才 (utf-8)

English translation: only

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Chinese term or phrase:
English translation:only
Entered by: Roddy Stegemann

10:50 Dec 26, 2003
Chinese to English translations [Non-PRO]
/ 言語
Chinese term or phrase: 才 (utf-8)
錢太太的女兒今年才十歲,可是她能夠做大人做的事。

I would like to translate this sentence as "Mrs Chin's daughter will be just ten this year, but already she knows many adult things to do."

Have I over interpreted the word 才?
Roddy Stegemann
United States
Local time: 08:05
My translation..
Explanation:
Just a try...

"Mrs Chin's daughter is only ten (years old) this year but she is able do what the adults do."

Sorry, I changed a few words in your original sentence. Here's my logic:

今年才十歲 - she is already 10 and not "will be". 才 = "only" instead of "just".

她能夠做大人做的事 - I took out "already" because there is no "已经" in the original text.

Again, this is just a suggestion... different translators have different style of writing so.... :))) Let's see what the others have to say.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs 16 mins (2003-12-26 13:06:53 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Correction: \"Mrs Chin\'s daughter is only ten (years old) this year but she is able TO do what the adults do.\"
Selected response from:

Denyce Seow
Singapore
Local time: 23:05
Grading comment
Please do not apologize for correcting my bad Chinese. I would not be asking, if I did not feel that there might be something wrong with it?

By the way, is there no way to express the idea of already other than 巳經?


4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +4My translation..
Denyce Seow


  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +4
My translation..


Explanation:
Just a try...

"Mrs Chin's daughter is only ten (years old) this year but she is able do what the adults do."

Sorry, I changed a few words in your original sentence. Here's my logic:

今年才十歲 - she is already 10 and not "will be". 才 = "only" instead of "just".

她能夠做大人做的事 - I took out "already" because there is no "已经" in the original text.

Again, this is just a suggestion... different translators have different style of writing so.... :))) Let's see what the others have to say.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs 16 mins (2003-12-26 13:06:53 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Correction: \"Mrs Chin\'s daughter is only ten (years old) this year but she is able TO do what the adults do.\"

Denyce Seow
Singapore
Local time: 23:05
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 1380
Grading comment
Please do not apologize for correcting my bad Chinese. I would not be asking, if I did not feel that there might be something wrong with it?

By the way, is there no way to express the idea of already other than 巳經?


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  HymnLau: Denyce, I am your loyalist!
1 hr
  -> thanks... well, I still remember that you have a 废物 for me!! *wink*

agree  Xiaoping Fu
4 hrs

agree  English Chinese Medical Translator - Jimmy Deng
7 hrs

agree  chica nueva: I think it has the sense of being able to handle adult-level responsibilities, for example around the home, hosting visitors etc. Positive comment on how grown-up and capable the child is.
7 hrs
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