[Grammar] 在天台上

kimiik
 October 13, 2008, 11:02 AM posted in General Discussion

In the sentence "在天台上温书也有罪吗 ?" (Is it a crime to read a book outside ?), 在 ... 上 may be a grammatical structure as beeing 天台上 (on the top of the sky) is not logical here.

For me 在天台上 is here the equivalent of 在外边上.

But, if I want to use "under the sky" 天台下 (or "in China" 天下) should I say :

在天台下温书也有罪吗 ?  在天下温书也有罪吗 ?

or

在天台下上温书也有罪吗 ?  在天下上温书也有罪吗 ?

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kongyi
 November 30, 2008, 03:11 PM

天台 is a word of Cantonese(a Chinese language spoken in Southern China and Hong Kong),and I am Cantonese.

天台means the  top floor of the building,which is alway emty,在天台上does not mean on the top of the sky,it means on the top floor.

温书is also a Cantonese word,it means to review(lessons).

在天台上温书也有罪吗？It means "Is it not allowed to review my lessons on the top floor?"有罪does not all ways mean a crime,sometimes Cantonese like to use it to describe their stong feelings.

天下does not mean under the sky,it means the world,if you want to mean under the sky ,you can use 天空底下

if you have any questions please do not hestitate to email me,

kongyi31@163.com

my major is Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language. 

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kimiik
 December 03, 2008, 07:16 PM

Thank you Kongyi,

I admit that I made quite a misinterpretation here with 天台 (the top foor of a building) . ;o)