Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Chinese term or phrase:
連Ａ都忘了
English translation:
even forgetting A
Added to glossary by
Roddy Stegemann
May 3, 2006 09:33
18 yrs ago
Chinese term
United States
Search HKLNA!
Native in: English 
Works in: German to English, Japanese to English, French to English, and 3 more.
連Ａ都忘了 1/2
Non-PRO
Chinese to English
Science
Education / Pedagogy
Grammatical Analysis
Sentence: 他從早上一直工作到深夜，連吃飯跟睡覺都忘了。
First Attempt: He works straight through from morning until late into the night even forgetting to eat or sleep.
Question 1: I have rendered this in the present with the idea that 了expresses the idea that he forgets to eat or sleep as the result of his over-diligence.
Question 2: Have I captured the idea of 一直 correctly?
As always, you are welcome to comments on other parts of my translation, as well.
http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/contents.html#p...
First Attempt: He works straight through from morning until late into the night even forgetting to eat or sleep.
Question 1: I have rendered this in the present with the idea that 了expresses the idea that he forgets to eat or sleep as the result of his over-diligence.
Question 2: Have I captured the idea of 一直 correctly?
As always, you are welcome to comments on other parts of my translation, as well.
http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/contents.html#p...
Proposed translations
+1
5 hrs
Selected
IMO
>>> Clarification with regard to Question 1 - What prompted this question was the use of 了. Is this sentence about something that occurred once in the past? Or, is it about something that repeats itself in the present but always with the same result? Or, is it something different from either of these two suggested possibilities? Or, is it simply not possible to say?
IMO it is simply not possible to say. This sentence has to be put into context to say for sure whether it is a one-time occurrence (that happened already), or a habit that repeats itself over time.
IMO, this Chinese sentence by itself is not very precise. The following would be much clearer:
他经常從早上一直工作到深夜 or
他总是從早上一直工作到深夜
As it is, I would tend to think it is something that has happened once, and therefore would suggest using the past tense in my translation.
IMO it is simply not possible to say. This sentence has to be put into context to say for sure whether it is a one-time occurrence (that happened already), or a habit that repeats itself over time.
IMO, this Chinese sentence by itself is not very precise. The following would be much clearer:
他经常從早上一直工作到深夜 or
他总是從早上一直工作到深夜
As it is, I would tend to think it is something that has happened once, and therefore would suggest using the past tense in my translation.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
anastasia t (X)
9 hrs
|
|
Thanks
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Final renderings:
i) He works nonstop from morning until late into the night even forgetting to eat or sleep.
ii) He worked from morning until late into the night without even stopping to eat or sleep.
Discussion:
May I refer you to the following link.
http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/part2/II-7-g.html#s8
Acknowledgement: I have decided to render it both ways, as it makes clear how important is the role of temporal adverbial modifiers when interpreting Chinese text. I would like to thank Wherestip for is excellent discussion in this regard.
I have also re-emphasized Minoer's point about the use of 連. Certainly it cannot hurt. I would like to point out to Minoer, however, that 了 does carry very important meaning, simply it is not clear in this context what that meaning is."
Discussion