倒是
bweedin
October 15, 2010 at 10:30 PM posted in I Have a QuestionI have to use 倒是 on a test, but I still don't understand how to use it. I heard that it means "on the contrary" but it apparently didn't help me, because I used it incorrectly. So instead of a translation, can anyone explain the right way to use it?
thanks
bodawei
October 18, 2010 at 12:07 AM
That seems to be a nice clear example provided by your teacher, I like it. But for me I would need to look at a dozen examples or so before I came anywhere near understanding how to use it myself. Good luck.
zhenlijiang
October 17, 2010 at 09:29 AM
Hopefully someone who really knows can come and help out here. In the meantime I'm afraid of leading you astray so I'm going to put up another link. This is nciku on 倒是. 倒是 has at least those four different functions; are you being required to use it in any specific one, or any of them as long as the use is correct?
Only if you don't mind sharing, how did you use it incorrectly?
bweedin
October 17, 2010 at 09:59 PM
my wrong sentence was 我不會翻譯這首歌，是德語，倒是不是英語。
meaning that a friend wanted me to translate a song, but ON THE CONTRARY to his beliefs, the song was a German song and I don't speak German.
but I think it's more on the contrary to more of prevailing wisdom, than somebody's own idea.
zhenlijiang
October 15, 2010 at 11:16 PM
Hi, for starters I think you'll find the Glossary entry here helpful.
bweedin
October 16, 2010 at 08:52 PM
I've seen every lesson and I still don't really get it.
How 'bout 我從來美學過意大利語，倒是聽得懂。
或
高速路上堵車，倒是不高速。
zhenlijiang
October 16, 2010 at 08:36 AM
No problem. In case you haven't already seen, the small green arrow at the very right is a link to the lesson that sentence is from.
bodawei
October 17, 2010 at 12:06 PMThe 现代汉语词典 has seven uses classified and there is a sample sentence for each. I won't try to explain any in detail; if I learnt this expression at some stage I have certainly forgotten it!
But if I understand the explanation of usage 1 it is along the lines of 'contrary to common sense' (might be the use you had in mind). I really don't understand the sample sentence, but for the record it is:
该说的不说，不该说的倒是说个没完没了。
If you get it clear in your head would you mind reporting back what you learnt?
(Too many negatives for my mind.)