- This is the 19th article from 中文天天读.
- If you can understand this article, try to write it in English at the comment section.
“贼”的意思是小偷，那么，”贼多”的意思是什么呢？
有个南方人，第一次到北方城市哈尔滨，想找个住的地方。他问一个哈尔滨人：”请问哪里有旅馆？”
哈尔滨人热情地告诉他：”这里的旅馆贼多！”
南方人说：”旅馆贼多，那我就找饭店。”
哈尔滨人又告诉他：”饭店同样贼多。”
南方人说：”贼多的地方就不去了，我想找个酒店。”
那个人回答：”酒店嘛，也是贼多。”
南方人很惊讶：”啊？这里贼多，那里贼多，哈尔滨的贼这么多！”
那个哈尔滨人哈哈大笑，说：”误会了，误会了。’贼多’的’贼’，意思不是’小偷’，而是’很’。所以’贼多’就是’很多’的意思。”
| 1. |
|
: | city |
| 2. |
|
: | Harbin (the provincial capital of Heilongjiang Province, in Northeast China) |
| 3. |
|
: | hotel |
| 4. |
|
: | warmhearted, enthusiastical |
| 5. |
|
: | very, quite (“贼”, literally, means thief. In the dialect of North China, however, it can be used as an adverb) |
| 6. |
|
: | hotel |
| 7. |
|
: | similar, same |
| 8. |
|
: | hotel (larger and better equipped than 旅馆) |
| 9. |
|
: | surprised, astonished |
| 10. |
|
: | misunderstand |
语言点 Language Points
嘛
a modal particle
“嘛” is an auxiliary word used after the subject to introduce a pause, emphasize the subject and draw the other party’s attention.
酒店嘛，也是贼多。
As to hotels, they are also 贼多(numerous).
Example:
(1) 汉语嘛，就是要多听多说才能学好。
(2) 这个城市嘛，长寿的人非常多。
不是……而是……
not…but…
“贼” in “贼多” doesn’t mean thief, but very, quite.
“不是A而是B” means a negation of A and an approval of B.
“贼多”的”贼”，意思不是”小偷”，而是”很”。
“贼” in “贼多” doesn’t mean “thief”, but “very, quite”.
Example:
(1) 大熊猫最喜欢吃的，不是苹果而是竹子。
(2) 拿大苹果的不是哥哥而是弟弟。
source:《中文天天读 – 奇妙的中文2A》
“贼”的意思是小偷，那么，“贼多”的意思是什么呢？
“贼” [zei] means a thief. Then what does “贼多”[zei dou] mean?
有个南方人，第一次到北方城市哈尔滨，想找个住的地方。他问一个哈尔滨人：
“请问哪里有旅馆？”
A Southerner went the northern city of Harbin for the first time and
was looking for a place to live. He asked a resident in Harbin:
“Where can I find a hotel?”
哈尔滨人热情地告诉他：“这里的旅馆贼多！”
The Harbin resident enthusiastically told him: “There are many hotels
here”.
南方人说：“旅馆贼多，那我就找饭店。”
The Southerner said: “If there are many thieves in hotels, then I had better
stay in a budget inn.”
哈尔滨人又告诉他：“饭店同样贼多。”
The Harbin resident again told him”There are also plenty of budget inns here.”
那个人回答：“酒店嘛，也是贼多。”
The Southerner answered: “There are also many thieves in hotels.”
南方人很惊讶：“啊？这里贼多，那里贼多，哈尔滨的贼这么多！”
The Southerner was very surprised that there were many thieves here
and many thieves there. Then Harbin has many thieves.”
那个哈尔滨人哈哈大笑，说：“误会了，误会了。‘贼多’的‘贼’，意思不是‘小偷’，而是‘很’。
所以‘贼多’就是‘很多’的意思。”
The Harbin resident laughed and said: “misunderstanding, misunderstanding
“贼” in “贼多” doesn’t mean “thief”, but “very, quite”. Therefore, “贼多” mean
very, or quite many.”
Hi WenKuan,
Thanks again for your translation.
Hi there love your website,
Just one question regarding 中文天天读-19 & 20, they are exactly the same, would it be possible to correct this? thanks, keep up the great work!!
Hi Jason,
I think I accidentally overwrote this post. I have updated to 19.