This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Chinese to English
  3. Linguistics

這個是Ａ的人

English translation: this A is B (which is a type of A)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Chinese term or phrase:這個（Ａ）是Ｂ的Ａ
English translation:this A is B (which is a type of A)
Entered by: Roddy Stegemann

12:47 Nov 13, 2006
Chinese to English translations [Non-PRO]
Social Sciences - Linguistics / Grammatical Analysis
Chinese term or phrase: 這個是Ａ的人
Sentence: 這三個都是前天畢業的畢業生，他們打算今年九月去美國留學。

First Attempt: These three former students all graduated the day before yesterday and plan to go to the United States in September to study.

Question: Although it is surely obvious that 個 refers to the 畢業生, is this considered good Chinese writing style. Compare, for example, the following two sentences, tell me which you prefer, and provide a brief explanation as to why.

1) 這三個畢業生都是前天畢業的，他們打算今年九月去美國留學。
2) 這三個都是前天畢業的畢業生，他們打算今年九月去美國留學。

As always you are welcome to comment on other parts of the translation.

Please see http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/contents.html#p... for further reference.

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.
Roddy Stegemann
United States
Local time: 17:47
The kind of person that A is
Explanation:
For better choice of word for the sentence, use "位" instead of "個". For "位" refers to "person", and "個" refers mostly for "thing".

For word order, we usually put the most important information first, that is in the order of their importance. This applies to modern Chinese writing as well.

1. 這三個畢業生都是前天畢業的:The most important message is "3", and "graduates", then "graduated the day before yesterday".
2. 這三個都是前天畢業的畢業生: The most important message is "3". and "graduatred the day before yesterday", then "graduated"
It depends on what fact you want to stress. If you want to let your reader know "they are graduates", use sentence #1. If you want to stress "they graduated the day before yesterday" use sentence #2. But, if you just try to point out that "only 3" not 4 or 5 will study abroad, then both 1 and 2 will be equally fine.
Selected response from:

pkchan
United States
Local time: 20:47
Grading comment
Final Rendering: These three students all graduated the day before yesterday and plan to study in the United States in September.

Acknowledgment: Once again, my points are awarded by default. Nevertheless, PK clearly provided a good answer to my question and has well deserved several points.

I am wondering, though, whether his remark with regard to the use of 位 and 個 is accurate. Surely, 位 refers unmistakably to people. Common usage, however, suggests that 位 is only used in contexts where social protocol is required. Certainly in this sentence 個 could not be mistaken for anything other than the three recent graduates.

Masterwho's entry was also very helpful, one can readily see why he/she has interpreted the phrase as he/she has.

Discussion: Please see http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/part3/III-3b-g.html#s13 for further discussion regarding the context of this question.

My very best from the land of no mountains surrounded by sea on many sides.
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +1The kind of person that A is
pkchan
3if A is a adj--this A person; if A is a noun--this person who is A; if A is a sentence--it depends..
li sha


  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
The kind of person that A is


Explanation:
For better choice of word for the sentence, use "位" instead of "個". For "位" refers to "person", and "個" refers mostly for "thing".

For word order, we usually put the most important information first, that is in the order of their importance. This applies to modern Chinese writing as well.

1. 這三個畢業生都是前天畢業的:The most important message is "3", and "graduates", then "graduated the day before yesterday".
2. 這三個都是前天畢業的畢業生: The most important message is "3". and "graduatred the day before yesterday", then "graduated"
It depends on what fact you want to stress. If you want to let your reader know "they are graduates", use sentence #1. If you want to stress "they graduated the day before yesterday" use sentence #2. But, if you just try to point out that "only 3" not 4 or 5 will study abroad, then both 1 and 2 will be equally fine.

pkchan
United States
Local time: 20:47
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in category: 11
Grading comment
Final Rendering: These three students all graduated the day before yesterday and plan to study in the United States in September.

Acknowledgment: Once again, my points are awarded by default. Nevertheless, PK clearly provided a good answer to my question and has well deserved several points.

I am wondering, though, whether his remark with regard to the use of 位 and 個 is accurate. Surely, 位 refers unmistakably to people. Common usage, however, suggests that 位 is only used in contexts where social protocol is required. Certainly in this sentence 個 could not be mistaken for anything other than the three recent graduates.

Masterwho's entry was also very helpful, one can readily see why he/she has interpreted the phrase as he/she has.

Discussion: Please see http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/tsongkit/part3/III-3b-g.html#s13 for further discussion regarding the context of this question.

My very best from the land of no mountains surrounded by sea on many sides.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Masterwho: 這個是Ａ的人actually sounds very mislieading. the way you put it, without context, sounds more like "someone is with A(A being a powerful mob boss or something)". be careful with the use of "的人"
3 hrs
  -> thanks
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 days 1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
if A is a adj--this A person; if A is a noun--this person who is A; if A is a sentence--it depends..


Explanation:
ur question seems to be a English to Chinese one. "這三個畢業生都是前天畢業的，他們打算今年九月去美國留學。"sounds right to me in oral chinese. if u want to translate the sentence into a simpler way, here is my answer: 这三个前天毕业的学生打算今年九月去美国留学。 as we mentioned 毕业的， we don't have to repeat 毕业生 again.

li sha
Local time: 02:47
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search