谁 shéi question

[rossg]

Hi. 

 

My translation doesn't seem to make sense, so I'm wondering why. I see two options:

1. 谁 might mean more than just "who"

2. My translation is correct and it's just poorly translated humor, and perhaps 当然 takes on more of an "obviously" translation here.

 

Context:

“你情人节谁一起过？”

“当然是两个人一起过。”

 

My translation:
Who are you spending Valentine's Day with?
Of course (I'm) spending it with someone else.

Thanks.

 

 

[Shelley]

Yes, "obviously" or "only naturally" is also a good interpretation. It does have a "as it should be" or "without a doubt" meaning.

 

As they say they are spending it with someone else it does sound like it was intended to be humorous.

[歐博思]

Were 'context' sentences spoken by native speakers? Because I feel there is a 和 missing before 谁.

[rossg]

oh crap. that is a typo! Yes it should say 和谁！sorry for the confusion.

Also, my title should be "sheí" not "shéi" but i have no idea how to edit on this site lol

[lips]

1 hour ago, rossg said:

should be "sheí" not "shéi"

?

[Publius]

The tone mark is always on the nucleus, i.e. the "loudest" vowel. The tone mark falls on the second vowel only when there is a medial/glide/semivowel i/u/ü before the nucleus.

shéi is correct.

sheí is wrong.

[roddy]

Where's it from? It reads to me like a deliberately obtuse response to an unwanted question. 

 

"So, who are you spending Valentine's Day with?"

"With someone, obviously."

[evn108]

If you're like me and always screw this up, this is helpful:

 

http://pinyin.info/rules/where.html

[yueni]

Regarding tone markings, this is the poem/mnemonic I've always used that I learned as a child:

有A不放过，

无A找O、E，

I、U平列排在后，

单个韵母不必说。

 

Translation:

If there's an A, the tone mark goes on it.

If there's no A, look for an O or an E.

If I and U are placed together, put the tone mark on the last vowel.

If there's only one vowel, then it's obvious where it goes.

[Lu]

The tonemarkt goes on the first vowel, unless that vowel is an I or U, then it goes on the second.

 

Just adding my explanation, readers can pick whichever explanation makes the most sense to them.