Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Chinese term or phrase:
老
English translation:
always, frequently, forever, never fails to, etc.
Added to glossary by
Roddy Stegemann
Jul 13, 2006 08:46
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.
老
Non-PRO
Chinese to English
Science
Education / Pedagogy
Grammatical Analysis
Sentence: 他定計劃的時候，老喜歡對別人說：「請你們不要大聲說話好嗎？」
1st Attempt: When deciding a plan he enjoys telling others, "Is there some need to talk so loudly?"
Question: What is the meaning of 老 in this sentence. Is it an abbreviation for 老師, 老時, or something else altogether?
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: When deciding a plan he enjoys telling others, "Is there some need to talk so loudly?"
Question: What is the meaning of 老 in this sentence. Is it an abbreviation for 老師, 老時, or something else altogether?
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 | frequently or never fails to |
wherestip
|
| 5 +2 | always |
Zhuoqi Mills (X)
|
| 5 | always |
Haitin Yiu
|
Proposed translations
+1
5 hrs
Selected
frequently or never fails to
>>> What is the meaning of 老 in this sentence. Is it an abbreviation for 老師, 老時, or something else altogether?
老 here is an abbreviation for 老是, the equivalent of 总是.
The following four are all the same:
老是喜欢插嘴 loves to interrupt a conversation
总是喜欢插嘴
老喜欢插嘴
总喜欢插嘴
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2006-07-13 14:50:00 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
My example also means "never fails to interrupt with an opinion"
老 here is an abbreviation for 老是, the equivalent of 总是.
The following four are all the same:
老是喜欢插嘴 loves to interrupt a conversation
总是喜欢插嘴
老喜欢插嘴
总喜欢插嘴
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2006-07-13 14:50:00 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
My example also means "never fails to interrupt with an opinion"
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Final rendering: When formulating a plan he is forever telling others, "Must you talk so loudly?"
Discussion: Please see http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/part2/II-10-g.html#s10 for further discussion.
Acknowledgement: That I may thank both Zhuoqi and wherestip for their most useful entries. As you can see I incorporated both of your answers into my final rendering and explanation.
Deciding who gets the points is a coin flip. Hong Kongers like to gamble. Alright? Zhuoqi, you are flower and wherestip is number (Japanese coin). Flip! Number wins.
Blame luck and proZ.com -- not me!
Congratulations wherestip!. Like me the gods must favor your many examples.
Thanks for being there, Bill!
Best wishes from the land of no mountains surrounded by sea on many sides.
"
+2
53 mins
1 day 18 hrs
always
Here, the character 老 means "always" or "usually". BTW, for the words he said -- "請你們不要大聲說話好嗎", it is better to be translated into "Could you please not talk so loudly". "Is there some need to talk so loudly" means "有必要说那么大声吗", which i think is a little offensive.
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