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對不起 (unicode utf-8)

English translation: Sorry...

14:41 Aug 17, 2005
Chinese to English translations [Non-PRO]
Linguistics / general understanding
Chinese term or phrase: 對不起 (unicode utf-8)
Below you will find a translation and question of the following sentence: 我說「這個表又時興，又大方，你怎麼不買呢？」他說「對不起，我沒有興趣。」

Translation: I asked, "This watch is both trendy and elegant. Why aren't you buying it?" He replied, "I can't afford it, and have little interest in it."

Question: Have I captured the idea of 對不起 correctly? How is 對 used in this context?
Roddy Stegemann
United States
Local time: 19:50
English translation:Sorry...
Explanation:
"對不起，我沒有興趣。" should be translated as " Sorry, I have no interest".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 mins (2005-08-17 14:51:51 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

\"對不起\" doesn\'t mean \" can\'t afford sth.\". It means \" sorry, excuse me\".

“買不起”means \" can\'t afford sth.\"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2005-08-18 23:58:44 (GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

\"對唔住\"--- Exactly!
Selected response from:

Chinoise
Local time: 23:50
Grading comment
Once again, I would like to thank Haiyang for his kind response and everyone else for their supportive comments. I am awarding Chinoise because she was both faster and more helpful. She provided me with not only what was correct, but also what would have been correct, had I been right. Unfortunately, I was not, but now you know why I asked!

By the way, I believe the same expression written in Cantonese is 對唔住 .
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3Sorry
Haiyang Ai (X)
4 +3Sorry...
Chinoise


  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
Sorry


Explanation:
Here 對不起 does not necessary mean that she couldn't afford it. It could be that she's not in the mood of buying a watch, or she's already got one.

I think "Sorry, I'm not interested in it" is okay. More context will help though.

Haiyang Ai (X)
United States
Local time: 21:50
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Chinese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Chinoise
3 mins
  -> Thank you.
agree  wherestip: "he" btw
5 mins
  -> Thanks for pointing out the typo.
agree  chica nueva: Sorry, I'm not interested./Sorry, I'm not interested (in it/in buying it).
2 days 16 hrs
  -> Thank you.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
Sorry...


Explanation:
"對不起，我沒有興趣。" should be translated as " Sorry, I have no interest".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 mins (2005-08-17 14:51:51 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

\"對不起\" doesn\'t mean \" can\'t afford sth.\". It means \" sorry, excuse me\".

“買不起”means \" can\'t afford sth.\"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2005-08-18 23:58:44 (GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

\"對唔住\"--- Exactly!

Chinoise
Local time: 23:50
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
Grading comment
Once again, I would like to thank Haiyang for his kind response and everyone else for their supportive comments. I am awarding Chinoise because she was both faster and more helpful. She provided me with not only what was correct, but also what would have been correct, had I been right. Unfortunately, I was not, but now you know why I asked!

By the way, I believe the same expression written in Cantonese is 對唔住 .

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  wherestip
6 mins
  ->  Thanks !
agree  Haiyang Ai (X)
7 mins
  -> Thanks !
agree  vwkl (X): Exactly.
1 day 10 hrs
  -> Thanks!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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