| Language problem, help please! | |
|---|---|
| Oct 10, 2005 00:27 |   |
 | I need a favor from you, all of you who have some knowledge of both Chinese and English, Chinese or people from foreign countries. Can you please give some examples of untranslatable words, phrases, phenomena or just whatever uninterchangeable between the two languages - Chinese and English? Thank you very much! |
| Oct 10, 2005 01:30 | #1 |
| Of course, at least there is a kind of way to sort it out - transliteration, but is it heal-all? |
| Oct 10, 2005 10:39 | #2 |
| 1) "It's raining like cats and dogs!" This phrase is often used when it's raining really hard outside. It makes perfect sense when we say it in America, but in Chinese it wouldn't. 2) "See you later, allegator!" This phrase simply means "good-bye". 3) The words "shorty" and "boo" are often used as street slangs to mean "girlfriend" and "boyfriend". You will often hear them in hip hop songs. Those are the only things I can think of right off the bat. I hope they are what you are looking for! |
| Oct 10, 2005 18:40 | #3 |
| Hi, Rita If I understand you well, you want to know some "smart english". Everyone wants to be cool. In order to be cool, you've got to sound cool. Above you have some of the current terms young americans are using to describe types of people and social situations. Examples: PLAYER, PLAYED - Usage: noun, meaning someone who plays with people's emotions by dating multiple people at one time. Also a verb. "SARA IS DEFINITELY A PLAYER - SHE'S DATING THREE GUYS AT THE SAME TIME AND NONE OF THEM KNOW ABOUT IT" Synonyms: user, cheat Origin: urban, hip-hop CHEESY - Adjective, meaning someone who is overly sentimental, or something that is poor quality or in bad taste. "I'm probably being cheesy, but I wanted you to know that my heart sings whenever I see you". Sinonyms: Corny, hokey Origin: The negative use of the word originated around 1863, when it referred to the disagreeable smell of overripe cheese. Are these kinds of words you want to learn? |
| Oct 10, 2005 18:54 | #4 |
| Hi, STLGIRL and Rita There's nothing inherently wrong with the expression "raining cats and dogs", but is always best for a foreign learner of a language to use the most neutral expression that means the same things. Teachers love teaching them and students like using them, even though they are less common than neutral counterparts. Unfortunately, the more foreign-sounding a student's accent is, the more likely that student will sound "funny" using them. Then, for example: "raining cats and dogs" - use "pouring rain", meaning "raining a lot, intensely" "it cost an arm and a leg"- use "it cost a fortune", meaning "it was very expensive" "a piece of cake"- use "no problem", meaning "something very easy". |
| Oct 10, 2005 19:45 | #5 |
| Hi Rita, If you have time, then I suggest you watch the TV (Btv-7 20:22 from Monday to Friday) They had a program named" Let's Talk". It is very interesting. Kiki |
| Oct 10, 2005 21:02 | #6 |
| Thank you very much, STLGIRL, CROBERTO and KEVINKIKI. Actually I have learnt most of what you listed, but there are quite similar words or phrases in Chinese. |
| Oct 11, 2005 00:27 | #7 |
| Q: 什么瓜不能吃？ A: 傻瓜 |
| Oct 11, 2005 00:58 | #8 |
| Hi Doutin, exactly!!! Another one: 外甥点灯笼-照旧（舅） |
| Oct 11, 2005 01:14 | #9 |
| Haha,Doutin, 猪鼻子插葱---装象：-） |
| Oct 11, 2005 02:39 | #10 |
| What about "猪八戒照镜子-里外不是人！" :-) |
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