Need Translation...Please Help!

POSTED BY: dannietg
UPDATED: Tuesday, March 20, 2012 01:59
VIEWED: 13346
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DANNIETG

Thursday, January 12, 2012 4:46 PM

I want to write a firefly fan fiction and I want to know how to say "Be Polite" in Chinese and "Sorry" in Chinese

LVS2READ

Friday, January 13, 2012 12:47 AM

"Sorry" is "shen me" per the pinyary: http://fireflychinese.kevinsullivansite.net/phrase3.html#s

You can try this online dictionary for forms of "polite": http://www.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php

Good luck!

"I love my captain."

BYTEMITE

Friday, January 13, 2012 3:49 PM

Depends on the sorry. Shen me isn't a general apology, it's more if you're apologizing for not understanding (and asking for clarification, kind of a "what?").

But there's other forms of sorry that really express guilt or remorse.

I'd recommend also using the MDBG link, it's great for Chinese phrases.

EBFIDDLER

Saturday, January 14, 2012 6:03 AM

shénme is more of a "I didn't understand" kind of "sorry":

什么 shénme what? / who? / something / anything (I’m sorry, pardon me)

duìbuqǐ is more fo a "pardon me" or "excuse me" kind of "sorry":

对不起 duìbuqǐ unworthy / to let down / I'm sorry / excuse me / pardon me / if you please / sorry? (please repeat)

yíhàn is to regret, "sorry" used as a verb:

遗憾 yíhàn regret / to regret / to be sorry that

I suggest using the translator, then pasting the Chinese into a reverse translator, to verify.

http://www.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php?page=translate

LEAHSFICTION

Tuesday, March 20, 2012 1:59 AM

For "be polite":
be polite! (imperative)
li3mao4 礼貌 “manners!”
you2li3mao4 有礼貌 “have/show some manners”
bao3chi2 li3mao4 “preserve your/our manners”
ke4qi 客气 “be courteous”
ke4qiyi1dian3 客气一点 “show a little more courtesy”

"to be polite" uses much the same words above.

ta1 zhen1 keqi 他/她真客气 "he/she is/was really polite"
ta1 ZHEN1 you limao "he's unbelievably polite"
ta1 hao2dan3 好胆 you limao "why is he being polite now? Did he not notice the scary guy with the knife to his throat?"