Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Chinese term or phrase:
Ａ多少便Ｂ多少
English translation:
as much B as A
Added to glossary by
Roddy Stegemann
Jun 28, 2006 07:51
18 yrs ago
Chinese term
United States
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Native in: English 
Works in: German to English, Japanese to English, French to English, and 3 more.
Ａ多少便Ｂ多少 (2/3)
Non-PRO
Chinese to English
Science
Education / Pedagogy
Grammatical Analysis
Sentence: 那個鋪子賣的東西價錢很公道，價目單寫多少便賣多少，不用講價的。
1st Attempt: The prices in that store are very reasonable. You pay what is written on the tag. There is no need to barter.
Question 1/3: A somewhat literal translation of the phrase 那個鋪子賣的東西價錢 would be "the price of goods sold in that store". In short, putting aside my own stylistic abbreviation, I have translated the phrase 東西價錢, as if it were written 東西的價錢. Is there a general rule of thumb in Chinese about when to insert the character 的 and when to leave it out?
Question 2/3: The syntax of the phrase 價目單寫多少便賣多少 appears to be of a general pattern similar to Ａ多少便Ｂ多少. Can you think of other Chinese phrases that might fit this pattern?
Question 3/3: What is the meaning of 用 in this sentence. It certainly is not "use". Does it mean the same as 要?
As always you are welcome to comment on other parts of the sentence, as well.
http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/contents.html#p...
Warning: In order to provide ProZ.com users with the best glossary entries possible, more than one question for the same entry will be asked from time to time. Please keep in mind when responding that you will be graded on your responses to ALL questions asked.
1st Attempt: The prices in that store are very reasonable. You pay what is written on the tag. There is no need to barter.
Question 1/3: A somewhat literal translation of the phrase 那個鋪子賣的東西價錢 would be "the price of goods sold in that store". In short, putting aside my own stylistic abbreviation, I have translated the phrase 東西價錢, as if it were written 東西的價錢. Is there a general rule of thumb in Chinese about when to insert the character 的 and when to leave it out?
Question 2/3: The syntax of the phrase 價目單寫多少便賣多少 appears to be of a general pattern similar to Ａ多少便Ｂ多少. Can you think of other Chinese phrases that might fit this pattern?
Question 3/3: What is the meaning of 用 in this sentence. It certainly is not "use". Does it mean the same as 要?
As always you are welcome to comment on other parts of the sentence, as well.
http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/contents.html#p...
Warning: In order to provide ProZ.com users with the best glossary entries possible, more than one question for the same entry will be asked from time to time. Please keep in mind when responding that you will be graded on your responses to ALL questions asked.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 | as much as |
wherestip
|
Proposed translations
7 hrs
Selected
as much as
>>> 價目單寫多少便賣多少 You pay what is written on the tag.
Your translation is correct, you pay as much as is shown on the price tag. Some examples that follow the same pattern:
吃多少便付多少 pay for as much as you eat
花多少便报多少 account for the actual amount spent (report as much as was actually spent)
读多少便学多少 learn as much as you read
说多少便做多少 do as much as was said(promised/negotiated)
Your translation is correct, you pay as much as is shown on the price tag. Some examples that follow the same pattern:
吃多少便付多少 pay for as much as you eat
花多少便报多少 account for the actual amount spent (report as much as was actually spent)
读多少便学多少 learn as much as you read
说多少便做多少 do as much as was said(promised/negotiated)
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Final rendering: The prices in that store are very reasonable. You pay what is written on the tag, and there is no need to barter.
Discussion: Please see http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/part2/II-9b-g.html#s16 for further discussion.
Acknowledgement: Though no one appears to agree with or even support wherestip's contribution, I find his examples rather convincing and have thus incorporated them into my own analysis.
Thank you, wherestip, for your ever faithful and energetic support. Certainly you live up to your new proZ.com image in this Year of the Dog!
Best wishes from the land of no mountains surrounded by sea on many sides.
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