Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Jun 28, 2006 07:53
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.
用 (3/3)
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 +1 | need or requirement |
wherestip
|
Proposed translations
+1
6 hrs
Selected
need or requirement
Your translation of "need" is correct. There's no need to haggle(barter).
要 could be used instead of 用 in this sense, but it would then be the short form of 需要, meaning need or requirement also.
不用讲价的
不需要讲价的
不需讲价的 (more literary)
不要讲价的 (more spoken)
Some other examples:
今天不用上学 there's no school today (no need to go to school)
车子不用加汽油 the car doesn't need gas
不用穿大衣 there's no need for an outer coat (today)
不需要戴帽子 there's no need for a hat
要 could be used instead of 用 in this sense, but it would then be the short form of 需要, meaning need or requirement also.
不用讲价的
不需要讲价的
不需讲价的 (more literary)
不要讲价的 (more spoken)
Some other examples:
今天不用上学 there's no school today (no need to go to school)
车子不用加汽油 the car doesn't need gas
不用穿大衣 there's no need for an outer coat (today)
不需要戴帽子 there's no need for a hat
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: This has been, by far, the best explanation I have seen about the use of 用 and 要 and their relative interchangeability. I bet the story is not over, however.
For now, I am very satisfied. Once again, wherestip, your examples fall with the force and precision of metal stamping hammers on freshly molded sheet metal. Great work!
My thanks to Chinoise (Betty?) for her confirmatory support.
Best wishes from the land of no mountains surrounded by sea on many sides."
Something went wrong...