Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Chinese term or phrase:
千方百計想做A
English translation:
try every possible way to (become/be) A
Added to glossary by
Roddy Stegemann
Apr 24, 2006 10:19
18 yrs ago
Chinese term
千方百計想
Non-PRO
Chinese to English
Science
Education / Pedagogy
Grammatical Analysis
Sentence: 李先生的千金很好看,許多人千方百計想做她的男朋友。
1st Attempt: Mr. Li's daughter is very beautiful, and many boys have tried many ways to become her boyfriend.
Problem #1: There are probably numerous ways to translate this sentence, but there is one point in particular that I would like to discuss -- namely, the verb tense to be used with 想 and 千方百計 in this context.
a) are trying many ways to become her boyfriend.
b) have been trying many ways to become her boyfriend
c) have tried many ways to become her boyfriend.
What are your thoughts? Without better context would all of the above be correct?
http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/contents.html#p...
1st Attempt: Mr. Li's daughter is very beautiful, and many boys have tried many ways to become her boyfriend.
Problem #1: There are probably numerous ways to translate this sentence, but there is one point in particular that I would like to discuss -- namely, the verb tense to be used with 想 and 千方百計 in this context.
a) are trying many ways to become her boyfriend.
b) have been trying many ways to become her boyfriend
c) have tried many ways to become her boyfriend.
What are your thoughts? Without better context would all of the above be correct?
http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/contents.html#p...
Proposed translations
(English)
2 | A is the best | CHEN-Ling |
3 +3 | 我选b | Xu Dongjun |
3 | tried every possible way to | tvera |
Proposed translations
3 hrs
Selected
A is the best
I would like to translate it as following: ..., and many boys are trying many ways to become her boyfriend.
I think it is the on-going condition that many boys "are trying many ways" instead of "have tried many ways" or "tried many ways"
I think it is the on-going condition that many boys "are trying many ways" instead of "have tried many ways" or "tried many ways"
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Final rendering: Mr. Li's daughter is very beautiful, and many boys are trying every possible way to become her boyfriend.
Discussion:
That I may refer you to:
http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/part2/II-7-g.html#s1
Acknowledgement: I have decided to award my points to Minoer, because she has set me straight with the notion of an "ongoing condition". The idea of "have been trying" suggests that, the attempts, although still occurring, may end at any moment. What evidence is there to believe this?
Unless there is further discussion I prefer the word "become" in this context over "be", because everyone is trying to achieve what no one has yet been able to accomplish. Is this not a sort of becoming?
Tvera's very useful entry is also to be applauded. I adopted her notion of "every possible way" into my final rendering. It is a more colorful expression than "many ways" and therefore closer to the original.
Thanks to everyone! No entry went unread, and all were carefully considered. Simply I wish there had been more discussion about the use of 想 in this context. Maybe next time!
"
+3
1 hr
我选b
这个不好说,不过让我三选一的话我就选b,说明现在还有人在千方百计追着呢^_^
用一般现在时也可以的
用一般现在时也可以的
Peer comment(s):
agree |
anastasia t (X)
1 hr
|
agree |
Wenjer Leuschel (X)
: 我有這個榮幸成為你的男朋友嗎?:D
2 hrs
|
agree |
Justin Lai
5 hrs
|
1 hr
tried every possible way to
tried every possible way to be her boyfriend
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Note added at 1 hr (2006-04-24 11:39:17 GMT)
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或者
want to be her boyfriend, trying every possible ways
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Note added at 1 hr (2006-04-24 11:39:17 GMT)
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或者
want to be her boyfriend, trying every possible ways
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