A brief discussion on the corresponding expression of English word “but” and Chinese word “但是”

烏日罕

【Abstract】“But” is a frequently used word in usage and it has been omitted often in English， while its part-of-speech， usages， and corresponding express so vitally complicated. In Chinese，the word “但是” is also express so vitally complicated. And to the second language learners， it is difficult to identify and express the meaning of “but” and “但是” exactly and idiomatically. Chinese “但是” and English “but” are typically turn associated words， this paper applies the method of comparison， it compared the English conjunction of “but” and Chinese “但是” were and summed up the corresponding expression，hope to have some help in Chinese and English learning.

【Key words】but； frequently； complicated； learner； typical

【摘要】“But”是英語中使用頻率很高的一個詞。“but”的詞義、用法以及在漢語中的對應表達形式都比較復雜，漢語中，“但是”這個詞也很復雜。對于二語學習者來說，如何準確地使用漢語“但是”和英語“but”在英語和漢語中的對應表達是十分困難的。本文用比較的方法，對英語轉折連詞“but”和漢語“但是”進行了對比，總結出相應的表達。漢語“但是”和英語“but”是典型的表轉折的關聯詞， 本文探討了漢語“但是”和英語“but”在英語和漢語中的轉折對應關系，希望對漢語和英語的學習中起到一定的幫助。

【關鍵詞】但是 頻率 復雜 學習者 典型的

Ⅰ. Introduction

Transition words means words or short phrases which help to guide your reader through your writing， and are used to link sentences， paragraphs and sections both forwards and backwards. Good use will make what you have written easy to follow； bad use might mean your style is disjointed， probably with too many short sentences， and consequently difficult to follow. Your mark could be affected either way. So it is very important to know the corresponding expression of English and Chinese transition words. As follow， we discusses the corresponding expression in Chinese of English transition word “but” and the corresponding expression in English of Chinese transition word “但是”.

Ⅱ. The corresponding expression in Chinese of English transition word “but”

The connection of Chinese and Englishs each sentence， in addition to paratactic sentences， should use related words. Related words include conjunctions， adverbs and connecting the phrase sentence. In English， the transition word “but” use very high frequency， its meaning is not the same. Its part of speech is not only the prepositions， conjunctions， but also the pronouns， adverbs， noun and verb. The word usage is also rich， flexible. As a conjunction， “but” table the transition relation in English， so called adversative conjunctions. Chinese transitional words is richer than English. Among these words， some can replace each other， and some can not be replaced， because of differences.

According to the corresponding expression in Chinese of English transition word “but”， we can classify it， mainly divided into “A，但是B”，“雖然A，但是B”，“無論A，都B”，“除非A，否則B”，“要不是A，就B”， and no “但是”.

1. “But” corresponds to “A， 但是B”

This class is considered typical transition sentence in Chinese. For example：

（1） She cut her hand but didnt cry.

她弄傷了她的手，但是并沒有哭.

2. “But” corresponds to“雖然A，但是B”

“But” corresponds to “雖然A，但是B” represents a concession transition.

（1） They have attained great achievement， but they must not be conceited.

他們雖然取得了很大的成就，但還是不要驕傲自滿。

3. “But” corresponds to “無論/不管A，都B”

“But” corresponds to “無論/不管A，都B”，it means unconditional concession transition.

（1） Nothing is so hard but that it becomes easy by practice.

不管什么事情，通過練習都能變得容易。

The example are “but” used with negative words， and it represents that there are only one conclusion in any case.

4. “But” corresponds to “除非A，否則B”

“But” corresponds to “除非A，否則B” means the inverse condition hypothetical transition.

（1）Nothing would satisfy him but I come along.

除非我來，否則他不會滿意。

In the example， the previous clause table inverse condition results， after a clause is condition clause. And in Chinese， it finds just the opposite.

5. “But” corresponds to “要不是/若非A，就B”

“But” corresponds to “要不是/若非A，就B”， said that transition inverse reason. It focuses on for to avoid something unpleasant or abnormal results.

（1）The little girl would have fallen into the river but that a passer-by caught her.

要不是一位過路人拉住她，這女孩就掉進水里了。

In the English example， the previous clause table result， after a clause is reason， and it finds just the opposite in Chinese.

6. “But” corresponds to no “但是”

This class used for the proverb.

（1）Speech is silver， but silence is golden.

雄辯是銀，沉默是金。

Ⅲ. The corresponding expression in English of Chinese transition word “但是”

In Chinese there is also tangible and parataxis， parataxis appears weaker tone. Hypo taxis are usually use “但是” to express. “But” can be said is and clauses semantic opposition before and after. It can be translated to regress， but their tone strength is different， but the tables turn stronger， “but” its even a word， strong an affair， “but” is an adverb， emphasize a behavior. However， it also can use other words to express “但是” in English. The corresponding expression in English of Chinese transition word “但是” has the following expression.

1. “但是” correspond to“… but …”

In the process of translation， people think of this form at first， and it is often used in English.

（1）這里夏天熱，但冬天不冷。

It is hot in summer here， but it is not cold in winter

2. “但是” correspond to “although/though …”

In Chinese， it can say “雖然…但是…”，but it can not translate word by word， because it is not used for “although…but” or “though…but”

（1）雖然眾人都反對他， 但是他仍然堅持到底。

Although all men were against him， he none the less persevered.

3. “但是” correspond to “even if …”

“But” is not used in this class， it is the most important.

（1） 即使我很忙， 但是我也要去。

Even if I were busy， I would go.

In Chinese “即使”， intended to highlight concessions relations， the concession subordinate conjunction “although” for translation. Only in English “but”， in terms of logical semantic translation however， specific how to want to see the speaker tried to intended to， and the important point is always in the center of a clause.

“Even if” is not implemented， confirmed the fact that the condition of the unrealized in English is usually subordinate conjunctions and subjunctive mood even used to say. So we use “even if” translated into English.

Ⅳ. Conclusion

This paper focuses on the semantic similarities and differences between Chinese words “但是” and English word “but”. Each word in English and Chinese can not exchange basing on semantic， usage， speech are different， the translating words are different. In analyzing their constraint conditions for Interlingua translation， it points out that some Chinese grammar books， with inadequate attention to the difference between Chinese and English lexical system， have some mistakes in explaining Chinese adversative conjunctions and applying adversative conjunctions and adverbs. Through this thesis， I hope that we known the semantic similarities and differences between Chinese words “但是” and English word “but”， and it can also improve the learning ability of language acquisition.

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