equivalent. The closest I could come up with is 用荧光笔标示. I'm not sure if 荧光笔 comes with its own set verb. Quote
tooironic Posted May 5, 2015 at 02:10 AM Author Report Posted May 5, 2015 at 02:10 AM @Tiana Yes he's a native speaker of Chinese. BTW, 寫作 is not right either, since it means 寫文章；創作文學作品, not write in a generic sense. @Vildhjerp Doesn't look like there is an equivalent for the verb "highlight", only the noun referring to the actual pen itself. Quote
coolnicholas Posted May 5, 2015 at 02:56 AM Report Posted May 5, 2015 at 02:56 AM It's a typo, it should be "我已经把文中需要重新写的部分标示出来了“ Quote
semantic nuance Posted May 5, 2015 at 01:09 PM Report Posted May 5, 2015 at 01:09 PM 重新寫過 is not a typo. I use it that way when I want someone to write something again. I would just say: 麻煩你重新寫過。 similar pattern: 重新愛過....重新來過.... I don't know its function but from my 語感，I think it might be used in something that has been done, but will be done again. 3 Quote
OneEye Posted May 5, 2015 at 01:16 PM Report Posted May 5, 2015 at 01:16 PM Yeah, I've seen this usage before too, exact same wording (重新寫過). Quote
歐博思 Posted May 5, 2015 at 01:33 PM Report Posted May 5, 2015 at 01:33 PM Baidu Baike definition number 5 for 過 <动>从头到尾重新审视：把这篇文章再过一过。 Quote
dwq Posted May 5, 2015 at 07:16 PM Report Posted May 5, 2015 at 07:16 PM In Hong Kong 寫過 in 口語 is sufficient for "rewrite", 重新寫過 would actually be "rewrite from scratch". It is interesting because we also say 再寫過 "rewrite again" which is a bit redundant. Another common one is 由頭寫過/從頭寫過 which is "rewrite from the beginning". All of these are Oral Cantonese though. 1 Quote
Mindmaxd Posted May 6, 2015 at 03:13 AM Report Posted May 6, 2015 at 03:13 AM I've highlighted the parts in the document that need to be rewritten. 我已经把文中需要 重写 的部分标记出来了。 重寫過的部分means already written's part,So in mandarin your friend's translation is not make sense. Quote
edelweis Posted May 7, 2015 at 07:54 PM Report Posted May 7, 2015 at 07:54 PM more examples from google...重新来过 seems fairly common如果生命是一種選擇, 我可不可以重新來過?如果可以重新來過, 我要從什麼時候開始?大学，如果再给我一次重新来过的机会 随着最后一节课的结束，我的大学生活也即将走道尽头。This one also seems common, but maybe that's because it's the title of a song...哦 想念着你 不知如今你在那里 是否能够重新重新爱过 Various other examples:杨尚昆评毛泽东：讲过的话可以重新变过要重新下载过了练习模式的设置每次进都要重新设置过 好麻烦啊我觉得我们学院的校徽应该重新设计过更加应该重新开始过工作最关键是什么？我应该重新找过一份工作吗？重装后是必须重新装过游戏么？有时候在safari下载文件会突然中断，而后必须重新下载过。如果半夜里要上厕所,脚穿拖鞋落地后,那么他的一双脚就必须重新洗过。英语六级过得不好，想重新考过，用什么资料比较好玩過一陣子的半新手想重新回鍋 Quote
Fragrance Posted May 24, 2015 at 04:27 PM Report Posted May 24, 2015 at 04:27 PM 过 here is just a function word, does not have actual meaning. As a native speaker. I think 重新写过 sounds like more written and 重写 is oral. We usually just use 重写 in daily life. Or maybe 重新写过 is just a personal or local habit. Forgive my poor English please. :-) Quote
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