PMW Translation #20: Mastering 把 (Part 2)

🌀 Pearls of Mandarin Worksheet: Translation #20

Hello Mandarin Enthusiasts! 🌟

Today, we’re diving into the second and final set of translation exercises focused on the versatile 把 particle. This little word can transform your Mandarin sentences, giving you more precise and dynamic ways to express yourself.

Need a refresh? Check the CGG #21 and CGG #22 lessons, as well as the PMW: Translation #19 exercises.

As someone who’s been on this language-learning journey since 2007, I can’t stress enough how much translating sentences from English to Mandarin has improved my own expression. It’s not just about understanding what others say—it’s about being able to craft your own sentences and truly communicate.

Here’s what I recommend: before you peek at the corrections, give the translations your best shot. It might feel challenging at first, but remember, practice makes perfect. The more you work on these exercises, the more natural using 把 will become in your everyday Mandarin conversations.

Learning a language is a two-way street. It’s not just about listening and understanding; it’s equally about speaking and being understood. By practicing these translations, you’re taking a big step towards fluency and confidence in your Mandarin skills.

So, let’s get started! Dive into the exercises, and don’t worry if you make mistakes—that’s part of the learning process. I believe in you, and I’m excited to see how far you’ll go!

Today’s Exercises

Translate these English sentences into Mandarin, applying what you’ve learned about the 把 structure:

1. The child moved his mother to tears.

2. She gave all her love to her children.

3. The sun burned my skin.

4. He read the article several times over.

And remember: Practice Makes Perfect.

🌀 Translation #1

The child moved his mother to tears.

In this sentence, we want to emphasize the emotional impact the child’s actions on his mother. In Mandarin, this can be effectively conveyed using the 把 construction.

The 把 construction can be used to express how an action by the subject impacts another person or group, either emotionally or physically. This structure shines when you need to underline the effect of an action, making it a powerful tool for emphasizing how someone’s actions affect others.

📚 Structure: [Subject] + 把 + [Object (Agent)] + [Verb] + [Other Components]

So, following this structure:

• The subject “the child” is simply 孩子 (háizi)

• The object is “the mother,” 妈妈 (māma). Since the sentence implies that it is the child”s own mother, we do not need an additional possessive pronoun; the context is clear enough with just 妈妈.

• The verb “to move” is 感动 (gǎndòng). This verb specifically conveys the idea of moving someone emotionally.

• Then, we need to add the result of the verb 感动, which is “to tears.” To do so, we add the particle 得 (de) after the verb. This particle is used to link a verb or adjective to a descriptive complement, which can be a result, degree, or manner of the action. Read the CGG #18 lesson for more explanations and examples about 得. In this sentence, 得 connects the verb 感动 to the result of the action, which is “to tears.”

• Finally, to translate “to tears,” we must rewrite it as a verbal phrase: “she shed tears.” We can translate it as 流下了眼泪 (liúxià le yǎnlèi). This phrase breaks down into several components: 流 (liú) means “to flow” or “to shed,” 下 (xià) means “down,” and together 流下 (liúxià) means “to flow down.” The 了 (le) here indicates the completion of the action. Finally, 眼泪 (yǎnlèi) means “tears.”

• So, 感动得流下了眼泪 (gǎndòng de liúxià le yǎnlèi) means “moved to the point of shedding tears.” The 得 here is crucial as it explicitly shows that the emotional impact (being moved) caused a specific result (tears flowing down).

Putting it all together, we have:

• 孩子把妈妈感动得流下了眼泪。

• 孩子 / 把 / 妈妈 / 感动 / 得 / 流下 / 了 / 眼泪 / 。

• háizi bǎ māma gǎndòng de liúxià le yǎnlèi

• The child moved his mother to tears.

• Child / (particle 把 introducing the object) / mother / to move / (particle 得 introducing the result of the verb) / to flow down / (particle 了 indicating completed action) / tears

Let’s practice the sentences with my audio recordings:

Slow speed:

Normal speed:

🌀 Translation #2

She gave all her love to her children.