Try to find the the literal translation
To illustrate: Ni hao. In Mandarin Chinese it equates to hello, but it is actually two words: ni = you (informal) and hao = good/well. So ni hao actually and literally means you good, you well? My pet hate are dictionaries and books that fail to give you the literal meaning of words/phrases and oversimplify things. My tip is to try to find the literal meaning of words/phrases. You will expand your vocabulary faster and gain a deeper insight into what you learn. Some language learners dissagree with this. Does any one out there agree though? ... :)
Sent by: Xiao An
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I do agree! It was a bit grating for me at first to be given only the English equivalent of a saying or expression in another language, while I can see a different imagery or nuance in the words used. However, I reckon that's what we are supposed to discover for ourselves. The dictionary's there for us to look up the literal meaning of words, but the context and connotation is something we have to be taught.
I understand the motive behind simplification - that one has to be careful not to get too hung up on the translation. For example, "de rien" in French means "you're welcome" or "no problem" (or "bu ke qi"), while it literally says "of nothing". An English speaker could be tempted to say "c'est rien" ("it's nothing"), which would mean something different. A lot of phrases seem off when translated literally. That said, getting past all that, it is enjoyable to know what the words really say, and the depth behind what is meant.
Well said Tony G! Bu ke qi is another example. It is used to mean "sorry" but has a very interesting literal meaning, something like "don't be so polite".
Hi there - I have to say that I agree with you - especially in Mandarin Chinese! It is Ok translating character by character from a dictionary - but unless you learn the literal meaning, often it is difficult to grasp the meaning of a sentence without understanding the literal meaning - it also gives a learner an insight into the culture of the Chinese, which makes learning much more enjoyable to my mind.
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I definately agree. I am currently learning Cantonese Chinese (I'm doing a working holiday in Hong Kong). I find it very interesting to know the literal meaning of what I'm saying, which makes it easier for me to learn and understand the language.
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