Question How would you translate 你还知道问我累不累?

Discussion in 'Translator's Corner' started by Eishun, Jun 17, 2021.

  1. Eishun

    Eishun Well-Known Member

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    It's a standalone line.

    你还知道问我累不累?

    Before that, this dude's kid asked his dad if he was tired. "Are you feeling tired, dad?"

    And the dad said, "你还知道问我累不累?"

    So, the way I see it, this line can't be translated literally? I wonder if you agree with me on this?

    I mean, how weird does "Oh, so you do know to ask me if I feel tired?" What does this even mean?

    So I've come up with "Oh, so you do know that I can get tired?" as the English equivalent.

    What do you guys think? Feedback? Alternatives?
     
  2. nonononononono

    nonononononono NONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONONO

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    Oh, I thought you wouldn't care?
     
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  3. SylviaViolet

    SylviaViolet Toast to the ones that we lost on the way⚓️

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    This is actually a common way that the Chinese seem to phrase their sentences. It's like saying he's surprised to see that the child knows how to care about his father. I think you should leave it like this. Or something like, "Oh, so you even know to ask if I am tired?"
     
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  4. Heartless

    Heartless May your heart be your guiding key

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    "Oh, so you still bother to ask if I'm tired?"

    I can't read any of that, nor do I know the actual context. But, it seems to be about a unfilial kid who asks his father if he is tired, when he usually behaves differently. Like he is "pretending to care about the father, while he actually has ulterior motives" as if he wants to ask for money or something.
     
  5. CRY_

    CRY_ Well-Known Member

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    This ^
    Sometimes it is used like how SylviaViolet said and sometimes I've seen it used sarcastically(? dunno if that's the right word) and sometimes in jest. It just depends on the context. I'd just keep the sentence as is.
     
  6. Eishun

    Eishun Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, I like this interpretation.