Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
請
Chinese translation:
sometimes an indicator of admonition, moral suasion, or simply a suggestion
Added to glossary by
Roddy Stegemann
Apr 15, 2006 11:26
18 yrs ago
English term
United States
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Native in: English 
Works in: German to English, Japanese to English, French to English, and 3 more.
請
Non-PRO
English to Chinese
Other
Education / Pedagogy
Grammatical Analysis
Sentence: 步行對身體很好的，請你不要老是坐車吧！
1st Attempt: Walking is good for your health, so you do not always have to ride.
This sentence poses several problems for me, but I will restrict my question to two, and hope that I have gotten the rest of the sentence correct despite my feelings of uncertainty.
Problem 1: In particular I am concerned about the use of 請 in this sentence. Does it really mean please? Or does it mean something closer to should, as I have rendered it.
Problem 2: My second question is much easier, as it has to do with a very common Chinese phrase -- namely, 座車. Has this been rendered properly? After all, 座車 mean nearly any vehicle other than a bicycle, doesn't it?
As always comments about other parts of the sentence that I believe to be correct, but are not, are of course welcome.
http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/contents.html
or simply Google for "tsong kit"
1st Attempt: Walking is good for your health, so you do not always have to ride.
This sentence poses several problems for me, but I will restrict my question to two, and hope that I have gotten the rest of the sentence correct despite my feelings of uncertainty.
Problem 1: In particular I am concerned about the use of 請 in this sentence. Does it really mean please? Or does it mean something closer to should, as I have rendered it.
Problem 2: My second question is much easier, as it has to do with a very common Chinese phrase -- namely, 座車. Has this been rendered properly? After all, 座車 mean nearly any vehicle other than a bicycle, doesn't it?
As always comments about other parts of the sentence that I believe to be correct, but are not, are of course welcome.
http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/contents.html
or simply Google for "tsong kit"
Proposed translations
18 mins
Selected
FYI
1. 是规劝, Pursuasion
2. Any vehicle that will not be powered by people, but not bicycle. For example, by bus, by car, you do not have to rid.
2. Any vehicle that will not be powered by people, but not bicycle. For example, by bus, by car, you do not have to rid.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Revised sentence: No revision undertaken
Discussion:
That I may refer you to:
http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/part2/II-6b-g.html#s14
Acknowledgement: I am awarding my points to xuhuanyu for two reasons: not only was he first, but he also provided two alternative interpretations -- admonition and persuasion. Then too, he reminded me that 座車 does not always mean ride.
When it does mean drive, however, the driver is also a rider. In this particular context, it is the riding that is more important. Thus, I have made no change.
Jyuan_us's additional rendering were useful, because they confirmed is own view of the matter and lent support to mine. As my own rendering captures the ideas of both xuhuanyu and Jyuan_us, I have recorded my initial version."
6 hrs
TRY
Either one of these will be OK:
1) Walking is good for your health, so you shouldn't always have a ride.
2) Walking is good for your health, so please don't take a ride all the time.
Personally I support your opinion about請, which is a very soft PLEASE here, meaning the person to be addressed "should.....". It is a sugguestion. However, most people would look for "please" in the translation if they see this "請" in the original.
Some time you have to struggle between what is right and what many people think it right. In this case, "should" is the right one to render 請 but most people would feel more comfortable to see "please" in the sentence.
Your idea about 坐車 is correct. 坐車means taking any vehicle except a bike, including bus/train/taxi/ride in a car etc.
請literally must be translated into "please".
1) Walking is good for your health, so you shouldn't always have a ride.
2) Walking is good for your health, so please don't take a ride all the time.
Personally I support your opinion about請, which is a very soft PLEASE here, meaning the person to be addressed "should.....". It is a sugguestion. However, most people would look for "please" in the translation if they see this "請" in the original.
Some time you have to struggle between what is right and what many people think it right. In this case, "should" is the right one to render 請 but most people would feel more comfortable to see "please" in the sentence.
Your idea about 坐車 is correct. 坐車means taking any vehicle except a bike, including bus/train/taxi/ride in a car etc.
請literally must be translated into "please".
Discussion